The CAHC was awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Preservation Education Award on Jan. 31 at the annual Arkansas Preservation Awards dinner at the Robinson Center in Little Rock.

The award celebrates significant contributions to historic preservation in Arkansas through educational initiatives. It was presented in honor of the , an effort launched in October following six years of collaborative work by more than 50 individuals.

鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock’s Mapping Little Rock History Digital Humanities Project is enhancing our knowledge of the capital city’s growth and development using a wide variety of media types from multiple sources, all geolocated on maps to make it easier for people to understand our history in time and space,鈥� said Rachel Patton, executive director of Preserve Arkansas. 鈥淚 am a map nerd, so I was thrilled to see the collection organized in this way! And every teacher should know about the lesson plans – what a valuable teaching tool for educators and our next generation of Arkansas historians!鈥�

The annual awards are organized by Preserve Arkansas, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and rehabilitating historic places that hold cultural and historical significance across the state.

鈥淲e are very grateful to Preserve Arkansas for this award, which highlights the impact and quality of the project,鈥� said Dr. Jess Porter, director of the Center for Arkansas History and Culture. 鈥淭his project reflects the dedication of an amazing team at the center, along with private partners who brought this vision to life. There鈥檚 nothing else like it in Little Rock. It鈥檚 one of the best resources for learning about the city鈥檚 history.鈥�

Funded by two National Endowment for the Humanities grants totaling more than $375,000, the Mapping Little Rock History Project provides an immersive platform to explore the city鈥檚 historical growth and transformation.

The interactive website offers access to a vast collection of historical documents, photographs, maps, and multimedia content from 1880 to 2014. It is a valuable resource for students, educators, historians, urban planners, architects, engineers, and community members seeking to understand Little Rock鈥檚 evolution better.

鈥淭his project is versatile and accessible,鈥� Porter said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 useful for everyone鈥攆rom students writing a master鈥檚 thesis and teachers designing classroom assignments to architects researching original building plans and community members exploring local history. The project has improved accessibility to countless records, as everything is now available online. Any Little Rocker, Arkansan, or history enthusiast anywhere can read documents like the 1975 board minutes from the Little Rock School District, along with thousands of other historic records.鈥�

The project was made possible through partnerships with several organizations. Key collaborators include Few, the Arkansas Economic Development Institute, and the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock CRUX Lab, which helped develop the website. Archival materials were contributed by the City of Little Rock, the Central Arkansas Library System Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, and the Central High School National Historic Site.

鈥淭his recognition reflects the hard work of many individuals and organizations passionate about preserving and sharing Little Rock鈥檚 rich history,鈥� Porter said. 鈥淲e are excited to see how this resource continues to educate and inspire.鈥�

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鈥淓mily has a deep understanding of public service and strategic collaboration that will benefit the entire 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock community,鈥� said Chancellor Drale. 鈥淗er ability to foster partnerships and implement meaningful initiatives will be invaluable as we continue our mission of service and academic excellence.鈥�

Cox most recently served as acting city manager for the , where she served as the chief administrative officer, managed multi-department initiatives, and collaborated with key stakeholders to support the city鈥檚 goals. Prior to that role, she was director of policy and budget for Governor Mike Beebe, where she guided the development of legislative priorities and budget planning across state agencies.

Cox鈥檚 civic engagement includes leadership roles on the boards of City Year Little Rock and 糖心Vlog传媒-Pulaski Technical College. She holds a Master of Education in Education Policy and Management from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Southern Methodist University.

鈥淛oining 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is an incredible opportunity to contribute to the university鈥檚 growth and serve the community in new ways,鈥� Cox said. 鈥淚 am excited to be part of this exceptional team.鈥�

Cox replaces Joni Lee, who retired from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in December.

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Desmond’s latest book, 鈥�,鈥� focuses on the roots of poverty in America, how it is sustained, and how we can make changes.

