Union County
Excel by Eight in Union County
The E8 coalition in Union County, led by the SHARE Foundation and United Way, identified four priority areas in alignment with their organizational goals and the Excel by Eight resource grid.
Priorities include child care availability, mental health, parent and family resources, and affordable housing. In 2023, the steering committee will approve goals, guide needs assessments, and review and evaluate strategies that are locally appropriate, feasible, and impactful for children ages 0-8 and their families.
Snapshot
Located on southern state border
Major industries include oil and gas and chemicals
Home to Murphy Arts District, an arts and entertainment district in downtown El Dorado
Largest county in Arkansas, in terms of square miles
Steering Committee
E8 Core Team
Karen Hicks, Lead Facilitator, El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce
Roy Bullock, El Dorado City Council
Amy Sturdivant, SHARE Foundation/South Arkansas Regional Hospital Foundation
Tyler Turner, United Way of Union County
Jill Weinischke, SHARE FoundationCommittee Members
Kaila Emery, The CALLBrittany Furhmann, Goodwill Industries of Arkansas
Sheila Holland, El Dorado School District
David Lee, Boys & Girls Club of El Dorado
Lorenzo Loston, Victory Childcare Center
Kristi Lowery, Hope LandingBill Luther, El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce
Debbie McAdams, El Dorado School DistrictAngela Means, SHARE Foundation
Arnitera Meeks, Women Moving Forward
Kim Newman, El Dorado School District
Jennifer Schroeder, South Arkansas College
Jackie Stratton, Union County 100 Families
Vikki Ward, CASA for ChildrenMichelle Wayne, Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Children and Family Services
Jennifer Wylie, The Eagle Foundation
Read more about E8 Communities
Excel by Eight hosts Spring 2024 Learning Community
Representatives from our E8 communities came together in April for our semiannual Learning Community. The agenda for the two-day event focused on identifying resources to support the development and implementation of their community plans, specifically in the areas of early care and education, maternal health, and K-3rd grade literacy.
Jefferson County hosts Fall 2023 Learning Community
Representatives from each of Excel by Eight’s six communities came together in Pine Bluff for two days of relationship building, learning, and idea sharing at the Fall 2023 Learning Community. Thank you to the Jefferson County steering committee and the team at the Arkansas River Education Service Cooperative for being such gracious hosts!
How an emphasis on early childhood helped usher in a $25 million investment for the city of Batesville
During an August 2023 special election, residents of Batesville voted overwhelmingly in favor of four ballot issues that marked a turning point for the city. These issues secured a $25 million investment for the expansion and improvement of the city’s parks and recreation facilities as well as an additional $110 million to go toward the construction of a new water treatment system. Opportunities to reshape a city’s infrastructure and enrich its social and recreational offerings without a tax increase seldom arise. But when they do, seizing these moments requires more than a stroke of luck; it demands collaboration, a willingness to learn, and data-informed planning.