- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

University District receives $30,000 Donation from Cadence Bank to Offset Rising Building Costs for New Homes

John Hill — Mon, 02 May 2022 13:07:58 +0000

The , based at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, has received a $30,000 donation from the (formerly BancorpSouth Bank Foundation) to help offset rising building costs for seven new houses being built within University District. The donation will assist the University District with completing the homes on schedule. The homebuyers are participants in University District’s income-based First-Time Homebuyer Program. “This grant will help support seven new construction units by offsetting the increase in lumber materials costs since the pandemic started,” said Barrett Allen, executive director of University District. “With this grant, we can ensure that our new University District homes remain affordable for our residents waiting to complete their dream of owning their first homes. We are deeply grateful to Cadence for stepping in to support our affordable housing efforts.” The program addresses the affordable housing crisis by providing first-time homebuyers up to $20,000 for the down payment and closing costs to purchase a home constructed or renovated by University District. University District can also help to reduce a homebuyer’s monthly housing costs by subsidizing the sale price of the house. The First Time Homebuyer Program is financed through the City of Little Rock with funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD HOME Program. “We’re pleased to partner with the University District Development Corporation to advance its efforts to reach our community’s most vulnerable,” said Ty Warren, president – Northwest region for BancorpSouth, a division of Cadence Bank. “We are proud to support the valuable work it’s doing in our community to address affordable housing needs.” The seven news homes are in the Fair Park and Midtown neighborhoods in Little Rock, Arkansas. In the upper right photo, Cadence Bank officials present University District with a $30,000 donation to help affordable housing efforts. Pictured, from left to right, are Ty Warren, president – Northwest region for BancorpSouth, a division of Cadence Bank, Erika Torres, bank officer and CRA liaison, Barrett Allen, executive director of University District Development Corporation, Central Arkansas Market President Tammie Davis, and North Central Arkansas Division President Chris Locke.��

Building Black Communities Fund Awards University District Development Corporation $25,000 Grant to Provide Affordable Housing

John Hill — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 14:04:29 +0000

The University District Development Corporation (UDDC), based at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has been awarded a $25,000 Building Black Communities Fund grant from the Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative and the Arkansas Community Foundation.�� UDDC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing affordable housing and making neighborhood improvements within the University District. The grant funds, which are provided by Facebook, Inc., will be used to support affordable housing for residents within University District between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. “UDDC is grateful to the Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative and the Arkansas Community Foundation for their investment in the University District,” UDDC Director Barrett Allen said. “This is a great example of partners working together to provide safe, decent, and affordable homes for families to purchase in the University District. UDDC is delighted the funds will be used to support the development and construction of seven new single family affordable housing units.” Arkansas Community Foundation is one of 20 community foundations in the U.S. selected to receive funding from Facebook, Inc. to manage grant making to support Black communities and Black-led nonprofits. This commitment is part of Facebook’s broader $1.1 billion investment in Black and diverse suppliers and communities in the U.S. The Community Foundation, in partnership with the Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative, provided grants of up to $25,000 to support programs and initiatives specifically designed to impact Black people and communities in the Little Rock metropolitan area, which includes Pulaski, Saline, Perry, Grant, Faulkner, and Lonoke Counties. UDDC is one of 40 Black-led and Black-serving nonprofit organizations in central Arkansas to receive a grant from the Build Black Communities Fund. “Facebook, Inc. provided the funding, the Community Foundation provided the infrastructure to make the grants and Black leaders in Central Arkansas determined which nonprofits received them,” said Heather Larkin, president and CEO of Arkansas Community Foundation.�� Grant recipients are awarded to nonprofits serving in small business support and economic development, community improvement, human services and basic needs, civil rights, social action, leadership development and capacity building, education, health, and arts/culture/humanities. “This significant grant funding will empower Black-led organizations to amplify their voice in the giving space,” said Derek Lewis of the Black Philanthropy Collaborative. “All 40 grant recipients were able to demonstrate established relationships and a good track record of working on activities that impact Black communities.” The Building Black Communities Fund Advisory Committee members include Kandice Bell, Office of the Governor Asa Hutchinson; Joyvin Benton, Winthrop Rockefeller Institute; Alyson Bradford, State Farm; Tamika Edwards, Central Arkansas Water; Charlotte Green, Arkansas Imagination Library; Rev. Shantell Hill, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation; Derek Lewis II, Derek Lewis Foundation and Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative; Kendra Pruitt, Office of Mayor Frank Scott; Charles Stewart, Arkansas Black Hall of Fame; Kara Wilkins, Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative; and Darrin Williams, Southern Bancorp.��

