E8 Communities

Excel by Eight in Conway CountyThrough the American Rescue Plan, child care facilities across the state were able to access federal funds to help stabilize their operations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and improve quality and availability of child care slots....

Excel by Eight in Independence CountyOut of five goals in Independence County, one is to strengthen the foundation for oral language and literacy. The E8 steering committee was awarded a $60,000 grant to invest in LENA, a professional development opportunity focused...

Excel by Eight in Jefferson CountyJefferson County, E8’s newest member community, is led by Cathi Swan at the Arkansas River Education Service Cooperative. The steering committee has been formalized and includes representatives from K-12 education, health, home...

Excel by Eight in Little Rock Little Rock has focused on digital equity in 2022, a priority area that gained awareness during the pandemic when schools and families needed more than ever to be able to use technology effectively for virtual learning. Digital equity...

Excel by Eight in Sevier CountyThe Early Learning Parks project that began in 2021 expanded throughout Sevier County and more than doubled the funding investment originally awarded by Save the Children. Arkansas Community Foundation granted $14,000 to expand the...

Excel by Eight in Union CountyThe E8 coalition in Union County, led by the SHARE Foundation and United Way, identified four priority areas in alignment with their organizational goals and the Excel by Eight resource grid. Priorities include child care availability,...