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A Seat At The Table Presented by CITY OF LITTLE ROCK RACIAL & CULTURAL DIVERSITY COMMISSION

8/21/2017

 
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There is an event coming up in September that is truly worth the mention! Read below from the event's website and follow the link to RSVP.

"It is the goal of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, that the Mayor, with confirmation by the City Board of Directors, shall make diligent efforts to appoint citizens of Little Rock to City Boards and Commissions so these bodies meet the goal of inclusiveness by reflecting the diversity of our City, recognizing that this goal may be impacted by Board and Commission positions that are designated by professions, organizations or ward representation.

To be eligible to serve on a City of Little Rock board or commission, you must:
  • Live in the City of Little Rock
  • Be elgible to vote

Boards and Commissions play an integral role in shaping the critical decisions impacting the overall community. Citizens who serve on one of the City’s 30+ Boards or Commissions impact City policies and activities and are in unique position to make Little Rock a better place to live, work and play. A Seat at the Table: Getting in Position to Shape Little Rock’s Future will inform citizens of the various opportunities to serve on a City Board or Commission, learn the benefits of serving and how to apply. Through panel discussion, current Board & Commission members will share their experiences and city officials will address Q & A.

Following panel discussion, citizens will network with representatives from the City’s various boards & commissions.

Refreshments provided."

The event is hosted by the CITY OF LITTLE ROCK RACIAL & CULTURAL DIVERSITY COMMISSION.
RSVP TODAY

Meet Kalena Jones - Diversity Task Force Member

6/11/2017

 
Meet Kalena Jones, an active member of the Diversity Task Force for Think Big Little Rock!

​Kalena serves as an Organizational Development Specialist II at Baptist Health where her focus is on the talent development of people, innovation, and leadership. Her role involves developing the strategy, design, implementation, and evaluation of programs that enhance organizational performance across the Baptist Health System.
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She facilitates professional development through public speaking, experiential training programs, and coaching strategically designed for personnel across the state including new employees and senior leadership. 

Prior to coming on board with Baptist Health, she served as the Executive Director of the Arkansas Health Care Access Foundation and worked with the Arkansas Medical Society to connect uninsured and disabled Arkansans with donated health care, prescriptions, and dental services.

​The foundation was instrumental in working with the Arkansas Insurance Department in assisting Arkansans, served by the program, with enrolling in Medicaid or a plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace. 
Kalena is a native of Little Rock and its private and public school systems. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a Master’s Degree in Health Administration from Webster University, St. Louis.

​She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Health Administration with an emphasis in Leadership and Organizational Behavior from A.T. Still University Graduate School of Health Sciences.

TBLR Spotlight: Sarah Stricklin

5/29/2017

 
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She is a professional singer and a freelance writer for the Arkansas Times; and she sits on the boards of Arkansas Women's Outreach and the Arkansas Music and Arts Foundation, and is a member of the ACANSA Arts Festival's Avant-Garde Class of 2016. Sarah is a local musician and educator and active member of the Arts & Culture Taskforce for Think Big Little Rock.

She leads performing arts programming at the CALS Children's Library and Learning Center, where I've gotten to implement the state's first instrument lending library and spearhead the development of a professional-grade recording studio. 
Sarah has written before about the scene here in Little Rock. She has been working on it and in it for many years. Anyone within earshot has heard her praise its richness of talent and bemoan its dearth of support. She says, "We are a lucky city - to have such remarkable musicians and artists and creators working and living here. And overall, we completely take this for granted."

​When asked how she got to be involved with Think Big Little Rock, she said:

"When I learned that the Chamber had made Arts and Culture the focus of one of the task forces, I was immediately hopeful that, perhaps finally, some progress could be made to increase the support, the recognition, and the bolstering of our creative community. The thoughtful and interesting people in our task force have worked for months to accurately identify ways in which Little Rock could improve access to our artistic resources, better support our artistic residents, and do more to make the city a place both artists and patrons enjoy. I am deeply proud of the ideas that have been proposed and look forward to sharing them with you all. In the meantime, hear some music, see some art, enjoy a festival, eat out for dinner, take in a play, and hug your local creatives. They need you."

TBLR Spotlight: Kody Robinson

5/25/2017

 
Meet Kody Robinson! He's one of the most active members of the economic development task force and brings passion, intellect and drive to our project.
Kody Robinson
Kody, 24, is a Business and Financial Systems Developer for Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, headquartered in Little Rock.

Along with his day to day job, Kody also travels and advocates for IBM regarding companies modernizing and hiring young developers in the work force. IBM has named him an IBM Champion for Power, one of the youngest in the world.

Kody also helps nonprofits such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and he is finishing up his masters in Information Science. Kody is a huge contributor to our Economic Development task force and helps think of ways to better attract and obtain millennials to the Central Arkansas area.
When asked why Kody participates in Think Big Little Rock, he said:
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"Little Rock can be a hub for young professionals across the country. We have amazing companies, startups, and investors just waiting to help the next group of young professionals coming to the Natural State. Us here in the Economic Development group are helping with anything from ideas to implementation. Little Rock has potential to be the best. We see that and we will make it happen.”

TBLR Spotlight: Isis Pettway

5/17/2017

 
Meet Isis Pettway, member of the Education Task Force!
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"There’s nothing to do in Little Rock," are the words she would say and often hear from friends when it came to living and building a life in this city.

Isis grew up here, went to school here, and left after college. She returned to Little Rock in 2013, having lived in Atlanta for 7 years, and wondered why even with some changes, the city seemed to remain the same as when she left it.

​So, she decided there were two ways to go about what was happening; keep complaining or get involved.

When asked why she is a part of Think Big Little Rock, Isis said:


"Think Big Little Rock is a great initiative for my generation because we are full of ideas to help the city progress and needed a way for them to be heard, worked on, and eventually executed into action. In order to get things going you have to be in the room where things are happening and decisions are being made because change happens from the inside out. I’m glad to be a part of this initiative as we do our part to move the city of Little Rock onward and upward!”
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