CALENDAR

Public Meetings and Civic Events of interest to those seeking to resolve homelessness, address prison reform and/or advocate social/restorative justice. Email your announcements to Christine@gozarks.com

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
We C.A.R.E. for our Communities RALLY

Wednesday, April 13, 2016, 11:00am to 12:00noon, front steps of the Arkansas State Capitol, civic awareness rally to inform legislators and the general public about the diverse array of existing non-profit and faith-based organizations providing resources, programs and opportunities to empower our returning citizens and their families in developing stronger, safer communities. Share your advocacy and mission. Celebrate community and faith-based organizations who continually network in providing transitional services for returning citizens, veterans, the homeless and the children & families touched by reentry. To find out more about this exciting, positive rally, contact the C.A.R.E. Coalition at (501) 444-CARE, email centralarkansasreentry@gmail.com, visit Central Arkansas Re-entry on Facebook and join in pre-Rally Planning, Saturday April 2nd, 2016, 12:00noon at the Willie Hinton Center, to unify message, develop signage and coordinate logistics for this great event. Click here to download and share a printable PDF flier…!!! NOTE: The Rally is being held on the opening day of this year’s General Assembly…

ARKANSAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2016 Fiscal Session commences April 13, 2016…!!!

New (proposed) legislation is being introduced almost daily. Check Calendar, Bills and Meetings of our State Legislators at the link, above… Pick a topic near and dear to your heart… get involved…!!!

CENTRAL ARKANSAS REENTRY (CARE) COALITION

REGULAR MEETING: 10am, first Wednesday each month, Willie Hinton Community Resource Center on 12th Street in Little Rock. See CARE Calendar for additional meetings.

CARE amalgamates the potency of a broad range of particularized organizations as a singular cohesive voice for reform. Meets the first Wednesday of each month, everyone welcome. Subscribe to the CARE announcements list by emailing request to <centralarkansasreentry@gmail.com>

ARKANSAS HOMELESS COALITION

Membership in the Arkansas Homeless Coalition (AHC) is open to all persons engaged in, or interested in, service and advocacy on behalf of the homeless. AHC meetings are open to the public. Regular meeting is on the second Wednesday of each month, 10:00—11:30 AM at the Willie Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center (Room 105), 3805 West 12th Street, Little Rock. Learn more on Facebook.

CALENDAR ARCHIVE / PAST EVENTS

7th ANNUAL REFORM SEX OFFENDER LAWS (RSOL) CONFERENCE

June 25-27, 2015, to be held in Dallas, Texas, brings together key players from the entire criminal justice system in an open discussion of sex offender laws, treatment and policy aimed to ensure community safety. Featured speakers and workshops address both ongoing issues, current trends and new developments. Potential presenters and/or exhibitors are invited to learn more at the RSOL Annual Conference website. And to get the full flavor of what this conference is all about, check out the youtube of last year’s keynote speaker, Lenore Skenazy’s presentation: “All Fear All the Time…”

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR RESTORATIVE PRACTICES Europe Conference

June 10-12, 2015, Budapest, Hungary, “From Dream to Reality: Dawning of a New Social Science.” Click for details.

7th ANNUAL NATIONAL PRISONER’S FAMILY CONFERENCE

 Dallas, Texas, May 6-8, 2015, includes ‘creative arts’ competition for prisoners. Visit website for complete details.

10th ANNUAL ARKANSAS FAIR HOUSING CONFERENCE

April 28, 29 & 30, 2015 Crowne Plaza Hotel, 201 South Shackleford Rd., Little Rock, AR 72211, annual free statewide conference to educate the public and stakeholders on laws and regulations designed to prevent discriminatory housing practices and to promote open access to housing. Speakers include housing industry advocates; banking and lending professionals; federal, state and local governmental agency representatives; attorneys and civil rights advocates, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition and many more. Visit website for complete details.

