New Leaders Council - Arkansas

09/13/2026

It’s that time again! 🎉 Nominations are officially open for the New Leaders Council Arkansas Class of 2027.

We’re looking for the next group of leaders who are ready to grow their skills, strengthen their networks, and make an even bigger impact in their workplaces and communities.

Who should you nominate? Think of the people who are already leading — whether or not they have “leader” in their title. The ones with big ideas, a commitment to their community, and the potential to make Arkansas better.

NLC Arkansas brings together leaders from across sectors and communities for a leadership development experience focused on building the skills, relationships, and confidence to turn ideas into action.

Know someone who belongs in the Class of 2027? Nominate them! And yes — you can nominate yourself, too.

👉 Submit your nomination here: https://www.newleaderscouncil.org/apply/

Help us find the next generation of Arkansas leaders. Tag someone below who should be part of the NLC Arkansas Class of 2027!

06/13/2026

One of the things that makes NLC Arkansas special is that our alumni don’t just graduate—they stay engaged, give back, and help build the community for those who come after them.

Last weekend’s graduation and fundraiser was a perfect example.

We were honored to hear a fireside chat featuring Adena J. White (’23) of Blackbelt Voices alongside KenDrell D. Collins and Bobby Forrest Jr. (’20), sharing insights on leadership, service, and creating impact in Arkansas.

Our call to action was delivered by Kedrick Jones and Zach Bledsoe (’20), who challenged our fellows to move beyond ideas and into action.

Behind the scenes, Nick Norfolk (’25) kept everything running smoothly with sound and visuals, Jenna Greer (’22) generously provided our graduation frames, Emmily Leavy (‘23) and North Hills Florist filled the room with beautiful flowers, and as always, Debrah Mitchell helped bring it all together.

Most importantly, dozens of alumni showed up—to celebrate, mentor, connect, and welcome our newest graduates into the NLC Arkansas family.

Today, our network stands at 119 alumni strong, and we’re grateful for every person who continues to invest their time, talent, and energy into making this community what it is.

NLC Arkansas has never been about a single class or a single year. It is a community that continues to grow because alumni keep showing up for one another.

Thank you for helping make NLC Arkansas so special.

06/08/2026

Leadership is not a title—it is a commitment to serve, to build, and to leave your community better than you found it.

This weekend, we celebrated 19 extraordinary leaders joining the NLC Arkansas alumni family.

Over the past several months, these fellows have challenged themselves to grow as leaders, built lasting relationships, and developed capstone projects aimed at creating positive change across Arkansas. They have shown up with curiosity, courage, and a deep commitment to their communities.

We are so proud of all they have accomplished and honored to welcome them into a network that now includes 119 NLC Arkansas alumni who are leading, serving, and making an impact throughout our state.

To our graduates: thank you for your dedication, your ideas, and your leadership. Arkansas is stronger because of you.

The future of Arkansas leadership is bright, and today we celebrate the people helping shape it. Congratulations, Class of 2026—we are proud to welcome you into the NLC Arkansas alumni family.

LeadershipMatters

06/07/2026

Today, our 2026 NLC Arkansas Fellows presented their final capstone projects, bringing months of learning, collaboration, and leadership development to life.

From tackling challenges facing Arkansas communities to proposing innovative solutions, this cohort demonstrated the passion, creativity, and commitment that make us excited about the future of leadership in our state.

We are incredibly proud of everything they have accomplished and can’t wait to celebrate them one more time as they join a growing network of more than 100 NLC Arkansas alumni.

Join us tomorrow for the NLC Arkansas Graduation & Fundraiser!

📅 Sunday, June 7
🕑 2:00–4:00 PM
📍 Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Little Rock

Come celebrate our fellows, connect with alumni and supporters, and help us continue developing the next generation of Arkansas leaders.

Registration link in bio.

Arkansas

06/02/2026

Congratulations to NLC Arkansas alumna and Institute Co-Chair Mackenzi Foreman on receiving the Community Champion Award for her outstanding work as a mental health professional and advocate.