U.S. Bank donates $150,000 to University District as part of its $15 million Rebuild and Transform Fund

John Hill — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 13:50:35 +0000

U.S. Bank has awarded the (UDDC), based at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, a three-year $150,000 grant to support programs that provide affordable housing. The grant is part of its $15 million U.S. Bank Foundation Rebuild and Transform Fund, addressing rebuilding in corridors impacted by social unrest and systemic racial inequities in small business, housing and workforce advancement. The fund is part of the bank’s previously announced to address social and economic inequities.�� “Our focus is on listening to and learning from community leaders and responding to critical needs,” said Marcos Hernandez, community affairs manager for the Little Rock Region at U.S. Bank. “Today we are proud to share the details of our philanthropic giving to 10 additional markets across the country that, historically, experience low economic mobility. We are investing in organizations led by people of color and providing general operating funds because we trust community leaders to know how, when and where to use these funds for the greatest impact.” University District Development Corporation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing affordable housing and making neighborhood improvements within the University District. The grant funds will be used to support affordable housing and community development activities in University District. “To address the civil unrest that we’ve seen in our community, UDDC will continue its efforts to improve the viability of housing stock and amenities in the University District,” said Barrett Allen, UDDC executive director. “This gift from U.S. Bank allows us to get more families into homes and strengthen a sense of community.” University District is one of 48 organizations across the country receiving funding from the U.S. Bank Foundation Rebuild and Transform Fund. In the Little Rock area, U.S. Bank also donated a grant of $100,000 to Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids (PARK), which will use the grant to support youth and mentorship initiatives.

About U.S. Bank

U.S. Bancorp, with more than 70,000 employees and $547 billion in assets as of June 30, 2020, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, the fifth-largest commercial bank in the United States. The Minneapolis-based bank blends its relationship teams, branches and ATM network with mobile and online tools that allow customers to bank how, when and where they prefer. U.S. Bank is committed to serving its millions of retail, business, wealth management, payment, commercial and corporate, and investment services customers across the country and around the world as a trusted financial partner, a commitment recognized by the Ethisphere Institute naming the bank one of the 2020 World’s Most Ethical Companies. Visit U.S. Bank at www.usbank.com or follow on social media to stay up to date with company news. In the upper right photo, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock social work graduate Cadie Foscue is one of the Little Rock residents who��bought her house in 2019 through the University District first time homebuyer program. Photo by Ben Krain.

University District receives $76,500 match grant to boost affordable housing program

John Hill — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 16:48:32 +0000

Several local banks have come together to support the University of Arkansas at Little Rock-based University District Development Corporation’s mission of providing affordable housing for those in the community. University District received a $76,500 matching grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) Partnership Grant Program. University District received donations totaling $16,500 from five banks – Arvest Bank, BancorpSouth, Simmons Bank, First Security Bank, and Bank OZK. FHLB Dallas generously matched the grants for $60,000. “We are so grateful for this grant,” said Barrett Allen, executive director of University District. “We are so grateful to FHLB Dallas and our local banks for continuing their support of providing affordable housing during the pandemic.” Through this unique grant program, FHLB Dallas member institutions contribute from $500 to $6,000 to a community-based organization (CBO), which FHLB Dallas matches at a new, higher 5:1 ratio approved for 2020 only in response to COVID-19 (compared to the previous 3:1 ratio) resulting in a match of up to $30,000. If multiple member institutions contribute to the same CBO in one year, the maximum FHLB Dallas match for those member contributions is $60,000 per year. “Member institutions such as Arvest Bank used the Partnership Grant Program to not only help community organizations but also to impact populations served by the organizations,” said Greg Hettrick, first vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. “It is an honor to work with Arvest Bank every year to provide these community-based organizations funding to continue their operations, especially during the pandemic.” University District supporter BancorpSouth said they were happy to donate because affordable housing strengthens the community. “We are pleased to support the University District Development Corporation’s efforts to create affordable housing options for people in Little Rock,” said Chris Locke, BancorpSouth president – Central Arkansas division. “At BancorpSouth, commitment to the community is a large part of who we are because we know that strong communities sustain our company, our customers, and our teammates. The work that UDDC is doing truly helps us build a stronger community.” University District plans to use the grant to begin an affordable rental program that will complement its current efforts to renovate older homes and complete new construction on lots within University District neighborhoods. “The grant from FHLB Dallas from last year allowed us to start the pre-development process for a rental program within University District,” Allen said. “This will be a new focus in our mission for affordable housing. This year’s grant will be used for acquisition and rehabilitations as well as construction of new single family homes.” U.S. Congressman French Hill and representatives from Bank OZK, First Security Bank, Arvest Bank, Simmons Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas present funds to the University District Development Corporation and to World Services for the Blind, Jan 24, 2020. Photo by Business Wire.

