At the Institute, we echo Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller’s belief that “every citizen has the duty to be informed, to be thoughtfully concerned, and to participate in the search for solutions.” With this guiding principle, we are proud to introduce Civic Arkansas. Since May 2024, we’ve been traveling across Arkansas, engaging with communities to understand their experiences, thoughts, and hopes for civic engagement in the state.
Civic Arkansas Listening Sessions with communities are winding down as the team proceeds with collegiate listening sessions. So far, we’ve held nine sessions across various communities, bringing together 183 citizens in Rockefeller Ethic-guided discussions about their local civic health. Through these conversations, participants have highlighted key themes that align with Civic Health Index data, including:
- A need for civics education accessible to all citizens
- The importance of trusted, local news sources
- A desire to foster healthy spaces where citizens can gather, connect, and serve one another
On August 18, 2024, 30 Civic Arkansas Activators and thought partners gathered at the Institute for a day-and-a-half of facilitated dialogue. Together, they explored key themes from recent listening sessions, shared insights on current initiatives, and discussed best practices. The group also brainstormed new ideas to help achieve desired outcomes, such as:
- Establishing a platform to amplify existing initiatives through collective action
- Creating a center dedicated to civic efforts
- Empowering, educating, and supporting citizens with enhanced civic education
- Developing safe spaces for meaningful dialogue and collaborative problem-solving
- Building skills for effective engagement in dialogue and collaboration
What is Civic Arkansas?
Civic Arkansas is the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute’s initiative to improve Arkansas’s civic health by leveraging a network of civic organizations across the state and empowering communities to practice collaborative problem-solving at the local level.
Defining “Civic Health”
The National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) defines civic health as the ability of communities to organize and solve public problems. The US Department of Health and Human Services includes “civic health” or civic participation as a component of their Healthy People 2030 goals, linking greater civic involvement to improved self-reported health.
Understanding the Arkansas Civic Health Index Report
Developed in collaboration with the NCoC, the Arkansas Civic Health Index Report comprehensively evaluates civic engagement in our state. This report, funded by Engage Arkansas and executed by the Clinton School of Public Service, assesses various aspects of civic participation, including voting, volunteerism, community involvement, and charitable giving.
Our Findings and Their Implications
The report highlights that Arkansas can enhance its participation in community activities such as voting, volunteering, collaborating, and donating to causes. While Arkansas currently ranks low in these areas compared to other states, the report also emphasizes our strengths. These strengths include neighborliness, charitable giving, community membership, and the time spent with family and friends.
The mission of this new program is to leverage these strengths and address identified weaknesses, aiming to foster a more civically engaged Arkansas.
Our Plan of Action
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.
Please submit the form below to be notified of opportunities to participate in listening sessions, dialogues, or future in-person programming at the Institute.
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