Advancing Community Thriving in Little Rock
A place-based partnership to align city systems, elevate community voice, and strengthen supports for youth and young adults.
At a Glance
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Focus Areas: Housing and Homelessness, Youth Development, Workforce Development, Education Policy
Community Partners: City of Little Rock, Mayor’s Office
Timeline: 2025 – 2028
Project Stage: Active implementation
The City of Little Rock, including the Mayor's Office and a Stakeholder Advisory Group of local community representatives, wants to better understand what helps people and neighborhoods thrive and what still makes it hard for people to get the support they need. While City leaders and community partners have invested in programs for young people and families, these efforts are not always fully aligned, and access to opportunities still varies depending on where people live.
Everyone in Little Rock deserves access to safe housing, strong schools, meaningful work, and supportive communities. But not all residents have had the same opportunities, and outcomes still differ across neighborhoods. This work helps City leaders and community partners take a closer look at how existing programs work together and whether they reflect what residents say matters most. By listening to community voices and examining existing efforts, this effort will identify what is working, where gaps exist, and how to make investments more effective for youth and young adults (ages 13-25), along with their families and communities.
Trenita Childers
Senior Researcher
Communities don't experience education, housing, or workforce as separate systems—and our solutions shouldn't either. The Stakeholder Advisory Group helps bridge those silos by bringing together the people who know these challenges best: community members, city leaders, and local partners. When we listen across sectors and center the experiences of residents, we can align systems in ways that create stronger opportunities and better outcomes for young people, families, and neighborhoods.
Trenita Childers
Senior Researcher
Project Goals
This partnership is designed as a first step to learn, reflect, and plan for stronger impact. In the first year, the team will:
- Listen to Little Rock residents and community partners to understand real experiences;
- Review data to identify trends in well-being, housing, safety, and opportunity;
- Assess how well current programs are meeting the needs of youth and young adults;
- Identify gaps and opportunities to better align services; and
- Develop a shared roadmap for improving outcomes across City efforts.
Ultimately, this work will help City leaders and community partners focus on strategies that better connect programs, reflect community priorities, and support young people and families in thriving.
Milestones
- Launched in October 2025 in partnership with the City of Little Rock Mayor’s Office.
- AIR is currently engaging in a Community Needs and Strengths Assessment and Systems Gap Analysis, including interviews and focus groups with community members, city officials, community-based organization program leaders, and others.
- A Stakeholder Advisory Group meets regularly with the project team to provide local insight, guide the study, and help ensure findings reflect community priorities.
Supported by the AIR Opportunity Fund
The AIR Opportunity Fund invests in community-led efforts to expand opportunity and improve lives. Through Priority Places, it supports projects like this one with funding, research, and hands-on partnership—helping communities build on their strengths, strengthen what works, and inform future efforts in other places. Learn more.