鈥淧overty is one of the most intractable problems we have in Arkansas, and it is important that we listen to a variety of perspectives on this issue,鈥� Chancellor Christina S. Drale said. 鈥淚f we can ultimately move the needle on poverty, we will move the needle on so many other challenges that are connected to it. Few subjects are more central to our future than this.鈥�

The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, in the University Theatre in the Center for Performing Arts at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. Those who would like to attend may register online.

Desmond will share insights with a lecture focused on his book 鈥淧overty, By America.鈥� Little Rock Vice-Mayor Kathy Webb will then join Desmond for an on-stage conversation, followed by a book-signing opportunity in the lobby.

鈥淒esmond鈥檚 books 鈥楨victed鈥� and 鈥楶overty, by America鈥� have both made a major impact on me, and have given urgency to tackling poverty and housing,鈥� Webb said. 鈥淚 am excited that 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is bringing Desmond to Little Rock and hope that the conversation sparks thought and renewed action.鈥�

In addition to Desmond, several local nonprofit organizations will be on hand ahead of the event to share how they are addressing a range of topics in the central Arkansas community like poverty, food insecurity, and affordable housing shortages.

Desmond is a professor of sociology at Princeton University. After receiving his Ph.D. in 2010 from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, he joined the Harvard Society of Fellows as a junior fellow. He is the author of four books, including 鈥淓victed: Poverty and Profit in the American City鈥� (2016), which won the Pulitzer Prize and the Carnegie Medal. The principal investigator of the Eviction Lab, Desmond鈥檚 research focuses on poverty in America, city life, housing insecurity, public policy, racial inequality, and ethnography.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Inclusive & Inspiring Speaker Series began in 2022 and is an opportunity for the campus community to hear from a variety of voices on subjects that advance understanding around issues of national and global importance.

The event is presented by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Office of the Chancellor and is made possible by the generosity of sponsors including the Chancellor鈥檚 Circle, Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association, Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, Anne Fund, Little Rock Vice-Mayor Kathy Webb, Kelly and Shannon Fleming in honor of Habitat for Humanity, Little Rock City Director Capi Peck, Mary and Jim Wohlleb, Methodist Foundation of Arkansas, Arkansas Rep. Tippi McCullough, and Winrock Foundation.

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鈥淚t was a huge shock,鈥� Abarca recalls. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 speak the language. I didn鈥檛 know the system. I went to high school, and I had no idea what GPA or the ACT was. It was like starting from zero, but my parents were very clear that there were many opportunities for us in the United States, even more being bilingual. They were very clear that we needed to contribute to the world. They always told me and my siblings that we needed to help others.鈥�

Now a senior social work major at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Abarca is making a significant impact in the community by serving as the City of Little Rock鈥檚 multicultural liaison. Through her dedication and passion for fostering understanding and collaboration among diverse groups, she is helping to build stronger, more inclusive communities.

Abarca is tasked with ensuring that Little Rock meets the needs of its multicultural communities. She fosters clear and effective communication and provides translation services to ensure Spanish-speaking residents receive and have access to important information.

鈥淚 serve as a vital bridge between the diverse communities in our city,鈥� Abarca stated. 鈥淢y primary responsibility is to ensure that our residents receive the information they need. As a liaison for all city residents, I also organize educational workshops on various topics. Additionally, I establish relationships with different embassies, coordinating visits to Little Rock on weekends to offer essential services to our residents. We have successfully collaborated with embassies from the Philippines, Honduras, Colombia, and Guatemala.鈥�

Abarca noted how important these embassy visits are because Little Rock residents often may not have the time, money, or transportation to visit out-of-state embassies. Additionally, she also oversees the city鈥檚 successful and coordinates the classes for , the Spanish-language counterpart of the BUILD Academy small-business incubator program.