2015 NATIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONFERENCE

One of the largest behavioral health conferences in April 2015 in Orlando, the  National Council Conference Marketplace being held April 20-22, 2015, at Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, offers the unique opportunity to connect with 4,500+ medical directors, clinicians, board members, state and county officials, VIP experts and leading decision-makers in behavioral health care, learn state-of-the-art therapeutic approaches, and share reports of clinical success. For more information, contact Danny Linden, National Council for Behavioral Health, 1701 K Street NW Suite 400, Washington DC 20006; 202-684-3729, <dannyl@thenationalcouncil.org>

CITIZENS FIRST CONGRESS LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY DAY

March 25, 2015, come together with other Arkansans to learn about our legislative process, attend committee hearings, meet with our elected representatives and make your voice heard. Advocacy Days are held at the State Capitol and open to everyone. Invite your friends and make a day of getting involved. For more information, visit Citizensfirst.org

EMPLOYMENT & INFORMATION FAIR

March 19 (rescheduled from February 26 due to inclement weather), 2015 BoP FCC Forrest City inmate education and release training program. Private and public sector groups, agencies, businesses and others offering reentry resources are encouraged to share valuable experience with individuals who are preparing to leave prison, return to the workforce and take on life’s next chapter. Participants are eager to explain their skills and learn more about “real world” career opportunities. This as an excellent way to help men of varying ages, races and backgrounds to move forward with their lives. Your next “working super star” could be right here, earnestly seeking a second chance. For more information, contact Antonio R. Anderson, (870) 630-6000 ext.1157 for details.

CITIZENS FIRST CONGRESS LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY DAY

March 10, 2015, come together with other Arkansans to learn about our legislative process, attend committee hearings, meet with our elected representatives and make your voice heard. Advocacy Days are held at the State Capitol and open to everyone. Invite your friends and make a day of getting involved. For more information, visit Citizensfirst.org

33rd ANNUAL CHILDREN’S HEALTH FAIR

Sponsored by Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Saturday, March 7, 2015, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Park Plaza Mall in Little Rock. All activities are FREE.  Children can make a finger cast, learn about healthy foods, dress up like a surgeon, play exercise games, take home lots of souvenirs from the day and much more. Twelve booths from Arkansas Children’s Hospital will be offering fun and educational activities.

CITIZENS FIRST CONGRESS LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY DAY

February 25, 2015, come together with other Arkansans to learn about our legislative process, attend committee hearings, meet with our elected representatives and make your voice heard. Advocacy Days are held at the State Capitol and open to everyone. Invite your friends and make a day of getting involved. For more information, visit Citizensfirst.org

NATIONAL SALUTE TO VETERAN PATIENTS

February 8-14, 2015, week-long program kicks-off with a ceremonial reception at Tobin Medical Center February 9 at 10:30am and features a recognition gathering at the John L McClellan Medical Center in Little Rock on February 12th at 10:30 am in room 7E101. Participate in the “Visit a Vet for Valentine’s Day” program on February 14th, or stop by a VA facility by anytime during National Salute week to visit Veterans and remind them that their sacrifices are not forgotten. For more info, contact Michael Dobbs, VA Voluntary Service Office, 501-257-3288.

LEARN TO EARN

Wednesday, January 28, 2pm, at the Willie Hinton Center on 12th St., introduction to the 6-week sales and marketing training program offered by Help YourSelf. See Learn to Earn page for details.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS REENTRY (CARE) COALITION RECOGNITION LUNCHEON

11:30am, Friday, January 23, 2015, Willie Hinton Community Resource Center on 12th Street in Little Rock. Join with others who engage restorative justice as a means to community well-being in a Recognition of Champions, a Review of CARE’s 2014 Accomplishments and the Introduction of CARE’s 2015 Strategic Plan for comprehensive reentry policy. Please RSVP to ensure sufficient meal planning: (501) 541-6038 or <centralarkansasreentry@gmail.com>

PARENT EDUCATION PROJECT

January 16, 2015 Dinner Session 6:00pm-8:00pm; January 17, 2015 Breakfast/Sign-in 7:30am-8:00am, Opening Sessions 8:30-10:00am, Workshops 10:30am-12:30pm, Luncheon Session 12:30-2:00 pm, Workshops 2:00-3:00pm, Closing Session 3:00 -3:30 pm. “Academic Achievement Matters.” Phone (501) 658-1625 or 772-9480 for details.