Kenzi represents the very best of NLC Arkansas. As a fellow, she brought a passion for serving others and strengthening her community. As an alumna, she has continued to invest in the next generation of leaders through her service as an Institute Co-Chair, helping shape the experience of future fellows.

Her recognition is a reminder of why NLC Arkansas exists: to identify, connect, and develop leaders who are committed to making Arkansas stronger. Every day, leaders like Kenzi are creating positive change in our communities through their work, service, and advocacy.

As we prepare for our Graduation & Fundraiser on Sunday June 7, we’re celebrating not only the accomplishments of this year’s fellows, but also alumni like Kenzi who continue to lead long after their fellowship year ends.

Please join us in congratulating Kenzi on this well-deserved honor—and in supporting the development of more leaders who are making a difference across Arkansas.

05/28/2026

✨ Leadership. Community. Impact. ✨

Join us for our 2026 Graduation Ceremony & Fundraiser as we recognize this year’s fellows, hear from alumni leaders, and continue building a pipeline of leadership in Arkansas.

📅 Sunday, June 7, 2026
⏰ 2–4 PM
📍 Mosaic Templars Cultural Center | Little Rock

🎤 Special Fireside Chat featuring 2020 NLC Arkansas alumni Bobby Forrest and Kendrell Collins, moderated by Adena White.

Whether you’re an alum, supporter, nominee, or friend of NLC, we’d love to celebrate with you.

🎟️ Tickets and sponsorships available now, link in bio and comments

05/09/2026

🎓 SAVE THE DATE 🎓

NLC Arkansas Graduation & Fundraiser is almost here — and we can’t wait to celebrate our incredible 2026 fellows and the growing impact of our alumni community across Arkansas.

Join us for an afternoon of connection as we recognize this year’s fellows and continue building change where change is needed.

📍 Mosaic Templars Cultural Center – Little Rock
📅 Sunday, June 7, 2026
⏰ 2:00–4:00 PM

✨ Featuring a fireside chat with 2020 NLC Arkansas alumni Bobby Forrest and Kendrell Collins, moderated by 2023 fellow Adena White.

🎟️ Tickets + sponsorships available now. See link in bio.
2027 nominees attend FREE with code.

Over 100 alumni strong — and still growing. We hope you’ll celebrate with us. 💚💙💖

NLCGraduation

05/03/2026

Great Day 1 of May Institute in Pine Bluff—the energy this weekend was something special.

We saw incredible alumni engagement throughout the day—showing up, pouring back in, and reminding us what this community is all about. The highlight was our panel on Multiplying Your Impact: A Seat at the Table—an honest, powerful conversation about stepping into leadership, making space for others, and using your voice to drive change.

We also rolled up our sleeves and dove deep into capstone work—focusing on turning ideas into action and building projects that will make a real impact across Arkansas.

Grateful for this community, the continued commitment to growth, and the momentum we’re building together.

05/03/2026

May Institute in Pine Bluff—what a great second day.

We had the opportunity to spend time with Mayor Vivian Flowers , grounding our work in the real impact of leadership at the local level. Her perspective was a powerful reminder of what it means to show up, serve, and lead with purpose.

We also made major progress on capstones and our I Recognize statements—digging in, refining ideas, and continuing to turn vision into action.

And thank you to all of the alumni who supported throughout the weekend! This weekend showed the power of our NLC network. Drew ‘21 , Katina ‘25 , Eric ‘21 , Frank ‘23 , Kedrick ‘20, Jaiemz ‘25 , Kanesha ‘20 , Isis ‘25 and Martavius ‘24 Grateful for today, and even more excited for what’s ahead.

04/30/2026

Congratulations to NLC Arkansas Alums Sydney Lynn Rasch Presley Turner and Sthephany Lopez on being featured in Arkansas Money and Politics!

That is one of the many things that makes Turner and Rasch stand out from the crowd of divorce and family lawyers.