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Growing More Than Food: The Impact of the UA Little Rock’s Campus Garden
In our modern, fast-paced, technology-driven world, spaces that help us reconnect with nature, community, sustainability, and hands-on learning experiences are more important—and more sought after—than ever before. One such space is the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s (UA Little Rock) Campus Garden. Established in 2012 through a collective effort by UA Little Rock’s Sustainability…
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AmeriCorps in Arkansas: A Legacy of Service Rooted in Leadership and Community
When talking about the history of AmeriCorps in Arkansas, we’re not just talking about a federal program. We’re talking about a culture of service that has been deeply embedded in the state’s history and identity. Long before AmeriCorps was formally created as the organization we know today, Arkansas had leaders who helped shape the national…
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Arkansan Women of Service: Highlighting the Women Who Have Shaped Our State
Throughout Arkansas’s history, many women have led the charge for structural, social, civic, and societal change throughout Arkansas. These women’s contributions span areas such as volunteerism and public service, healthcare access, education, and civil rights. During the month of March, we pause to recognize just a few of the women whose leadership and service have…
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Arkansas Civic Leadership Academy: Preparation for a future as a Civic Leader
Throughout this academic year, I have had the unique opportunity to participate in the inaugural Arkansas Collegiate Civic Leadership Academy. Organized through the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, it brings together junior- and senior-level undergraduate students from colleges and universities across the state of Arkansas who share a common commitment to public service and civic engagement in…
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Smart Start Member Interviews: Preparation for Arkansas’s Next Generation of Leaders
Over the past week, the Engage Arkansas team interviewed two members of the Southeast Arkansas Education Service Cooperative’s Smart Start Program for February’s civic challenge, spotlighting youth leadership across Arkansas. Smart Start, an AmeriCorps initiative, provides reading and math tutoring to K–5 students in Southeast Arkansas who are at risk of academic failure. Members serve…
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Volunteer Community of the Year: Jonesboro’s Investment in Youth Leadership
In December, the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas, was named the 2025 Arkansas Volunteer Community of the Year in the category of Most Youth Engagement. The Arkansas Volunteer Community of the Year Awards—administered by the Governor’s Advisory Commission on National Service and Volunteerism (Engage Arkansas) and the Arkansas Municipal League, recognize Arkansas communities that strengthen civic…
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Transforming the Justice System through Movement and Mindfulness: The Prison Yoga Project
Over time, the criminal justice system has come to play a significant role in providing mental health services. As a result, correctional institutions now encounter a greater share of individuals with mental health needs, even as their primary mandate and available resources remain focused elsewhere. Incarceration gives many individuals their first opportunity to access mental…
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Global Community Engagement Day: Building Impact Beyond Our Immediate Circles
Today we celebrate Global Community Engagement Day, not just as a day on the calendar but as a reminder that progress doesn’t happen in isolation. The theme this year is “strength in numbers,” highlighting how strong our communities are when we become engaged in an intentional, inclusive, and collaborative manner. Community impact isn’t built in…
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History of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
From Federal Holiday to a National Day of Service Martin Luther King Jr. Day, observed on the third Monday in January, invites the nation to pause and reflect not only on a transformative Civil Rights leader, but also to reflect on our shared responsibility to one another. The holiday’s journey from a hard-fought decade-long legislative…