LEARN TO EARN

Thursday, January 15, 10am/2pm, luncheon meet-and-greet introduction to the 6-week sales and marketing training program offered by Help YourSelf. See Learn to Earn page for details.

ARKANSAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY — 2014 ‘prison reform’ hearings (Act 1190 related)

From July through December of 2014, Arkansas Senators and Representatives who serve on the State Agencies & Governmental Affairs Committee(s) of the House and the Senate assembled monthly for a series of Joint Committee Hearings to engage in-depth discussion about viable alternatives to our present system of incarceration, including the asking of strong questions about ‘why’ we are putting people in prison (at a cost exceeding that of a college education per year) for ‘no-victim/no-contact/non-violent’ offences…?

Help YourSelf Publishing attended each and every one of these meetings and the core of all these serious deliberations went to 2 critical questions:

<> What has caused the dramatic increase in inmate population? [Editor’s note: For an amazing interactive chart showing prison growth nationwide (by state) since 1978, CLICK HERE. Then simply click on any state and slide the bar on top to see the changes over the past 35 years.]

<> Do we need to build a new prison to eliminate inmate overcrowding?

The answers detailed in “A Report on Legislative Hearings Associated With Prison Overcrowding in Arkansas,” compiled by the Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research and presented at the December 10 double-header meeting of the House & Senate Joint State Agencies & Governmental Affairs and Judiciary committee(s), are comprehensive and revealing, laying the groundwork for Arkansas to take a leadership role in the mitigation of many interrelated incarceration, reentry and parole/probation problems — without building a new prison.

When the Arkansas General Assembly convenes in January of 2015, this will be a hot front-burner issue, deciding not only whether to indenture Arkansas tax payers with hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars of new debt, but also prescribing the collateral fate of every Arkansan who is effected directly or indirectly by our justice system.

Notices about upcoming legislative hearings vital to the ongoing deliberation of this critical public issue will be posted here. In the interim, please take the time to get informed so you are prepared to be involved. Find more information at: Arkansas General Assembly

EXHIBIT OF BLACK DOLLS: Arkansas State Capitol (see: Happy Holidays)

Open to the public free of charge through the end of December, 2014.

30th ANNIVERSARY: 6:30pm Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Lewis-Burnett Employment Finders celebrates 30 years of providing a hand-up to those struggling with employment issues. Fundraising Dinner 6:00 pm-9:00 pm, featuring keynote speaker Cory Anderson, Vice President of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and the Arkansas Celtics Youth Basketball Program. Dinner provided by  O.& B. Catering CLICK HERE FOR PDF FLIER with full details.

PARENT EDUCATION

November 15, 10:30am / 12:30pm, at the Central High School Visitor Center (corner of Daisy Bates/14th St. and Park St., part of an ongoing series of parental-learning, support and networking programs, free books for children, facilitated by the Little Rock Parent Education Project. Contact Bronwyn Criner 501- 72-9480 <bronwyncriner@yahoo.com> or Beverly Divers-White 501-658-1625 <bdwhite@bswconsult.com>

EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC

The W. Harold Flowers Law Society and the Center for Arkansas Legal Services are holding an expungement clinic, Friday, October 24, 2014 from 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Shorter College campus located at 604 Locust Street in North Little Rock. The clinic is free and open to anyone with an Arkansas Criminal Record, however appointments are required in order to provide individualized assistance. To qualify for an expungement, you must have completed the terms of your probation and paid any outstanding fines. You also cannot have any pending charges and certain offenses are not eligible for expungement. For more information and/or to register for an appointment during the clinic visit AR Legal Services Partnership online or contact Rebekah Tucci, (501) 376-3423 ext. 123.

