The Center of Community and Economic Development is currently working to support Arkansas communities through a variety of projects.
- Finalizing analysis of quantitative research related to the professional development needs of Arkansas municipal leaders
- Providing coaching and technical assistance to Prairie County community leaders organize a development effort on the county level. Click here for the Moving Prairie County Forward Summary.
- CCED helped form a Steering Committee to plan a vision for Prairie County’s future
- Steering Committee with the help of CCED developed a survey to gather the thoughts of county residents related to the county’s future. The survey asked information regarding views of the future, perception of county assets, and what priorities should be for the county’s efforts. 114 surveys were collected.
- CCED assisted as facilitators in holding a public forum to discuss survey results and hold breakout sessions for additional ideas and comments
- Training sessions are being held during summer 2012.
- Link to MPCF Facebook page
- Developing and implementing training sessions for non-profits; most recently, working with Young Non –Profit Professionals Network to provide a session on “Bridging the Generational Gap in the Workplace” Click here to view video from event!
- Currently working with Arkansas Division of Community Service and Nonprofit Support (DCSNS) to identify areas of collaboration.
- Also working with Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association (ACAAA) to provide a training session of ACAAA’s Annual Conference to reach a statewide group of nonprofits to address nonprofit organizational culture and provide effective strategies to improve nonprofit performance
- CCED had the opportunity to show lessons learned through the WRF grant with national non-profit whose work supports public colleges and universities interested in community and economic development
- Creating opportunities for students to work on real world community development projects; CCED currently works with three students and applies their creative energy and unique perspectives in our work
- Cross collaboration with other UCA departments to directly connect with students
- Partnership with the EPIC Residential College at UCA
- Collaboration with UCA’s Center for Leadership Development to develop another leadership program on campus focusing on a variety of leadership skills development topics to inform students about the common issues facing rural Arkansas and challenge students to use their leadership skills to address these problems
- CCED has worked with a professor on campus to sponsor a research competition where students will develop presentations related to poverty, community development, economic development, and education in rural Arkansas communities
- CCED has a student intern to assist with grant work where the student receives an excellent experiential learning opportunity
- CCED has also worked with a non-traditional graduate student to assist with projects in Prairie County
