by Brittany Reese
Civic Arkansas is the Institute’s collaborative initiative to improve Arkansas’s civic health, with a focus on building pathways for connectedness and strengthening local communities. The program flourishes through a dynamic network of civic leaders known as Civic Activators, who unite communities across the state to address local challenges through collaborative problem solving.
Dr. Jay Barth is the director of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. He grew up in central Arkansas and received his Bachelor of Arts from Hendrix College. He was drawn to political science by his passion for electoral politics, especially in the American South. His interest later expanded into many areas of American politics.
In graduate school, he discovered a love for teaching and realized it was his calling. Dr. Barth also found fulfillment in working one-on-one with students as they explored how their skills could serve their communities through democracy.
Dr. Barth earned his Ph.D. in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, then spent 26 years teaching politics at Hendrix College. As director of the college’s civic engagement projects, he guided students in turning classroom theory into hands-on political action.
Dr. Barth and the Clinton Presidential Center
He explained that the Clinton Presidential Center has participated in several programs, including Global Youth Service Day. It’s the largest annual youth participation event worldwide and highlights the youth contributions to service. Global Youth Service Day at the center this year featured a panel on youth engagement and community service, reaching 108 students and four teachers.
Panelists included:
- Ragina Arrington, CEO, Clinton Global Initiative University
- Larissa-Bronte Agbor-Nkongho, student, Clinton School of Public Service
- Molly Chosich, Student Presidential Leaders Series participant
Dr. Barth, who serves on the ACLU’s national board, said the Clinton Presidential Center ties its Global Youth Service Day activities to the Clinton Foundation’s Student Presidential Leadership School. He called the Arkansas Civic Education Institute (ACEI) the centerpiece of the Center’s June professional development program, noting that ACEI always trains teachers to weave primary sources into their lessons.
The next two institutes are geared toward America 250, the nation’s 250th anniversary.
- 2025: Commemorating America 250: Revolutionary Records, Part I (1776-1901): Arkansas teachers will examine founding documents and the constitutional amendments from the country’s first 125 years.
- 2026: Part II will pick up with amendments adopted from 1901 to 2026.
Though teachers are the primary audience, the Clinton Presidential Center will offer two public programs available to all Arkansans.
More From Our Conversation
What drives your passion for civic engagement and civil liberties?
I believe in democracy and the importance of a healthy one. It’s essential to recognize that democracy is not just about voting. It’s about using our skills and talents to meet the world’s needs.
Why is it important to be part of civic organizations or groups?
Government, nonprofits, and for-profit sectors must work together. No one sector can meet all community needs alone. Civic involvement strengthens this ecosystem.
What makes it hard for people to stay engaged?
It’s time-consuming and often unrecognized. Many people burn out or lack confidence despite having the skills. We need to better celebrate and support this work.
What does your continued involvement with Civic Arkansas mean to you?
Arkansas has long struggled with civic health. This is shown by the exclusion of many people from the process, either by law or by practice, and by our low participation rates at the ballot box and in various other ways.
I see this work as helping to change that, especially by getting kids involved in it, gaining civic knowledge, and figuring out where their skills and talents are so they can really be engaged later in their lives.
What barriers keep Arkansans from getting involved?
Lack of recognition, social trust, public spaces, high-quality broadband internet, and civic education all play a role. But these challenges also present opportunities to make a difference.
Has Civic Arkansas changed your approach to your work or shifted your methods?
It’s shifted my consciousness and awareness. Whether through public programs, education at the Clinton Presidential Library, or my work out in the community, I now see all my work as contributing to a larger goal: enhancing civic health in Arkansas.
What advice would you give to someone interested in becoming a Civic Activator?
Identify your community’s dire needs and match them with your talents. There’s no single path. Whether through education, public spaces, or trusted information, every effort helps.
