Ten teams of students from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service will complete public service projects in partnership with public agencies, community initiatives, academic ventures, and nonprofit organizations across Arkansas during the 2015-2016 academic year.
As part of the school’s Master of Public Service degree program, the students will earn academic credit for their work on the projects, which include efforts to end senior hunger in Arkansas, enhance services provided to children and families, eliminate housing barriers for previously incarcerated individuals, and develop economic opportunities through the arts, among others.
Organizations partnering with the Clinton School on the projects are located throughout Arkansas including Hot Springs, Newport, Monticello and Helena-West Helena.
“While other academic programs often address the questions of what, where and why, this field service hands on experience, in combination with the skills and strategies gained in the classroom, enable Clinton School students to better answer the critical question of how,” said Clinton School Dean James L. “Skip” Rutherford III. “A key component of this team-based initiative is getting to outcomes.”
The projects are part of the Clinton School’s Practicum program, the first of three public service projects completed during the two-year master’s degree program.
Forty Clinton School students will participate in the projects during their first year while also completing in-class coursework on topics such as program planning and development, field research, and communication.
The 2015-16 Clinton School Practicum Projects include:
Local Partner Development for Senior Services
Partner Organization: Arkansas Foodbank (http://www.arkansasfoodbank.org/)
Team: Mary Henthorn (Little Rock, Ark.), Salil Joshi (Shreveport, La.), Miki Kunishige (Rapid City, S.D.), Yvonne Quek (Singapore)
Arkansas Foodbank has worked in underserved communities to bring awareness, collaboration and resource development to these communities in an effort to open new pantries and strengthen existing agencies. Through these efforts, Arkansas Foodbank has identified the need for community partner development in the work being done to serve seniors. Agencies have expressed a desire to enhance their service of seniors but some are seeing the need for more community awareness, support and collaboration. Arkansas Foodbank hopes to replicate the success of their local partner development initiative in building stronger senior services. This team will focus on facilitating the assessment of community partners and resources, bringing those groups together, and finding way the community can work together to capitalize on each other’s work and resources to better serve seniors.
Improving Student Achievement with School Breakfast
Partner Organization: Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance (http://www.arhungeralliance.org/)
Team: Will Van Laningham (Fayatteville, Ark.), Colbert Nelson (Little Rock, Ark.), Shem Ngwira (Lilongwe, Malawi), Marsha Scullark (West Memphis, Ark.)
This team will work with the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance to evaluate the impact of the Arkansas Meals for Achievement Pilot Grant program (which encourages schools to provide all students a free breakfast) on student health, attendance, behavior and academic achievement. The team will expand the scope of research initiated by the 2014/15 practicum team and help support hunger relief policy recommendations aimed at improving student outcomes.
Housing Accessibility Study
Partner Organization: Central Arkansas Re-Entry (CARE) Coalition (http://arkansasreentry.com)
Team: Zac Hale (Huntsville, Ala.), Emily Kearns (Little Rock, Ark.), Alexandre Meldem (Lausanne, Switzerland), Michael Watson (Washington, DC)
The team will study the need for housing and the availability of housing for members of the community that are in transitional circumstances which includes returning citizens in Little Rock. CARE will use the information to address housing barriers and to assist with future planning to address the issue of housing.
Feasibility Study on Therapeutic Behavioral Health Garden for Youth
Partner Organization: Centers for Youth and Families (www.cfyf.org)
Team: Kristen Alexander (Little Rock, Ark.), Daniel Caruth (Morrilton, Ark.), Claire Hodgson (Russellville, Ark.), Piper Meeks (Nederland,Texas)
This team will explore the feasibility of establishing a botanical and/or food producing garden to create an interactive, educational and therapeutic experience for the clients of Centers for Youth and Families. Centers for Youth and Families provides specialized prevention, intervention and treatment services that promote emotional and social wellness for children and families of Arkansas.
