/news-archive/tag/ua-pulaski-technical-college/ 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Wed, 23 Mar 2022 14:26:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /news-archive/2022/03/23/cyber-learning-network/ Wed, 23 Mar 2022 14:26:38 +0000 /news/?p=81200 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Awarded $1.96 Million Workforce Development Grant to Support a Regional Cyber Learning Network]]> cybersecurity. The CyberLearN partners include 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, 糖心Vlog传媒 Pine Bluff, 糖心Vlog传媒 – Pulaski Technical College, 糖心Vlog传媒 Cossatot, 糖心Vlog传媒 Hope-Texarkana, 糖心Vlog传媒CC Batesville, and 糖心Vlog传媒CC Morrilton. The Forge Institute, the Arkansas Center for Data Sciences, and SmartResume are also collaborating on the initiative. Gov. Asa Hutchinson awarded a total of $7.9 million in Large-Scale Workforce Development Grants to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and eight other organizations during a March 15 press conference at the Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce. The grants were funded by the , a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce. “We don’t have an unlimited source of funds in Arkansas for workforce training, so we want to invest it wisely,” Gov. Hutchinson said. “And you do that by partnering with industry to guide our training, our funding, so that it results in jobs.鈥� CyberLearN leverages shared resources for the purposes of expanding and diversifying cyber workforce education in Arkansas. The consortium will provide more equitable access to cybersecurity education for Arkansas learners, aligning freshman and sophomore cybersecurity curriculum with ABET, a national accreditation board, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology Standards. CyberLearN partners will share instruction and create a common learning experience through standardized, hybrid-flexible learning spaces that will utilize the cloud-based . 鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock is proud to lead in creating the Cyber Learning Network, which will put Arkansas on the map for cybersecurity workforce education,鈥� said Dr. Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. 鈥淭his new consortium among academic and nonprofit partners will serve as a model to provide collaborative education and training opportunities across the state. We thank Gov. Hutchinson and the Office of Skills Development for this investment in Arkansas鈥檚 economic security and for providing our state with cyber talent for many years to come.鈥� CyberLearN will drive economic development opportunities by providing robust talent pathways and creating opportunities to spur creative innovations. Arkansas currently has more than 3,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions listed on LinkedIn, and that number is expected to continue to grow. Now that Arkansas鈥檚 broadband initiatives have provided more internet access across the state, there are more opportunities for cybersecurity professionals to work remotely, which can provide a boost for rural communities. The workforce development grant builds on 鈥媡he commitment and spirit of last year鈥檚 糖心Vlog传媒 System announcement of a $900,000 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce鈥檚 Economic Development Administration (EDA) to boost the state鈥檚 鈥媠tatewide workforce recovery from the economic impact of COVID-19 鈥媑rowth through the creation of the 糖心Vlog传媒 System Workforce Response and Training Center. That grant included nine 糖心Vlog传媒 System institutions, led by the Arkansas Economic Development Institute (AEDI) at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, to collect and analyze statewide workforce data and use outcomes to provide existing and bolstered education and training efforts through all seven of the 糖心Vlog传媒 System鈥檚 two-year colleges, along with two colleges of technology at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (糖心Vlog传媒M). 鈥淭his is a shining example of the synergy that鈥檚 possible by harnessing 糖心Vlog传媒 System resources in a collaborative and innovative fashion to continue bolstering the 鈥媑rowth of a world-class, highly skilled workforce in Arkansas,鈥� said Chris Thomason, vice president for planning and development for the 糖心Vlog传媒 System. 鈥淲hen we鈥檙e able to pool the resources and talent within the 糖心Vlog传媒 System 鈥媍lose to Arkansas citizens and in our communities, the momentum that鈥檚 created can have a much larger impact on the state鈥檚 economic growth and within Arkansas families.