Civic Arkansas Listening Sessions Begin May 9

The Institute has begun scheduling local listening sessions as part of the next phase of Civic Arkansas. We are excited to move into this phase of our work, seeking to learn directly from Arkansans. We will start with listening sessions in May at the following locations:

• Van Buren County: May 9 from 6-7:30 p.m.
  • Van Buren Courthouse Annex at 1414 Hwy 65 S, Suite 131 in Clinton, AR
• Crittenden County: May 21 from 6-7:30 p.m.
  • Eugene Woods Civic Center at 212 W Polk Avenue in West Memphis, AR
• Clark County: May 28 from 5:30-7 p.m.
  • Henderson State University’s Garrison Grand Ballroom at 1100 Henderson St. in Arkadelphia, AR
• Faulkner County: May 30 from 5:30-7 p.m.
  • Faulkner County Library at 1900 Tyler St. in Conway, AR

If you would like an invitation to one or any of these listening sessions, please fill out the brief form below.

The goal of each session is to engage as many people as possible from as many backgrounds as possible (e.g., social, economic, racial, and political). Each 90-minute listening session will be hosted by a local community partner and facilitated by Institute staff. We hope to hear about the magnificent work happening in towns, cities, and counties to improve the lives of Arkansans and build social connectedness. We hope to learn about barriers keeping individuals from volunteering, organizing neighborhood or community events, meeting city officials, participating in local government, and registering and exercising the right to vote.

Shana Chaplin

Chief Program Officer

“Local people solve local problems best. That belief drives us to listen and learn in order to then facilitate civil dialogue within communities and organizations as we seek solutions. The Arkansas Civic Health Index Report highlights our state’s strengths in collective impact, owing to the ‘small-townness’ of Arkansas. Only by continuing to engage each other in conversation and learning from one another can we maintain that path.”

What is Civic Arkansas?

Civic Arkansas is our latest initiative to amplify civic engagement across our beloved state. The insights from the Arkansas Civic Health Index Report drive the creation of this program. Until now, no published report has described the conditions of civic and political engagement in Arkansas. Following the report’s advice, we want to encourage civil conversations about important topics, and we have the perfect process to do so — the Rockefeller Ethic. We invite you to join us in making Arkansas a state known for its robust civic engagement.