Discussions regarding "Bridging the Gaps" in poverty focused on practical matters Tuesday, from cleaning alleys to helping police find fugitives to finding bus drivers to provide transportation.
"We want to achieve our potentials and need your help to guide us and tell us ideas," said Randy Morris, executive director of the Central Arkansas Development Council. The public hearing in Texarkana, Ark., was the first of eight scheduled in the region.
One woman, representing a neighborhood, suggested alleys should be cleaned and abandoned houses removed.
"The police can't find someone who is running when they hide in grown-up alleys," a member of the audience said.
"It's your community. Let us know what can we do," Morris said.
"We are assessing need of our community for the upcoming year. We desire information from you so that decisions made are based on what is most important to you," he said.
The public hearing was conducted Tuesday in the Sandflat-Glendale-Shannon-Neighborhood Center in Texarkana, Ark.
The public also discussed more buses to help with transportation where drivers are needed, as well as paying the drivers $11.20 per hour.
"The primary purpose for conducting the hearing is to find out what areas in our communities need improvement," said Evelyn Reed, CADC program manager.
"Gathering input from the community is a condition of funding for the Community Services Block Grant, which funds Community Action Agencies nationwide," she said.
CADC wants input for its service area of Saline, Hot Springs, Pike, Clark, Montgomery, Pulaski, Lonoke, Dallas, Union, Columbia, Ouachita, Miller, Little River, Sevier, Hempstead, Lafayette, Nevada, Howard and Calhoun counties.
"The mission of CADC is to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty, to help vulnerable populations achieve their potential and to build strong communities in Arkansas through community action," Reed said.
For additional information, call Reed at 501-778-1133.