“The main purpose of Emprende is to educate Spanish-speaking business owners on how to strengthen their businesses and successfully apply for contracts,” she said. “We understand the critical role these businesses play in our economy, and we want to see them thrive. With the growing number of Hispanic businesses in the Little Rock area, there is a greater need for education on how to formalize their operations and do things the right way to ensure growth and contribute more effectively to the city’s economy. This program is very special for me because I have seen how the community benefits and learns from it!”

For her efforts, Abarca was recognized by as a member of the 2024 20 in Their 20s cohort. Every year, Arkansas Business honors 20 young Arkansas professionals in their 20s who are emerging leaders and whose talent and career success goes far beyond their years.

At just 21, Abarca was the youngest person selected for this year鈥檚 cohort. She and other honorees were selected from among more than 300 nominees. According to Arkansas Business, selections are made “with an eye toward accomplishments, responsibilities and people clearly ahead of their time.”

鈥淚 was really happy to be selected for this,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 go to work or to school hoping to get recognized. I do it because I want to help people and make a change in the community. This is the first big award I鈥檝e ever had, and it鈥檚 a way to recognize my parents, my mentors, and the City of Little Rock who are investing so much time in me.鈥�

In addition to her full-time job as the city鈥檚 multicultural liaison, Abarca has been a full-time student at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock since 2023. She graduated from Hall High School as her class鈥檚 salutatorian during the height of COVID and attended the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College before joining the City of Little Rock.

鈥淎mber Jackson, my supervisor and mentor, told me about the social work program and that it was a good university,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y advisor at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is May Atkins, and she is very organized. The teachers are so sweet, and I really love the topics. They are very understanding with matching your full-time job with your schedule. My experience with the teachers, classes, and work has been really good at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.鈥�

Professors in the School of Social Work have been impressed by Abarca鈥檚 hard work, dedication, and the impact she is making on the community.

鈥淢ariana’s work with the City of Little Rock is just one example of her dedication to the community as well as to the discipline and profession of social work,鈥� said Dr. Laura Danforth, co-director of the School of Social Work at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淢ariana’s professors have not only always been impressed by dedication to her coursework as a BSW student, but also her willingness and excitement about applying what she is learning in the classroom to her field work as well as her current role as a multicultural liaison for the City of Little Rock. She is already an asset to the field of social work, and we consider ourselves lucky to have her enrolled in our program.”

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“The Corporate Partnership Program is how companies in Arkansas can expect more by partnering with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,” said Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs and chief data officer. “The program’s stellar success illustrates how 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock responds to Arkansas’s workforce needs and partners with businesses to deliver their employees affordable, flexible, and quality educational offerings.”

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is proud to announce the has joined 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as its 50th corporate partner. The city鈥檚 approximately 2,500 employees will be eligible for many great educational benefits at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. These include a 10-percent scholarship on tuition and fees, a $25-per-credit-hour book scholarship, and a waived application fee. City of Little Rock employees can also take advantage of tuition reimbursement of up to $2,000 a year through the city鈥檚 Employee Assistance Program.

鈥淟ittle Rock鈥檚 university works with the City in so many important and tangible ways, it just makes sense to enhance collaboration through the Corporate Partnership Program,鈥� said Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., an alumnus of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 graduate school and MBA program. 鈥淭his is another valuable benefit for our team members who now have a great, new incentive to enroll at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and continue their educational and professional development journeys. We appreciate Dr. Drale, Dr. Berry, everyone at the university, and partners across the community.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is celebrating the milestone of having 50 corporate partners by expanding the program to include graduate programs as well as undergraduate programs. This means that central Arkansas employees can further their careers and enhance their skills by pursuing graduate certificates and degrees at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

“Technology is changing the employment landscape at an incredible pace. As a result, employees need to periodically refresh and add to their existing skill set,鈥� said Dr. Brian Berry, dean of the Graduate School at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淭his corporate partnership program will allow these employees to add these needed skills through graduate level courses and credentials. This program will continue to enhance the central Arkansas workforce leading to significant advantages for these corporations as well as increased economic development in our community.”

