Sixteen new Clinton School students traveled to Helena-West Helena, Ark., last weekend to get a taste of the range of public service going on in the impoverished Arkansas Delta region.
The Clinton School has worked on several projects with organizations in Helena-West Helena, including a Practicum project this fall with the Delta Circles, an anti-poverty initiative that includes several community partner organizations.
The trip included visits to the KIPP Delta public charter school, the Thrive Center rural development program and the Southern Bancorp community development bank.
This was the first “Field Service Field Trip” led by Julianne Dunn, assistant director of field service education at the Clinton School. Dunn said she hopes to organize similar trips to other parts of the state in the future.
“The students were excited to meet with staff of many of our partner organizations and learn more about both the positive momentum and challenges in the Delta region,” Dunn said.
The students finished their day by attending Helena Second Saturday, a monthly festival featuring music, art, crafts and shopping on Helena’s historic Cherry Street.
Those on the trip came away from the trip inspired by the efforts they saw to improve quality of life in the Helena community.
“The effort by so many different groups to reduce poverty in Helena is truly impressive and uplifting,” said Jacob Perry. “I had the chance to speak to some natives of Helena and they showed us warm hospitality and were excited to engage in conversation with us.
“Like so many of the other Clinton School students who went on the trip, I left Helena energized and optimistic about the direction of the town but also with a better understanding of what successful community involvement can look like,” Perry said.
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