More Gen Zers say they feel ready for the future—but fewer say they’re thriving.

A strong entrepreneurial ecosystem is essential to regional prosperity—fueling job growth, expanding opportunity and fostering long-term economic health. A new report explores how the region’s business environment has changed over time and how it compares to peer metropolitan areas, the state of Arkansas and the nation.

According to a new report from the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility, a strong alignment between educators and employers can help rural communities unlock new opportunities for youth.

This report outlines the potential water-related risks to the supply chains in the information and communication technology sector. It then presents opportunities for water stewardship to address these risks.

This article describes an analysis showing the multispecies management of fisheries is more efficient than single-species management.

This report from the National Wildlife Federation and Sand County Foundation identifies barriers and opportunities to increase natural infrastructure to improve water quality and quantity on agricultural lands. The recommendations to address these are: addressing cultural norms, building local staffing capacity for conservation, and making it easier for farmers to take action.

A new Gallup-Walton Family Foundation survey shows that teachers who regularly use AI tools save an average of 5.9 hours per week, adding up to six full weeks of reclaimed time each school year.

A Morning Consult poll for the Walton Family Foundation finds that the vast majority of Arizonans are concerned about future groundwater and Colorado River water supplies. They support dedicated funding for resilience and conservation projects. More than 91% are concerned about the Colorado River’s ability to continue providing needed water supplies to Arizona, the survey found.

The Gallup-Walton Family Foundation Student Report Card grades are in, and students gave their school the highest grades in three years. Students rated their schools a B this year, up from a B- in 2024. Scores rose from 2.75 to 2.92 on a 4.0 scale. Black and Hispanic students showed the largest improvements in school ratings.

The Walton Family Foundation partnered with USC’s Norman Lear Center Media Impact Project to evaluate how journalism and communications funding supports progress toward the Environment Program’s goals.

Most Gen Z students and their parents know little about postsecondary options beyond four-year college or paid work, according to a survey by Gallup, in partnership with the Walton Family Foundation and Jobs for the Future.

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing poses a significant threat to global fish stocks, marine ecosystems, and the economic well-being of communities dependent on fishing. This research study by itad examined how import control rules can influence IUU fishing, the support support they need to be effective and any unintended consequences they may have. Specifically, it examined import control rules in the European Union's IUU Regulation, the United States' Seafood Import Monitoring Program and Japan's Domestic Trade of Specific Marine Animals and Plants Act.

5 Years In: Re-examining the Landscape, Recognizing Progress and Refining the Path Ahead

As AI reshapes education and work, Gen Zers in the heartland are eager to learn, but many lack access to the tools and training they need.

Discussions about sustainable food systems have historically been biased towards agriculture. Wild caught fish are relatively undervalued. This means fisheries receive less attention in policy discussions and less investment to support the adoption of sustainable management approaches than terrestrial agriculture.

Improving outcomes for the next generation of students depends on educators staying in the field and feeling satisfied in their careers.

Nearly 80% of Gen Zers say they use generative AI tools. But their excitement is tempered by uncertainty: 41% say these tools make them feel anxious—more than those who feel excited (36%) or hopeful (27%).

Generation Z is coming of age at a time when the effects of climate change, including rising temperatures, are increasingly widespread. As these young people grow into adulthood, their views of climate change will shape the nation’s response to climate-related challenges. The Walton Family Foundation and Gallup partnered to better understand how these young people experience climate change, their worries about climate effects and their views of their generation’s future.