鈥� In order to support this economic and workforce development potential, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and its academic partners are providing stackable certificates, which are a set of professional credentials that can be stacked into more advanced certificate and degree programs or may be earned by Arkansas workers wishing to upskill or reskill. Stackable certificates are an innovative way for institutions of higher education to serve working students by providing them with distinct skill sets and manageable motivators on their way to a two-year or four-year degree. “COVID has changed a lot of how we operate in higher education, and this program shows a positive adaptation in meeting the needs of today鈥檚 learners,鈥� said Dr. Philip Huff, assistant professor of cybersecurity at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淭he workforce needed in cybersecurity is so great right now, and we can’t simply tell the industry to wait four more years for us to provide you with a pipeline of talent when they need it yesterday. These stackable certificates address the immediate need, and also open up new academic paths if a student chooses to continue their education.鈥� The certificate programs, the first of which is pending approval for the Fall 2022 semester, include two certificates of proficiency in cybersecurity fundamentals that 鈥渟tack鈥� into a technical certificate and associate degree. By completing these foundational certificates, learners will be ready to enroll in upper-level specialized certificates in areas like data security, digital forensics, cybersecurity operations, and software security. These certificates are designed to provide college students and workers with a road to lifelong learning with personalized pathways to learn skills that meet both learner and employer needs. 鈥淗igher education should seize every viable opportunity to increase efficiency in the delivery of educational services contributing to workforce education. CyberLearN is exactly this kind of opportunity,鈥� Dr. Albert Baker, chair of the Department of Computer Science at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淚t has been, and continues to be, energizing to collaborate on this opportunity to build efficiencies in the development of the Arkansas workforce in the emerging and evermore critically important cybersecurity industry.鈥� While 糖心Vlog传媒 System campuses will provide space and construction and renovation costs for the training operation centers, the grant will provide computer equipment and supplies, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Cyber Arena cloud access for all students, curriculum and instructional design, and tuition and fees for 100 new learners. An additional eight more scholarships will go to instructors from two-year colleges to earn 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 new graduate certificate in cybersecurity education in an effort to expand the cybersecurity teacher workforce in the state. Dr. Steve Cole, chancellor of 糖心Vlog传媒 Cossatot, said one of his biggest worries is how to combat the cyber-attacks that are happening all around the world. This new partnership with CyberLearN will bring education and training opportunities directly to 糖心Vlog传媒 Cossatot and other two-year colleges across the state. Having a skilled workforce that can respond to cyber threats will ensure a resilient economy in Arkansas. 鈥淐ybercrime just doesn’t touch large corporations, it even touches the small business owner with one employee,鈥� Cole said. 鈥淭o combat cybercrime, we must build a workforce of cybersecurity experts, and CyberLearN seeks to address this huge skills gap. Community colleges like ours find it extremely difficult sometimes to start new, technology-rich programs due to the high costs involved and the lack of available instruction, but a collaborative effort like CyberLearN allows us to tap into the talent at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the Forge Institute to offer cybersecurity programming in our rural area. I am confident that, without this effort it would be difficult to offer a world-class program like this to many rural parts of the state like ours.鈥漖]> /news-archive/2021/10/21/trystan-benson/ Thu, 21 Oct 2021 13:31:48 +0000 /news/?p=80179 ... Transfer Student Spotlight on Trystan Benson]]> Trystan Benson is a theatre arts major at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock who transferred from 糖心Vlog传媒-Pulaski Tech. What is your hometown? I am from Little Rock, AR. Tell us about yourself. I am a transfer student from the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College. I have a passion for the Theatre Arts, and my ultimate goal in life is to gain as much knowledge as possible within this field so I can share with as many people as I can. Why did you decide to transfer to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock? I transferred to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock because I really had no interest in moving far from home. Plus, my plan from high school was to get my prerequisites done at 糖心Vlog传媒-PTC then transfer to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock no matter what degree I chose. What is your major, and what do you plan to do after graduation? My major is a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts, and my plan after I graduate is to work at a community theatre, the Argenta Community Theater. What is special about being a transfer college student? I think the most special thing about being a transfer student is the connections I have made throughout my experiences at both colleges. Why did you choose 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock? I honestly think 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock chose me. All of my most dearest friends from 糖心Vlog传媒-PTC were transferring to UCA, and my heart was just not with that college. I had already been in contact with the former chair of our department Yslan Hicks and knew that this college was the environment I wanted to be in. I was extremely excited to start my new experience here. What opportunities have you gotten through 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock that you might not have had otherwise? I got an amazing opportunity to work on the Fringe Festival in Spring 2021. The Fringe Festival is a collection of student works performed by students and alumni; it is completely student driven. With this, I was able to direct a film which I had no previous experience doing, but I thought it was a great chance to learn. It was an amazingly enlightening opportunity, and I do not believe I would have gotten that chance without this wonderful department filled with the most compassionate people anyone will ever meet!]]> /news-archive/2020/02/10/ua-little-rock-eacc-offers-22-social-work-program/ Mon, 10 Feb 2020 15:46:43 +0000 /news/?p=76209 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, EACC offers 2+2 social work program]]> Through a new 2+2 agreement, students may complete the first two years of lower division coursework and earn an Associate of Science in liberal arts and sciences degree in social work. Afterwards, students can transfer to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to complete their Bachelor of Social Work degree after two more years. 鈥淲e are delighted to have East Arkansas Community College as a new partner. The School of Social Work has similar arrangements with three other schools (Hope/Texarkana, Pulaski Tech and National Park),鈥� said Dr. Stephen Kapp, director of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock School of Social Work. 鈥淭hese arrangements create very clear and manageable paths for students from their local community to a professional degree in social work.鈥� Students who have earned the associate degree from EACC with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA are eligible for admission to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 social work program with a junior classification. The Associate of Science in liberal arts and sciences is designed for students who wish to take the first two years of a four-year program with specific requirements before transferring to a four-year college or university. The associate degree offers the most flexibility for these students, who take a 35-hour general education core and 25 elective hours chosen from any discipline, such as an emphasis in social work, to fit their planned baccalaureate degree program. 鈥淭here are many people in our service area interested in a degree in social work,鈥� said Dr. Cathie Cline, president of EACC. 鈥淪o many professions in our region benefit from this type of education. An ASLAS in social work is something that has been a goal of the college, and I am so pleased we have achieved that goal.鈥漖]> /news-archive/2018/10/31/elvin-white/ Wed, 31 Oct 2018 18:32:11 +0000 /news/?p=72527 ... Determined to succeed]]> Elvin White knows that if at first you don鈥檛 succeed at something, you have to try again. For White, that something was finishing a bachelor鈥檚 degree, and this time, he means to finish. With just a few credits shy of earning a Bachelor of Applied Science with a minor in business information systems, he鈥檚 on track to graduate in May 2019. A native of Nashville, Arkansas, White first enrolled at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2000 and starting working toward a degree in electronics and computer engineering technology. He soon got active in 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Phi Beta Sigma chapter. Through the chapter鈥檚 volunteer outreach, White became a Big Brother with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Central Arkansas. During his junior year, a serious motorcycle accident forced him to withdraw. The hit-and-run accident left him with a broken clavicle, back injuries, torn neck ligaments, and short-term memory loss. He was newly married at the time with two children and would spend the next eight months bedridden. 鈥淎fter that wreck, I didn鈥檛 know what to do,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was off of work for a year, but once I was able, I just worked. School was not on my mind at all. I was just in a really dark place.