The Why Arkansas? Funders Tour was a series of site visits and strategic conversations that explored recent success stories in Arkansas and what this small state can teach us about creating policy change across the South and the nation.
In the midst of a stagnant policy environment, Arkansas has stood out as a place of hope and progress in the South. Over the last several years, Arkansas has maintained a more balanced political system allowing the state to advance community and family-friendly policy, while at the same time, minimizing the impact of less progressive ideas that plague neighboring states. Arkansas’s successes are more than isolated bright spots in the South, they reflect a broader opportunity for progress and offer important lessons for funders.
Philanthropic partners were invited to look at how funders, cornerstone organizations, and large coalitions in Arkansas are successfully advancing a broad set of social justice issues. Together, we considered how lessons and strategies developed in Arkansas can be applied across the South, the Midwest, and the nation.
Thank you for your participation in the tour.
