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Would you like to recognize an outstanding nonprofit, community organization, or an agency that is working to build stronger communities? Each month, VolunteerAR spotlights a new organization. It's easy to nominate, simply use the nomination form below and submit to volunteerar@dhs.arkansas.gov
CLICK HERE FOR THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT NOMINATION FORM
Past Community Organization Spotlights
BLACK PROFESSIONALS' NETWORK OF JONESBORO
The Black Professionals Network (BPN) of Jonesboro is an organization that provides and promotes professional development, leadership, and networking opportunities for individuals residing in Northeast Arkansas. BPN of Jonesboro seeks to promote community service initiatives through the development of strategic partnerships to impact the greater Jonesboro community. Each year the organization hosts various projects throughout the community to service low-income families, under-represented youth and members of the community, typically, lacking access to professional development resources. The organization has hosted numerous community engagement projects, which benefit residents in the city of Jonesboro and the surrounding areas. More recently, they held their first CommUNITY Back to School Bash at Parker Park Community Center of Jonesboro, where they provided 700+ backpacks filled with back-to-school goodies for local students. They also collaborated with local businesses to provide free haircuts to those in attendance, bouncy houses and food were donated as well.
For more information about Black Professionals' Network of Jonesboro visit their website.
City of Little Rock Americorps Safety and Environmental Program
The AmeriCorps Safety and Environmental Program in the City of Little Rock is committed to improving neighborhoods by promoting safety, energy efficiency and housing revitalization. The purpose of the program is to facilitate revitalization projects and help communities establish neighborhood watch groups and implement measures geared toward reducing the crime rate and increasing safety and security. The AmeriCorps Urban Safety Program is designed to foster safer communities through completing residential safety audits, implementing energy efficiency measures, and establishing neighborhood watch programs.
For more information about The AmeriCorps Safety and Environmental Program visit the City of Little Rock website.
Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund
The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF) makes a positive difference in the lives of impoverished families throughout Arkansas. ASPSF assists single parents who are enrolled in college or technical programs and are seeking higher-paying careers for the betterment of their families. The ASPSF strives to provide both financial assistance and personal support to single-parent families during the course of their education. ASPSF not only helps advance single parents' educational levels and earning potential, but it also helps single parents improve the standard of living for themselves and their children. When children see their parent studying and working hard for a degree, the children see a value placed on education. Children impacted by ASPSF begin to view post-secondary education as something "my family does" instead of thinking "my people don't go on to school." The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund is investing in Arkansas families, as the organization continues to shape the educational goals and career aspirations for the next generation.
For more information about Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund visit: http://www.aspsf.org/
Arkansas Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster (ARVOAD)
When natural disasters happen, families must recover and rebuild. For a family to begin the recovery process, quality assistance is vital. That's what makes Arkansas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (AR VOAD) so important. ARVOAD consists of 27 member organizations. Various entities lead the respective organizations. But as a collective unit, the relief groups come together under the umbrella of ARVOAD.
It was recently announced that AR VOAD will lead a 2 ½ year project within Arkansas – from March 2018 until August of 2020. The project will help ARVOAD and emergency management agencies better protect children during moments of disaster.
AR VOAD will have a leading role in improving the capacities of their fellow-members and partners with a goal of assessing and meeting the needs of children in disasters in Arkansas. AR VOAD is scheduled to receive annual sub-grants totaling $25,000.
AR VOAD has established several goals for its leadership role, they are:
Protect children in emergencies – by increasing representation and prioritization of children's needs
Develop necessary tools and protocol - and building training and response capacities through collaboration
Produce a proof of concept for an evidence-based framework that can be replicated nationally
In a supporting role to AR VOAD, Save the Children serves a major purpose. The organization will help communities, caregivers, and families prepare to protect and care for children during emergencies. Save the Children generates child-focused emergency plans, provides emergency training, and ensures emergency resources are in place before crisis strikes. The organization has responded to emergencies and humanitarian crises for nearly 100 years. Save the Children is a national leader in child-focused preparedness, response, and recovery. For more information about the group, visit www.SavetheChildren.org/GetReady .
