Local Events
Thursday, Aug. 24 from 7 - 8 p.m. - Monthly Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition Community Meeting at St. Paul’s (downtown Fayetteville) or online; Learn how local government works and hear about upcoming trainings for taking action against mass incarceration in your community.
Friday, Aug. 25 from 11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Political Animals Club of Northwest Arkansas Luncheon at Mermaids Restaurant in Fayetteville (2217 College Ave.); $15 for the lunch - no membership is required; RSVP by noon on Wed. Aug. 23 to [email protected]. Attorney General Tim Griffin will be the guest speaker. Reply to this email if you want more details.
Saturday, Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. - LBJ Women’s Campaign School Class of 2024 Info Session - Learn more about the nonpartisan, issue-neutral program focused on building the skills of women needed in the political arena. Open to women ready to run for office or manage a political campaign. RSVP HERE
Thursday, Aug. 31 from 1:30 - 3 p.m. - How Federal Policy Made Hunger Worse for the Marshallese; at the Jones Center for Families (922 E. Emma). Join Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families (AACF) and Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese (ACOM) for an event to offer policy solutions to help address hunger in the Marshallese community. Register HERE.
Community Involvement Opportunities
Circles NWA is accepting Ally applications
Circles NWA is a poverty reduction initiative designed to help low-income families pursue upward mobility. Circles is unique in that they flip the traditional mentorship model on its head and center the leadership of those who have experienced poverty. They call them Circle Leaders.
They call volunteers Allies. Many Allies have never experienced poverty, but they volunteer to walk alongside a Circle Leader, offering support, insight, and access to broader social networks and connections. They talk about Circles as a journey, and along the way real friendship is formed, big goals are achieved, and a community of belonging is built.
Learn more about being an Ally at this zoom info session:
Thursday, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m.; register HERE
Ally applications are due by Sept. 6th. Application link is HERE.
Leadership Benton County - Accepting applications for the 2024 class
Leadership Benton County’s purpose is to inspire and connect leaders to serve their community. The program objectives include:
Participants will identify their strengths and passions that can be leveraged to serve their community.
Participants will understand the strengths, needs, and inter-connected systems that provide opportunities within our community.
Participants will be able to apply and build their social networks and connections.
Participants will emerge as board-ready leaders who are equipped to step into open opportunities.
Participants will be prepared to share their experience, bringing knowledge back to their employers and teammates.
Application deadline is Oct. 20, 2023.
Local Community Member Spotlight
Congratulations to Jennifer “Ryan” Di Salvo of Rogers, who was recently appointed to the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Foundation. The nine member board is made up of devoted Arkansans committed to preserving the natural beauty of our beloved Natural State. Together, they strive to make a positive impact, facilitating conservation projects and community involvement.
Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families Soup Sunday 2024!
Bentonville’s Jessica and Clint Schaff will be co-chairing the AACF Northwest Arkansas fundraiser on Feb. 18, 2024 in Rogers. Joining the Schaffs at Soup Sunday is a surefire way to satisfy your appetite and your heart. Soup Sunday has been named the Arkansas Times Best of Arkansas Charity Event Winner for the second consecutive year! But it's more than just an event; it's a souperior experience that brings our community together in a heartwarming way. All are welcome, including the kiddos.
Here's how you can help:
Get Your Tickets: Waste no time and grab your tickets NOW at tinyurl.com/nwasoup. Elevate your impact by considering sponsorship opportunities!
Ladle Out Kindness: Volunteer to serve soup and spread smiles. Your time can make a big impact!
Donate Experiences: Contribute to an unforgettable auction fundraiser! Feel free to DM me with the experiences you'd like to donate.
Rally Restaurants: Love a local culinary gem? Encourage their participation!
Prepare for an un-bowl-ievable experience! Let's come together to rally for the well-being of Arkansas children and families, warming both hearts and bellies at Soup Sunday!
Municipal Government Awareness
Bella Vista
Next Council Mtng: Monday, Aug 21 at 5:30 p.m. (2483 Forest Hills Blvd) - work session
Items of Note:
Want to receive text alerts from the city? Signup HERE
Bentonville
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.)
Items of Note:
The submission deadline for the city’s 150th anniversary time capsule has been extended to Aug. 31st.
Applications are open to serve on the Bentonville Airport Advisory Board - deadline is Sept. 8th; go HERE for more information
Cave Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m. (134 N. Main St.)
Items of Note:
Consideration of candidates for the vacant ward 2 city council position will be on this week’s meeting agenda
Centerton
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)
Items of Note:
Annual Centerton Fire Department Pancake Breakfast will be Saturday, Sept. 9th from 7 - 10 a.m. (755 W Centerton Blvd)
Gravette
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Aug. 22 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE)
Items of Note:
AR Dept. of Transportation public meeting on the Hwys. 59 & 72 Corridor Study Update will be from 4 - 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29th at Gravette High School Commons (325 Lion Dr. S)
Lowell
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)
Pea Ridge
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 5:30 p.m. (911 Weston St.) - committee of the whole
Rogers
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)
Items of Note:
Mt. Hebron park grand opening was earlier this month. Check out the state’s largest inclusive playground (25,000 sq ft) designed for people of all abilities.
