TRUE Northwest Arkansas, a program through the Arkansas Community Foundation, is supporting the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts of 14 local organizations in Benton and Washington counties: BikeNWA, Circle of Life, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Downtown Bentonville, Inc., Downtown Springdale Alliance, Fayetteville Public Library, Fayetteville Public Schools, Northwest Arkansas Council, NWA Center for Sexual Assault, Ozark Literacy Council, TheatreSquared, Tricycle Theatre, University of Arkansas IDEALS Institute, and Walton Arts Center. In addition to diversity training, the program considers gaps and barriers to access, underrepresented populations, and community engagement. Converge, a New Orleans-based social justice consulting firm, has provided technical and research assistance. Following TRUE’s nine-month TRAIN program, the foundation will now provide a combined $1,267,500 to implement their DEI plans.
Patty Sullivan of Ozark Literacy Council said, “Many of our former English Language Learner students have become volunteers for our organization as well as others in the region. This grant will give us the funding we need to further expand our program and create even more connections among diverse cultures, social networks and communities.”
Superintendent John L. Colbert, Ed.D, said, “Fayetteville Public Schools’ partnership with TRUE has played a valuable role in the development of our five-year equity plan, which is designed to grow and sustain a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. With this grant, the district can now provide professional development on culturally responsive education, bias, and decreasing disproportionate discipline; help diversify staff through recruitment and retention; and make investments in important community partnerships.”
About Arkansas Community Foundation
Since 1976, the Community Foundation has provided more than $310 million in grants and partnerships across the state. For more information, visit truenwarkansas.org. Contributions to the Community Foundation, its funds and any of its 29 affiliates are fully tax deductible.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart does business with thousands of suppliers and employs more than 2 million workers in stores in 27 countries. Through Walmart.org, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation work to tackle key social issues and collaborate with others to promote long-lasting systemic change by supporting programs that work to accelerate upward job mobility for frontline workers, address hunger and food security, and build strong communities. To learn more, visit walmart.org or find us on Twitter @walmartorg.
About the Walton Family Foundation
The Walmart Family Foundation has been led for three generations since Sam and Helen Walton set out to create opportunities for people and communities in three areas: K-12 education, rivers and oceans, and Northwest Arkansas. In 2019, the foundation awarded more than $525 million in grants in support of these initiatives. To learn more, visit waltonfamilyfoundation.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.