Organizations who join 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Corporate Partners Program will receive many educational benefits for their employees at no cost to the company. In addition to the City of Little Rock, other great organizations who have joined the program in 2024 include ACCESS Group, Inc., Arkansas Heart Hospital, Cache River Security, CDI Contractors, eSTEM Public Charter Schools, Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas, Landmark CPAs, Little Rock Zoo, Unity Health, and Yellow Rocket Concepts.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 latest corporate partnerships follow partnerships with other great central Arkansas employers that provide opportunities for working adults to earn a college education, including Arkansas Federal Credit Union, Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority, ATG/Applied Tech Group, North Little Rock School District, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, CHI St. Vincent, Saline Memorial Hospital, Arkansas Surgical Hospital, and Amazon.

More than 24,500 people in Arkansas鈥檚 workforce are eligible to receive educational benefits at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock through the Corporate Partners Program. Nearly 200 people are taking advantage of these scholarships for the spring, summer, and fall semesters. This shows an over 50 percent increase in enrollment in the program from the 2022-23 school year to the 2023-24 school year.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock corporate partner employees interested in this educational opportunity may visit /admissions/corporate for more information. Companies interested in becoming a 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock corporate partner should email Matthew Bellew, corporate partnerships coordinator, at msbellew@ualr.edu.

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As the executive assistant to Kendra Pruitt, chief of staff for Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr., Nyah Peyton, a native of Maumelle, is gaining insight into the inner workings of city administration while cultivating invaluable real-world experience.

A graduate of Little Rock Central High School, Peyton found her niche at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. She graduated in May with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in marketing and a minor in psychology.

Peyton met her future employer when Pruitt led a vision board workshop at the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Multicultural Center, where Peyton worked as the diversity and cultural programs events chair.

鈥淚 was very impressed with many of the students, but Nyah stood out with her professional demeanor and leadership qualities,鈥� Pruitt said. 鈥淲e connected via social media, and I witnessed her maturity and advocacy for others over the next few months. Around May, I reached out to see if she might be interested in working with me over the summer. Then, I learned she was graduating, and she jumped at the opportunity to work with me at the City of Little Rock.鈥�

With Pruitt, Peyton said she鈥檚 been lucky to find a boss, mentor, and friend all in one who is teaching her how to lead a successful life.

鈥淜endra is a very busy person, and she is helping me to learn the importance of managing your time as a professional,鈥� Peyton said. 鈥淪he is connecting me with a vast network of people. She is a good friend who has shown me how to transition from college life to a professional life.鈥�

Pruitt described Peyton as a hard worker who has excelled as her job in a short period of time.

鈥淪he is a fast learner, and she accepts constructive criticism well,鈥� Pruitt said. 鈥淚鈥檝e thrown a lot of things her way in a short period of time, and she has shown great promise with time-management, communication, and operations. I am grateful to have her on our team, and I hope this experience proves fruitful for her.鈥�

Working for the City of the Little Rock is the first step along a path that will undoubtedly lead to a bright future for Peyton. Among her many career ambitions, she plans to earn a Master of Business Administration and a law degree, write her second book of poetry, as well as start a marketing research company and a gym.

鈥淚 was an athlete all my life until college, so fitness and wellness are a big part of my life, and I鈥檇 like to pass it on,鈥� Peyton said. 鈥淣ot only would I like to have a gym, but I鈥檇 also like to start a nonprofit that focuses on financial literacy, test and college preparation, and other ways to make the community more accessible for young people to succeed.鈥�

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The Stonewall Scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates knowledge of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) history, an understanding of current events as they relate to the LGBT community, and a commitment to advancing LGBT civil rights in the form of demonstrated substantial leadership. This year鈥檚 scholarship is $2,500.

