Workforce Strategies for a Thriving Region: Strategies for Engaging Disconnected Populations
December 5 | 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | Tatum Hall at Crowder College – McDonald County in Pineville, MO
The University of Central Arkansas, University of Arkansas, Crowder College, and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis invite you to join Workforce Strategies for a Thriving Region: Strategies for Engaging Disconnected Populations, a free training event focused on opportunities across Northwest Arkansas, Southwest Missouri, and the broader tri-state region to help disengaged people reinvest into the Workforce.
Our feature presentation will be a viewing of the 2025 documentary Gone Guys. Over the past fifty years, boys and young men have steadily disengaged from school, work, and broader society. They’re falling behind academically, struggling with loneliness and isolation, and facing rising rates of substance abuse and suicide.
This 45-minute documentary draws on the influential work of Richard V. Reeves’ “Of Boys and Men”, illuminating these challenges through powerful data and compelling personal stories. Many of us have experienced these issues first-hand, but it can be difficult to talk about them. It’s not an either-or choice: caring more about boys and men does not mean caring less about women and girls.
Set in rural Vermont, the film brings national data to life with engaging animation accompanying lived experience featuring young men, educators, mentors, and trailblazing programs that are working to re-engage boys and young men in their communities and reshape their futures
This event is a part of a quarterly, collaborative series designed to advance workforce solutions in multiple sectors.
This quarterly series builds on the success of the I-49 Workforce Summit, offering a deeper, more focused exploration of the most pressing challenges affecting our regional labor market. Each event brings together leaders from education, industry, government, and community organizations to engage in meaningful conversations around timely workforce topics.
These interactive, solutions-oriented sessions aim to:
- Identify persistent workforce barriers and systemic challenges
- Highlight innovative and scalable practices already underway
- Foster partnerships and regional alignment to drive real progress
Space is limited. Registration is FREE but is required and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tentative Agenda:
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. | Check-In and Networking
8:30 – 8:40 a.m. | Welcome
8:40 – 9:40 a.m. | St. Louis Federal Reserve: What Does the Data Tell Us?
Presented by Dr. Nicole Summers-Gabr
9:40-9:50 | Break
9:50 – 11:00 a.m. | Gone Guys Documentary
Q&A from Lauren Curry
11:00 – 11:45 a.m. | Panel
DPI Staffing – Miles Crawford
Single Parent Scholarship Fund – Krystle Goodwin
Home – Aspire Scholarship – Todd Taylor
Circles NWA – TJ Williams
11:45 – 12:00 p.m. | Wrap-up – Share out
Workforce Strategies for a Thriving Region: Upcoming Events
Save the dates for upcoming topics in the “Workforce Strategies for a Thriving Region” series! Session topics and dates include:
- March 26, 2026: Manufacturing – Adapting to automation, skill gaps, and regional employer needs
- June 10, 2026: Housing and Childcare – Tackling two of the biggest non-wage barriers to workforce stability
Registration links for upcoming events can be found on this landing page and will be available soon.
About the Community Development Pipeline Program
The University of Central Arkansas Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) received a three-year grant from the Walton Family Foundation to support the development and implementation of the Community Development Pipeline program. The vision of the Community Development Pipeline program is to train community leaders on foundational community and economic development principles, positively impact and uplift the economies and quality of life of communities whose leaders participate in the program, and develop new relationships that build bridges across Arkansas communities. The CD Pipeline program will provide training and technical assistance to community leaders in Washington and Benton counties.
Twenty-five (25) community leaders from Benton and Washington counties have been selected to participate in the Pipeline program. Leaders were identified through a competitive application process using the following metrics: field of work, experience, professional goals, desire to participate in the program, geography, and other demographics.
The leaders selected are as follows:
Read the press release announcing the participants HERE.
These cohort members will receive:
- A three-year scholarship (Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3) and travel expense support to the University of Central Arkansas Community Development Institute (CDI)
- The opportunity and support to become certified as a Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED)
- Access to a variety of technical assistance support services for their community (based on community needs)
- Networking opportunities with leaders across the state and nation
If you have questions, please contact Shelby Fiegel at sfiegel@uca.edu or by calling 501-450-5269.
