Arkansas

Aid Learning, Combat Hunger | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Published

2 years ago

August 18, 2024

Press Room

Aid Learning, Combat Hunger | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

August 17, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.

by
Dustin Staggs

The 20th annual “Fill the Bus” event is just one way the United Way of Fort Smith Area aids communities. The school supplies that were donated recently will be distributed to 29 different schools in the six counties that UWFSA serves. From left are volunteer Barbara Hare and Marketing Director Mitzy Little.
(Courtesy of United Way of Fort Smith Area)

United Way of Fort Smith Area

WHAT — United Way of Fort Smith Area has been mobilizing the community to inspire change in the area since 1928. The non-profit organization recognizes the importance of acknowledging all needs within the community. It does this by bringing the community together to address critical issues such as early learning and hunger; investing in programs that provide the education, childcare, shelter and food that people need to be successful; and encouraging people to contribute money and time to improve the communities UWFSA serves.

Its Pacesetter Campaign runs through the month of August, which involves companies that receive United Way’s annual fundraising campaign.

The 2024 Campaign Kick-off will take place Sept. 19 at the Bakery District with live music for entertainment and food for those attending. United Way will announce the amount they raised for the non-profit agencies they supported during the month of August. All funding raised by the United Way of Fort Smith Area goes to the agencies they support.

WHEN — Launch event 4-5 p.m., community concert 5-6 p.m. Sept. 19

WHERE — 70 S. 7th St., Fort Smith

COST — Free

INFO — www.unitedwayfortsmith.org

United Way of Fort Smith Area hosted a “Touch a Truck” event at Van Buren High School in June. Children decorated the scribble car, which is part of the Fort Smith Police Department’s Community Outreach Program.
(Courtesy of United Way of Fort Smith Area)

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Arkansas

Arkansas Governor joins national A.I. workforce initiative

Published

6 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas Governor joins national A.I. workforce initiative

LITTLE ROCK, AR (KATV) — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has joined a new national artificial intelligence initiative that launched Thursday, June 25.

RAISE US, started by former Governor Eric Holcomb of Indiana and Gina Raimondo, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce is a nonpartisan national organization that will partner with governors, employers, workers and training organizations to help the workforce transition to an AI economy.

“As artificial intelligence transforms America’s economy, we have one clear message: technology should empower people, not replace them. By leveraging our Arkansas LAUNCH initiative, and with the resources and expertise provided by RAISE US, Arkansas will turn that mission into reality. We want the Natural State to be a leader on education, workforce training, and up-skilling, and this new partnership gives us the tools we need to build a model for the entire nation.”

The organization will design and pilot incentives to retrain workers, new approaches to support job transitions, and training models tied to employer demand.

RAISE US launches with more than two dozen American companies and philanthropies and initial state partnerships in Connecticut, Maryland and Utah.

“America has a technology strategy for leading the global AI competition. It does not yet have a people strategy — and we cannot lead without one,” Raimondo, who will serve as CEO of RAISE US, said.

“If we build the best AI systems in the world and leave millions of Americans behind, we won’t have won anything; we’ll have automated our own decline. I believe AI will create new jobs and industries over time, but the transition could be disruptive, and it’s already underway. We shouldn’t fearmonger, but we can’t pretend our training and worker support systems are ready either. It’s time for innovative and practical solutions. This moment demands ambition, urgency, and creativity. We’ve assembled the country’s top companies, best economists, and bipartisan governors at a scale rarely seen — all to advance new ideas and incentives, pilot them with governors and business, and scale what works.”

Governor Sanders is partnering with RAISE US to support Arkansas LAUNCH, an AI-powered career navigation platform that connects students and jobseekers to personalized learning and employer-linked career pathways.

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