New Kids on the Block
The Fayetteville-based Apple Seeds Teaching Farm is growing its reach in central Arkansas to provide hands-on food education for kids and fresh produce for food-insecure families. The nonprofit currently partners with the Oak Forest Community Garden, UA Little Rock and University District Development Corporation to offer farm field trips and in-school culinary instruction, and recently announced plans for another teaching farm in the metro.
After hosting a series of pilot sessions, the newly launched Teen Health Arkansas nonprofit will employ youth-centered programs, resources and community engagement to provide comprehensive health education and advocacy training across the state.
Gifts & Grants
To mark its 50th anniversary, the Arkansas Community Foundation awarded more than $1 million in grants to 47 nonprofits across the state. A full list of grantees is available at arcf.org/50.
The UA – Pulaski Tech Foundation announced a new endowment in recognition of paralegal Desi Diane Gipson. Established by John P. Gill and family, the new chair of paralegal technology in the school of technical and professional sciences honors a career of exceptional legal service.
UAMS received more than $3.5 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve the rate of colorectal cancer screening in the state.
High Praise
Economics Arkansas recently celebrated student teams and educators who took home top honors in the fall 2025 Stock Market Game, including the team from Pinnacle View Middle School that won first place in the region.
The Arkansas Arts Council announced its 2026 Governor’s Arts Awards recipients, which include locals like Ballet Arkansas Executive and Artistic Director Michael Fothergill with the Arts Community Development Award, painter Sheila Holland Cotton with the Individual Artist Award and the Frueauff family with the Patron Award. Recipients will be honored at a ceremony on March 13 at the Robinson Center.
Big Moves
Dr. Harvell Howard is the new executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas.
Jerome Strickland Jr. is the new executive director of Immerse Arkansas’ central Arkansas program.
Two team members have new senior leadership roles at Ronald McDonald House Arkansas & North Louisiana. Candice Hickman is now chief communications officer, and Alex Hudson is senior events and philanthropy manager.
Amy Dieringer is now vice president of operations at the Heifer Foundation.
Laurie Ann Ross is now the vice chancellor of advancement and executive director of the UA-PTC Foundation.
LifeTouch Health named Nikki Taylor as its new vice president and chief clinical officer.
And it’s new board member season. Here’s who joined what.
- Arkansas Repertory Theatre: Chuck Cliett, Nate Coulter, Becky Finney, Christy Hockaday, David Knight, Mary-Margaret Marks, Amanda Richardson Nipper, Lauren Steel, Zeynep Vural
- Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund: Aaron Brooks, KC Capers, Jason Hansen, Patrick Presley, Christy Valentine
- Arkansas Women in Power: Eleise Myers
- Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute: Mary Ashleigh Harper, Bobbi McDaniel, Anna Lee Powell, Denny Sumpter
- Women’s Foundation of Arkansas: Marc Haynes