鈥� Then in 2008, White enrolled at 糖心Vlog传媒-Pulaski Technical College and completed a two-year Associate of Applied Science in computer information systems. He began working for Best Buy鈥檚 Geek Squad, earned some additional information technology certifications, and in 2010, was hired as an engineer at Hewlett Packard鈥檚 call center in Conway. Things were looking up until 2012 when he got laid off and divorced. 聽 For the past five years, he has worked as an information technology manager at Arkansas Rehabilitation Services, a job he says he loves. In summer 2017, he returned to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to finish what he started many years ago. He鈥檚 made the Dean鈥檚 and Chancellor鈥檚 Lists, all while balancing family and work responsibilities. 鈥淭hrough church, prayer, and good friends, I got here to where I am today,鈥� he said. More is at stake this time around for White, 36, who now has four sons: Kaden, Jaden, Ayden, and Kasen. 鈥淢y goal in life is to make sure my kids want for nothing, and that I instill in them everything they need to grow up and be good men,鈥� he said. White was just 13 years old when his own father died in 1995. 鈥淚f my father was here, he wouldn鈥檛 want me to quit,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want to show my boys that even though you may hit some obstacles, you can finish whatever you start with hard work and determination. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad I never gave up,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ne thing I would tell people is that it doesn鈥檛 matter if you started yesterday or today. It鈥檚 never too late. Everybody鈥檚 path is different. It doesn鈥檛 matter when you finish, as long as you finish.鈥� Elvin White will complete his Bachelor of Applied Science degree next year. Photo by Benjamin Krain  ]]> /news-archive/2018/05/09/kenneth-edwards/ Wed, 09 May 2018 15:21:02 +0000 /news/?p=70474 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock grad wants to be 鈥渁 beacon of light鈥�]]> Kenneth Edwards鈥� path to college took many detours as he struggled to find out who he was and who he wanted to be. He鈥檚 done much soul searching over the past three years, and he鈥檚 found his answers. On May 12, Edwards of Little Rock will graduate cum laude with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in sociology during the University of Arkansas at Little Rock鈥檚 commencement at the Jack Stephens Center. He knows that his calling is a career working with youth, particularly those who are at-risk. He feels a connection to them because he was one of them for many years. Raised in Little Rock, Edwards spent much of his youth in and out of school and at times, homeless. 鈥淲hat I witnessed growing up was a lot of violence and drug,鈥� he said.聽 He found positive role models at (Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids), a Little Rock program that works to keep at-risk youth in school and on track to graduate. Edwards violated terms of attendance, though, and was kicked out of the program. At 15, he also left home and eventually dropped out of Central High School. 鈥淚 got detached from school and focused on making money,鈥� said Edwards, who went to work as a car detailer. He stayed with various relatives for periods of times, often not knowing where he would sleep at night. One of his aunts eventually took him to Clarksville, Tennessee, to live with her, but Edwards didn鈥檛 adjust well to the transition. 鈥淪he tried to keep me on target to graduate in 2009, but school wasn鈥檛 my main focus. I went from hustling to make ends meet to having everything at my fingertips. I was complacent. I wanted love and didn鈥檛 know how to receive it.鈥� With three months left to graduate, Edwards was expelled from school. He was able to finish his diploma through a homeschool academy. He moved back to Little Rock in 2010, this time intent on making some changes. He completed a nine-month program at Little Rock鈥檚 Union Rescue Mission where he focused on sobriety, discipline, and faith. He also completed a three-month, pre-employment training program through Our House. 鈥淓very time I felt like giving up, I had someone to prop me up,鈥� Edwards said. Knowing he needed an education, he enrolled in 糖心Vlog传媒-Pulaski Technical College and earned an Associate of Arts. With good grades, he received a transfer scholarship to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2015. He originally wanted to be a teacher, but his sociology courses resonated with him. He credits sociology professors Dr. David Briscoe, Dr. Neveen Shafeek Amin, and Dr. Kinko Ito for helping him find his passion. 鈥淭hey changed my life and my mindset, literally,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 found meaning in sociology. I was able to heal from my lost victories through a different perspective. I think I鈥檓 able to see and empathize because I was shown empathy.鈥� In college, Edwards was part of of the TRiO program, which serves first-generation college students. 