Issues involving housing, education, economic development and health care can often create a few head-scratching, silent moments.

Many times, that’s when the conversation ends.

That’s unfortunate, because the only way to effectively resolve problems is to never give up and constantly keep the conversation going, inviting as many brains to the table as possible.

Tuesday at the Natchez Convention Center, the collective table was huge and the community’s brains on display were impressive.

The joint lunch meeting of the three local chambers of commerce invited leaders in the Miss-Lou regionalism initiative to report on some of the work done to date.

Regionalism is a fancy way of saying, “Working together as one community.” That’s so critical in our area where what affects the right-hand in Natchez affects the left-hand in Vidalia and vice versa.

After decades of working apart, it’s refreshing to see the excitement that comes when we start working — and thinking — as one community.

As our efforts grow, we should seek to pull in other communities around us, too. Joining forces with surrounding counties and parishes, as practical, can only help bring more strength.

A great case in point was brought up at Tuesday’s luncheon. For years, Adams County leaders have tried to get state permission to allow nearby Louisiana students to have out-of-state tuition waived at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

The measure seems tough to pass if it only affects Natchez, but perhaps partnering with other areas of the state with similar two-state communities could bring enough interest to push it through to a reality.

That, like most regionalism projects, aren’t easy, but they’re worth continuing to pursue and never giving up until our community’s needs are addressed.