POVERTY, Part 1: HOMELESSNESS

Presented October 25, 9am/12:30pm, by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Little Rock, Thompson Hall, 1818 Reservoir Road, the program features keynote speakers and topical breakout sessions addressing: Families with Children; Veterans; Mental Illness and Substance Addiction; Resources Available; Difficult Placements; Shelter; and a special session for children 6 to 12 year olds. Coffee, juice and breakfast-type refreshments provided. Program is open to the public free of charge. For more info, contact Nancy Kimpel, UUCLR Presents Team Member, (501) 366-1206. NOTE: Help YourSelf publisher, Robert Kim Combs, is among the scheduled presenters.

JCA – JUST COMMUNITIES of ARKANSAS

BE THE MOVEMENT: 15th annual Walk for CommUNITY, Sunday, November 2, 2014, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Little Rock River Market Pavilions. Join this annual celebration of community diversity! Music, food, entertainment, and an accessible Walk route make this one of Central Arkansas’ most fun fall events. Wheelchairs, strollers, and four-legged friends are welcome. REMIX Afterparty at Sticky Fingerz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack! CLICK HERE for details and to register yourself, your family, or a team online. For more information call or email Ganelle at 501-372-5129, <gholman@justcommunities.org>

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WORKSHOP

October 10, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Little Rock’s John L. McClellan Healthcare Center, 4300 West 7th Street, Room 7E101. Domestic violence is epidemic. Nearly 20 people per minute are subjected to physical violence by an intimate partner with devastating consequences. This workshop, presented by the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, showcases survivor stories, explores recovery/treatment options and educates about self-defense. Open to the public free of charge. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. Social Work and Nursing CEUs available. For more info call 501-257-5400.

SALVATION ARMY CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

March with the Salvation Army float in the State Fair Parade on October 11; help out with the Feed the Need Food Drive at the Arkansas State Fair October 14; Rock the Block with a Community Clean Up October 11; help process Christmas assistance applications from needy families in North Little Rock and Benton; Adopt a Meal on the Serving Calendar. For more information contact Kathy Barbeire, Central Arkansas Area Command, 1111 West Markham, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201, 501-374-9296, <kathy_barbeire@uss. salvationarmy.org>

IN PLAIN SIGHT

October 16, 6:30pm, the movie premier of a documentary on the hidden problem of human trafficking in Little Rock will be shown at the First Assembly of God Sanctuary, 4501 Burrow Dr., North Little Rock. For details, visit pathsaves.org

COMMUNITY LUNCHEON

October 16, 12:00noon, 10411 W. Markham St. Suite 100, Cone Building II,
Little Rock, hosted by City Connections to inform, inspire, and create a forum for meaningful relational connections.

“STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE” FORUM

8:00am-12:30pm, October 16, 2014
Arkansas Arts Center, 501 E. 9th St. at the corner of Commerce, Little Rock
Event is free, but you must call 501-372-3800 to register.

SALVATION ARMY DISASTER-TEAM TRAINING

Saturday, October 4, 2014, The Salvation Army Area Command “Intro to Emergency Disaster Services” is a REQUIRED course for all who wish to volunteer service to Salvation Army relief efforts during recovery from community disaster. The 9am/5pm introductory program, held at 1111 West Markham in Little Rock, also covers information that is helpful to all that support The Salvation Army and especially those new to The Army. The program is open free of charge to all who are interested. CLICK HERE to register online. Get more information and direct questions to Carolyn Ivester <carolyn_ivester@uss. salvationarmy.org>

