In conjunction with The City of Pine Bluff Economic and Community Development Department, three students from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service have worked to initiate a collaborative project in a neighborhood on the east side of Pine Bluff, Ark.
Clinton School students, Katherine Brown of Canton, Mich., Melvin Clayton of Pine Bluff, Ark., and Helen Grace King of Pine Bluff, Ark., developed a toolkit for the ECD Department, while performing a pilot study in the Turtle Creek Neighborhood of Pine Bluff. The toolkit contains documents and how-to guides to assist the ECD with neighborhood projects that focus on collaboration among community organizations and residents.
By working with residents and neighborhood-based organizations, such as churches, Jefferson County Library, Arts and Science Center, and Salvation Army, the students hosted a neighborhood conversation that catalyzed continued conversation for a collaborative initiative aimed at working together to better serve the youth and families in the neighborhood. The conversation centered on sharing and combining resources of the neighborhood to connect youth to safe, low-cost after-school and summertime programs.
“I really appreciate all the work the Clinton School students put into the pilot project,” said Lori Walker, project supervisor and Assistant Director at the City of Pine Bluff ECD. “They helped lay a good foundation for our neighborhood development program, which will roll out later this year.”
Brown, Clayton, and King all brought previous education and nonprofit work to this project. The students expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the work of the ECD in the Pine Bluff community by combining previous experience and teachings from the Clinton School.
This project is one of 12 to be completed by 46 Clinton School students across the state of Arkansas. These students are in their first year of classes in the school’s Master of Public Service degree program.
About the City of Pine Bluff ECD Department
The Economic and Community Development is a department of the City of Pine Bluff, Arkansas that handles all economic and community development issues. Its mission is to help revitalize and craft the economic future of the City of Pine Bluff.
More information about the Clinton School is available athttp://pbecd.com/about.html
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