You often hear from me that the best way to grow Little Rock forward is through all of us working together. There are a variety of ways for Little Rock residents to make an impact and improve the quality of life in our city, and I hope everyone chooses to become engaged in their community. For those who want to take an active role in municipal government, I’d encourage them to consider applying to volunteer for one of Little Rock’s numerous boards and commissions.

There are more than three dozen boards and commissions within city government, and those who serve have a strong voice in guiding and shaping city policies. Our boards and commissions serve as advisory bodies to the Mayor, Little Rock Board of Directors, and the City staff.  We ask those who serve on our boards and commissions to bring their best ideas to the table, to be effective in their public service and to be an advocate for policies and decisions that make Little Rock a better place to live and work.

We need dedicated public servants willing to devote their time and expertise to boards and commissions. As we note on the City of Little Rock website, volunteering for boards and commissions gives volunteers the “opportunity to develop new skills, gain valuable experience, meet new people, stay active and make a positive contribution to their community.”

To qualify for board or commission service, an applicant must be a Little Rock resident who is a registered voter. Some appointments are limited to those within a specific profession, organization or ward.

Appointments to Little Rock boards and commissions are made by the Mayor, with confirmation by the Board of Directors.

We make it a priority to be inclusive in our selection of appointees and ensure the makeup of boards and commissions reflects the diversity of our City.

We currently have vacancies on multiple boards and commissions, though the City Clerk’s Office accepts applications at any time. Applications for board and commission appointments are retained for two years.

Currently, we are accepting applications until Jan. 6, 2023, for the following boards and commissions:

Animal Services Advisory Board (four positions); Age-Friendly Little Rock Commission (five positions); Americans With Disability Act Citizen Grievance Committee (two positions); City Beautiful Commission (one position); Civil Service Commission (two positions): Commission on Children, Youth and Families (two positions): Community Housing Advisory Board (one position); Housing Board of Adjustment and Appeals (one position); Land Bank Commission (three positions); Little Rock Citizens Review Board (two positions); Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission (one position); Little Rock Planning Commission (four positions); Little Rock Port Authority (one position); Little Rock Sustainability Commission (two positions); MacArthur Military History Museum Commission (two positions); Oakland and Fraternal Historic Cemetery Park Board (one position); Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission (two positions); and River Market District Design Review Committee (three positions).

To learn more, including additional eligibility requirements for certain appointments, visit the City's website.

Click here for a current list of board and commission vacancies. 

Bright the Night!

The Holiday Season kicked off in full force last week as hundreds of Little Rock residents turned out for "Bright the Night," the annual event on Capitol Plaza, at the intersection of Capitol Avenue and Main Street downtown. I joined Gabe Holmstrom, executive director of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership, and "Elsa" as we lit the tree and turned on our holiday lights for the season.

I appreciate the Downtown Little Rock Partnership for its leadership on this great event that brought families downtown for cookies, hot chocolate, Christmas carols and visits with Santa. Thanks, too, to the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and Ballet Arkansas, and to the sponsors of this event. This festive occasion has become a holiday tradition for many in our City.

The holiday lights at Capitol Plaza and throughout downtown will be displayed until the New Year.
 

• The Little Rock Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 4 p.m. at the Centre at University Park, 6401 W. 12th St., to consider the agenda for next week's meeting. All board meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock Facebook and YouTube pages. To view the agenda, click here. 
• The Little Rock Historic District Commission meets Thursday, Dec. 1, at 4 p.m., at the Willie Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, 3805 W. 12th St. The Historic District Commission meets to consider requests for exterior changes to properties within the historic district.  The Commission also reviews historic matters within the City of Little Rock.
• GloWild, which features dozens of animal-themed lantern exhibits, continues this week at the Little Rock Zoo. This popular attraction, in its second year, drew thousands of visitors to the Zoo in 2021. GloWild is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on select nights until Jan. 7. For more information and for tickets, click here.
• The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will host an Equity Labs Neighborhood Mixer on Saturday, December 3, at the Willie Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. This Lab is an opportunity for residents to learn about some of the City’s efforts to address the top concerns participants in our last round of Equity Labs identified (see the full report here) and to meaningfully interact with community members from across the city. Please RSVP here.