Arkansas has always been a wellspring of economic possibility. It boasts a long history of community groups that fought to open opportunities for Arkansans.
That’s the mission of Here to Thrive, a statewide campaign focused on laying the fertile ground for economic growth and equity for all.
It champions the everyday Arkansans who see a path to thriving and put down the roots to do it.
“IT’S A COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE.”
Harvey Lee Williams Jr. might be someone you recognize. He’s a born-and-raised Arkansan, a father of three and a graduate of the University of Arkansas.
Most know him as the face of Delta Dirt Distillery, the award-sweeping craft distillery he founded in downtown Helena-West Helena, using produce from his family’s fourth-generation farm.
“Coming home isn’t just a return to the past — it’s a commitment to the future,” Williams says.
His outlook represents a voice for hope in an area that’s rapidly lost its population in past decades. The distillery’s business motto acknowledges this reality with the cheeky “Raising Spirits in the Delta.” But for Williams, building in his own corner was an obvious choice.
“Why invest in Arkansas? Because this land holds our roots,” he says. “For five generations, Black farmers in the Delta have grown more than crops — we’ve grown community. And we’re here to thrive.”
Since its founding, the distillery has been a success story, expanding from its original Sweet Blend Potato Vodka to introduce Tall Cotton Gin and bourbon.
“From farm to bottle, we’ve turned Delta Dirt into one of the world’s best vodkas right here in Helena,” Williams says. “It’s not just about thriving ourselves. It’s about making sure the community thrives with us.”
“WITH THE RIGHT SUPPORT, PEOPLE CAN TURN CHALLENGES INTO TRIUMPHS.”
Growing up, Little Rock resident Kristen McColey did not have it easy. Her family faced poverty that followed her to and after college, making everyday challenges like lunch money or student loans into major stressors.
“I look back on my early 20s and still wonder how I kept going,” she says. “I was knocked down over and over and over, but somehow I still stood back up and made it.”
Now financially secure, McColey works as a quotations specialist and lives with her husband, two stepsons and three dogs. Reflecting on her journey, McColey remains passionate about uplifting Arkansas students experiencing economic hardships and gives back through her work with the Junior League of Little Rock.
“Children that grow up like I did do not statistically ever make it out,” McColey says. “I want to help change that. I want success for children in poverty to be the rule, not the exception.”
McColey hopes to join that cause as a role model, connecting with students from similar backgrounds by writing children’s books to inspire them to commit to education as a pathway out of poverty.
“The past helps shape a person, but does not have to necessarily define their future. With the right support, people can turn their challenges into triumphs,” she says. “The Here to Thrive campaign is trying to do just that.”
THE RIGHT TO THRIVE
Behind Williams, McColey and every aspiring Arkansan lurks a landscape of uncertainty and obstacles. Without community-centered investment toward Arkansas’ future, choosing to stay can become a challenge.
If you believe that Arkansas businesses, communities and families have the right to thrive, join and follow Here to Thrive’s progress at heretothrivear.org.