鈥淚 feel very honored to receive the Stonewall Scholarship, a scholarship that recognizes those who are working to advance the LGBTQ community,鈥� Myton said. 鈥淚 am a part of the community, and I feel happy, excited, and blessed to receive the scholarship.鈥�

Dr. Laura Barrio Vilar, head of the scholarship selection committee, noted the committee members were impressed by Myton鈥檚 academic achievements and commitment to advancing LGBTQ+ rights in Arkansas.

The 20-year-old Little Rock native works as the communications and media director for Lucie鈥檚 Place, a nonprofit dedicated to helping LGBTQ young adults facing homelessness in Central Arkansas. Myton runs the nonprofit鈥檚 social media accounts, creates newsletters, and helps run programs, events, and fundraisers.

Myton also serves as an intern in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) for the City of Little Rock, where they are working to increase the city鈥檚 Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index, which rates cities on anti-discrimination laws, benefits for public employees, and other factors that contribute to a positive climate for LBBTQ+ people.

鈥淥verall, my advocacy work has been driven by my personal experiences, love for the LGBTQ+ community, and my commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable society for all,鈥� Myton said. 鈥淚 believe that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their sexual or gender identity.鈥�

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Dr. Jessica Scott, associate director of the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program, and Dr. Ren茅 Shroat-Lewis, associate professor of geology, both received a Sustain the Rock Award from the Little Rock Sustainability Commission on April 19.

鈥淚 am thrilled and very excited,鈥� Lewis said. 鈥淣ot only does this award make us feel proud, but it also brings to light a lot of the efforts going on at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as an urban campus.鈥�

The Sustain the Rock Award recognizes businesses, non-profits, individuals, and departments or employees of the City of Little Rock who have made significant contributions to a more sustainable Little Rock.

Scott and Lewis were honored for a two-semester class they teach to students in the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program. Science and Society I and II are a part of the Donaghey Scholars鈥� core curriculum and are focused on sustainability, climate change, and reduction of individual and collective carbon footprints.

鈥淪cience does not exist in a vacuum,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淪cience can only take us so far, the people must implement solutions. You can鈥檛 really address a scientific issue without also considering societal impact. In the spring, we are looking at many of the issues related to climate change – energy, sustainable cities, public policy related to climate and sustainability, and economic impact. We are really focused on the environment.鈥�

The course is designed to engage students with broader issues related to sustainability, like social equity, environmental justice, and making green initiatives economically viable for the City of Little Rock.

As one of the class projects, students work in teams to craft grant proposals for the campus Sustainability Committee. To date, five student projects have been funded, including the installation of a pollinator garden and bee houses in the Campus Garden, a trash boom to collect floating debris in Coleman Creek, the planting of native grasses throughout campus, and the creation of a butterfly garden.

The professors were so impressed with one student鈥檚 proposal that they funded it themselves. In 2019, the class collected clothing and appliances when students moved off campus at the end of the school year. They donated these items to Our House, a local nonprofit that provides services for the homeless and near-homeless individuals and families.

鈥淎s a result of this course, several students have gone on to be leaders in the sustainability community,鈥� Lewis and Scott said. 鈥淥ne now serves as the communications coordinator for the Citizens Climate Lobby. Others have attended the City of Little Rock Sustainability Summit and have become climate reality leaders with former Vice President Al Gore. Others have gone on to work for local companies with strong organizational identities around sustainability, including L鈥橭r茅al, the Little Rock Zoo, and Entegrity.鈥�

Scott has been teaching the course for a decade, while Lewis joined her in 2015. So far, more than 275 students have taken the course at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. While the innovative nature of the class is a win with students, both professors feel their ability to teach well together also resonates with students.

鈥淛essica and I work well together,鈥� Lewis said. 鈥淭here is a great rapport between the two of us. I think the students can tell that we are not just co-instructors but friends as well. In many ways, this award belongs to our scholars, who we learn from every semester. We see learning as a shared experience.鈥�

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