New Gallup-Walton Family Foundation poll explores Americans' views on the conditions needed for people and places to thrive

The Delta region of Arkansas and Mississippi holds enormous potential, but has experienced generations of underinvestment and systemic barriers to opportunity. Through 2030, the Walton Family Foundation's Home Region Program will invest in initiatives that ensure all students have access to a high-quality education, help residents build assets and economic mobility and strengthen the capacity of local leaders and community-driven solutions.

Our Theory of Change for Northwest Arkansas allows us to be bold in the challenges we take on together. It also helps us be nimble in how we approach solutions.

AI is already part of Gen Z’s daily life – and most students believe it belongs in the classroom. According to a new Gallup/Walton Family Foundation survey, nearly 8 in 10 students (78%) say AI should have a place in the classroom, and 51% report using it daily or weekly.

The Community Compass is a new measurement tool created to help communities better understand how public spaces and programs support connection, belonging and trust. Developed by the Walton Family Foundation and Trust for Public Land, this free tool helps communities better how people experience those spaces and one another.

New research from the Walton Family Foundation, the Bipartisan Policy Center and Gallup finds that 71% of teachers have a paid position beyond their primary teaching job. One in five says they find it difficult to get by financially.

More than half of teachers in the United States say they couldn’t take any paid parental leave after the birth or adoption of a child. Most had to rely on accrued sick days instead. Only two states currently offer 12 weeks of fully paid leave with coverage for long-term substitutes.

Oceans are a source of food security for billions of people and a cornerstone of resilience in the face of climate change. Yet the flow of capital into ocean-positive solutions has been limited. This has left a gap between philanthropy and impact investment, slowing the pace of change.

This survey, conducted by Morning Consult for the Walton Family Foundation, reveals strong public support for natural solutions—such as wetland restoration and reforestation—as effective tools to address climate change and protect communities.

Teachers’ job satisfaction is deeply tied to the support they receive. According to a new Gallup report, 77% of teachers who say they have the materials they need to do their jobs are satisfied with their school as a workplace.

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.