South Arkansas communities lead the way in building resilience

Sylvia Brown of VOTE SoAR with Dorotha Hall of Destination
Transformation and Candace Williams of Rural Community Alliance, two Resilience Hub members.

HOPE — Six visionary civic leaders and social entrepreneurs from south Arkansas launched a collaboration to strengthen individual organizations and broaden their relationships. With support from Anthropocene Alliance
(A2) — the nation’s largest coalition of frontline communities fighting for climate and environmental justice — the Regional Community Resilience Hub united grassroots nonprofits, small towns, and statewide partners across South Arkansas.

On the ground, Visibility Outreach Touch Engage South Arkansas (VOTE SoAR), based in Hempstead County, identified and recruited the hub members and is guiding the community-based organizations in advancing environmental justice, capacity building, and grassroots solutions.

“We know firsthand how resources slip out of or bypass our communities,” said Sylvia C. Brown, VOTE SoAR Chairperson. “We are excited about A2 and national funder Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies investing in the Hub and our partners, lifting up their neighbors and building the kind of south Arkansas that generations to come will inherit.”

Hub Partners:
● Visibility Outreach Touch Engage South Arkansas (VOTE SoAR): The local
convener of the hub, VOTE SoAR works to catalyze citizen-led activism in rural,
under-resourced communities. The organization empowers community members
to assume leadership roles, address environmental challenges, and foster
stronger grassroots networks.

● Arkansas Public Policy Panel: The Panel has long been a statewide leader in
grassroots organizing, training communities to advocate for racial equity,
education, voting rights, and economic justice. By building civic infrastructure and
supporting campaigns, it ensures rural and underrepresented voices have power
in shaping Arkansas’s future.

● Books From Bobby, Inc.: Books From Bobby operating in Stamps and the
greater Lafayette County area offers STREAM education, literacy and workforce
programs, small business support, and food security initiatives, all aimed at
fostering self-sufficiency and generational wealth.

● Destination Transformation: Originally created in the 1990s and relaunched in
2023, Destination Transformation focuses on climate and health equity, youth
engagement, education, and workforce readiness. Programs in Desha and
Arkansas Counties are designed to uplift underserved communities, the
organization works to turn some of Southeast Arkansas’s most resource-limited
areas into thriving, inclusive communities.

● Lafayette County Leadership Council (LCLC): Formed to turn the tide of years
of disinvestment in Lewisville, LCLC is dedicated to youth development,
health-focused initiatives, and civic leadership. Among its achievements is the
transformation of a former school campus into a vibrant community hub that now
anchors local programs and opportunities.

● Rural Community Alliance (RCA): With a presence in 21 counties in the east
Arkansas Delta, RCA works to strengthen rural Arkansas through education,
youth leadership, and community engagement. Its programs help small towns
identify local priorities, build partnerships, and create sustainable solutions for
long-term resilience.

● Town of McNab: Though small in size, McNab in south Hempstead County is
investing in big changes. The town is modernizing critical infrastructure, including
wastewater systems, while also sustaining cultural pride through events such as
the Twin Rivers Festival.

Supporting Partners:

● Anthropocene Alliance (A2): The national backbone facilitated resource
sharing, provided financial support, and technical assistance.

● Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP): Grantmaking program of Margaret
A. Cargill Foundation and Anne Ray Foundation is the philanthropic supporter
providing funding to help sustain and expand the hub’s work.

● Southern Vision Alliance (SVA): Fiscal sponsor provides grants management,
infrastructure, and capacity support to grassroots projects in the American South.
“This hub is about more than projects—it’s about people coming together to make a bigger impact for their communities,” said Cydnee C. Harris, VOTE SoAR Project Manager, Environmental Programs. “We hope their work inspires others to step forward, get engaged, and be part of building strength and capacity.”

The Regional Community Resilience Hub demonstrates what’s possible when
grassroots nonprofits, small towns, and statewide partners work hand in hand: stronger, more resilient communities across South Arkansas.

MACP Resilience Hub members on recurring group call.