Save the Children – which also works to give children a healthy start and the opportunity to learn – will help AR VOAD address the following needs:
Identify the children's coordinator
Engage and mobilize member organizations, emergency management, and other partners.
Build relationships with child-serving organizations and agencies
Convene facilitated discussions
Help lead trainings
Complete a gap assessment
Create and implement an action plan
Develop resources and tools to address identified gaps
For more information about AR VOAD visit http://www.arvoad.org
Independent Living Resource Center, Inc.
Independent Living Resource Center, Inc. d.b.a Mainstream is a non-profit, non-residential, consumer-driven, living resource center which advocates for the overall well-being of individuals who have a developmental disability.
Over the last ten years, Mainstream has amassed over 454,000 hours of service for persons who are developmentally disabled. Due to Mainstream's unwavering advocacy, the general public is aware of the desire disabled citizens have to live an independent life. By partnering with numerous organizations throughout Central Arkansas, Mainstream has provided aid to hundreds of consumers and their families.
Having provided nearly three decades of assistance to members of the developmentally disabled community, Mainstream has fulfilled its goal to respect, protect, and promote the rights of the individuals it serves. The organization provides the following services free of charge: advocacy, peer counseling, training and education, information and referral, transition services, pre-employment preparation services, in addition to numerous life enhancing opportunities.
The Russell Ladies Auxiliary White County, AR
The Russell Ladies Auxiliary has evolved into an important faction in their hometown, which has a population of just over 200 people. On a regular basis the auxiliary is either planning, or hosting an event for the residents of Russell. The auxiliary annually conducts the Russell School Reunion, organizes a block party, and presents a petting zoo for the youth. Additionally, the auxiliary spearheads a fireman appreciation, recognition event. The auxiliary also purchases t-shirts and hats for the firemen.
At the auxiliary's 2016 Halloween event, over 500 youth participated in the festivities. During the holiday season, auxiliary members organize a series of potluck dinners.
The Russell Ladies Auxiliary promotes fellowship and good times. However, they're also active in the realm of community assistance. The organization provides aid for families mired in a difficulty. The citizens of Russell can complete a process to receive money to help pay for their utilities. The auxiliary also assists qualified persons in paying for their child's medical expenses.
If you know of a community organization making an impact in their community and would like to nominate them to be highlighted on VolunteerAR's Spotlight section, click here.
AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC)
The vision became reality and is now receiving rave reviews.
Earlier this year the Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Communications and Community Engagement (OCCE) had an idea to request the services of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) to assist in creating a garden at each of Arkansas' human development centers.
Eventually the proposal was presented to Melissa Stone, director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS). Immediately, Stone gave her full support to the plan. In fact, she views it as a form of divine intervention.
"One day we were in the office discussing the tomato festival in Warren and possibly entering it. We just kind of mentioned it, nothing more," Stone acknowledged. "And about a month later, we were asked if we'd be interested in applying for a grant to have AmeriCorps come to our HDCs and create gardens. It felt like God brought it all together."
DHS grant was submitted and approved. An assigned NCCC team arrived in Arkansas in late April beginning their tour of gardening service at the Booneville center. The volunteers next went to Jonesboro, followed by Conway, Warren, and ultimately Arkadelphia – where their duties concluded.
"This is designed to be a continuing program," said Arkadelphia HDC Volunteer Program Coordinator, Deb Wilson. "Next year we can plant even more and add to our gardens."
"It's been an exciting venture," Tammy Benbrook, DDS program administrator said. "We hope that this gardening project will build a bridge between the community and our human development centers."
In regard to the NCCC team's work ethic, it is greatly admired by center residents and DHS staff.
"The NCCC team … they were amazing." said Ashley Moses, (OCCEE) volunteer program coordinator. "They completed incredibly hard work in the hot Arkansas summer. We all really appreciate it."
NCCC is a full-time, team-based residential service program for individuals who desire to partake in community service projects. The focus of NCCC is to strengthen communities and develop leaders through civic service.
