- University News Archive - UA ��Ƶlogo

UA ��Ƶlogo to Host Virtual Lectures to Celebrate National Day of Racial Healing

John Hill — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 16:00:26 +0000

The University of Arkansas at ��Ƶlogo is celebrating the 2022 National Day of Racial Healing with two special virtual lectures. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation started the National Day of Racial Healing (NDORH) in 2013 as part of its new Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation initiative aimed at revolutionizing the way that foundations fund nonprofits working on social issues. UA ��Ƶlogo will join communities and campuses across the state in celebrating a weeklong schedule of events in observance of the National Day of Racial Healing. The first event, “Dave Tell Talks: Remembering Emmett Till,” will take place from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18, via Zoom. The event is free and open to the public. Participants may register for the event . UA ��Ƶlogo Downtown, Racial Barriers Committee, Student Government Association, and Center for Arkansas History and Culture as well as CALS Roberts Library will present an evening of conversation and learning with Dr. Dave Tell, co-director of the Institute for Digital Research in the Humanities at Kansas University, facilitated by Dr. Guy Lancaster, Arkansas historian and author. Since 2014, Tell has been the lead investigator on the Emmett Till Memory Project, a collaborative, public, and digital humanities project. His 2019 book “Remembering Emmett Till,” tells the complete story of Emmett Till’s commemoration in the Mississippi Delta. Till was a 14-year-old African American teenager who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after he was accused of offending a white woman in her family’s grocery store. Till’s killers were found not guilty by an all-white jury in 1955. They publicly admitted to the crime in a 1956 magazine article. UA ��Ƶlogo will also host a virtual panel, “The State of Diversity and Equity in Arkansas,” from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, via Zoom. The event is free and open to the public. Participants may register for the panel . Donald Wood, executive director of Just Communities of Arkansas, will facilitate an engaged conversation about diversity, equity, and inclusion in sectors across the state with perspectives from UA ��Ƶlogo scholars and community professionals in education, city management, law, religious studies and cultural affairs. The panelists include:

Dr. Melvin Beavers, assistant professor of rhetoric and writing and inaugural chancellor’s fellow for diversity, equity, and inclusion at UA ��Ƶlogo. Beavers has been engaged in national conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion with specific attention on antiracist pedagogies and writing assessment.
Tamika Edwards, special advisor to the CEO on diversity, equity, inclusion, and engagement at Central Arkansas Water. She has 20 years of experience in public policy and community development. Prior to Central Arkansas Water, she served as the executive director of the Social Justice Institute at Philander Smith College, director of governmental affairs at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, director of public policy at Southern Bancorp Community Partners, and community affairs specialist for former U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln.
Dr. Rebecca Glazier, associate professor in the School of Public Affairs at UA ��Ƶlogo. Her research is focused on religion, framing, and U.S. foreign policy. Since 2012, Glazier has directed the community-based research project, ��Ƶlogo Congregations Study, which seeks to understand how congregations’ community engagement impacts the community, places of worship, and their members.
Dr. Dionne Jackson, chief equity officer for the City of ��Ƶlogo. Jackson has previously served as Hendrix College’s first chief diversity officer and executive director of AR Kids Read.

In addition to the lectures, UA ��Ƶlogo will also hold a virtual open mic night from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, with the theme of racial healing. This evening of music, poetry, comedy, and inspiration will be centered around equity, diversity, and healing. Anyone who would like to perform or attend should register . Sponsored by the UA ��Ƶlogo Racial Barriers Committee and the Graduate Student Association, the evening will be emceed by Ron McAdoo, aka Ron Mc the Hiphoptimist, a nationally recognized spoken word poet, sought out personality, exhibiting professional artist, motivational speaker, actor, author, and seasoned educator. The special featured guest will be Osyrus Bolly, artist and activist, who combines his passion for the arts and social justice to create his own platform for liberation arts. He is also a member of the nationally-ranked poetry slam troupe Foreign Tongues. Visit this website for more information about the 2022 National Day of Racial Healing events.

UA ��Ƶlogo Partners with 100 Black Men of Greater ��Ƶlogo and Community Partners for Summer STEM Program for Teens

John Hill — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 16:30:10 +0000

The University of Arkansas at ��Ƶlogo partnered with 100 Black Men of Greater ��Ƶlogo, Ambitious Girls, Inc., Central Arkansas Water, and the Arkansas National Guard to host a weeklong summer environmental STEM (Summer, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program for teens. The H20 Leadership Institute is a co-ed collaboration with 100 SMART Academy mentees and Ambitious Girls Inc. mentees. Fifteen students in grades 7-12 from eight schools took part in the summer program that was held July 12-16 in partner locations around central Arkansas. “We know our community needs to provide skill development for the next generation of leaders and the H2O Leadership Institute is a gateway for life-changing exposure,” said Wendell Scales Jr., vice president of 100 Black Men of Greater ��Ƶlogo and a UA ��Ƶlogo alumnus. “We believe this could be the very piece our organization was missing to advance economic development with a commitment to our youth.” The program goals focus on providing career access, regional exposure, skill development, and networking opportunities to H20 participants. According to studies from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the STEM workforce is recession-proof. “There are plenty of programs for exceptional students, but there are limited opportunities for other students who do not have perfect ACT scores and 4.0 GPA,” said Vernard Henley, assistant dean of the Donaghey College of STEM at UA ��Ƶlogo. “This program is unique in providing academic and leadership opportunities to academically capable students who are often overlooked.” UA ��Ƶlogo served as a host site for some of the program’s events, including an excursion to Coleman Creek for water testing, a chemistry class, and a mentoring lunch at the Jack Stephens Center with Leadership Greater ��Ƶlogo Class XXXV. Jordan Grice, a UA ��Ƶlogo sophomore and Chancellor’s Leadership Corps Scholar, served as a peer leader for the program. Program participants also visited other sites around central Arkansas, including Camp Robinson, ��Ƶlogo Water Reclamation Authority, Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, and Maumelle River Field Station. “I am very excited to show young women and men in our communities how much we care for our environment,” said Camp Robinson liaison Lt. Col. Will Phillips. “They will have the opportunity to see that the military does more things than just fly planes and drive tanks.”

City of ��Ƶlogo, UA ��Ƶlogo announce revitalization plans for Asher Avenue Corridor

John Hill — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 14:40:47 +0000

Chancellor Christina Drale joined ��Ƶlogo Mayor Frank Scott Jr. at a Sept. 2 press conference at the Robinson Center to announce revitalization plans for the Asher Avenue corridor and the University Plaza shopping center.�� The plans are part of an effort to increase quality of life, bring in businesses and residences, and spur economic growth in an underserved area of ��Ƶlogo. “…Over the past 20 months, we have been very intentional,” said. “We have been able to move from platitudes to policy to proactive action. One of those actionable efforts has been the revitalization of Asher Avenue. To help revitalize an area, you must first focus on how do you enhance an area.” Along the Asher Avenue corridor, UA ��Ƶlogo owns the University Plaza shopping center, University Village apartments, and the Coleman Sports and Recreation Complex, which is home to the women’s soccer team and men’s and women’s track teams. “UA ��Ƶlogo has long been an anchor in this important crossroads entrance to our city,” Chancellor Drale said. “Our campus, in recent years, has expanded to the south side of Asher Avenue. We envision development that would create a safe and attractive entrance into these facilities off of Asher Avenue.” UA ��Ƶlogo’s most significant revitalization plans revolve around the redevelopment of the University Plaza shopping center, which the university purchased in 2004. The center is home to Big Lots, , Sequoyah National Research Center, Department of Public Safety, and additional campus units. “We have owned the property for a number of years and used it to house various departments that had space needs,” Chancellor Drale said. “However, our plans have always been to rebuild this center with a focus not just on our campus needs, but also how those might intersect with the interests of business and the concerns of the community in which we live.”�� UA ��Ƶlogo is in the planning phase for redeveloping the center, and is in talks with partners, including the City of ��Ƶlogo, about the design of a public-private partnership for the project. “A redeveloped center on the south end of the UA ��Ƶlogo campus will provide an important face to the Asher Avenue corridor,” Chancellor Drale said. “It will add to the positive development the mayor sees for this part of ��Ƶlogo, and we are proud to be a part of these changes. We will work with neighborhoods and other stakeholders to create a center that serves the campus and the community.”

UA ��Ƶlogo Chancellor Christina Drale (right), Mayor Frank Scott Jr. (left), and business owner Tracy Johnson (center) review plans for revitalization efforts along Asher Avenue during a Sept. 2 press conference at Robinson Center. Photo by Ben Krain.

The University District Development Corporation will be a vital part of UA ��Ƶlogo’s revitalization efforts in the neighborhoods surrounding the university. University District is an initiative with UA ��Ƶlogo and its partners to increase home ownership, job growth, public safety, and neighborhood amenities in the areas around the university.�� “The University District area is full of potential for growing new businesses, attracting new residents, and for becoming a new region of exciting opportunity in ��Ƶlogo,” Chancellor Drale said. “The University District office, along with the Arkansas Small Business Technology Development Center and the Arkansas Economic Development Institute, both at UA ��Ƶlogo, are excited and primed to be collaborators with the City of ��Ƶlogo in this significant endeavor.” The City of ��Ƶlogo’s revitalization plan will include a multi-pronged approach. One part of that vitalization effort included partnering with the Arkansas Department of Transportation to repave and resurface Asher Avenue and South University Avenue. ��Ƶlogo Planning and Development Director Jamie Collins said city officials have been meeting with the owners of buildings that have fallen into disrepair to discuss if the owners plan to renovate, demolish and rebuild, or sell the properties. Three such buildings are located at 5518 W. 33rd St., 4500 Asher Ave. and 3004 Lewis St. Collins said he expects to see significant progress on the properties within three months. The City of ��Ƶlogo, Central Arkansas Water, and ��Ƶlogo Water Reclamation Authority also announced economic incentives to encourage redevelopment of areas south of I-630 and east of I-30. The City of ��Ƶlogo will waive building permit fees, while Central Arkansas Water and ��Ƶlogo Water Reclamation Authority will forgo developer payments, including fees for water and sanitation infrastructure. The incentive package is the first of its kind in ��Ƶlogo, and city officials hope it will bring more businesses and generate more revenue for ��Ƶlogo. “This is an exciting day as we revitalize Asher Avenue,” Mayor Scott said. “It’s an exciting day as we work in partnership with an anchor institution of the likes of UA ��Ƶlogo to also revitalize Asher Avenue, focusing on retail development along that corridor area. It’s an exciting day to work with our property owners in that area as well. We are all focused on one thing. How do we develop, how do we redevelop, and how do we increase vibrancy south of I-630 and east of I-30 for this day and forever more?”

- University News Archive - UA ������Ƶlogo

UA ������Ƶlogo to Host Virtual Lectures to Celebrate National Day of Racial Healing

UA ������Ƶlogo Partners with 100 Black Men of Greater ������Ƶlogo and Community Partners for Summer STEM Program for Teens

City of ������Ƶlogo, UA ������Ƶlogo announce revitalization plans for Asher Avenue Corridor

- University News Archive - UA ��Ƶlogo

UA ��Ƶlogo to Host Virtual Lectures to Celebrate National Day of Racial Healing

UA ��Ƶlogo Partners with 100 Black Men of Greater ��Ƶlogo and Community Partners for Summer STEM Program for Teens

City of ��Ƶlogo, UA ��Ƶlogo announce revitalization plans for Asher Avenue Corridor