EngageNWA

We are so excited to officially launch the Belonging Barometer survey in Northwest Arkansas! This survey is designed to help measure belonging in our region, helping us understand our community better and gather data to make Northwest Arkansas more inclusive for everyone. Our findings will be shared with the community and can inform the design of future programs and initiatives. The survey is available in multiple languages and formats to ensure accessibility for everyone. Your insights are invaluable. We invite you to participate and contribute to this important effort. Click here to take the survey: [https://lnkd.in/gXp9-rCh]

We had an amazing July meeting with our Committee for Belonging & Bridging. A huge thank you to Music Moves Arkansas for hosting us in their beautiful music venue in downtown Rogers. Music moves is dedicated to advancing the appreciation, understanding, and preservation of Black music through education and performance. They recently organized the incredible Freedom Festival celebrating Juneteenth and have some exciting events happening this month. Make sure to check our their website and calendar to stay updated! https://musicmovesar.com/

We hope you can join us for this fun event. Bring your family and friends and meet and connect with some of the wonderful Canopy families!

We can't wait for the conversation this Wednesday with Janie Mines and John Rex Spivey, exploring the transformative power of inclusion and innovation. Thank you to Good Day NWA for their support in spreading the word! Don't miss this opportunity to engage in an inspiring dialogue with our esteemed guests. Secure your attendance by registering here: https://lnkd.in/gKcA5fC2. We hope you can join us!

We are honored to host a moderated conversation with trailblazer Janie Mines who made history in 1980 by becoming the first Black woman to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy. She will be joined by John-Rex Spivey who is a mentee and friend of hers and officer in the Naval Reserve. This event is free, but we request you register in advance due to limited capacity.

Léo Tucker, founder and director of Arkansas Immigrant Defense and member of our Committee for Belonging & Bridging, was recently selected as one of the 40 Best Lawyers Under 40 by the National LGBTQ Bar Association. Each year the National LGBTQ Bar recognizes LGBTQ legal professionals under the age of 40 who have distinguished themselves in their field and have demonstrated a profound commitment to LGBTQ equality. Léo does amazing work here in NWA by providing direct legal services for immigrants and refugees, as well as engaging in community education and advocacy. Congratulations Léo!

At our recent Committee for Belonging & Bridging meeting, Monica and Margot from EngageNWA shared insights from their recent attendance at two significant conferences: Welcoming Interactive 2024 and the Othering & Belonging Conference 2024. Held at Springdale Parks and Recreation in collaboration with Ozark Adaptive Sports Association (OZASA), our meeting was enriched by Monica and Margot's valuable insights. As they discussed the highlights and takeaways from these conferences, we explored how to integrate their learnings into our ongoing initiatives at EngageNWA. The highlight was when Sean from OZASA introduced us to adaptive sports. Playing in a game of adaptive basketball and wheelchair pickleball, we learned about some of the challenges and joys of these activities. OZASA is a nonprofit dedicated to cultivating an inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities, providing them with opportunities to engage in sports and recreational activities. Follow their journey and support their impactful work in Northwest Arkansas. Stay tuned for more updates on our efforts to promote belonging and bridge-building within our community through EngageNWA initiatives!

Exciting news! We've refreshed our website, making it easier to learn about our work to create a more inclusive Northwest Arkansas. Discover new resources, initiatives and community programs designed to foster belonging and bridging. Check out our revamped site to see how we're working together to build a welcoming home for everyone: https://engagenwa.org/ We can't wait for you to explore! Let us know your thoughts! 💻 #NWArk #EngageNWA

EngageNWA is thrilled to announce A Year of Belonging & Bridging alongside a dedicated group of diverse community leaders to collectively support a shared understanding of belonging and bridging, provide tools and resources, drive action that fosters social cohesion and pilot a survey to measure belonging in the region. Regional planning for Welcoming Week NWA 2024 will begin in mid-May with community wide information sessions. Learn more on EngageNWA’s refreshed website at EngageNWA.org. #NWArk Photo: The Committee for Belonging and Bridging and their guests hosted by the Museum of Native American History in Bentonville, April 2024.

Ozark Adaptive Sports Association (OZASA) will host The NW Arkansas Adaptive Off-Road Adventure, a free cycling event focused on individuals with disability on October 26-29, 2023. This free to participate event is limited to 25 adaptive riders with unlimited participation for able-bodied support riders and friends. This cycling adventure is focused on fun, skills development, and education. #NWArk #nwarkansas #northwestarkansas More information and sign up: