This weekend, area families can access an array of resources dealing with education, health and career opportunities in one location.

Mississippi Public Broadcasting — in collaboration with the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, Mississippi University for Women, Preservation Society of Columbus, Accelerate Mississippi and MUW-Excel by 5 — will host the first regional MPB Family Fun Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Pohl Gym on MUW’s campus.

Penny Mansell, director for MUW’s Center for Education Support, said the event will bring several partners together to make sure local and regional resources are easily accessible to families who need them.

“Our goal is to just make sure we get these resources in the hands … of all the people that need them,” she said. “We hear all the time from families that are not sure where to go and where to get resources, and Columbus and our region actually has a great deal available.”

Children can participate in math and music learning activities while parents can find information on special needs, mental health and infant care through Excel by 5’s health fair.

“And even families that are looking for jobs and employment as well,” Mansell said. “Accelerate MS (will) have all of their regional businesses on hand. So for families that are looking for employment or … to get back into workforce development, those folks are going to be on site too.”

Dawn Barham, who teaches performing arts at MSMS and is a member of MPB’s Board of Directors, said the idea for a regional Family Fun Day was born from multiple organizations coming together to collaborate.

“The most significant part of this event is the willingness and the eagerness of all of these (local and regional agencies) to come together to put an event of this magnitude out there that’s offering free resources to parents, children and teachers too,” she said.

MPB hosts an annual Family Fun Day each summer in Jackson, but Saturday will be the first regional event. One thing that makes Columbus a good starting point, Mansell said, is the abundance of regional organizations dedicated to health and education.

“We are basically piloting the community-based version of their Family Fun Day,” Mansell said. “You don’t find this in a lot of other communities. We are just very thankful that our organizations are not siloed, and that they really do just want to serve people in our community.”

Barham said MSMS students will provide learning activities for children attending the event, including a “percussion petting zoo.”

“They’ll introduce children to instruments they might not be aware of or have heard before, and then have activities where they’ll interact with those instruments and their sounds,” she said.

MSMS’s Math Outreach club will also facilitate a math logic game called “Mastermind,” and performing arts students will give a live musical performance.

For high school students, representatives from various organizations including Mu Alpha Theta and Future Business Leaders of America will be available to answer questions about extracurricular opportunities. There will also be an American College Test (ACT) Workkeys booth where students can get test-prep help and explore career options.

For families with infants and young children, the Diaper Bank of Mississippi will have diapers to give away, and there will be several organizations, like the Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center, available for parents concerned about special needs support.

“There will be lots of folks that can be here to help if you have concerns about your child’s development or meeting milestones,” Mansell said.

Mansell encourages any organizations and individuals that work with children and families to also attend the event.

“It’s (also) about the churches and the teachers and the child care centers,” she said. “All the people that impact these families need to be there as well, so they can get the resources in the hands of families that may not be there that day.”

There is no cost for attending the Family Fun Day, but registration is required and available at the Preservation Society’s website.

McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.