For details about AmeriCorps and NCCC log on to http://humanservices.arkansas.gov/dcsns/Pages/AmeriCorpsProgram.aspx.
In regard to the HDCs, they specialize in working with individuals who have developmental disabilities. The centers provide opportunities for residents to experience a form of independent living.
To acquire more information about the centers and their gardening programs, go to http://humanservices.arkansas.gov/ddds/Pages/default.aspx .
HAR-BER HIGH SCHOOL TV/PRODUCTION CLASS
Ten students at Har-Ber High School in Springdale, capitalized on the opportunity to use a special skill to serve the community.
The students – all of whom were part of Har-Ber's TV/Production class – participated in the Veterans History Project.
The VHP honors Arkansas' military veterans and is promoted in-state by Sen. John Boozman. The idea is to celebrate the bravery of 21 veterans by having a few of their most vivid active-duty memories filmed. The interviews were then converted into a short documentary.
"We were fortunate to be able to provide our assistance," said Travis Sherman, teacher of the TV/Production course. "Initially, I don't think the students really understood the amount of work the military does. But after doing the interviews, many of the students walked away with emotional stories and emotional connections to the veterans."
It was a worthwhile endeavor, Sherman added.
"It was a great experience for the kids. It taught them history, and a lot about selflessness."
TV/Production students partake in several community service projects a year. Therefore, the youths each volunteering 35 hours of their time to the VHP was no surprise.
"I teach the students it's all about service," Sherman said. "With great power comes, great responsibility. That's how we feel about what we can offer – having this skill that very few people have."
For more information about the organization, visit Har-Ber High Facebook Page
Veteran History Projects
Memories of Arkansas Veterans Become Part of Veterans History Project
Maumelle Youth Council- Maumelle, AR
A group of adolescents made a positive community impact, by simply partaking in a traditional yardwork endeavor at one of Arkansas's historic parks.
Each Spring The Maumelle Youth Council (MYC) rakes leaves at the Pyeatte-Mason Cemetery. The MYC has participated in beautification and preservation efforts at Pyeatte-Mason Cemetary annually for more than a decade.
The cemetery, which is part of the Pyeatte-Mason City Park in Maumelle, is among the oldest in Arkansas. Therefore, preserving its beauty is a worthwhile endeavor for MYC. In addition to participating in the beautification project, MYC members who volunter at the park are able to learn the about some of Pulaski County's earliest settlers and their significance in Arkansas's history.
The Pyeatte-Mason Cemetary is on the National Register of Historic Places and has existed since the early 1800s.
The Mission of the Maumelle Youth Council is to provide an opportunity for youth to develop mature citizenship, leadership, a sense of personal acheivement, and an understanding of government.
For more information about the organization, visit www.maumelleparksandrec.com/MYC3
Bridging the Gaps of Arkansas
In Southwest Arkansas several residents have benefited from the services of, "Bridging the GAPS of Arkansas".
With the aid of the Department of Human Services Division of Behavioral Health Services' Partnership for Success Funding, Bridging the GAPS of Arkansas strives to improve the lives of the youth and making the community healthy.
Led by Bishop Johnny Riley and Barbara Pitts-Riley, BGA has a coalition that is focused on substance abuse prevention and addressing the needs of dis-advantaged students.
Based in Miller County, BGA spearheads numerous events that aim to mold adolescents into well-rounded citizens.
Among those activities are: hosting a six-week leadership development summer camp and providing sponsorship and transportation for 10 youth leaders and a pair of adult leaders to attend the Extreme Youth Leadership Camp at Texas A&M. BGA also conducted a back to school meet-and-greet between students and their educators. The organization provides youths with school supplies as well.
Bishop Riley's dedication to helping residents of Texarkana has led to him receiving esteemed recognition. He was presented the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award by Former United States President Barack Obama. BGA has also received the DHS Partnership For Success' Prevention Service Provider and Youth Leadership Development grant.
For more information about the organization, go to www.btgacc.org or visit the official Facebook page.
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