鈥淜enneth has continued to deal with and overcome formidable challenges and obstacles,鈥� said Dr. Ge Chen, director of TRiO programs at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淗e was determined to complete his bachelor degree. He has been working two jobs throughout his college years to cover education expenses, and he also has volunteered at local programs helping at-risk youth. He is a role model for many young people with similar backgrounds and experiences.鈥� Edwards has even been back to P.A.R.K – this time as a mentor for at-risk youth. Along the way, Edwards has also reconnected with his mother, Golden Edwards, who has returned to college after dropping out when she first had Edwards. She graduates May 11 from 糖心Vlog传媒-PTC and plans to continue her studies at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. Edwards is now applying to graduate schools and hopes to earn a master鈥檚 degree in counseling education. Eventually, he wants to work with at-risk youth. 鈥淚 want to be here for these kids,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want to be a beacon of light for them. I know that if you don鈥檛 change the environment, you become a product of it. I spent my whole life trying not to be a statistic.鈥�]]> /news-archive/2018/05/03/cliff-haney/ Thu, 03 May 2018 18:17:20 +0000 /news/?p=70420 ... Outstanding Marketing Award recipient ready to ‘hit the pavement’]]> When Cliff Haney graduated from high school, he didn鈥檛 plan on going to college. He wanted to start working right away. 鈥淚 thought I was going to hit the pavement and make my fortune selling real estate,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know that pavement was actually going to hit me. As it turns out, people who are making the biggest investment of their lives, don鈥檛 really trust an 18-year-old to handle such a large transaction.鈥� Rejection – and the realization that business skills could help him better succeed – eventually led him to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. He will graduate on May 12 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and a Professional Sales Certification. Haney is also the recipient of the 2018 College of Business Outstanding Marketing Student Award, which he received Friday, April 27, in a ceremony at the College of Business. 鈥淚t has been an amazing experience working with Cliff,鈥� said Dr. Lenita Davis, chair of the Department of Marketing and Advertising. 鈥淗e is very competitive and always strives to do his best and to be the best. Everyone in the college is familiar with Cliff鈥檚 drive and spirit of excellence and recognize him as being a leader.鈥� The award was all the more special to Haney because his grandfather, Eddie Langford of Maumelle, received the College of Business鈥� first Outstanding Marketing Student Award in 1985 and was at the award presentation. Haney credits his grandfather with being his lifelong mentor. Langford dropped out of school in 8th grade and went to work putting up ceiling tiles. At age 34, though, he injured his back and couldn鈥檛 do the physically demanding work. He enrolled at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to learn skills that could help him earn a living. He chose business, and when he left 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, he went back to work, selling ceiling tiles and later was part owner of an acoustical supply business. Haney points to the S-shaped silver acoustical panels that hang from the ceiling of the College of Business atrium. 鈥淪ee those,鈥� Haney said. 鈥淢y grandfather designed, built, and installed those.鈥� Haney has a work ethic like this grandfather. After he graduated from North Little Rock High School in 2012, he got his real estate license and was ready to work, but he quickly discovered that selling was tougher than he expected. 鈥淚鈥檇 never faced rejection before, but I was facing 聽rejection on a daily basis,鈥� Haney said. 鈥淚 had to learn how to overcome that.鈥� He enrolled at 糖心Vlog传媒 -Pulaski Technical College in 2014 and earned his Associate of Science in Business in 2016. 鈥淚 paid for my first semester, and after that, I applied for so many scholarships that I鈥檝e gotten paid to go to school ever since,鈥� he said. With high grades, he received the Shelby Breedlove transfer scholarship to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock that sealed the deal. 鈥淲hen I came here, I had two goals: make good grades and save money,鈥� he said. Shannon Gwinn, director of the Center for Student and Career Services, persuaded Haney to see the bigger picture. 鈥淪he encouraged me to get involved with groups and really got me plugged in,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was about building a network, about building relationships with professors. They all had successful corporate careers before they came here, and they have taught me lessons that I don鈥檛 have to learn the hard way.