LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Since 2019, the Foundation for Social Impact has worked to provide more resources to minority communities.
The organization created a fellowship program that will give people support and training on how to do this.
It comes with a $110,000 investment, aimed at people who are planning to reinvest in their communities.
"Arkansas is 25% minority and we need representation," Rosa Velazquez, co-executive director of the organization said.
The best way to do that, she added, is to build leaders within communities often underrepresented.
"Teaching them the basic organizing principles, how to build their own network of resources and how to share their stories," Velazquez explained.
The organization developed a one-year program that allows people to talk with state lawmakers and community organizers.
Shandrea Murphy-Washington is one of the 11 people enrolled.
"A lot of my work mainly right now focuses on mental health, the use of development of African American and black children, and reproductive health of black women," Murphy-Washington described.
She told us that her interest in this social change stems from her personal experiences.
"Because of the home that I grew up in, and I had a lot of unmet needs as a child," Murphy-Washington said.
The fellows each received $10,000 from the organization which will help jumpstart their projects.
Maximiliano Dominguez is an organizer in the state who supports Arkansas creatives and entrepreneurs.
"We provide adequate resources we organize for the communities," Dominguez said.
He's a part of the Latinx community, he explained that the $10,000 investment will allow him to bring more support back to his community.
"Being able to support people within their own communities to become leaders of their own communities is important because they know the problems," Dominguez said.
Velazquez echoed those same sentiments, and added that she wants the community servants to not only guide but build the next generation of leaders.
"In Arkansas, 11 people are going to shift the change in Arkansas," Velazquez said.
The next fellowship class is set to begin in July 2023.