City of Little Rock, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock announce revitalization plans for Asher Avenue Corridor

John Hill — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 14:40:47 +0000

Chancellor Christina Drale joined Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. at a Sept. 2 press conference at the Robinson Center to announce revitalization plans for the Asher Avenue corridor and the University Plaza shopping center.�� The plans are part of an effort to increase quality of life, bring in businesses and residences, and spur economic growth in an underserved area of Little Rock. “…Over the past 20 months, we have been very intentional,” said. “We have been able to move from platitudes to policy to proactive action. One of those actionable efforts has been the revitalization of Asher Avenue. To help revitalize an area, you must first focus on how do you enhance an area.” Along the Asher Avenue corridor, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock owns the University Plaza shopping center, University Village apartments, and the Coleman Sports and Recreation Complex, which is home to the women’s soccer team and men’s and women’s track teams. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock has long been an anchor in this important crossroads entrance to our city,” Chancellor Drale said. “Our campus, in recent years, has expanded to the south side of Asher Avenue. We envision development that would create a safe and attractive entrance into these facilities off of Asher Avenue.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s most significant revitalization plans revolve around the redevelopment of the University Plaza shopping center, which the university purchased in 2004. The center is home to Big Lots, , Sequoyah National Research Center, Department of Public Safety, and additional campus units. “We have owned the property for a number of years and used it to house various departments that had space needs,” Chancellor Drale said. “However, our plans have always been to rebuild this center with a focus not just on our campus needs, but also how those might intersect with the interests of business and the concerns of the community in which we live.”�� Vlog��ý Little Rock is in the planning phase for redeveloping the center, and is in talks with partners, including the City of Little Rock, about the design of a public-private partnership for the project. “A redeveloped center on the south end of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus will provide an important face to the Asher Avenue corridor,” Chancellor Drale said. “It will add to the positive development the mayor sees for this part of Little Rock, and we are proud to be a part of these changes. We will work with neighborhoods and other stakeholders to create a center that serves the campus and the community.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor Christina Drale (right), Mayor Frank Scott Jr. (left), and business owner Tracy Johnson (center) review plans for revitalization efforts along Asher Avenue during a Sept. 2 press conference at Robinson Center. Photo by Ben Krain.

The University District Development Corporation will be a vital part of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s revitalization efforts in the neighborhoods surrounding the university. University District is an initiative with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and its partners to increase home ownership, job growth, public safety, and neighborhood amenities in the areas around the university.�� “The University District area is full of potential for growing new businesses, attracting new residents, and for becoming a new region of exciting opportunity in Little Rock,” Chancellor Drale said. “The University District office, along with the Arkansas Small Business Technology Development Center and the Arkansas Economic Development Institute, both at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, are excited and primed to be collaborators with the City of Little Rock in this significant endeavor.” The City of Little Rock’s revitalization plan will include a multi-pronged approach. One part of that vitalization effort included partnering with the Arkansas Department of Transportation to repave and resurface Asher Avenue and South University Avenue. Little Rock Planning and Development Director Jamie Collins said city officials have been meeting with the owners of buildings that have fallen into disrepair to discuss if the owners plan to renovate, demolish and rebuild, or sell the properties. Three such buildings are located at 5518 W. 33rd St., 4500 Asher Ave. and 3004 Lewis St. Collins said he expects to see significant progress on the properties within three months. The City of Little Rock, Central Arkansas Water, and Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority also announced economic incentives to encourage redevelopment of areas south of I-630 and east of I-30. The City of Little Rock will waive building permit fees, while Central Arkansas Water and Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority will forgo developer payments, including fees for water and sanitation infrastructure. The incentive package is the first of its kind in Little Rock, and city officials hope it will bring more businesses and generate more revenue for Little Rock. “This is an exciting day as we revitalize Asher Avenue,” Mayor Scott said. “It’s an exciting day as we work in partnership with an anchor institution of the likes of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to also revitalize Asher Avenue, focusing on retail development along that corridor area. It’s an exciting day to work with our property owners in that area as well. We are all focused on one thing. How do we develop, how do we redevelop, and how do we increase vibrancy south of I-630 and east of I-30 for this day and forever more?”

