In the Arkansas Delta, three Clinton School students – Danielle Folks, David Ford, and Thato Masire – spent eight months working to strengthen small business and entrepreneurship in the region.
The team conducted research across five states and studied a dozen business-support organizations to develop a tailored strategy for the Delta. They held interviews with local leaders, business owners, and residents to identify community needs and build collaborative solutions.
Their findings were presented at Mid-South Community College and were received as a promising step toward boosting job creation, entrepreneurial education, and economic opportunity.
The team’s work helped lay the foundation for the East Arkansas Crossroads Coalition, a state-approved partnership with headquarters in Wynne, Arkansas, focused on advancing economic development across eight Eastern Arkansas counties.
The coalition’s priorities included education, workforce and leadership development, particularly in STEM fields, and community revitalization – each aimed at creating long-term opportunities for growth in the Delta.
The Clinton School Impact Minute is a recurring segment with Little Rock Public Radio, highlighting the Clinton School’s field service impact.
Since 2004, Clinton School students have completed nearly 700 field service projects with more than 300 organizations in Arkansas alone, creating immediate and long-term impact for businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies across the state.