Council approved Mayor Hine’s appointment of Hayes Minor (retired police chief) to the Civil Service Commission.
Siloam Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. (400 N. Broadway)
Items of Note:
The election ordinance concerning putting an annexation of 2,860 acres into the city for the public to vote on this November was tabled by the Board of Directors — it’s likely the annexation election will now be pushed to the November 2024 ballot
The planning department will hold a town hall meeting Aug. 24th from 5:30 - 7 p.m. at the Siloam Springs Library - during the meeting the planning department will go over the technical review process for applications. Audience questions will be welcomed.
Springdale
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. (201 Spring St.)
Items of Note:
County Government Awareness
NWACC
Earlier this month, the NWACC Board of Directors declined to consider holding another election for a property tax increase this year. The needs to be addressed under the requested increase have not gone away, and as the article indicates another vote will likely be requested in the next two years. Read more from the meeting coverage by Doug Thompson of the NWA Dem Gazz HERE.
State Government Awareness
LEARNS Act:
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families published a section-by-section summary of the LEARNS Act - download your copy HERE
Read Antoinette Grajeda’s Arkansas Advocate article, “Nearly 5,000 Arkansas students, dozens of schools apply for new education voucher program”; highlights:
The EFA program will be phased in over three years with this year’s participation capped at 1.5% of enrollment, or around 7,000 students, according to ADE officials. First year eligibility is limited to one of six criteria, including having a disability or entering kindergarten for the first time.
Of the current applicants, 38% are students with disabilities, 32% are first-time kindergarteners, 6% are foster children, 4% are children of active duty members, 1% are students experiencing homelessness and 1% are students enrolled in a “F”-rated school or school in need of Level 5 support, according to ADE.
Election Information
Candidate Announcement
Secretary of State, John Thurston, announced earlier this month that he plans to run for the State Treasurer in the Nov. 2024 special election to replace recently deceased Mark Lowery. Due to term limits, Thurston would be unable to pursue another Secretary of State run in 2026. Additionally, there will likely be no other state-wide races without Republican incumbents in 2026 (besides Commissioner of Lands which Thurston has already held). Republicans continue to move from one state-wide position to another as they each wait for their turn at the governorship. If Thurston wins, Governor Sanders will appoint an interim Secretary of State to serve from Jan. 1, 2025 - Jan. 1, 2027. You can read more HERE from Hunter Field at the Arkansas Advocate.
Benton County Guide to Elected Offices for 2024
The Democratic Party of Benton County has published their “Benton County Guide to Elected Offices for 2024” and updated their website with all things you (or your neighbors) may need to learn about the upcoming filing period for partisan legislative/county and spring school board positions up for election in 2024. Click on the links below to learn more!
Political Training Opportunities
Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders: Ready? Set. Run! FREE Training
The Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders is hosting a free series, designed to answer all of your questions about running for political office. Whether you want to serve on a school board, the state legislature, or in Congress, this half-day program will bring experts and veteran politicians together to discuss the finer points of running for office, and provide advice and guidance on how to run a successful campaign.
What to expect: A one-day bootcamp to prepare YOU to run for public office. Whether you are considering a campaign, ready to file the paperwork, or just learn more about the process. This is a crash course in everything that goes into running for local, state or federal seat.
Reserve your seat now for the training on Thursday, Sept. 14 from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m..
Farm Bureau Arkansas: How to Win an Election Training
This seminar teaches how to evaluate the candidate and the electorate, build a campaign structure, raise money, enlist allies, create coalitions and get last-minute election-day voter attention. The seminar was developed by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), an organization noted for its understanding of the political process, with the help of professional political consultants and staff members of the Democratic and Republican parties. The instructors are trained staff members of AFBF. Video recording, a case study and a computer simulation will allow you to test techniques, tools and methods.
Training is in Little Rock from Oct. 17 - 18th and is open to candidates, their spouses, and campaign managers. Space is limited and early registration is encouraged; deadline is Oct. 13th. Learn more and register HERE.
Arkansas Ethics Commission Campaign Finance Training
The Arkansas Ethics Commission, which serves as the compliance and enforcement agency with respect to the campaign finance and disclosure laws of the State of Arkansas, will be conducting training sessions for candidates and other persons subject to those laws. If you are interested in attending a training session, please print and mail/email the registration form linked below.
Odds & Ends
Read this about the Arkansas podcast whose name is now a meme; “Founder of ‘The Folding Chair’ Podcast Calls Montgomery’s Brawl ‘Karma’”
Read President of the Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus Debrah Mitchell’s open letter to the Arkansas Department of Education regarding the state’s stance on the AP African American Studies high school class
As a participant in the Upward Bound program facilitated through Rose State College in Oklahoma (many, many years ago), I was super excited to see this article from Ashel Parsons on Only in Arkansas highlighting the incredible Upward Bound program at Harding University in Searcy, read HERE
Read “The Evisceration of a Public University” in The Nation from U of A Professor Lisa M. Corrigan, about West Virginia University