Friends,

Technology evolves rapidly, and so do the potential uses and benefits of emerging technology for City operations. Our team consistently evaluates new technology to learn whether it has the potential to improve how we provide essential services. We have implemented changes to our website to reflect that.

Among the new features of our recently redesigned City of Little Rock website is Recite Me. This is an assistive toolbar that can be accessed by clicking the icon in the lower left corner of our homepage. Through the Recite Me Assistive Toolbar, residents can adjust the size of text, change the screen contrast, hear an audio transcription of our content, or read the site in more than 100 different languages. This accessibility tool helps meet the needs of our residents, while our improved chatbot, Roxie, remains available in the lower right corner of our home page to answer your specific questions.

As we implement new software and technology, our goal is use emerging technology responsibly while maintaining public trust and protecting resident data. To do that, Little Rock is one of the first cities to adopt an AI Acceptable Use Policy. This policy creates a framework for our team to identify and launch artificial intelligence tools that improve efficiency and enhance city services.

Our artificial intelligence policy establishes standards such as human oversight of all AI-generated work, protections against bias and guidelines for governing the handling of sensitive information. An internal AI committee will review AI tools as they become available and oversee how they are implemented across city government.

Be assured, we will embrace new technological innovations in a responsible manner as we strive to make city government more accessible and responsive to all our residents.

I appreciate you!

Education Focus Extends from Cradle to Career

From toddler play areas to middle school classrooms to welding shops, we demonstrate our commitment to educational opportunity for Little Rock’s children and youth. Our pledge to support students from cradle to career is seen through our nationally recognized community school model, Career Climb, Reading In The Rock, and more.

Our City team works alongside partners like the Little Rock School District, Arkansas Department of Education and the University of Arkansas - Pulaski Tech, among others, to help position Little Rock’s children and youth for success in the classroom and in life. We know that learning starts on Day 1, and it never stops.

Ninety percent of a child’s brain develops by age 5, and studies show that early childhood education is an important benchmark for future learning and achievement. Students in early childhood education programs develop important social skills, have improved health outcomes, and are more likely than their peers to graduate high school and college.

The City of Little Rock was recently awarded an $892,000 grant to support our early childhood education efforts in Arkansas’s capital city this school year. The City was selected as the Local Lead Organization for the state’s Office of Early Childhood.

In that role, led by our Chief Education Officer Jennifer Glasgow, we will serve as partners in strengthening the our local early childhood programs through support to families and providers.

As Local Lead, we will provide on-the-ground support to early childhood educators and to families seeking childcare. We will be a go-to resource for childcare providers in our City, both large and small, as we promote kindergarten readiness and provide resources.

This is the first year of the current grant, which will renew annually for five years. The City of Little Rock has been serving as Local Lead since 2023. We are proud to work with the nearly 900 classrooms of children from infants to age 5 in our City to equip them with the quality, early education they need and deserve.

“Be a Part of the Cure” Walk Draws Thousands to Fight Cancer

The UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute hosted its sixth annual Be a Part of the Cure Walk this past weekend, with more than 2,000 people walking to raise money to support cancer research.

It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to attend the event and visit with cancer survivors, their families and friends, and UAMS physicians and staff. The Walk, in its sixth year, is always a time to reflect on the memory of those we have lost to cancer as well as recognize the momentum we are building to find a cure.

Arkansas’s capital city is the regional hub for healthcare, and our providers across Little Rock are tirelessly working to support survivors through treatment, research and clinical trials.

Every one of us knows someone who has been affected by cancer, and every one of us can be a part of a solution to find a cure. We appreciate those who participated in the Be a Part of the Cure Walk, as well as all those helping cancer patients across our City.

Continued Progress to Reduce Crime

Requires Holistic Approach

Last week, Recruit Class 119 of the Little Rock Police Department graduated and began their careers as officers serving our community. We are fortunate to serve alongside the men and women of LRPD, and we welcome them to a team with the goal of making Little Rock safer and stronger.

LRPD plays an essential role in our holistic crime reduction strategy. Through approaches like targeted patrols in specific areas and using technology as a force multiplier, LRPD is leading our efforts to eliminate crime in our City.

Through the end of April, overall crime was down 15 percent compared to the last five years and violent crime was down 13 percent. Homicides have decreased by 69 percent over five years and 71 percent since last year.

Our residents can play another significant role in our crime reduction strategy by registering home security cameras with our Real Time Crime Center.

The Eyes On The Rock initiative lets our officers know that you have cameras. In the rare instance where a crime occurs in your neighborhood, LRPD will know that your cameras could potentially be helpful in solving that crime. If they think you can be of assistance, officers will reach out to you. This is an entirely voluntary program. Unlike residents, local businesses have the option of integrating their cameras in the RTCC network. Read more about how it works on our website.

Here’s a quick look at what’s going on this week in the City of Little Rock:

Tuesday, May 5: The Little Rock Board of Directors will meet at 6 p.m. in the Board Room at City Hall, 500 W. Markham St. All board meetings are open to the public, and all meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock’s Facebook and YouTube pages. View the agenda here.

Wednesday, May 6: The City of Little Rock’s Commission on Children, Youth, and Families will hold its monthly meeting at the Willie L. Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, 3805 W. 12th St. That meeting starts at 11:30 a.m.

Thursday, May 7: The Little Rock Civil Service Commission meets at 8:30 a.m. in Room 207 at the Willie L. Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center.