BENTONVILLE -- Some community leaders met Thursday and agreed now is the time to begin a regional conversation about how Northwest Arkansas could improve.
"There are a lot of good things already happening," said Rich Harwood, president and founder of the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation in Bethesda, Md. "The question is how do you build on your strengths to keep moving forward."
At A Glance
The Harwood Institute
Rich Harwood and his organization are known for developing “public innovators” and spurring groups to address local challenges. Among his accomplishments is leading the community discussion in Newtown, Conn., over what to do with Sandy Hook Elementary School, where a man shot and killed 20 children and six adults in 2012.
Source: Staff Report
Wal-Mart invited Harwood to Bentonville to guide the discussion. Harwood specializes in coaching people and organizations on how to solve problems and effect change in their communities.
"Wal-Mart said, 'This is a great place, but can't we do better,'" said Michael Poore, superintendent of Bentonville schools.
Sixteen people joined Thursday's meeting, which was hosted by the School District. Participants included Poore, School Board members, representatives of Wal-Mart and Tyson Foods, and two from the faith community, among others.
Their two-hour discussion initially focused on Bentonville, but soon shifted to include the rest of the region as well.
"I think unless we think as a region, we've got a problem," said Ed Clifford, chief executive officer of The Jones Center in Springdale.
Clifford added the region must be willing to try things that have never been done before.
The diversity of Northwest Arkansas was a major theme of the group's discussion. They talked about the importance of creating an environment in which everyone has the opportunity to achieve their potential.
Rob Lennick, a rabbi who moved to Bentonville from the Northeast last year, said there's ample willingness among residents to embrace different religions. He cited the recent creation of the Benton County Interfaith Alliance, a group that includes Christians, Jews, Muslims and others.
"It's fertile ground here, and that's why I decided I wanted to be here," Lennick said.
The area's diversity is obvious not only in terms of race and religion, but in class, said the Rev. Roger Joslin, vicar at All Saints Episcopal Church.
"There's such a tremendous disparity between the rich and poor," Joslin said.
There are things that can be done about that at the local level, such as raising the minimum wage or strengthening public transit systems, Joslin said.
"You could change lives. It's just a matter of will," he said.
Arkansas has "a lot of baggage" that shapes the perceptions outsiders have of the state, said Grant Lightle, a School Board member. Until something is done to change those perceptions, the state will be able to advance only so far, he said.
"We can't be solely dependent on Wal-Mart," Lightle said.
Harwood asked the group if they thought this is a good time to start a regional conversation about the topics they had discussed. The group's consensus was now is the right time.
Harwood said he would return to the group with some ideas about how to move forward, using the set of principles developed Thursday.
Harwood said after the meeting he wasn't sure exactly when the next meeting would be, but it should be within weeks, not months.
"We want to keep the momentum going," he said. "There was a sense of, let's do this."
NW News on 01/30/2015