NATCHEZ &045;&045; Whether it’s the Maroni, the Niger or the Mississippi River, it’s the tie that binds and a class at Natchez High is learning that river towns have more in common than they may have thought.

It was river town research that first brought New York native Martha Hawley to Natchez where she met with the Mostly African Market. From there, Hawley connected with Natchez High teacher Frances Doss and a new partnership was born.

Doss, who teaches an African-American studies class at the high school, thought a study into the Mississippi Delta would be a good project for her students.

A career in journalism, mainly radio, has shown Hawley the world and she said she was ready to share it with others. After living in the Netherlands for 28 years, Hawley has dual citizenship.

&uot;It’s a project I’m starting and partnering with different people,&uot; she said. &uot;I felt really pulled down by all the terrible events in the world, and I wanted to do something positive.&uot;

Students started meeting with Hawley this week and she will lead the class at least three days a week for the next two weeks.

Her presentation Thursday included photos and history from the Niger delta region in Africa and the Maroni River area in Suriname.

Students are working toward a final project on the Mississippi delta where they will use either book research or interviews to tell a Delta story.

Along the way, students are turning in proposals and responses to Hawley, who turns them over to Doss for final grading.

Part of the presentations so far have included music from each area, and students have written responses to what they’ve heard.

&uot;I’ve adopted the idea that kids don’t have much to see beyond the mall,&uot; Hawley said. &uot;Because of my work in a lot of different countries, I know how significant it is for people to just have a connection.&uot;

After she completes the project with the Natchez group, Hawley said she hopes to do it in other schools.