Second cohort announced for TRUE Northwest Arkansas program
by October 12, 2020 4:16 pm 896 views
Twenty organizations have been chosen to participate in the second TRUE Northwest Arkansas Train Cohort.
The TRUE Northwest Arkansas initiative is a three-year pilot program announced in 2018.
The purpose of the cohort is to “build leaders for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the region through peer learning, coaching and development of DEI plans for each organization,” according to organizers.
TRUE Northwest Arkansas is supported by the Walmart Foundation and Walton Family Foundation, administered by the Arkansas Community Foundation and guided by a diverse community advisory board of 20 stakeholders.
“At Trike Theatre part of our mission is to strengthen communities. Not only did the program help us create a sophisticated DEI plan that we are now able to execute, but it helped set a high bar for DEI goals for our community as a whole, setting in motion new cooperative initiatives that we believe will effect lasting and positive change,” said Paul Savas, executive director of Trike Theatre, a 2019 TRUE NWA Train Cohort participant.
Members of the second cohort include Arisa Health Inc., Arkansas Arts & Fashion Forum, Arts Live Theatre, Benton County Government, Boys & Girls Club of Benton County Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County, Girls on the Run of Northwest Arkansas, Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, Mount Sequoyah Center Inc., Fayetteville Art Alliance, The Jones Center for Families, NWA Ballet Theatre, NWA and Trust, Partners for Better Housing, Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce, The Salvation Army-Northwest Arkansas Area Command, Teen Action and Support Center, United Way of Northwest Arkansas, Westark Area Council Inc.-Boy Scouts of America and Women of Oz NWA.
“We are honored to be selected as a participant in the TRUE Northwest Arkansas program,” Coletta Patterson, executive director of Teen Action Support Center and a member of the 2020 Train cohort, said in a news release. “Diversity, equity and inclusion is a major focus for us and something we value tremendously. We are excited to learn more about DEI and work alongside others who share our passion and commitment to making NWA a more inclusive place.”