Renee Smith, Burger King. By Katie Serrano

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – When Renee Smith comes to work at Burger King, she takes some pride in working her way up from a starting wage of $8.50 an hour to now making $11 an hour. Yet that isn’t enough. Smith, 43, is a mother of four children and one...

Lisa Terry, Waffle House. By Katie Serrano

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – As Lisa Terry serves hot coffee, eggs and sausage to customers at a nearly empty Waffle House in Fayetteville, she knows the tips she receives from those orders will go toward rent, food and feeding her cat.      ...

Bertha Lara, Poultry Worker. By Katie Serrano

SPRINGDALE, Ark. – Bertha Lara, a 52-year-old Tyson factory employee from El Salvador, suffered job-related injuries to her hands that put her out of work for months at a time. Despite making $11.50 an hour, Lara has struggled to support her family...

‘Working Poor’ Doesn’t Tell Whole Story

Twenty-five percent of families are considered to be in poverty in Northwest Arkansas, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and many of them are working for a living. What is that like? How do these people make ends meet? A group of University of Arkansas journalism...