Dancin’ in the District Block Party invites community to join the fun Sept. 12

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 13:22:52 +0000

The University District Development Corporation will host a free block party open to the public from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, at the University Plaza Shopping Center parking lot. The Dancin’ in the District block party will include music, line dancing, food trucks, and prizes. University District residents are encouraged to join the fun. The University District Development Corporation seeks to improve the University District, including cultivating the neighborhood as a thriving cultural and entertainment destination. For more information about the block party, call 501-683-7356.

University District receives $24,000 matching grant to boost affordable housing program

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 14:22:23 +0000

��Vlog��ý Little Rock-based University District Development Corporation has received a $24,000 matching grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Dallas and four local members: , , , and . These funds will be used to help University District’s mission of providing affordable housing to the neighborhoods surrounding the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.�� “The Partnership Grant Program gives certain flexibility to organizations. It allows us to partner with member banks and apply those funds to impact the community,” said Barrett Allen, executive director of University District. “I think it is something that is needed, and I’m thankful for the program. We have worked with the local banks in the past on several other issues, and we thank them for supporting us.” FHLB Dallas is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community investment by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 820 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas. Through FHLB Dallas’s Partnership Grant Program (PGP), member institutions provide grants to local nonprofit organizations, which FHLB Dallas matches at a 3:1 ratio up to $12,000 per member and $24,000 per year in grant money that is distributed through a lottery system. In 2019, FHLB Dallas awarded $300,000 in PGP funds that was combined with $142,500 contributed by 25 FHLB Dallas members for a total of $442,500 to the organizations. “The Partnership Grant Program is intended to strengthen the relationship between our members and the communities they serve,” said Melanie Dill, community and economic development manager at FHLB Dallas. “Our 3:1 match enables our members to provide additional support for community-based organizations.” University District will receive a total of $24,000 in PGP funds from FHLB Dallas and four members: Bank OZK, First Security Bank, Arvest Bank, and Simmons Bank.�� Martie North, director of community development/Community Reinvestment Act at Simmons Bank, said that Simmons feels it’s important to invest in the communities they serve.�� “Affordable housing is the cornerstone for strong and vibrant communities. The University District Development Corporation (UDDC) works hard every day to provide quality housing that is affordable and attractive within the University District,” North said. “Investing in the communities in which we operate, work, and play is a priority of Simmons Bank. The FHLB Partnership Grant provides us with a wonderful opportunity to financially support organizations like the UDDC in their efforts to strengthen our communities. We believe in the work the UDDC is doing and value our partnership. The local banks have served as community partners to help the University District in its mission to provide quality, affordable housing within the University District neighborhoods. “Neighborhood revitalization is critical to communities. It improves quality of life for families and individuals, makes home ownership possible, contributes to the appeal of the city and gives hope, among other benefits,” said Jim Cargill, president and CEO of Arvest Bank in central, northeast, and southwest Arkansas. “Our associates work every day in support of this mission, and we applaud the results the UDDC has achieved here in Little Rock.” The grant funds will be used to boost University District’s affordable housing programs, which began in 2009. The University District purchases homes to rehabilitate and lots to build new homes. These homes are then sold to those needing affordable housing within University District. The need-based First-Time Homebuyer Program provides first-time homebuyers up to $20,000 for down payment and closing costs to purchase a home constructed or renovated by University District.�� The First Time Homebuyer Program is financed through the City of Little Rock with funds from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME Program. UDDC is now creating a plan and implementation strategy to rehabilitate, build, and sell new single family market rate homes. Buyers will be able to use conventional mortgage loan financing options to purchase a home and not be concerned about program restrictions that accompany the first-time homebuyer program. The organization is also discussing a single family rental program. “This is the third time we’ve been selected in the lottery, and we are going to utilize the funds to support our affordable housing programs,” Allen said. “We believe that anyone making a prevailing wage should be able to live in University District at an affordable price, and we work with all the neighborhood associations who make up University District to make this a reality. These funds will help to support and shore up our acquisition of properties and to build up our reserves so we can work with banks to go after larger lines of credit.” According to Barrett, University District’s goal is to complete 10-12 houses a year, either through renovation and resale of older homes or new construction on lots within University District neighborhoods.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock professors featured in podcasts recalling city’s conflicted past