Developing Promising Practices for Outreach, Impact, and Success Outcomes
Partner Organization: Goodwill Industries of Arkansas (http://www.goodwillar.org/)
Team: Nora Bouzihay (Jonesboro, Ark.), Xochitl Delgado-Solorzano (Springdale, Ark.), Arjola Limani (Tirana, Albania), Jeremiah Sniffin (Laramie, Wyo.)
This team will research and compile best practices for service engagement with the Latino community here in Arkansas. These findings will be utilized to develop a comprehensive action plan for the organization to better serve and engage the Latino community in central Arkansas. This guide and action plan will aid the organization in serving its mission to provide education and training through its charter and trade schools as well as increase employment outcomes for individuals in the Latino community and their families. Anticipated services may include but are not limited to ESL, youth, reentry, support and career-readiness services, and job placement opportunities.
Identifying Education and Family Stability Resources in Garland County
Partner Organization: Hot Springs Area Community Foundation (http://www.arcf.org/about/affiliateoffices/hotspringsarea.aspx)
Team: Khalid Ahmadzai (Kabul, Afghanistan), Evan Brown (Memphis, Tenn.), Sarah Fowlkes (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Yohannis Job (Scarborough, Tobago)
The assigned team will study the availability and adequacy of two pillars of poverty in Garland County, education and family stability. The community foundation will use the information to strategically plan grants that address gaps in services and offer leadership to encourage collaboration of service duplication.
Making Food Accessible
Partner Organization: Mid-Delta Community Consortium (http://adrdnmdcc.com)
Team: Ben Barber (Hartsdale, N.Y.), Thurman Green III (Pine Bluff, Ark.), Hunter Owen (Conway, Ark.), Rob Pillow (Jackson, Miss.)
This team will assist in the development of an assessment tool to identify community leaders and members (including community/ faith-based organizations/ local public sector officials/etc.) that assist low-income individuals/families in accessing food assistance programs. This tool will also identify and address barriers associated with access to food assistance programs. The results from the assessment will benefit MDCC and its partners in alleviating identified barriers and improve access to food assistance programs.
Developing a Creative Economy in Newport
Partner Organization: Newport Economic Development Commission (http://newportarcity.org/economic-development/)
Team: Stacy Cox (Little Rock, Ark.), Zachary Glembin (Milwaukee, Wis.), Beau Papan (Little Rock, Ark.), Keith Preciados (Miami, Fla.)
This team will work on a resource plan for the restoration and renovation of a historic bank building in downtown Newport. The local community is purchasing this building to become the home of the Blue Bridge Center for the Delta Arts. Working with the Downtown Revitalization and Improvement Volunteer Effort (D.R.I.V.E.), the team will shape the fundraising efforts to develop this space for the creative economy in Newport. The plan will be used to create a hub for revitalization in downtown Newport.
Creating Food Accessibility through Mobile Markets
Partner Organization: The People Tree (http://thepeopletree.us/)
Team: Cat French (Little Rock, Ark.), Caitlin McAteer (Denver, Colo.), Heather Rossi (Columbia, S.C.), Merrill Schmidt (Little Rock, Ark.)
This team will work to contribute to the development of mobile food markets for fresh fruits and vegetables in Little Rock and North Little Rock. The project aims to increase awareness and community support around the concept of mobile markets and to increase outlets for local growers/community gardens to sell their produce. Students will conduct surveys at food pantries and community gardens with the goal of linking consumers and producers together and building community support for the mobile market concept. This project involves partnerships with multiple community partners including but not limited to, the Clinton Foundation, Arkansas Hunger Alliance, UALR, UAMS, Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Extension, Central Arkansas Transit, as well as the cities of Little Rock and North Little Rock.
Assessing the needs of families in southeast Arkansas
Partner Organization: Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Family Services (http://www.veralloyd.org/)
Team: Abby Craig (Little Rock, Ark.), Elena Perry (Slobozia, Romania), Demas Soliman (Alexandria, Egypt), Mary Wolf (Milwaukee, Wis.)
This team will reach out to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and government agencies to complete a comprehensive needs assessment to determine educational and support needs of children and families in southeast Arkansas. Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Family Services will use the results to develop services that will be carried out by its counseling and outreach staff.
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