Paper On Social Change In Arkansas Focus Of Clinton School Panel
by February 9, 2012 9:36 pm 78 views
Dr. Jay Barth, the M.E. and Ima Grace Peace Professor of Politics and Director of Civic Engagement at Hendrix College, will present a new report on social change in Arkansas being released in conjunction with the Arkansas Public Policy Panel and the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.
The report — “Ripe for Reform: Arkansas as a Model for Social Change” — makes the case that national foundations with a mission to create social change should target Arkansas for future investment. The new report also examines how the state has advanced community- and family- friendly policies in recent years through Republican and Democrat administrations including major improvements in education, expansion of children’s health care, maintaining a balanced budget and key social services thru two severe recessions, and making the state tax system fairer to low-income families.
Barth will also argue that Arkansas’ ability to tackle big policy problems may be threatened as “Arkansas’ political discourse becomes more polarized,” according to a Clinton School press release.
Following the presentation of the report, Barth will participate in a panel discussion about the paper with Rex Nelson, former communications director for Gov. Mike Huckabee (R); State Senator Joyce Elliott (D-Little Rock); State Representative Darrin Williams (D-Little Rock); and moderated by Dr. Sherece West, president of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.
The event will be Thursday, February 16 from 8-9 a.m. at the Clinton School of Public Service Sturgis Hall.
Reserve seats by e-mailing [email protected] or call 501.683.5239.