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 13:03:46 +0000

As the director of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Anderson Institute on Race and Ethnicity and Donaghey Distinguished Professor of History, Dr. John Kirk often serves as an expert source for journalists, students, and researchers looking to learn more about Arkansas’s history in race relations and civil rights.�� A year ago, he was asked to participate in an unusual project. Laura Dunnagan, a Little Rock native, had moved out of state to study poverty and development studies at Davidson College in North Carolina. Feeling conflicted about whether she wanted to return to her hometown after graduation, Dunnagan used her senior project to complete a series of podcasts that explored the city’s post-World War II history with crime, poverty, race relations, and urban development.�� “Laura is an interesting case,” Kirk said. “She’s a local lady from Arkansas who is trying to understand the city that she grew up in better. She is investigating the different dynamics that have shaped the city. It’s interesting that someone like Laura, who is from the city, is now studying Little Rock from an outside perspective. She is interested in understanding how the city’s historical roots are still important in addressing the issues we are facing today.” Last summer, Dunnagan returned to Little Rock and interviewed more than 30 people to discover how Little Rock’s history in segregation, city planning, municipal budgeting, and the role of perception transformed the city over the last six decades. She interviewed historians, politicians, city and community leaders, journalists, police officers, educators, and nonprofit workers. “When I think about the city, I usually think of my favorite parts…,” Dunnagan said in her first podcast. “I also think about the parts of the city that are hard to reckon with: the limited economic mobility that plagues the South; the differences in how people are treated based on race, class, and where they live in the city; our history of segregation and the ways the city perpetuates it. I hesitate to go home and return to a city where these inequities are so clear and are hardly acknowledged in a meaningful way.” Participants interviewed in the podcast include Assistant Chief Hayward Finks of the Little Rock Police Department; former Arkansas state legislator and 2018 mayoral candidate Warwick Sabin; Little Rock City Board of Directors members Gene Fortson, Ken Richardson, and Doris Wright; Austin Kellerman, KARK news director and founder of Victory over Violence; Mike Poore, superintendent of the Little Rock School District; Glenn Hersey, outreach pastor at Saint Mark Baptist Church; and Leifel Jackson, founder of Reaching Our Neighborhoods and Children. “I knew conversations about crime would be at the forefront of what was happening in Little Rock during the mayoral election,” Dunnagan said. “If I could use crime as a way to understand Little Rock, I knew it would make an interesting story in a way that people in Little Rock will find topical.” At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, she interviewed Kirk as well as Dr. David Montague, professor of criminal justice, and Barrett Allen, director of the University District Development Partnership. “I spoke mainly about my research and how Little Rock has changed since World War II and its impact on race and race relations in the city,” Kirk said. “That research is being used by different users in lots of different ways, from college projects to major news organizations like.” At the end of her project, Dunnagan also felt encouraged by people trying to make positive changes in Little Rock and urged residents to get involved in their community. “I would encourage people to stay aware of the news and watch the City Council meetings because knowing what is happening in the city is crucial to doing any activism,” she said. “I would also recommend getting involved in your own neighborhood associations. Because there are so many opportunities to get involved and to help the community in Little Rock, it is hard to prescribe one thing that would be most helpful.” Dunnagan’s podcast series and more information about its creation can be found at. The podcasts are also available through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Play.

