Programming

Mayor Scott and the City Board of Directors authorized $1.5 million earlier this year to fund four distinct areas of programming that addresses violent crime in Little Rock. These programs and funding are in addition to other initiatives and community collaborations already in place to curb violent crime and recidivism.

Community Violence Reduction Programs

Arkansas Community Dispute Resolution Centers

Support for conflict resolution, anger management, restorative justice mediation at Southwest High School, as well as peaceful parenting courses, and targeted efforts in coordination with the Little Rock Police Department and the City of Little Rock Office of Community Programs.

Rights after Wrongs

A community event in which a network of attorneys, social service agencies, civic groups, faith-based institutions, public and private entities, and volunteers come together to provide citizens with a variety of needed resources and assistance.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas

Increasing the number of qualified adult volunteers to mentor children, and building creative multi-level collaboration with community partners to serve an additional 1,000 Little Rock youth.

Boys & Girls Club of Central Arkansas

Developing and implementing monthly therapy sessions with a licensed mental health professional that rotates between the four clubs located in Little Rock.  

Brandon House

Support for a workforce and career readiness program to youth and young adults. 

Lessons Learned

Strategies and tools for healthy youth development and community-based interventions by focusing on supporting youth to reach their full potential.

Our House

Funding for therapists to target mental health needs of at least 400 individuals from pre-school to adult.

Restore Hope

Support for life skills and workforce readiness services to men and women recently released from Re-Entry Programs at the Pulaski County Jail.

Songbird

Criminal record expungement services, job placement, career counseling, and life management skills.

UNITY Martial Arts

Establishment of an after-school martial arts program at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School for the 2022-2023 school year.

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Support for a hospital-based violence intervention program

Neighborhood Safety Programs

Day Labor Program

Offering work opportunities for individuals who may traditionally face barriers to entering employment, providing necessary on-the-job training and access and information about wraparound services such as childcare assistance, transportation, mental health services, healthcare and food security.

Bridge 2 Success

Providing instruction on healthy living, drug/alcohol prevention and offering recreational programs to encourage healthy lifestyles.

Backyard Enterprises

Structured sessions to provide youth with exposure to the arts and with cultural enrichment through visual, music, dance, literary and performance art.

Urban League of Little Rock

Technology education for 10^th grade students through a curriculum related to drone operations, robotics coding and other technologies.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Arkansas

Thrasher Boys and Girls Club program to encourage positive self-identity, health and well-being, positive values, commitment to learning, social competency and family engagement. Additionally, T. Rich Foundation, Inc. provides tutoring, counseling and other programs, including business development training, virtual enrichment sessions and film workshops dealing with ongoing social issues.

McMahan Counseling Services

Empowering caregivers and their children to improve skills in social and emotional learning, life skills and improved relationships.

Midnight Basketball

City-operated program to provide free, recreational access in a safe environment.

Positive Prevention Programs

Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Arkansas

Programs at Mitchell, Penick and Whetstone Boys and Girls Clubs provide youth with academic assistance, skills to encourage positive behaviors and improve overall health and training in STEM.

Brandon House

Creative arts-based learning and academic enrichment for children ages 6-11.

Life Skills For Youth

Leadership development, community service and cultural enrichment programming for children and youth

Our House

Academic assistance, cultural enrichment, and life skills training for children and youth ages 6 to 17

Little Rock Police Department Community Programs

Courageous Conversations

Partnerships with local organizations and churches to present frank discussions on policing and crime in a Town Hall-style format.

Gun Buy Back

Program aimed toward taking guns off the streets. Most recently, a Gun Buy Back program in the summer of 2022 resulted in 40 guns being turned in, in exchange for gift cards purchased by a nonprofit organization.

Resolutions University

A program designed to encourage conflict/dispute resolution among young people ages 15-25. The program is in partnership with the Arkansas Community Dispute Resolution Centers. The 2022 class graduated with 185 participants who learned to foster positive relationships through peaceful conflict resolution.

Police Interactions Class

Spanish-language course offered to the community at no cost, educating residents on how best to report and respond to violence.