Month: March 2021

What is there to say about Garbo Hearne that hasn’t already been said? Grace, tenacity, well-educated and vastly so. A business owner driven by her convictions that art should be accessible and attainable. And dedicated to the idea that art in the African American community is something that should be celebrated.

A recent study released about Arkansas small business owners and how they access capital to build and grow their businesses has raised some eyebrows and some questions. In a three-year study of small businesses, it was found that the barriers to capital for Arkansas business owners is a two-fold problem.

In conjunction with Rock It! Lab, we are featuring women led businesses for Women’s History Month. 

Susan Haygood is a woman business owner who runs a mobile food trailer in Little Rock, with a small crew. Haygood BBQ Concession &

Bryan Day has been involved with state and local government for over thirty years; the positions he has held have allowed him to focus on building and strengthening communities.

Bryan was appointed Executive Director of the Little Rock Port Authority in June 2014.  The Little Rock Port Authority’s mission is to “drive economic development by providing a world-class transportation hub that connects Arkansas to the global economy.”  

Prior to assuming this position,

Ginann Swindle is the branch manager of the Amy Sanders Library. She has worked for the Central Arkansas Library System for twenty-six years.  Ginann grew up in North Little Rock and Searcy, Arkansas, and attended Harding Academy and Harding University.  After graduation she accepted a job with the Jonesboro Public Library as Mobile Outreach Librarian.  

CALS, as part of the Six Bridges Book Festival has arranged a series of virtual speaking events. On February 18th, Nell Irving Painter, author of Sojourner Truth: A life, A Symbol, honored us with a panel discussion moderated by Jessica McDaniels, CALS Community Coordinator. This discussion can be watched on the CALS YouTube channel.

On Thursday, Feb. 25, The Rock It! Lab hosted a panel of four business owners for Black in Business, Keith Fulks of Mr. Keith’s Gourmet Kettlecorn, Latasha Moore of Tasha Teaches Spanish,

CALS has amazing volunteers who assist in every facet of the library system. To apply to become a volunteer, please fill out an online application. For more information, contact Volunteer Coordinator Polly Deems at 501-918-3085 or pdeems@cals.org.