Hempstead County & Stamps Civic Leaders Join Statewide Civic Engagement Convening Building Civic Momentum Helps Foundation of Connected, Resilient Communities
Hope, Arkansas, June 8, 2025 – Civic leaders from South Arkansas, including representatives from Visibility Outreach Touch Engage South Arkansas (VOTE SoAR) and Mayor of Stamps attended Civic Arkansas’ Civic Spaces convening at the prestigious Winthrop Rockefeller Institute atop Petit Jean Mountain and next to the Arkansas River. This timely gathering of changemakers focused on building inclusive, trust-centered civic spaces across Arkansas.
VOTE SoAR Chairperson and former Hope Public School Board candidate, Sylvia C. Brown, represented the community-based organization, which is dedicated to civic engagement and empowerment. Stacie Mitchell-Gweah, also a Board Member and Mayor of Stamps, joined as well to network and learn about programs and projects to replicate in her town.
“This convening was not just a gathering; it was a call to action,” said Brown. “Communities like ours in South Arkansas must be seen and heard in statewide conversations. We are here to ensure our lived experiences shape how civic spaces and strategies are designed and supported.”
A major highlight of the convening was a keynote address by Melissa B. Carter, Arkansas native and Director at the Walmart Foundation, who presented insights from “The Connection Opportunity: Exploring What Unites Us,” the Foundation’s latest report in collaboration with More in Common. The report offers groundbreaking findings on how Americans, despite differing beliefs, share core values that can be leveraged to build civic trust and community resilience. Mayor Mitchell-Gweah, commented, “Melissa’s keynote, along with the tabletop conversations, were insightful providing ideas on how I can engage my constituents. Stamps is a small, rural town but has a lot to offer, when we understand and value the dynamics of intergroup contact and connection at the local level.”
The Civic Spaces Convening is part of Civic Arkansas, a multi-year initiative supported by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, and other partners to strengthen civic life in the Natural State through collaboration, shared learning, and community-driven leadership.
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Visibility Outreach Touch Engage South Arkansas (VOTE SoAR) is a community collective dedicated to amplifying the voice, frequency, and impact of grassroots civic actions in Hempstead and Lafayette counties. Our mission is to foster community-led solutions to modern challenges, with a focus on environmental justice, civic engagement, and equitable resource distribution. VOTE SoAR is a sponsored project of Southern Vision Alliance EIN: 61-1639641.
Learn more about VOTE SoAR at https://anthropocenealliance.
The Winthrop Rockefeller Institute is a nonprofit organization creating transformational change. Civic Arkansas, a collaborative initiative to improve Arkansas’s civic health, with a focus on building pathways for connectedness and strengthening local communities. Learn more about WRI and the Civic Spaces effort by visiting wrinst.org/civicar.
