Workforce Strategies for a Thriving Region: Strategies for Engaging Disconnected Populations
REGISTRATION FULL!
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.
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
In partnership with:
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.