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Hi Community Members!

On Friday, the Arkansas Abortion Access amendment team turned in ✨101,525✨ signatures to the Arkansas Secretary of State to request ballot access for this November! Over the next few weeks, the Secretary of State’s office will be reviewing the provided signatures to ensure they meet the requirements. If at least 90,704 of the signers are verified, then Abortion will be on the ballot. If the number is short (but is at least 75% of what was required in total and in at least 50 counties), the initiative will have 30 days to submit more signatures. If you or a family member missed the original signing deadline, please seek out another opportunity HERE.

- Christine

Local Events

  • Monday, July 8th at 6:30 p.m. - Monthly Democratic Party of Benton County meeting; all are welcome, doors open at 6 at the Arvest Conference Center (Legion Lane off the Bentonville square behind the Arvest building across from the Neighborhood Market). Attend online via Zoom HERE. At this month’s meeting you’ll get to meet the John Pagan our Democratic candidate for Arkansas State Treasurer and hear about the Arkansas Block Captain program volunteer opportunity

  • Wednesday, July 11th at 6 p.m. - Moms Demand Action July Membership Meeting at the First Christian Church in Bentonville (807 SE 14th St); They will be discussing important information around safe gun storage and gun sense legislation. A local Gun Sense Candidate, Kate Schaffer, Arkansas State House, District 10, will attend and share with us her passion for a safer Arkansas.

  • Saturday, June 13th from 3 - 5 p.m. - Canopy NWA Entrepreneurship Business Expo at The Medium (214 S Main St) in Springdale; Canopy celebrates the graduates of the Plan It! Entrepreneurship Class by hosting an Immigrant Owned Business Expo. This event provides a platform for showcasing the new businesses to the community, fostering connections, and promoting cultural exchange. The expo gives each entrepreneur the opportunity to personalize an 8ft table to showcase their culture and business offerings.

Community Involvement Opportunities

League of Women Voters in Benton County

Community members are gathering later this month to create a plan to relaunch a League of Women Voters chapter in Benton County!

Meeting Details:

  • Date: July 25th

  • Time: 6:30pm

  • Location: The Pointe in Bentonville (3800 SW Richsmith Rd)

Agenda:

  1. Welcome and Introductions

  2. Overview of the League's History and Mission

  3. Goals and Objectives for the Relaunch

  4. Strategies and Action Plans

  5. Next Steps and Assignments

  6. Call for leadership

Your participation in this meeting will help shape the chapter’s direction and ensure that they create a strong foundation for the League's activities moving forward. Please come prepared with your ideas and enthusiasm! You can RSVP via email HERE or Facebook HERE.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby

The Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) team is looking for volunteers to help table events at the Fayetteville Farmers Market, Saturday, July 20th and 27th. The hours run from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm, with volunteers working one or more of these two-hour shifts: 7 - 9, 9 - 11, or 11:00 - 1:00.

They are asking all those interested in tabling to go online and take the tabling training offered by CCL linked HERE. In addition, CCL will have a Zoom meeting for Q&A about tabling on Tuesday, July 16th at 6:30 pm, linked HERE.

Arkansas Block Captain Program

The Arkansas Block Captain (ABC) Program is a strategic investment in the Democratic Party of Arkansas's infrastructure. It is rooted in a relational organizing strategy that empowers Arkansans to take voter mobilization into their own hands. This program trains volunteers on direct voter contact methods like phone banking, texting, and canvassing. General Block Captains, Rural Captains, and Campus captains will be assigned tasks that fit their district goals and audiences.

SIGN UP TO BE AN ARKANSAS BLOCK CAPTAIN

When you sign up to be an Arkansas Block Captain you agree to canvass 50 houses in your neighborhood and make other contacts with voters throughout the year. This is a commitment of about two hours each time you knock 50 doors. This is the BEST WAY you can help elect Democrats in Arkansas.

Local Organizations Needing Our Community’s Support

The Equality Crew

The Equality Crew is at risk of closing their doors due to lack of funding. For 3 years, they have been dedicated to providing a welcoming, inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ youth and their allies. This effort has included Inclusive Prom, Rainbow Family meet-ups, Big They / Big Them mentorship, DnD campaigns, art nights, Pride, participation in rainbow thanksgiving, queer camp, and other celebrations in our community. Over the course of their operations, they have engaged with over 2,000 individuals through events, over 200 volunteers, and have supported over 80 youth in our community.

How you can help:

  • Make a one-time donation HERE

  • Become a Sassy Sustainer and donate monthly by signing up HERE

  • Help the Equality Crew write Grants! Interested parties can email HERE

  • If you are with a business or organization and are willing to explore community partnerships, email HERE

EMERGE Arkansas

For the past five years, Emerge Arkansas has been recruiting and training incredible women to run and win in Arkansas. They have elected three Emerge alums to the statehouse and seven more to local offices, and they want to double their progress in the next five years. The organization is gathering on July 27th at Trio's in Little Rock from 4-6 p.m. to celebrate their 5th anniversary and the progress made to date across our state.

