Over the last decade, career pathways has emerged as a strategy to increase access to postsecondary training and education as well as improve educational attainment for low-income and low-skill adults. Defined as a framework, career pathways are “a series of connected education and training programs and support services that enable individuals to secure employment within a specific industry or occupational sector, and to advance over time to successively higher levels of education and employment in that sector.”1 Blending multiple elements that range from redesigning curricula and programs that lead to an industry-recognized credential to aligning the various missions of a community college and providing case management and wrap-around support services, career pathways are an important vehicle for the economic advancement of adults living at the economic margins.

Grameen Bank and microfinance guru Muhammad Yunus came to America just a year ago with ideas—and success stories—on how the poor can survive a credit crunch.

On June 17, 2009, Senator Blanche Lincoln announced her intent to introduce Child Account legislation this fall, ‘Adding the Kids’ to the Nation’s savings agenda. The Child Accounts Act of 2009 would create savings accounts for every child born in the United States. Such a system of universal Child Accounts would give every young adult a financial spring board to launch themselves into a more financially secure life and would help to develop a more financially secure society.

A new Boys & Girls Club will open in Arkadelphia later this year.

The Boys & Girls Club of Clark County will be a chartered member of the national club. Geared toward young teenagers, mentors will be available after school and on weekends for club members.

Southern Bancorp Inc. of Arkadelphia is poised to become the first rural development bank to launch a public stocking offering. CEO Phil Baldwin and his team are positioning Southern Bancorp for an IPO during the next couple of years.

Southern Bancorp of Arkadelphia announced Tuesday that it will acquire holding company First Delta Bankshares Inc. of Blytheville during the third quarter, a move that Southern Bancorp President and CEO Phillip N. Baldwin says could benefit Pine Bluff-based Southern Good Faith Fund.

Scott Fife has opted to leave his job as president of Simmons First Bank of El Dorado to become president of Southern Bancorp – El Dorado, which opens up on Monday.

State lawmakers trickled one-by-one into Henderson State University Tuesday for a joint meeting of the Higher Education Subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council and the Higher Education Subcommittee of the House Interim Committee on Education.

The three proposals for grant funding from the Walton Foundation for St. Francis County should be submitted next month, according to officials with Southern Bancorp.

The chancery courtroom at the county courthouse was filled with local elected and community leaders Tuesday for the quarterly meeting with Southern Bancorp.