University District hosts weekly farmers markets for summer season

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 29 May 2019 15:49:58 +0000

Summer is back, and that means the return of weekly farmers markets at University District.�� The Development Corporation will host the University District Farmers Market every week until Sept. 26 to promote healthier eating through access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The farmers markets will be held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. every Thursday in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock University Plaza Parking Lot at 5820 Asher Ave. In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, the markets will feature crafts, plants, prizes, and healthy food demonstrations. SNAP customers can receive up to $20 worth of fresh fruits and vegetables when they use their EBT card to make an initial purchase. For more information, contact Angela Armstrong at 501-682-9528 or uddc.community@gmail.com.

University District recognized as ‘Thriving Community’ for healthy community initiatives

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 13:45:26 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock University District has been named a “Thriving Community” in recognition of the district’s efforts to promote health and wellness in partnership with the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Counseling, Human Performance and Rehabilitation.�� The distinction is given by the to recognize nonprofit organizations, businesses, and neighborhood groups working to build a healthier community. The University District received the award at the organization’s Growing Healthy Communities Conference Jan. 28 at Burns Park Hospitality House. The coalition awards: Emerging Community, Blossoming Community, and Thriving Community. Communities that receive the highest “Thriving” designation demonstrate change through data and environment, system and policy level changes. A community’s ability to make lasting changes to both the environment and public policies is a sign of success and sustainability. In 2011, Dr. Janea Snyder, an assistant professor of health education and promotion in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Counseling, Human Performance, and Rehabilitation, received an initial grant of $18,000 to support the coalition’s mission to improve health by increasing access to physical activity and healthy eating to reduce and prevent obesity. “This is a really great accomplishment. Since 2010, I have been able to sustain the Growing Healthy Communities effort in partnership with University District,” Snyder said. “The goal for the project is to increase access to healthy food and physical activity in order to reduce the state’s obesity rate.” She has been partnering with University District Director Barrett Allen and Community Health Program Coordinator Angela Armstrong at University District to carry out the initiatives. “It is a great honor for the University District to receive recognition from Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention as one of its Thriving Communities in the Growing Healthy Communities Program,” Allen said. “Since 2010, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock University District has worked toward improving the quality of health of University District residents through projects such as the Wellness Fair, Farmers Market, Garden to Grill Health Awareness Class, and the Community Garden. Over the years, it has managed to climb each tier of the Growing Healthy Communities program to make it to the top as a Thriving Community. We are grateful for this recognition and, we will continue in our efforts to make the University District neighborhoods a healthier place.” Her efforts have been supported by the University District, College of Education and Health Professions, School of Counseling, Human Performance and Rehabilitation, Health Services, FitWell, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty and staff volunteers, and student volunteers from nursing, health education and promotion, and counseling. The collaboration produced numerous initiatives that focused on gardening, wellness fairs, cooking classes, farmers markets, and nutritious food shopping. Some of the more popular programs include the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Growing Healthy Communities Wellness Fair and the Garden to Grill Cooking Class. University District residents receive a free one-year gym membership to the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Donaghey Student Fitness Center in exchange for attending the wellness fair. The Garden to Grill cooking classes teach individuals and families how to cook healthy food on a limited budget. The classes also include a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock health educator, a massage therapist, and dieticians who discuss exercise, stress management, and healthy meal plans. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Department of Health, Human Performance, and Sports Management also led a project, Smart Shoppers for Seniors, to help older University District residents shop for nutritious food. Through the program, nutritionists lead grocery-shopping trips for seniors living in University District. “We would not have received this recognition without the contributions, efforts, and support of the University District partnership,” Snyder said. “It takes collaboration to make change happen. It has been a village of people who have contributed to this effort, and I feel that this award sums up the collaboration within our university and how multiple students, staff, faculty, and departments have contributed to this effort.” Snyder, along with Amar Kanekar and Bennie Prince, professors in the School of Counseling, Human Performance and Rehabilitation, published an article, “Growing Healthy Communities Initiative: Transforming the Built Environment to Combat Obesity,” in the Californian Journal of Health Promotion. The article highlights the efforts of the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention and Growing Healthy Communities, including the University District, to combat obesity among Arkansans by increasing access to healthy foods and physical activity. In the upper right photo, Snyder holds the certificate designating University District as a Thriving Community.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock