Childcare

Last week, the third annual Excel by Eight Foundation’s Collaborative Summit took place in Little Rock. The event brought together business leaders, chambers of commerce and heads of nonprofits. It wasn’t designed to find instant solutions to a wide-ranging problem but to expedite conversations among groups to work toward solutions. The meeting wasn’t open to the press. Still, afterward, Steve Cousins, the board chair of El Dorado-based SHARE Foundation, and Brandom Gengelbach, the president and CEO of the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, spoke with Ozarks at Large.

On today's show, we hear from an artist coming to the Fayetteville Public Library who asks, “What did you learn in school today?” Also, how you can stay safe during deer hunting season. Plus, the musical world of Burt Bacharach inspires a new production taking the stage at Walton Arts Center.

Earlier this month, we heard about Hope Academy, Arkansas’ first public charter school that uses trauma-informed education to support students. Ozarks at Large’s Jack Travis brought us that report, and today, he’ll share about Hope Academy’s parent organization: The Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter. Jack met with the shelter’s CEO, Rebekah Mitchell, to explore the space and the services they provide to the state’s youth.

The Walmart Home Office is set to officially open in 2025, but some elements of the nine block facility are already open and running. That includes their Whole Health Fitness Center, which opened earlier this year. Just across the street is another space that is up and running, at least at some capacity: Little Squiggles Children’s Enrichment Center.

On today's show, we explore a new childcare facility that is up and running on the Walmart Home Office campus. Also, the new national tour of "Hamilton" will launch from Fayetteville. Plus, one musician goes from Springdale to the New World Symphony

The Family Network has been working for the past four years to address diaper-need in northwest Arkansas through their work with the Diaper Collective. The organization works with food pantries across the region to gather and distribute diapers to families in need. This past weekend, Ozarks at Large visited the unveiling of the Diaper Collective's new warehouse in Springdale.

A newly formed coalition is exploring ways to make childcare more available and affordable in Arkansas. More than 30 organizations are working with Excel By Eight to identify solutions to childcare needs. Angela Duran is the executive director of Excel By Eight. She spoke with Ozarks at Large's Kyle Kellams about how the work began with a childcare task force two years ago.

On today's show, re-thinking our relationship with technology and its relationship with art. Also, a coalition working toward making childcare in Arkansas more affordable and more available. Plus, The Listening Lab brings us time together that was well spent.

On today's show, new data shows that the wellbeing of children of color in Arkansas ranks low. Also, learning more about Music Move's Black Music Expo. Plus, Remembering the filming of "The Blue and the Gray" 40 years ago.

The new state-of-the-art child development center countervails a national trend of campus childcare closures due to costs. Little Lions was established to serve the children of faculty, staff and students, as well as families residing in the River Valley.