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Hi Community Members!

Shorter biweekly email today. The Special Primary Election email will be coming later this week with all the information you need to feel prepared to vote starting next week!

- Christine

Local Events

  • Mon., Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m. - Democratic Party of Benton County Monthly Meeting at the Arvest Conference Center, Legion Lane, in downtown Bentonville. Learn more about the upcoming primaries, our county convention, and hear from special guests Arkansans for Limited Government and their Abortion Amendment. Zoom link HERE.

  • Sun., Feb. 18th from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. - Annual Northwest Arkansas Soup Sunday benefiting the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families organization at the Rogers Convention Center. This family-friendly event with delicious soups, live music, and an auction is not to be missed! Get your tickets HERE.

  • Wed., Feb. 21st at 6 p.m. - Circles Big View: Make A Plan To Vote (in the Primary)! at the Fayetteville Library (401 W Mountain); Join Circles NWA for a nonpartisan educational event that will help you feel confident to vote in the March primaries! Reserve a spot HERE.

  • Sat., Feb. 24th at 10 a.m. - Coffee With The Candidates discussion hosted by the Arkansas Kids Count Coalition Center for Nonprofits at the JTL Shop Atrium (614 E. Emma Avenue, Springdale). At Coffee with the Candidates, in an informal setting, you can ask people running for office where they stand on policies that affect kids and families in your community.

Community Involvement Opportunities

Children’s Policy Roundtables - Springdale

The 2025 General Assembly Session is just around the corner, and it is time to think about what laws you’d like to advocate for to improve the well-being of our state’s kids. In this series of roundtable discussions, you and your fellow advocates will talk about what needs and issues you see in your community, and what potential policy solutions you’d like to see. During the event you will have the opportunity to discuss multiple topics and connect with other advocates.

When: Thursday, April 4 from 11:00am-2:30pm (lunch will be provided)

Where: The Jones Center Conference Center, (922 E Emma Avenue, Springdale)

REGISTER

This is the first part of a three-part series to prepare you for the 2025 legislative session. In the summer we will host a virtual Advocacy Academy to go over advocacy basics, how to advocate with an equity focus, different tactics you can use, and how to create a plan for your advocacy. And in the fall, we will have our Children’s Policy Summits and Conferences to do a deep dive into bills we expect to see and give you an opportunity to hone your advocacy skills.

Municipal Government Awareness

Bella Vista

  • Next Council Mtng: Monday, Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m. (2483 Forest Hills Blvd) - Work Session

Bentonville

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.)

  • Items of note:

  • City residents are welcome to participate in listening sessions for the future of Bentonville planning over the next couple of weeks- more information, including dates and locations can be found at the bottom of the webpage HERE.

Cave Springs

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. (134 N. Main St.)

Centerton

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)

  • Items of Note:

    • Watch this YouTube video from late last month for more information about the Centerton Community Center project which voters will weigh in on March 5th

Gravette

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE)

  • Items of Note:

    • Watch Gravette’s mayor update from last month HERE

Lowell

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)

Pea Ridge

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 5:30 p.m. (911 Weston St.) - Committee of the Whole

  • Items of Note:

    • Join the city for a public forum at City Hall on Feb 22nd @ 6pm as State Senator Joshua Bryant. Key topics will be the LEARNS Act and Human Trafficking, along with a Q & A session.

    • Join community leaders for a public forum to discuss the future of the community on Monday, February 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Pea Ridge City Hall.

Rogers

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)

Siloam Springs

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m. (400 N. Broadway)

Springdale

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. (201 Spring St.)

County Government Awareness

Benton County Quorum Court

Upcoming Benton County Meetings:

  • Finance Committee Meeting - Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. (Admin Bldg)

  • Committee of the Whole - Feb. 20th at 6 p.m. (Admin Bldg)

  • Planning Board Meeting - Feb. 21st at 6 p.m. (Admin Bldg)

State Government Awareness

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders:

Latest SHS headlines to catch up on:

  • Read Tess Vrbin’s update on the lectern audit via the Arkansas Advocate, “Auditor: Report on Arkansas governor’s lectern purchase should be finished in March” - Investigators have interviewed 20 people involved with the purchase and reimbursement of the $19,000 lectern

  • Since the last newsletter, there’s been more drama with the Arkansas Board of Corrections. On Jan. 31st, the Board of Corrections appointed their own interim Corrections Secretary, former State Senator Eddie Joe Williams. Five days later, Williams resigned the position after the Attorney General and Governor Sanders challenged the Board’s ability to make the appointment. On Thursday, the governor named her appointment for Corrections Secretary, Lindsay Wallace, who has been the agency’s chief of staff since 2020.

Political Training Opportunities

National Democratic Training Committee - online trainings

Emerge Arkansas

The deadline to apply to join the Emerge Arkansas Class of 2024 candidate boot camp is soon - Feb 16th. The application requires thoughtful responses and two letters of recommendation, so please start your application ASAP to allow for time. Application info and link HERE.

Odds & Ends

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