鈥� Haney is an Ambassador for the College of Business and the first student member of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Sales Board. He鈥檚 co-president of the Student Marketing Association and vice president of , the college-level organization of Future Business Leaders of America. He will travel to the national Phi Beta Lambda conference in June to complete in the interview competition. Since August 2017, Haney has been the coordinator of the State Farm Business Skills Lab, a place where student learn effective communication skills. 鈥淪tudents come in and we鈥檒l role play job interviews, sales pitches, presentations, and speeches. We record it, review it, and find ways to improve,鈥� Haney said. Seeing it on camera makes students aware of their gestures, body language, speed of delivery and other things that could be distracting to the listeners – and potential customers. Earlier in April, he competed in the 鈥淪old in 60 Seconds鈥� competition, winning second place and 聽$500. Last summer, he lived in London, England, and worked for , developing an app for people with disabilities to use to locate accessible buildings. He also traveled to Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Paris and Switzerland. Working and traveling abroad also led him to a realization – that Central Arkansas is home and where he wants to work. 鈥淕rowing up in North Little Rock, I always wanted to go somewhere bigger,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 did that. I went to London. I missed family, friends, and the sense of community. I want to stay here and help grow Little Rock into what it can be.鈥� For now, graduate school isn鈥檛 in his future plans. A job in sales or sales training is calling him, and he鈥檚 once again ready to work. 鈥淚鈥檓 ready to get out there and hit the pavement once again.鈥�  ]]> /news-archive/2017/09/07/big-read-kickoff/ Thu, 07 Sep 2017 16:35:01 +0000 /news/?p=67839 ... Bestselling author kicks off September Big Read event at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock]]> An award-winning author hailed by NPR as a “master storyteller with a rock and roll heart鈥� will discuss his celebrated novel at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock this month. The reading, titled 鈥淚nto the Beautiful North: With the Author Luis Alberto Urrea,” will be held at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall in the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Fine Arts Building. The event is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is joined by several community partners as it launches its Big Read celebration with the reading and book discussion. Urrea鈥檚 book, 鈥淚nto the Beautiful North,鈥� has been selected as the focus of the . Urrea delivers an 鈥渁rtfully crafted story of bridging borders between Mexico and the United States,鈥� according to his publicist.聽The main character, 19-year-old Nayeli, lives in a village, Tres Camarones (three shrimp). She and her friends 鈥� inspired by the film, 鈥淭he Magnificent Seven鈥� 鈥� journey to the U.S. to bring back her father and six other men to defend the village. Critics have also described the book as a 鈥渨onderful comic satire,鈥� one filled with great characters and subject matter that 鈥渒eeps a smile on your face.鈥� Urrea, a member of the Latino Literature Hall of Fame, has written numerous works of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Raised in Tijuana and San Diego by a Mexican father and American mother, Urrea says he inherited a love of storytelling from his extended family on both sides of the border. The same week, the New York City-based musical trio 9 Horses will perform a concert with music inspired by the novel. Nine Horses offers 鈥渢he virtuosity of classical music together with the immediacy of jazz and folk music in a concert that is an interactive, accessible, and fun experience for all ages,鈥� according to their website. Their performance will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, also in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall. Little Rock is among 75 communities nationwide participating in the NEA Big Read from September 2017 to June 2018. An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. The NEA Big Read is presented in partnership with The Mexican Consulate, Little Rock School District, El Zocalo Immigrant Resource Center, The Clinton Center, Central Arkansas Library System, and 糖心Vlog传媒-Pulaski Technical College. Contributors for the kickoff event include the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock William G. Cooper Jr. Honors Program in English, Arkansas Humanities Council, and 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Ottenheimer Library, Division of Student Affairs, World Languages Department, Donaghey Scholars Program, History Department, Anthropology/Sociology Department, as well as KLRE/K糖心Vlog传媒R. The entire NEA Big Read will run from Tuesday, Sept. 19, to Friday, Nov. 3, and feature presentations, book discussions, film screenings, and related arts programming. View a calendar of events for the NEA Big Read at . For more information, contact Carol Macheak at cimacheak@ualr.edu or 501.569.8809. The photo of author Luis Alberto Urrea was taken by Joe Mazza.]]>