Thrivers & Strugglers: A Growing Economic Divide was held on Thursday, March 28 in the Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center at the University of Central Arkansas. The event was held in partnership with UCA’s Center for Community and Economic Development, Division of Outreach and Community Engagement, Service-Learning, College of Liberal Arts, College of Education (PhD Leadership Studies program), City of Hope Outreach, and the Center for Household Financial Stability at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Thrivers & Strugglers was an outgrowth of work being done by the UCA Poverty Studies Steering Committee, whose vision is “to engage and equip UCA students, faculty, staff and community partners in research and experiential learning that target poverty, with an emphasis on Arkansas.”
The event drew in nearly 100 community leaders from across the state of Arkansas to explore the demographics of wealth based on research conducted by the Center for Household Financial Stability, help participants understand poverty in Arkansas, and share promising practices that address poverty at the local level. The event’s goal was to bring together the UCA community, community leaders from across the state, non-profit leaders, and citizens who want to be a part of solving economic inequality. You can view the agenda here.
The day started with the Center for Household Financial Stability at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and their presentation “The Demographics of Wealth: How Education, Race and Birth Year Shape Financial Outcomes.” Sarah Kinser with the Arkansas Community Foundation and Rich Huddleston with Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families followed the Federal Reserve Bank to discuss poverty in Arkansas. Kinser shared information about their new online tool Aspire Arkansas and Huddleston gave an update on their work at AACF and specific issues they’re currently advocating for in the legislature. The final speakers of the day included Ray Boshara with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Maret Cahill-Wicks of the United Way of Central Arkansas, Dr. Phillip Fletcher with City of Hope Outreach, and Spring Hunter with the Conway Ministry Center. Each of these speakers shared specific programs and initiatives their organization provides to directly combat poverty at the local level. Boshara share research concerning Emergency/Rainy Day Savings, Cahill talked about ways that United Way is creating financial empowerment through many of their programs, Dr. Fletcher gave an inspiring presentation about his work with Hope Village, and Hunter talked about the Ministry Center’s every day work and shared a unique perspective on people living even further below the poverty line.
The day ended with a optional session where participants could learn more about UCA Poverty Studies and share information about their own work with poverty.
You can learn more about the Demographics of Wealth here and more about the UCA Poverty Studies at www.uca.edu/povertystudies.