Matching missions: hunger relief programs and impact of food donation partners in Northwest Arkansas

In 2012 and 2013, Arkansas ranked first in the nation in food insecurity in both categories of “low food secure” (21.2%) and “very low food secure” (8.4%). The Cobblestone Project developed a hunger relief donation partner, The Farm, in order to help address food insecurity in Northwest Arkansas. In spring 2014, The Farm partnered with the University of Arkansas to 1) better understand the demographics and need of hunger relief organizations, 2) calculate the impact of donations to hunger relief organizations, and 3) assess satisfaction of donations from The Farm to hunger relief organizations. A series of surveys were targeted to hunger relief organizations that The Farm serves to meet these objectives. Statistical analyses of survey data provided the following results: 1) Demographics and needs of hunger relief organizations: there were no significant differences in demographics served (age and gender) among organizations that put different values on hunger relief in their mission statements. Additionally, there was no significant difference between the number of people served and the functional type (pantry, soup kitchen, in-house) of the organization. 2) The impact of donations: during the 2014 harvest, 10,863 kg of food were donated by The Farm impacting a total of 12,598 recipients. 3) Satisfaction regarding the quality, quantity and diversity of the commodities donated: there is a difference in usefulness of produce that is easily prepared with known recipes and for large amounts of people. This survey showed bell peppers, cabbage, potatoes, zucchini, tomatoes, and lettuce to be considered most beneficial

Integrated cultures, perceived managerial competencies and organisational performance:a Malaysian context

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Service-Learning and School Curriculum

Service-Learning extends the learning process from the classroom to the community, which becomes a supplementary resource to facilitate teaching and learning. This paper uses fragments of reflections to illustrate how Service-Learning course participants learn through the community-service projects and how they feel about their experiences as project leaders. The literature used provides a rich source of data about the meaning of Service-Learning and empirical evidences of the educational effects of learning through serving others. This paper argues that the Hong Kong school curriculum is examination driven and focused on the academic. There is a neglect in the social, moral and personal aspects of education. By Service-Learning activities, students experience learning in the field of community work. They are exposed to an environment conducive to the development of altruistic behaviour, social skills, collaborative spirit and knowledge about their own community. It is hoped that this paper will stimulate educators\u27 attention on learning beyond school bounds and how schooling can be integrated with community service activities

Invisibility as Modern Racism: Redressing the Experience of Indigenous Learners in Higher Education

Indigenous Peoples represent the smallest group of ethnic minorities in the United States, and they are significantly underrepresented in the academy. The tumultuous relationship between institutions of higher learning and First Nation Peoples can be explained in part by the use of education to colonize and force the assimilation of Native Peoples. The end result of centuries of dehumanization and marginalization is invisibility, “the modern form of racism used against Native Americans” (the American Indian College Fund, 2019, p. 5). Educators are challenged to identify institutional inequities and redress barriers to promote social justice through informed and genuine practice, indigenization, and curriculum development that reflects intercultural communication competence

Challenging the Positionality of Western Mainstream English Through the Implementation of Communication Action Statements

Communication is the most powerful tool we have to challenge the plague of invisibility impacting our Indigenous communities. As we continue to challenge the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives touted by our institutions, we need to move beyond mission statements to motion, i.e., action required for meaningful transformation to take place (Qassataq, Iñupiaq, 2022). To call attention to and name the silencing of language and knowledge systems outside of western mainstream english (WME), the present paper proposes the concept of Communication Action Statements (CAS). Based on place and space, CASs recognize, label, and affirm the negative effects of WME, as well as call attention to the silencing associated with the reinforcement of WME as the ideal form of communication. Moreover, CASs normalize other knowledge systems outside of the rigid western model that defines higher education. In conjunction with CASs, to initiate motion, we provide four strategies to take action to move beyond acknowledgment and challenge the Communication discipline to continue working to decenter whiteness

The Communication Discipline and Peace Education: A Valuable Intersection for Disrupting Violence in Communication Centers

Violence is a significant issue impacting the physical, mental, social, and economic health of our learning communities. For decades the discipline of peace education has explored the effects of nonphysical violence on students and educators, as well as ways to create more peaceful, less violent, and equitable educational practices. While communication frameworks have been used in peace education research, no research found has theorized the potential value of peace education for the communication discipline. Using the contextual background of communication centers, this piece seeks to disrupt steadfast norms and practices within communication centers from the perspective of peace education. We provide an overview of the field of peace education and explicate opportunities within the communication discipline to use peace education frameworks, theory, and practice to develop pedagogies of renewal and close with practical recommendations for communication centers going forward

Audit Market Concentration, Auditor Switching and Audit Fee Pricing: An Investigation of the UK Private Company Audit Market, 2005-2012

