Friends, 

We recently wrapped up another successful cohort of R.O.C.K. Academy, an immersive, six-week program for Little Rock residents to learn about city team members, departments and services. R.O.C.K. stands for "Residents Obtaining Community Knowledge."

Through this civic engagement initiative, we want to make sure residents gain a comprehensive understanding about the aspects of city operations and that we strengthen the bond between the City of Little Rock and the people we serve. This year, 32 residents participated in R.O.C.K. Academy.

For this week's Mayor's Monday Memo, I asked several of this year's participants to share their thoughts about the experience. Here are their first-person accounts:

Tristan Cripps

R.O.C.K. Academy was a wonderful experience that not only succeeded in educating me on the layout and functionality of Little Rock’s city government, but also served as a great way to network with fellow community members who were interested in making an impact in the city. Little Rock is my hometown and I work in the sphere of local government.

Watching Mayor Scott’s team break down piece-by-piece the inner workings of the system was not only gratifying on a professional level, but also showed me how to be a more active and supportive citizen. R.O.C.K. Academy strives to not only educate you, but also personally introduce you to the individuals working in departments city-wide. Whether it is a pothole in the road or a volunteer opportunity at a shelter, graduates of R.O.C.K Academy can point themselves and their communities in the right direction when specific local issues arise.

Lastly, I would like to say that attending R.O.C.K. Academy made me feel secure that my city is in great hands. You cannot help but feel the energy, charisma, and brilliance radiating from the team of leaders we have in our city government. I am now better equipped to join them on their mission of making this city live up to its potential, and I am prouder than ever to call Little Rock home.

Kevin Azanza

Working as the Community Engagement Director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas has instilled in me the belief that change comes from being local and vocal. The Residents Obtaining Community Knowledge (R.O.C.K.) Academy emphasizes both aspects in its programming by showing residents the intricacies of local government and empowering them to navigate these complexities and advocate effectively.
 
The six-week series covers a range of topics including government structure, budget, safety, community resources, quality of life and community programs. Each session connects academy members with representatives from various city departments and the office of the Mayor. Sessions always end with an applied knowledge activity, where participants use new information from the session along with their professional and lived experiences to solve the real problems our city faces.
 
In addition to the valuable information provided, I am deeply grateful to be part of a city that strives to connect residents with each other and local officials to create cohesive change through community engagement.

Joan Diehl

As a current member and chair of a city commission, I applied for and attended the R.O.C.K. Academy recently to learn more of the inner workings of Little Rock city government and thus, make my work on the commission more informed and effective. 

It was an educational and engaging experience that provided me with an insight into the services, programs and resources that are available to Little Rock residents.  I also learned of the challenges that face our elected officials and government workers as they must balance budget constraints with delivering quality and visionary services.

I was amazed at how many programs are available to enhance the quality of our everyday lives.  I encourage you to become more aware of what Little Rock city government has to offer and to get involved in making Little Rock a more livable community for all.


Kelvin Trimble

My time in the R.O.C.K. Academy has been nothing short of excellent! This cohort has provided me with an opportunity to learn more about my community and the inner workings our local government, its leaders, their duties, as well as their responsibilities to the City of Little Rock.

I was able to engage with many local citizens from not only my ward but also I was able to interact with other residents from various wards within our city. The interaction with residents from around the city provides a great perspective of what’s progressively being done in their areas and their concerns they may have as well. The academy created structured group discussions that provided insight ranging from the current projects in our city that have been accomplished but also to what can be improved.

Our cohort classes were located in various areas within the city that most residents have never experienced such as the Little Rock Fire Department Training Center and the Disaster Relief Center. We were introduced to various leaders at City of Little Rock and they took the time to explain their role within our local government and the resources they provide for the city. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience in R.O.C.K. Academy and I encourage all residents to participate in this program whether you’re just relocating to the city or you having been here your entire life. I truly appreciate the opportunity! 

Cari Brady

R.O.C.K. Academy has helped me truly understand the "how" and "why" behind the unique legislation that is Little Rock and has provided ample ways in which citizens like myself can make a greater impact on our communities, together. 

Having a space to ask fundamental and/or direct questions to the top resources in the city (be it commissions, boards, directors, departments, heck - even the Mayor), and guide you step-by-step on how to achieve measurable results, is an invaluable resource to the people who live in this city and a great way to get citizens more involved.

I couldn't recommend ROCK Academy more to our cities citizens and I look forward to utilizing the knowledge gained to help our communities grow and prosper.
 

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We appreciate our R.O.C.K. Academy attendees for their attention, participation and interest, and we are grateful for the department directors, team members and others who contributed to the success of the program. These contributions enriched the knowledge of our residents and strengthened the relationship between City government and the community it serves.

Be watching in coming months for information about how you can be a part of the next R.O.C.K. Academy class!

The City of Little Rock is honored to share a nearly two-decade long partnership with the World Changers organization to help senior citizens in our community. Last week, for the 18th year, World Changers brought more than 150 youth volunteers from across the country to our City to participate in service projects.

The Little Rock Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs coordinates with World Changers to identify eligible residents who are senior citizens or who are disabled and who may need help with home improvement projects like painting. The volunteers spend a week out of their summer to complete the project. Teams worked on 12 residences in Little Rock last week.

At a news conference to highlight the volunteers and their service, we discussed how it takes a true servant's heart to be willing to give a week of time to make the difference in the lives of others, even in oppressive heat. We are grateful to the organization and volunteers for their commitment to loving their neighbors. These young men and women made connections, continued a partnership and, most importantly, made a difference and true impact.

• There is no Board of Directors meeting this week. The Board's next meeting is Tuesday, July 30.
• The City Beautiful Commission will meet Thursday, July 25, at 4 p.m. at the Willie L. Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, 3801 W. 12th St. The City Beautiful Commission considers variances to the Little Rock landscape ordinances and citywide beautification efforts.
• On Saturday, July 27, our Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will host a community meeting for Spanish-speaking residents who live in mobile homes. This meeting will be held entirely in Spanish and will include information on city regulations related to mobile homes and animal services. The meeting is at Plaza Frida, 4001 W. 65th St., from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.