Following nuclear testing at the Marshall Islands in the 1940s, forced migration of the Marshallese people occurred with many eventually finding a new home in the Ozark Mountains. This made for a challenging transition from island living to assimilating to Arkansas – all while working to preserve their culture, traditions and language.

 With funding from the AEP Foundation, at the recommendation of SWEPCO, a $100,000 grant was awarded to grow skills among Marshallese students including developing self-understanding, cross-cultural leadership abilities and enhancing youth confidence through engagement in real community experiences and issues.

 Springdale, AR is home to the largest population of Marshallese, more than 12,000 residents, outside the Marshall Islands, coral atolls located just west of the international date line in the central Pacific. The Marshallese migrated to the United States as part of the Compact of Free Association, an agreement signed in the mid-1980s between the U.S. and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (R.M.I.) allowed Marshallese to travel freely between the two countries.

 While it led to increased migration to middle America, there continue to exist opportunities to help the Marshallese community in Arkansas overcome poverty, find education and employment opportunities, improve graduation rates, and have better access to healthcare.

 The AEP Foundation, at the recommendation of SWEPCO, announced the $100,000 award to support the Marshallese Youth Initiative (MYI). MYI is a collaborative effort organized by the Springdale Chamber of Commerce and the Springdale School District. This grant is part of the AEP Foundation’s Delivering on the Dream and social justice grant program.

 “The Marshallese Youth Initiative is the ideal recipient of the AEP Foundation’s Delivering on the Dream grant program,” said Bradley Hardin, SWEPCO External & State Government Affairs Manager-Arkansas. “We strive to steer grants to help diversity thrive and grow in the SWEPCO service territory.”

 This funding is aimed to help improve the quality of life for Marshallese students who live in northwest Arkansas where such a large population resides. Program leaders will launch the initiative with students and their families this week. The evening will feature a celebration of the Marshallese Youth Initiative's commencement and an authentic Marshallese dinner.

 A Marshallese proverb, “An Bwilinlin Ekomman Lometo” translates into “multiple droplets create a vast ocean,” brings to mind the impact each student has the potential to make in not only sharing their culture with their fellow Arkansans but also the chance to thrive in their adopted home by leaning into the programs available from the Marshallese Youth Initiative.

 “We are thankful for the partnership with the Springdale Chamber of Commerce and the AEP Foundation. We share the same deep commitment to better our community by investing in our children,” said Trent Jones, Springdale Public School’s Director of Communications. “This program will extend far beyond the walls of our schools and aligns with our efforts to develop minds that think, hearts that care and hands that serve.”

 The MYI program focuses on aiding selected 6th and 7th grade Marshallese students within the Springdale School District and will serve to make an impact for these students and their community.

 “We are extremely grateful for this grant and the opportunity it provides our Chamber to do something truly unique for underserved Marshallese students in our school district. Our programming will provide leadership and personal development skill training for these worthy 6th graders,” said Springdale Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bill Rogers.

 This 12-month program, starting this month is a partnership between the Springdale Education & Scholarship Foundation (Springdale Chamber of Commerce), the Springdale School District. Leadership from Sonora Middle School and J.O. Kelly Middle School selected 30 middle school students for the inaugural year, guiding them through a transformative journey from sixth to seventh grade.