The Institute continues the legacy of Governor Winthrop Rockefeller through programs rooted in the Rockefeller Ethic — the idea that lasting change happens when people with different views come together, share ideas, and solve problems collaboratively.
Using listening sessions, facilitated dialogue, and on-site convenings, our team leads groups through specialized forums that address issues affecting Arkansas and beyond. Learn more about our past work on the pages below!
Arkansas Education Policy Initiative (AEPI)
AEPI aimed to advance statewide policy recommendations that improve K–12 educational outcomes. The initiative focused on strengthening Arkansas’s national standing and creating positive impacts on students, families, and communities. These recommendations are designed to foster improved learning environments and generate long-term economic benefits for the state.
Arkansas Health Equity Collaboration
This program examined the social determinants of health and explored factors that influence health disparities outside the clinical setting. It highlighted the importance of where people live, learn, grow, and play, recognizing that these conditions shape community health outcomes.
Incarceration: Recidivism, Reentry, & Reunification (iR3)
iR3 addressed the challenges of recidivism by bringing together groups affected by the correctional system who rarely have opportunities for shared dialogue. The program created space for open discussion and collaborative problem solving, with the goal of reducing repeat involvement in the correctional system and strengthening pathways to successful reentry.
Partnership for Democratic Practices in Arkansas
Through the Kettering Foundation’s National Issues Forum, the Institute and its partners organized public dialogues in which citizens discussed issues and policies that affect their communities. These forums created opportunities for deeper civic engagement and problem solving.
Rural Health Summit
The 2020 Rural Health Summit marked both the culmination of years of statewide work and an opportunity to strengthen collaboration within rural health sectors across Arkansas. This effort led to the formation of the Rural Health Association of Arkansas, supporting ongoing partnerships and improved health outcomes in rural communities.
Rural Workforce Development Summit
Created in partnership with the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton (UACCM) and the USDA Rural Development Innovation Center Partnership Division, the Summit provided space for educators, business leaders, legislators, health care professionals, nonprofit representatives, and public servants from across the Southeast to exchange best practices and learn from one another.
Securing Water & Food in a Changing World
The Institute and the Winthrop Rockefeller Distinguished Lectures Advisory Committee hosted Peter G. McCornick, Ph.D., for a special event focused on Arkansas’s water resources. The event, streamed live by Arkansas PBS, explored challenges and opportunities in water and food security.
Uncommon Communities
Uncommon Communities was a leadership, community, and economic development program. It equipped participants to collaborate across areas such as leadership, education, workforce development, economic growth, and quality of life. Cohorts from 2018 and 2020 have completed the program and continue to apply its principles in their communities.
Under 40 Forum
The Under 40 Forum was a statewide gathering that brought together young leaders from across Arkansas to advance ideas, solve problems, and envision a brighter future. The program was a partnership between the Institute, the Clinton School of Public Service, Arkansas Business, and the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal.
University Research Collaborative
This program was created to strengthen partnerships between the University of Arkansas — Fayetteville (UAF) and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The collaborative supported cross‑institutional research efforts, shared learning, and greater statewide impact.