The University of Arkansas at Monticello Homepage

On Tuesday, November 19, students, faculty and staff from the University of Arkansas at Monticello had the opportunity to participate in two free on-campus Civic Arkansas Listening Sessions, which are designed to encourage attendees to envision the ideal form of civic engagement in their community and consider how they can influence progress toward that vision.

According to its website, “Civic Arkansas is the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute’s initiative to improve Arkansas’ civic health by leveraging a network of civic organizations across the state and empowering communities to practice collaborative problem-solving at the local level.”

During both sessions at UAM, Alyssa Ghaleb and Aaron Keith Kennard, program officers for the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, presented the Arkansas Civic Health Index Report, comparing Arkansas’ results to the national average in areas such as voter registration, voter turnout, social connectedness with family and friends, trust in government and trust in media. After the report, they led attendees through individual and group exercises covering topics including civic engagement, local community, news media, social media, social connectedness and voting. Each session concluded with attendees sharing their next steps toward achieving this ideal community.

Dr. Carol Strong, professor of political science at UAM, had a group of her students participate in the event. “The listening sessions provided UAM community members with a platform to share their voices, allowing both students and faculty to engage in meaningful discussions about the future of Southeast Arkansas. For my students, it was an opportunity to explore civic opportunities, engage in constructive conversations about the region’s future and get involved in creating change,” Dr. Strong explained. “The gathering brought together people from different backgrounds, breaking down barriers and inspiring new ideas for regional growth. Above all, it emphasized the importance of civic engagement and encouraged participants to take an active role in shaping their community’s future.”