Contact: Rev. Arthur L. Hunt, Jr., 870.623.8179 | ceo@thecollegeofaspiringartists.education
Hunt, Jr., Successfully Makes Ballot with Late Entry to Offer New Vision as Mayor of Dumas— Announces Theme and Opening of Campaign Headquarters: “A NEW DAY IN DUMAS... Starts NOW!”
“Where there is ‘no Vision’ the people perish. Where there is a Vision… the people flourish.”
Many of you know me as a person who loves people. All people. Some of you know me from my early days in Dumas, some from my works and others outside of Dumas. Some know less based on hearsay, shesay, theysay, etc. Google me… Rev. Arthur L. Hunt, Jr. and you will see a lot. Pray for me and you will find out even more.
While I am widespread in doing works from Dumas to DC, I’m more greatly focused on doing what God has called me to do in my hometown of Dumas, Arkansas. How He has use of me and how I’m willing to be ‘in use without excuse’. I’m a promoter of Dumas. When I’m home, when I’m with persons of all backgrounds, the Governor, artists and innovative and visionary thinkers, other municipal leaders, economic developers, academic and institutional leaders, clergy, business and community leaders across the state and nation… people know that I want the best for all of Dumas.
The vision for ‘A New Day in Dumas’ has begun. Some are asking… “Hunt, Jr., why are you running to be Mayor of Dumas? Others are saying things like… Don’t you already have more than enough to do, why take on this? Why become the Mayor and why now?” And others to a great uplift are saying… Hunt you are already the Mayor. You are doing a lot to help all of us in Dumas. To these things, I am humbled.
And of course, there are those who are talking, digging and conjuring up all they can to discourage me not to do so and, to get you to say ‘no’ because ‘they say so.’
I hear all of this and pray. And then, I pray some more. From one role as a minister and then from other roles and through daily conversations, I ask others to pray. I pray as you read this that you will do so prayerfully. I pray you will allow me to share my heart as I listen to yours. Above all… please know that I do not take this lightly and I know that this is not about me!
The truth is in my human preservation… “I do not want to run to become the Mayor of Dumas. YES, I love Dumas, my heart is here, and I see a great vision, but I do not want to go through a process that oftentimes has a great price (financially, physically, mentally, etc.) doing something for a cause that so often, my motive is misunderstood.”
Attending council meeting after council meeting, budget meeting after budget meeting, getting rejected time after time is no fun, especially when you know the plan is good, mainly because it is a God plan. It is His Vision that guides His people. A vision not to be brought to fulfillment by my strategy and works only, but by subject matter experts in the faith and in their professional ranks who stand with me and others during the presentations. But most of all, we are blessed to see by faith the results we see when we are able to press forward and get the vision accomplished.
But who is Arthur L. Hunt, Jr., to say what he doesn’t want to do? It’s not about me. It’s about God’s use of a vision that He has for Dumas with His use of me. It’s about… ‘Bringing things THAT ARE MISSING and LONG OVERDUE’ to reality to uplift God’s people in all of Dumas.
From now through November 8th, 2022, I ask that you look closely (avoiding what I call the ‘yakyak’) at a body of work that began with my late father, Dr. A.L. Hunt, Sr., and my mother Alice Margret Kinlow Hunt in their days of sacrifice and building up the city of Dumas and state of Arkansas. This is my foundation. I am their son.
In this first announcement, I give tribute to their work and those who came alongside them and I will ask you to look at many positive things that my record along with visionary leaders have been able to do since their transition to be with God.
After over 25 years in professional and corporate work in major cities, I’m home in Dumas. I’ve worked in corporate America, managing staffs and budgets of millions of dollars experiencing great sacrifice and hardships along the way. Many lessons and experiences have taught me many life lessons.
‘Hunt for Dumas’ and find my work in Dumas on display with our City P.R.I.D.E. (Positive Results in Dumas… Everyday) program of helping to mentor youth and young adults, touring them from Dumas to other cities and states, moving them from no homes to homes, from detention to new destinations of improved quality of life.
Many of you have seen and benefited from work on done under my leadership during the height of the COVID pandemic, with our 1-million-dollar food distribution operation through our collaborative grant writing and self-funding. I was the lead writer of the Federal USDA REDI Grant. REDI is Rural Economic Development Innovation, and our Legacy Center in West Dumas was chosen as one of 47 national communities to receive this award. REDI is an award for the whole state of Arkansas, from Dumas. During this 2-year (plus period) we fed thousands from Dumas to Desha, Chicot, Lincoln, Jefferson, Crittenden counties and more. We served high schools, colleges, faith-based programs and ministries, farmers, etc., to a 150-mile radius.
From bringing in a Virologist/Infectious Disease Medial Doctor, the Urban League and the first team to do free COVID—19 testing with health and wellness education sessions.
We have developed an online campus at www.dat-c.org with radio and television networks and are broadcasting in Dumas, the new program, ALL ABOUT DUMAS. The strategy will bring Dumas to Dumas and Dumas to the world. We are recognized by a credible list of statewide and national programs at the Creative Economy and Edutainment College in Arkansas. Click here to see the study and report. RTS_Arkansas_final_300dpi.pdf (dat-c.org)
I have brought educational coursework through our college networks partnering will filmmakers in Washington D.C. to screen documentary films to the schools in Dumas. We are publishing books and work with the National Parks Service from Dumas to DC to bring historic preservation to Dumas through our schools and joint-institutional partnerships.
A legacy honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is well documented across the nation.
We have brought in national performing artists with Grammy-award winning status to Dumas and Legacy Awards programs to honor leader past and present.
As a minister, former music and record executive along with marketing assignments with CBS and other television affiliates, I will add promotional and creative excellence in and from Dumas.
Finally, I’m blessed to have a good working relationship with our Governor, Asa Hutchinson, with mayors across the state and many persons who reach out to me regarding our work in Dumas. For 12 years I have traveled the state as National Day of Prayer State Coordinator where I pray with and for other municipal and spiritual leaders regarding their communities, this state and our nation.
Beyond the mass shooting in March, I led a group from Dumas and across the state to meet with the Governor and we are advancing plans to bring a new initiative to Arkansas to ‘Defeat the Violence.’
Up next is a combination of one-on-one talks, forums and hopefully a Town Hall Debate with all the candidates pursing the office of Mayor of Dumas. I want you to ‘ask me anything.’
THE NEW DAY IN DUMAS Headquarters for our Vision is located at Highway 65 and Bowles and opens Friday, September 9th and will be open daily to meet and greet with all of you.
My line is open at 870.623.8179 or email me at allofdumasunited@gmail.com To see the vision up close with current and growing partners, visit our website at www.anewdayindumas.today
And please remember as you prepare to vote that when you vote Hunt For Dumas… That it’s not just me. It’s a new day and a new team, it’s ALLOFDUMASUNITED!
Now, Who’s Next… Who’s Best for Dumas… Pray For… Vote For…
Arthur L. Hunt, Jr., D.D., Your Visionary Mayor of Dumas
Respectfully,
