By Donell Maxie, Communications & Marketing Director
Mississippi Valley State University alum Robert L. Sanders has spent most of his life in public service.
The MVSU Basketball Hall of Famer has served over 28 years in law enforcement and 12 years in the city government. Still, now the Shaw native and Cleveland resident is looking to impact the state level as the new District 29 House of Representative member.
A Democratic Representative, Sanders, took his oath of office during a small ceremony late in 2021. It is not Sanders’ first time serving in the state capitol, having served as sergeant-at-arms for the Mississippi Senate from 2000 to 2004.
Sanders succeeds former Rep. Abe Hudson of Shelby, a Democrat who resigned from the District 29 seat in Bolivar and Sunflower counties in late August. Sanders will serve the rest of the four-year term in January 2024.
Having the opportunity to serve the residents of Bolivar and Sunflower County is an honor that Sanders does not take lightly.
"I ran for office because I believe in the place that we call home. I am not afraid to speak up and out for families that may feel left behind because we all deserve to be seen and heard and have a voice. Regardless of obstacles and forces that may intend to divide us, one thing I know for sure is that we are better together," said Sanders.
"Through the years, I have always accumulated thousands of law enforcement training hours, municipal training hours, and other continuing education hours, all to ensure that I am staying abreast of changes to make sure that the citizens that I serve are receiving the most up to date knowledge and results," he said. Always seeking professional development illustrates that my dedication and commitment to service has been consistent," he added.
Sanders has always strived to give back, in a meaningful way, to the community, and he attributes his passion for service to his upbringing and the things he learned as a student-athlete at MVSU.
“I went to school and worked hard to obtain a scholarship to college. My mother and grandmother didn’t have a lot of money, but they did the absolute best that they could. I knew that basketball would have to be my ticket to college. I was so excited to attend Valley. At the time, my cousins and I were known as the 'Sanders Brothers.' We all played sports and were inducted into MVSU's Hall of Fame.
“I remember arriving on Valley’s campus as an impressionable freshman with all of my belongings in a brown paper bag. Valley has truly, indubitably been instrumental in making me who I am today,” he said. I am forever grateful for all of the opportunities that were provided to me as a student-athlete and even now as an active Alumni,” he added.
Sanders believes Valley’s motto of “Live for Service” has truly helped to shape his life in ways that are sometimes difficult to verbalize.
“My entire life’s work has consistently been dedicated to the commitment and devotion to projects and purposes larger than me. As a public servant, it was simple. All I ever wanted was to be for others, the person I wished I had growing up. For to whom much is given, much is required.”
Sanders’ values are not abstract ideals; to him, they are personal.
“I know what it feels like to grow up not having much. My mother and grandmother, like many other elders, were able to live independently in the home that they owned for over 40 years and were able to raise us because of government-funded assistance programs,” Sanders explained.
“My teachers in Shaw and at MVSU were the ones to propel me forward toward greater and because of that, not only do I pay homage to them, I want to ensure that they are receiving a sustainable living wage. As a product of a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), I know how meaningful that experience was. In that same manner, I want to make sure that our HBCU’s continue to receive the funding that they need to produce our next generation of leaders.”
Healthcare is a subject that Sanders values greatly. He understands the importance of affordable healthcare, but he cares about access to healthcare for those in rural areas.
"It's about the quality of care that's received during our most vulnerable times. For example, I have a daughter whose family moved out-of-state eight years ago in search of "better" for their child. In all transparency, that did not sit well with me. Instead, it made me take self-inventory and ask myself what I could do to be the change that I wanted to see, so I went to work," he said.
"I value our children and young adults, and as they enter the next phase of their lives post-undergrad, I do not want them to feel like they have to leave our state in pursuit of better. I want us to grow so that millennials can live and play in their backyards. I want them to consider staying in Mississippi when they graduate. With that said, I hope that we can bring more jobs, but not just any jobs; I hope we can bring employment opportunities that will be commensurate with the degrees that our young adults in Mississippi are obtaining," Sanders said.
As Rep. Sanders continues to settle in his new role, he explained how impactful being in the seat means to the responsibility of being a true advocate.
"For me, it has an opportunity that you cannot blow because if you do, the entire community will be affected. It’s like going on a game show and feeling the pressure of not getting the answer right because if you lose, the money that you were going to receive will not only have benefitted you, but it would have benefitted the entire family,” he expressed. As an athlete who loves a good challenge, no one wants to lose, especially when those they love and value will also have to feel the loss. Unfortunately, the reality is that there will be losses, but that is when we dust ourselves off and get back in the game. Therefore, I strive earnestly to study to show myself approved,” he said.
In his career, Sanders served in several capacities, which include: Cleveland Police Officer, SRO Officer, Teacher and Coach in Mound Bayou, Chief of Police of the City of Shaw, Sergeant at Arms for the MS State Senate, an Investigator for the Mississippi Department of Internal Affairs, and Chief of Police for MVSU. He currently serves as City Councilman for Cleveland for Ward 2 and as the MS State Representative for District 29.
His family means everything to him, and their support has made this new move special. "My beautiful wife of 35 years, Tracey, my awesome children, Stephanie, Cornelius, Robyn, Krystal Brittney, Alexis, my amazing grandson, Treyson, and amazing granddaughter, Rylie all give me an immense amount of joy. I also enjoy spending time with my one and only sibling, who is also named Tracy. There is nothing more important than time spent with family."
Sanders is also a senior deacon at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Cleveland, where he has been a devoted member for over 30 years.