This event, which is a celebration of our achievements AND a critical fundraiser, will play a significant role in ensuring the organization’s mission will continue to succeed for the next five years and on! Click HERE to secure your tickets and for sponsorship opportunities.

Municipal Government Awareness

Bella Vista

  • Next Council Mtng: Monday, July 15 at 5:30 p.m. (2483 Forest Hills Blvd) - work session

  • Items of Note:

    • Read more details on the Walton heirs purchase of land in Bella Vista from Worth Sparkman at Axios NW Arkansas HERE

Bentonville

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, July 9 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.)

  • Items of Note:

    • The 2024 Annual Action Plan for the City of Bentonville's Community Development Block Grant program is now posted. View the plan online HERE. Submit your comments to Taylor Allen, Community Development Block Grant Planner HERE by July 31st.

Cave Springs

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, July 9 at 6:30 p.m. (134 N. Main St.) - work session

  • Items of Note:

    • The previous Rogers land recently annexed into Cave Springs will be assigned to Ward 1 for city council purposes

Centerton

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, July 9 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)

  • Items of Note:

    • Centerton City Council Member Amy Rochette (representing Ward 1, position 2) will be resigning at this week’s meeting and the council will declare a vacancy in this position. Reach out to me to learn more if you’re interested in potentially filling this role (term ends in 2026).

    • Coffee with the Mayor will be on July 20th at 9 a.m. at the Centerton Community

Gravette

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, July 9 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE) - Committee of the Whole

  • Items of Note:

    • Watch Mayor Kurt Maddox’s FB video update on the most recent city council meeting HERE

Lowell

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)

Pea Ridge

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, July 9 at 6 p.m. (911 Weston St.) - Committee of the Whole

  • Items of Note:

    • The City’s new (and first) Parks and Rec director, Kaleb Turner, is working on plans for a new youth center catered to 13-17 year olds in the area. Last month the city council approved purchase of an available building to use for the project. Read more from Annette Beard at NWA Dem Gazz HERE.

    • Citizens are invited to attend a Public Engagement Meeting on Tuesday, July 9th at 6 p.m. at 975 Weston St.; The city will be discussing the status of multiple projects and department heads and city officials will be available to answer questions

    • There is a vacancy on the planning commission if you would like to serve the community in this capacity, please send resume/letter of interests HERE. You must live within one mile of the city limits of Pea Ridge for this role. This role will be open until July 24th at 4pm

Rogers

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, July 9 at 6 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)

  • Items of Note:

    • The City Council will be adopting the Master Street Plan during this week’s meeting; learn more from reporting by Campbell Roper at the NWA Dem Gazz HERE

    • The previous Cave Springs land recently annexed into Rogers will be assigned to Ward 3 for city council purposes

Siloam Springs

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m. (400 N. Broadway)

  • Items of Note:

    • U.S. Dept of Transportation announced late last month that Siloam Springs would receive $11.2 million in federal funds to help upgrade E. Main Street in downtown

    • Last month, Mark Long was appointed to the Siloam Springs director position 6, filling the vacancy from Smiley’s retirement. This at-large position will be up for election to the voters in November.

    • Siloam Springs voters will likely get to vote to allow for Sunday Alcohol sales within the city limits this November

Springdale

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, July 9 at 6 p.m. (201 Spring St.)

  • Items of Note:

    • This week, the council will vote to appoint Murry Cline to the Public Facilities Board to serve the remainder of Don Gibson’s term (Jan. 31, 2027) due to his passing.

    • Additionally, Derek Gibson will be appointed to fill Shane Acosta’s remaining term (July 13, 2028) on the Water and Sewer Commission due to Shane’s resignation.

County Government Awareness

Read the latest on government relief in Benton County from the May storms in Alex Golden’s article with Axios NW Arkansas, “Benton County seeing millions in loans, relief funding after Memorial Day storms”

Pea Ridge School Board

Last month, the school board voted to appoint Eric Rowlee to fill the vacancy for the zone 3 position due to board member Sarah Saragusa resigning. Voters will be asked to fill the seat for the remainder of its term (May 2026) in May 2025 along with zone 2.

Benton County Quorum Court

Upcoming County Government meetings at the Admin Building in downtown Bentonville:

  • Development Review Committee - July 10th at 10 a.m.

  • Committee of the Whole/Finance Committee - July 16th at 6 p.m.

  • Planning Board Meeting - July 17th at 6 p.m.

  • Development Review Committee - July 24th at 10 a.m.

Support Local Theatre!

This is my shameless plug to you all to support two upcoming local theatre events (both featuring a dear friend of mine).

Purchase tickets to the show from July 18 - 28

Learn more and purchase tickets to the show from Aug. 16-18

Election Information

From the Arkansas Advocate about all of the ballot initiatives:

In the Ear

Political Training Opportunities

FREE and online training opportunities!

Odds & Ends

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