/news-archive/tag/entergy-arkansas/ 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Thu, 17 Oct 2019 12:53:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /news-archive/2019/10/17/chamber-invites-community-to-create-vision-for-schools/ Thu, 17 Oct 2019 12:53:54 +0000 /news/?p=75438 ... Chamber of Commerce invites 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock community to co-create vision for Pulaski County schools]]> The Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce will host an informational meeting with University of Arkansas at Little Rock students, faculty, and staff Tuesday, Oct. 22, to discuss educational opportunities that could be achieved in Pulaski County Schools through the initiative. The meeting will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Student Services Center auditorium. It is an opportunity to hear directly from the Chamber of Commerce on what Ford Next Generation Learning can help facilitate for Pulaski County communities, businesses, and schools, including 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, as well as to learn how to become involved in upcoming visioning and planning efforts. In partnership with the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District, Little Rock School District, North Little Rock School District, and Pulaski County Special School District, the of how the Ford Next Generation Learning initiative could transform local high school experiences by leveraging strong community and business partnerships. The initiative would provide a collaborative framework for educators, employers, and community leaders that ultimately would improve regional workforce development. 鈥淭his initiative has proven successful in more than 40 other cities across the United States and Great Britain,鈥� said Dr. Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. 鈥淔ord Next Generation Learning communities report dramatically improved test scores and high school graduation rates, as well as better prepared students for the workforce and higher education.鈥� Some characteristics of the initiative include professional development for teachers with an emphasis on experiential and project-based learning; themed career academies that reflect local business and industry; and community engagement in support of high schools, workforce development, and community and economic development. Superintendents from the four Pulaski County school districts signed a memorandum of understanding Aug. 2 solidifying their agreement to strengthen all programs for student success across the four districts. The school districts share a common vision and sense of opportunity for high school transformation through a career-themed academy model. In May 2019, a report was completed. The goal of the study was to assess opportunities and feasibility across the four districts, highlight existing pockets of excellence, and provide a recommended path forward. Costs associated with the Phase I study were underwritten by Entergy Arkansas. The study results indicated the four public school districts are well positioned for transformation.听 The Phase I report outlines an inclusive community planning process that includes community visioning sessions as well as a master planning committee comprised of business and community members, teachers, and school district officials who would be tasked with preparing a master plan to guide transformation efforts of the individual districts.]]> /news-archive/2018/09/18/bank-on-arkansas/ Tue, 18 Sep 2018 15:00:49 +0000 /news/?p=71876 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to partner with coalition working to expand access to banking in underserved communities]]> The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is partnering with Bank On Arkansas+ to help ensure that underserved Arkansans have access to banking options that help improve their financial outlook. One in 10 Arkansas households does not have a bank account. Of those that do, over 22 percent rely on costly services to access their own money or cover monthly basics like rent, utilities, food, and medicine鈥攑aying more to just get by. Recognizing that these individuals often fall victim to high-risk, costly financial situations that trap them in a cycle of debt, dependency, and potential poverty, the Arkansas Asset Funders Network seeded a coalition to address these issues. Bank On Arkansas+ is a partnership among financial institutions and community organizations to promote accounts that are free or low-cost and have no to low opening deposit requirements and no overdraft fees. According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the No. 1 reason people do not have a bank account is that they believe they 鈥渄on鈥檛 have enough money鈥� to open and maintain an account. This concern is sometimes compounded by the fear of encountering high and unpredictable fees, including overdraft fees. Bank On Arkansas+ will officially launch on Nov. 1 with a media event at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. On Friday, Nov. 2, and Saturday, Nov. 3, local community events will take place around the state to highlight financial services and partners in specific communities. 鈥淭he University of Arkansas at Little Rock is pleased to be included in the coalition of partners supporting the mission of the Arkansas Asset Funders Network鈥檚 Bank On Arkansas+ initiative,鈥� said Dr. Andrew Rogerson, chancellor of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淚 applaud their efforts to serve the unbanked and underbanked in promoting financial literacy and relationship building with trusted financial institutions and community partners. Our missions are aligned in our intention to elevate lives through education.鈥� 听 Currently, six financial institutions in Arkansas have nationally certified Bank On accounts: Bank of America, Diamond Lakes Federal Credit Union, IBERIABANK, Southern Bancorp, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo. Others are in the process of having their accounts certified鈥擟itizens Bank, First Community Bank, First Security Bank, and Simmons Bank. Recognizing that bank accounts are just a first step in helping people become more financially stable, the Bank On Arkansas+ initiative is working with 鈥淧lus Partners鈥� that can offer additional services such as financial education and coaching, credit building, debt repair, micro loans, and small business development. 鈥淔inancial capability services are designed to help people solve issues, build relationships with financial institutions, and grow their wealth,鈥� said Alden Napier, executive director of Credit Counseling of Arkansas. 鈥淲e want to help the single mom who needs to save money on her car payments by improving her credit score. We want to help the college graduate create a plan for repaying his student loans as he begins his first job. It takes partnerships between financial institutions and financial capability providers to help our neighbors build a brighter financial future.鈥� 听 Bank On Arkansas+ is supported by sponsorships from Arvest Bank, Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation, Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, Entergy Arkansas, First Security Bank, IBERIABANK, Regions Bank, and Southern Bancorp. The coalition is continually accepting partnership opportunities from financial institutions, nonprofits, and other organizations that want to engage in the initiative. To request more information, email Stephanie Matthews, director of Bank On Arkansas+, at stephanie@assetfunders.org. Bank On Arkansas+ is a special project of the Arkansas Asset Funders Network. Arkansas AFN is a regional chapter of grantmakers who invest in opportunities for low- and middle-income individuals and families to build economic well-being. Members include private, public, corporate, and community foundations, public-sector funders, and financial institutions who want to help Arkansans secure economic stability, for now and for years to come. For more information, visit.]]>