Gould Citizens Advisory Council
The Gould Citizens Advisory Council (GCAC) was organized five years ago by residents who sought solutions to their city problems and more community unity. With support from Arkansas Public Policy Panel organizers, Gould residents went door to door among Gould’s 1200 residents, recruiting people willing to study issues and take action. They began cleaning up the streets and attending city council and school board meetings.
When the Gould school faced the threat of consolidation, GCAC joined the Citizens First Congress and lobbied to retain rural schools. They lost that battle and the Gould school closed, but they learned about public policy campaigns.
When they saw the trophies and records of their historic black school disappearing to who-knows-where, they got their state representative to introduce a bill requiring preservation of the records of closed schools. They introduced a second bill to make it easier for empty school buildings to be transferred to the community. As a result, today Gould’s trophies are on display in the hallways of the consolidated school, and their former school is now the Gould Community Center.
Today, GCAC is confronting the city council’s declaration of bankruptcy by bringing in experts to help them create an alternative plan to bankruptcy and loss of city services. GCAC has also taken on the city’s water issues. The distribution of water, the quality of the water and the waste water removal are all below standard because of a water system that is 60% deteriorated. After studying their options, GCAC persuaded city council members to reverse a recent decision and raise the water rates to invest in new infrastructure.
GCAC members know the challenges of a poor rural economy, community discord, and the education achievement gap between students from higher and lower-income families. Their message to their community is “It’s not about pointing fingers; this is about fixing problems. We are ALL responsible. Please join us to bring our city back.”
