SUNNY SPEED READS
• The Clinton School of Public Service, through its Center on Community Philanthropy, is adding to its nationally-recognized Scholars in Residence program with the launch of the Distinguished Scholars in Racial Healing Practice. The school hopes to “utilize [practitioners’] collective knowledge to inform the sector on ways to promote racial healing and advance equity.”
• Hosted by the Easterseals Arkansas’ young professionals group The Guardians, the Chef’s Table online auction offered bidders food-centric prizes ranging from cooking classes to chef-prepared meals. The two-day auction raised nearly $18,000 for Easterseals services for children and adults with disabilities.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas is teaming up with the UAMS Pathways Academy on a new mentorship initiative for the 2022-2023 academic year. Pathways Academy prepares underrepresented and low-income K-12 students for careers in STEM, and with BBBSCA’s expertise, will teach kids the importance of mentorship and help them find a mentor, “all to the benefit of building a diverse health care workforce.”
GIFTS & GRANTS
• The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas reached $150,000 in pledges to its Women’s Economic Mobility Hub, a six-month program that provides resources and training to Black women entrepreneurs across the state.
• The Arkansas Children’s Research Institute received an $11.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to further its “systems biology” approach to research and therapy development.
BIG MOVES
• Adena J. White joined the Excel by Eight team as communications director.
• Immerse Arkansas hired seven new staff members: Alicen Bennett, Chelsea Taylor, Debbie Chambers, Jana Coleman, Letha Todd, Mojadesinuola Adejokun and Robert Butler.
• CARTI added five new doctors to its lineup of specialists: Blake Jacks, Derek Middleton, Howard Morgan, Mackenzie Sitzman and Naveen Yarlagadda.
• Carmen Hamilton-Parks is the new development director for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign in central Arkansas.
• A number of nonprofits have added new board members to their ranks:
• Habitat for Humanity: Frank “FH” Cox III, Valerie Erkman (both above), William Edwards
• AR Kids Read: Andy Bingham, Ben Keller, Brenda Leger, Leslie Parnell, Kedrick Jones
• Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts: Beau Blair, Derrick Smith, Jacqueline Retze, Le’Kita Brown, Stan Hastings, Steve Ronnel
SAVE THE DATES
Event season is upon us, friends. Here are just a handful to put on your calendar:
- Sept. 17 – Into the Blue, Thea Foundation
- Oct. 7 – WOWapalooza, Women’s Own Worth
- Oct. 22 – The Finest Gala, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- Oct. 29 – Candlelight Gala, Historic Arkansas Museum
- Nov. 3-5 – Festival of Trees, CARTI
- Nov. 5 – Opus Ball XXXVIII, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra
- Dec. 3 – Cattle Baron’s Ball, American Cancer Society