Paper On Social Change In Arkansas Focus Of Clinton School Panel

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.