The Delta Directions Consortium (DDC) comprises a dynamic network of scholars and practitioners from universities, nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic foundations, continuously evolving to address regional challenges. The Delta Regional Forum (DRF), coordinated by the Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC) and the Delta Legal Fellow (affiliated with the University of Mississippi Community First Research Center for Wellbeing and Creative Achievement) is an annual event held at Coahoma County Higher Education Center in Clarksdale, Mississippi. It serves as a platform for exchanging diverse perspectives and experiences related to regional development issues, while also enhancing the capacity for applied research and community development action. Held in June, diverse participants engaged in presentations, panels, and workshops. The Forum encourages knowledge sharing and networking across community and university boundaries. This year's sessions covered a range of topics including public policy, food security, public health, and community development. Additionally, sixteen undergraduates from eight different universities were participants in the Delta Scholars Program, an initiative affiliated with DDC and led by the Mississippi State University Shackouls Honors College, shared their insights gained during the Forum as part of their immersive two-week summer program experience. The Delta Scholars Program also involves Harvard University (Harvard College, Harvard Law School, and the T.H. Chan School of Public Health), University of Mississippi Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, Rutgers University, and Brandeis University. Along with attending and participating in sessions throughout the Forum, the students also presented their capstone project proposals.