Members of the Planning Committee met with members of the community on Saturday, August 19, 2006 about the Mississippi's Best Awards and what has happened since the news conference that was held on Friday, August 11, 2006--- and what a meeting it was!

Cyrus A. Webb, Jackie Watson-Loggins, Valencia Robinson and Tony Davenport address those in attendance about how the MBA originated and what they wanted to see come of it. For Webb,31, working with a committee has been a challenge. "I am so used to doing everything by myself," he relates. "The awards program is something I wanted to do in order to recognize people of the state that I believed were making a difference, but I knew that I couldn't do it alone. Working with Jackie and Valencia as well as the other members of the committee has helped me learn how to give us control and trust others to believe in my vision. It's not easy for me, but I'm learning."

In the week since the first news conference on Friday, August 11th, the event has been featured on BET.com, on the television version of BET news, MTVnews.com, several television network's websites as well as hiphop websites all over the country. Jackie Watson-Loggins, who has been an asset in communicating the committee's objectives shared information about some of the people who have contacted her about the awards dinner. Among them have been Outcast's Record Label, Purple Ribbon Records and the management company for Mysterious of Making the Band 2.

At the meeting Webb went through each category that was being voted on by the people, and even told those in attendance who was leading in each one. Some of the categories have one of no nominations and the panel encouraged more participation. The nominating process will continue until September 30th. The winners of the "Committee's Choice" awards were also announced. Marshall Ramsey, political cartoonist for the Clarion Ledger will be receiving the Margaret Webb Sims Creative Arts Award for entertaining and educating the public through his work. " Considering how strong Mississippi’s artistic tradition is, I am incredibly honored to receive the Margaret Webb Sims Creative Arts Award," says Ramsey. "While this honor was awarded for work I’ve done in the past, it will be a reminder for me to always strive to do my best possible work. Mississippi deserves no less."

The big leader in four categories currently is Country music sensation William Michael Morgan of Vicksburg, MS. It was announced that he has received over 2000 nomination ballots alone, ensuring that he will be a finalist in each category.

Adding to the momentum of the event has been the support of Skyla Dawn of Q105 FM, a Clear Channel station. Dawn, who is also a presenter at the event, has helped Webb schedule interviews and promos for Q105, 95.5, Miss 103 and Z106. Rick and Kim of Miss 103 and Uncle Johnny of Q105 will be linking the www.free2flow.com to their website, adding to the buzz about the event. ICBC Broadcasting Holdings who manages WOAD, WJMI and WKXI has also come aboard as support of the Mississippi's Best Awards, including having six of their on air personalities present at the event.

Those who will also be recognized by the Committee will include Oprah Winfrey with the "Mississippi's Best Award" for her work as a multi-media franschise. Willie Mosley Jr. of Pelahatchie (MS) will be given the Freeman King award. Morgan Freeman will be awarded the "Lifetime Achievement Award." John Grisham will be recognized with the "Hometown Hero Award" for his support of the Gulf Coast after Katrina.

Those at the meeting were told that a sobering moment of the awards dinner will definitely be the Katrina disaster tribute. Webb announced that the song that was chosen for the presentation was "Rain and Sunshine" by Next of Kindredz, a member of the Shadow Play Entertainment family. After the tribute hiphop artists David Banner and Kamikaze will be recognized with the "Best of the Best Awards" for their work in assisting those in need after the tragedy. "I wanted to do this for them, not for their work in the studio per se," related Webb,"but because of the initiative they took outside of the studio. Anyone can produce a record. It takes real character to do what they did in taking the lead and rallying the community and their fans to do what needed to be done in order to help." The award will be presented to them by Mississippi artists Bad Monkey Entertainment as well as Big Pap and Jokah of Mudd Life Entertainment. A representative of WJMI 99 Jamz will also have a part in the presentation.

The recognition of the "Best of the Best Award" has not escaped the notice of Banner. On August 16, 2006 he told Mike Winslow of Allhiphop.com "It's an honor to be recognized by your home. It's similar to your father saying he's proud of you."

Another hightlight of the meeting was Webb sharing that Outcast's R&B artist, Scar (Purple Ribbon Records), would be joining the awards dinner in October 28th. Scar is featured on Outcast's new cd IDLEWILD, including sitting next to Big Boi in the video for MORRIS BROWN. Details of Scar's role with the event were discussed but will be released in segments on the site www.free2flow.com and www.cawebb.com.

"I couldn't have been happier to get the news from Jackie about Outcast's support," Webb says. Loggins is the co-founder of Media Mogulz and has been working on the official logo for the event with her husband Montreal. Her support of everything that Shadow Play Entertainment and Free2Flow Productions has done in connection with the Mississippi's Best has only enhanced the project. When Webb discussed the fact that national artists and organizations were taking notice of the event, he added: "That lends so much credibility to what we are doing here. Though I have hosted hundreds of shows over the past 10 years, this one is not about me. It's about the people of Mississippi, and as long as we all keep that first in our minds we can't help but to succeed."

Tickets for the Mississippi's Best Awards are $50.00 with tables of ten being available for only $400. Dress for the event is semi-formal. $15 of each ticket sale benefits Building Bridges Inc., Grace House, Aids Action in Mississippi and the Rankin County Arts Alliance.