Union County

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
Large green wheel centerpiece surrounded by life-size bronze statues of oil workers in downtown Union County, Arkansas.

Steering Committee

Committee Members

Karen Hicks, E8 Core Team, Union County Area Chamber of Commerce

Amy Sturdivant, E8 Core Team, SHARE Foundation

Tyler Turner, E8 Core Team, United Way of Union County

Jill Weinischke, E8 Core Team, SHARE Foundation

Gloria Billings, Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Children and Family Services

Pam Blake, Families and Children Together (F.A.C.T.), Inc.

Becky Dixon, Smackover-Norphlet School District

Heidi Klappenbach, Family Connects

Kathy Love, Hannah Pregnancy Resource Center

Ellen Lowe, Junction City School District

Debbie McAdams, El Dorado School District

Kaitlyn Rigdon, Union County Chamber of Commerce

Tequila Smith, Families and Children Together (F.A.C.T.), Inc.

Kimberly Thomas, Strong-Huttig School District

Excel by Eight in Union County

The Excel by Eight coalition in Union County, led by the SHARE Foundation, United Way of Union County, and the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce, is focused on improving child care availability, mental health, family resources, and affordable housing.

In 2025, projects include a StoryWalk® and STEAM initiative, a community-wide Data Walk Road Show with resource fairs, and the launch of a community mapping tool using EDI data. These efforts aim to bring local data to life, expand access to learning opportunities, and connect families with services that support children’s development from birth through early elementary years.

E8 Team Contact

Friendly outdoor headshot of Sanci Richardson wearing a light blazer, serving as an Excel by Eight Communities manager in Arkansas.

Sanci Richardson

Communities Manager

Our Community Goals:

Icon of three colorful alphabet blocks labeled A, B, and C, representing early childhood education.

Goal #2: Child Care Availability

Icon of a human head with a plus sign inside, representing positive mental health and wellbeing.

Goal #2: Mental Health

Icon of a laptop with a smartphone overlapping its screen, symbolizing digital access and family engagement through technology.

Goal #3: Parent and Family Resources

Goal #4: Affordable Housing

More stories from Union County

Excel by Eight is dedicated to supporting families and children across Arkansas, including right here in Union County. Learn more about these efforts by exploring articles or joining the county committee.