Community

Volunteering is about more than getting a pat on the back or feeling good about yourself. It’s about giving back to the community or an organization that you are passionate about. Here in Arkansas, there are many volunteer opportunities to consider if you’re interested in getting involved:

Rethinking reentry: The Exodus Project is a prison rehabilitation program that teaches ethics, career skills, resource management and drug/alcohol recovery during the last months of an inmate’s sentence.

As it continues to provide leadership to improve the success of the capital city, the Downtown Little Rock Partnership has launched a new public art project. Led by the Public Spaces committee of Downtown Little Rock Partnership, the “Between the Bricks” initiative will add vinyl copies of original artwork to alley-facing doors around the downtown area.

This week’s recognition of National Volunteer Week provided an opportunity to get involved and give back to the community. If you missed your chance to volunteer, it is never too late to join one of the many divisions at Arkansas Children’s.

This year’s Leadership Foundation for Women conference boasts an impressive lineup of speakers. Scheduled for May 23 at CHARTS Hall on the campus of the University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock, the conference will include keynote speeches from Myra Davis, Charlotte Strickland and Linda Swindling, plus a leadership discussion with Little Rock mayor Frank Scott and Chanda Chacon and a panel on the topic of navigating career change.

Have you heard about mastermind groups? They’re peer-to-peer mentoring get-togethers for people who want more out of life and business. I was in one last year that helped me take the leap from being a singularly employed radio personality to my current job situation, where I am a self-employed hype girl/writer/TV pitchwoman.

It’s Girl Scout Cookie season, and even though Girl Scouts are much more than cookies – and crafts and campfires –everyone wants to talk cookies, so let’s talk cookies.

As a young business owner and McDonald’s franchisee, I know how important it is to encourage those around us to reach their full potential.

The next featured speakers at the Clinton School of Public Service will be serving up the big impact of smaller housing. John Weisbarth and Zack Giffin, co-hosts of “Tiny House Nation,” are scheduled to speak to the public at 6 p.m. on Feb. 1 at Sturgis Hall.

Holiday light displays are a tradition for many folks around the state. We’ve rounded up some of the best, so pack up the family and take in the sights:

Going green in the office is a great way to help preserve our natural resources. Businesses have several opportunities to contribute to a better planet.

Have you heard of West Village, Little Rock’s newest neighborhood moniker? Merchants on and around Rodney Parham created the name to help unify and promote businesses in the area.

The Clinton School of Public Service announced its lecture series schedule for October.

Make this fall one to remember by attending a fun fall festival. Here’s a list of Arkansas festivals you should attend:

Create Little Rock hosts a series of events in the summer for members and young professionals who have just landed in the city – new hires, interns, law clerks, medical residents and students.

Leadership Arkansas is a unique program that recruits highly motivated citizens to experience the dynamic interactions between cities, industries, governmental units and the people they serve.

June is Transit Month and part of Metroplan’s Ozone Action Days season. In an effort to reduce harmful ground-level ozone, Metroplan invites citizens to try alternate modes of transportation, including riding the bus, biking, carpooling, telecommuting or walking.

PopUp in the Rock is gearing up to take on the Stifft Station Commercial District on June 16. This project from studioMAIN and Create Little Rock sets up temporary installations that turn public spaces into creative, community-oriented areas.

The Argenta Reading Series connects writers with audiences. Hear April’s writers Lee Conell and Lisa Dordal on April 28, 6:30 p.m. at Argenta United Methodist Church.

Tickets are on sale for Heifer’s second annual Urban Farm Fest. The event, slated for June 7, will feature food trucks, live music, lawn games and a special libation for guests.

Rethinking reentry: The Exodus Project is a prison rehabilitation program that teaches ethics, career skills, resource management and drug/alcohol recovery during the last months of an inmate’s sentence.

While the Keep America Beautiful organization works year-round to beautify communities, April serves as the official celebration as it recognizes national Keep America Beautiful Month.

“Art in its Natural State,” a temporary outdoor art exhibition, will take place on Saturday, April 28, at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute and Petit Jean State Park.

My daughter, Queah, did yoga while she battled cancer. She would tell me how it made her feel a little better each time she practiced. Creating an organization centered around yoga was a no-brainer.

https://vimeo.com/253871779

Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge, an Oklahoma-based bowling alley chain, has opened in Little Rock. Plans for Dust Bowl in the downtown area have been circulating since early 2016 with its doors opening this past December. The vintage-inspired bowling alley has eight lanes, a lounge, karaoke room, private VIP room and a full bar and menu.

Ghidotti Communications and Bespoke Media Group hosted a joint holiday party in order to benefit The Van, a mission dedicated to providing basic necessities to homeless communities.

“I feel like I have moved to the closest version of home that exists in this country,” said Louise Kenga Lorata Mandumbwa. “Southern hospitality is similar to African hospitality.”

The corner of Capitol and Main is getting festive. The Downtown Little Rock Partnership is bringing a 55-foot Christmas tree to the Creative Corridor. Shipped from Oregon, the tree will be up before Thanksgiving Day and celebrated with a lighting ceremony.

A new climbing gym is coming to northwest Arkansas. Climb Bentonville, a branch of Climb Nashville, will open fall of 2018.