Statutory audit markets across the EU have recently been reformed, with new Regulation on the Statutory Audits of Public Interest Entities coming into force in June 2016. The Regulation imposes stricter requirements on the audits of Public Interest Entities, as originally defined in the Statutory Audit Directive 2006, with the option for Member States to designate additional entities as public interest. Thus, the exact definition of a Public Interest Entity applied varies across Member States. In the UK the definition has not been widely extended and includes listed firms, credit institutions, and insurance undertakings. Private firms in the UK are therefore currently exempt from the more stringent audit regulations. However, even based on the limited, and often mixed, evidence for the private company audit market, the decision to preclude most private companies from the definition of a Public Interest Entity, effectively excluding them from the new audit reforms, may not be appropriate. This thesis, therefore, undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the UK audit market for private companies, in addition to examining the auditing choices of private companies and the economic consequences of these choices. The UK is specifically examined because it is one of a number of countries that have chosen not to extend the scope of the definition of a Public Interest Entity beyond the one set at the EU level. The findings of this research show that, similar to the audit market for listed firms, the private company audit market in the UK is segmented with Big Four dominance among the largest firms and relatively low levels of auditor switching. As a result of this audit environment, private companies that do switch auditor are found to experience economic consequences in terms of a reduction in their credit ratings. Particularly when the reasons for a switch are unknown to investors. In addition, the thesis provides evidence to suggest that following an auditor switch, firms receive both physical and implicit discounts on their audit fees, with price recovery of these discounts over the following three years. Suggesting that low-balling is also present in this audit market, which in turn raises concerns regarding competitive pricing and levels of auditor independence. In sum, the results of the thesis provide strong support that the definition and scope of a Public Interest Entity needs revisiting both within the UK and across all EU Member States. Moreover, it reinforces the idea of extending some of the more stringent audit requirements introduced by the EU Regulation on the Statutory Audits of Public Interest Entities, to ensure that economically important private firms have sufficient oversight

Herbicide-Resistant Soybeans in Arkansas: Lessons Learned and Future Direction

In Arkansas Delta soybean production, glyphosate resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth has significantly impacted weed management. The incidence of herbicide resistant (HR) weeds has farreaching crop science, economic, and communications implications, which have been explored by the corresponding expertise of our research team members to form a comprehensive literature review. The review was used to develop policy recommendations to address current and future HR genetically modified (GM) crop use and the associated issues. The review of crop science research indicated an overall increase in herbicide application, as well as an increase in weed management programs focused around glyphosate rather than the application of multiple herbicides. The review also revealed some management methods have potential to resolve the problem, including alternating herbicide application, avoiding sub-lethal rates, using “burn down” herbicides prior to planting, crop rotation, tillage, and zero tolerance weed policies. The use of fewer herbicides rather than multiple types creates a monopolistic edge for the companies producing those few herbicides, allowing greater market control. Crisis communication methods, including developing internal readiness, conducting needs assessments, developing a relevant message, and conveying the message through appropriate channels, can be used to develop a response to the issue that will best communicate necessary information to the target audience. The team used these findings to formulate policy recommendations, which include management, economic, and communication plans that may provide a starting point to address the issue

Matching missions: hunger relief programs and impact of food donation partners in Northwest Arkansas

In 2012 and 2013, Arkansas ranked first in the nation in food insecurity in both categories of “low food secure” (21.2%) and “very low food secure” (8.4%) (Lilley, 2013; Coleman- Jensen, 2014). In order to help address food insecurity in NWA, The Cobblestone Project developed a hunger relief donation partner, The Farm. (Cobblestone Project, 2013). In spring 2014, The Farm partnered with University of Arkansas to: • Better understand the demographics and need of hunger relief organizations • Calculate the impact of donations to hunger relief organizations • Assess satisfaction of donations from The Farm to hunger relief organizations • Explore ways that The Farm can positively impact the ability of hunger relief organizations to meet their goals of reducing hunger in NWA To meet these objectives, a series of three surveys (introduction survey; survey after donations; and final assessment survey) was developed and targeted to 13 hunger relief organizations that The Farm serves. Data analyses produced the following findings: Demographics and needs of hunger relief organizations: Statistical tests showed that there were no significant differences in demographics served (age and gender) between organizations that put different values on hunger relief in their mission statements. Additionally, there was no significant difference between the number of people served and the functional type (pantry, soup kitchen, in-house) of the organization. The impact of donations: 100% of organizations believed donors would find impact statistics from academic studies (such as this) as well as those developed by the hunger relief organizations themselves relevant. Satisfaction regarding the quality, quantity and diversity of the commodities donated: There is a difference in usefulness of produce that is easily prepared with known recipes and for large amounts of people. This survey showed bell peppers, cabbage, potatoes, zucchini, tomatoes, and lettuce to be considered most beneficial