CENTRAL ARKANSAS TOWN HALL MEETING

Act 1190 of the 2013 Arkansas General Assembly mandates the creation of a holistic and seamless approach for reentry into society for persons in the custody of the Department of Correction. To accomplish this goal, Act 1190 calls for open discussions about the goals and the means of implementing reentry programs via a series of ‘joint sessions’ to be convened by the Arkansas Department of Community Corrections with other agencies, organizations, foundations and private sector groups at the table. In support of this objective, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Criminal Justice Department invites advocacy input about how to assist ex-offenders to successfully integrate back into society at two upcoming meetings of the Act 1190 Coucil:

11:00am / 1:00pm, September 26 2014 (Friday) / September 27 2014 (Saturday),  Leadership Lounge, Donaghey Student Center, University of Arkansas at Little Rock.  Agenda: Introductions, Act 1190, Second Chance Grant, The Good Grid Demo. . Use the Parking Deck on West 32nd Street, call the Donaghey Center 501-569-3324 for directions. Can’t attend but want to know more…? Contact Robyn Wiley, 501-683-3167, <rxwiley@ualr.edu> or Katelyn Meints, 501-517-8634 <kemeints@ualr.edu>

NATIONAL POW/MIA DAY

A ceremony honoring former Prisoners of War (POW) and those service members still Missing in Action (MIA) is scheduled for 11 a.m., Sept. 26 at the Eugene Towbin Healthcare Center, Recreation Center (Bldg. 170) in North Little Rock. The annual event is jointly organized by the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) and the Little Rock VA Regional Office in observance of National POW/MIA day. The Honorable Mike Beebe, Governor of Arkansas, is the featured speaker. Since World War I, more than 142,000 Americans, including 85 women, have been captured and interned as POWs. Not included in this figure are the more than 83,000 Americans who were lost or never recovered.

CITY OF LITTLE ROCK

Learn about the operations of the Little Rock Police Department and its’ many divisions by attending the 2014 class of The Little Rock Police Department Citizens Police Academy, scheduled for each Tuesday, 6pm/8pm, September 30 thru November 18, 2014. Sponsored by the academy’s Alumni Association.

Application deadline is September 18th, 2014. CLICK HERE for PDF of program description. CLICK HERE for candidate application. Contact Sgt. Cassandra Davis, Little Rock Police Department Public Affairs Office, (501) 371-4636, <cdavis@littlerock.org> — Learn more on Facebook!

WORLD PEACE DAY

Sunday, September 21, 2014, marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace and will be celebrated as the International Day of Peace around the globe. In Little Rock, beginning at 12:30pm with a Family & Community Peace Picnic at MacArthur Park, festivities will focus on “Exercising Our Sacred Right to Peace, Building Peaceful Communities.” Following the picinc, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., a Mini-Conference at the UALR William H. Bowen School of Law, 1201 McMath Avenue, features 3 Plenary panels:

• “What is our vision of peace?”
• “Peace at Home”
• “Creating Peace across boundaries”

Working groups to include: Police & community relations; Jobs not prisons; Conflict resolution, Ending domestic violence; Peacemaking through Faith, and more. Sponsored by Arkansas WAND (Women’s Action for New Directions), ACPJ (Arkansas Coalition for Peace & Justice), Unitarian Universalist Church of Little Rock, Arkansas Interfaith Alliance and Hemisphere Enterprises, all activities are open free of charge and everyone is invited. Bring your own lunch to the picnic, drinking water will be provided. For more information, call Bob Estes, (501) 666-3784 or Debbie Goolsby (501) 454-8162, or email <arkwand@gmail.com>  To subscribe tpo the ACPJ mailing list, CLICK HERE. “Our progress as people and the fulfillment of our rights and freedoms depends on our peace and security. We recognize our obligation to resolve conflicts non-violently and to ensure all peoples’ sacred right to peace. Come celebrate with us!”

For a long list of pro-peace events upcoming in Central Arkansas, CLICK HERE to download PDF. Also, send an email with the request to be added to the Peace Events updates list to Dee Dee Boniecki <deedee@heavenlyhere.com>