Dumas Mayor Flora Simon, Desha County State Trooper Mitch Grant and Rev. Arthur Hunt received the Change Champion awards at the Arkansas United 10th Anniversary with a diner gala at the Clinton Presidential Center August 12, 2022.
Arkansas United presented 20 awards in three categories for Change Agent, Change Champion, and Staff Awards. Erendira Vasquez, of Pioneers United of Dumas, received a staff award. The event celebrated 10 years of work that Arkansas United has been doing in our State and local communities for Migrant and Latino families in Arkansas.
Al "Papa Rap" Lopez and Arisbeth "La Ticher" Garcia, services director at Arkansas United hosted the event. The program opened with the Arkansas Razorbacks fight song; it, along with the remainder of the program, was offered in English and Spanish.
Entertainment included an energetic mambo dance performance by Wade Hampton as well as Folkloric Ballet dance performances. A comprehensive anniversary video outlined all the programs and services of Arkansas United. Highlighting the event were Change Agents and Change Champion awards presented to a number of individuals and entities, along with staff awards. Early in the evening, Executive Director Mireya Reith was presented with flowers as a token of appreciation for her work with the agency.
The information for this article is Courtesy of Helaine R. Williams, of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette; Mitch Grant and Mayor Flora Simon.
