The Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council has awarded the Sequoyah National Research Center a $20,000 grant to process and exhibit the Hirschfelder-Molin Stereotypes Collection.

Hirschfelder-Molin Stereotypes Collection

“While our society has become more sensitive to stereotypes for most racial and cultural groups, it has been reluctant to give up stereotypes of American Indians,” said Tony Rose, the center’s assistant director.

“The persistence of these images has a significant impact on how all people perceive the ‘human-ness’ of Native Americans. This collection will be a tremendous resource for researchers and teachers looking at questions of racial intolerance and the impact stereotyping on material culture.”

The collection of 1,400 artifacts was donated to the center by Arlene Hirschfelder and Paulette Molin in 2012 and consists of advertisements, sports memorabilia, toys, books, clothing, and other items depicting Native American stereotypes.

Hirschfelder and Molin have been collecting since the early 1970s. Hirschfelder is a noted educator and award-winning author of dozens of books on Native American culture, education, and youth. Molin is also an educator and author, writing primarily on Native American youth and children’s literature.

The center hopes to open the exhibit in the summer of 2014. The grant was one of only 21 given out by the council this year.

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Elizabeth Eckford of the Little Rock Nine poses beside her Civil Rights Heritage marker in downtown Little Rock.

The website will serve as a digital accompaniment to the Arkansas Civil Rights Heritage Trail, which was unveiled during the official launch of the Institute on July 10, 2011.

“We are grateful for the generous support from the Arkansas Humanities Council to complete this important project. The Heritage Trail website will house a repository of information aimed at depicting a more accurate and complete picture of the civil rights movement in our state,” said Priscilla McChristian, interim director of the Institute.

The humanities scholar for the project, Dr. John A. Kirk, Donaghey Professor and Chair of the UALR History Department, has researched and written on civil rights in Arkansas for more than twenty years, documenting individuals and organizations who were instrumental in the struggle for equality but whose stories have been often overlooked in historical texts.

With the support of the grant UALR student interns will assist with the development of the website by expanding on Kirk’s research. Historical evidence such as photographs, video and audio recordings, articles, and other documents will be uploaded to the website. Highlights will include biographical information about Heritage Trail honorees and their specific roles in the civil rights movement in Arkansas.

In addition, educators and historians will find relevant and often obscure information about campaigns that had local and statewide significance such as the Freedom Rides, sit-ins, voter registration drives, and community organizing.

“There is so much untold civil rights history in our state,” said McChristian. “Where the Heritage Trail itself serves as a reminder about the sacrifices of individuals, the website will provide the broader historical context and an extensive resource for teachers and historians who wish to educate their students and others about the significance of local efforts.”

The Heritage Trail was established to raise awareness about the legacy of the civil rights movement in Arkansas. A series of bronze markers rest in the sidewalk along Markham Street in downtown Little Rock beginning at the Old State House, stretching to the Statehouse Convention Center, and eventually to the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and beyond.

The mission of the Institute on Race and Ethnicity is to seek racial and ethnic justice in Arkansas by remembering and understanding the past, informing and engaging the present, and shaping and defining the future. It serves as a resource for producing multidisciplinary, research-driven data— including historical, sociological, educational, and economic analyses—to fulfill its mission.

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The Institute’s grant program was established to use academic research for the development of programs to investigate and inform possible solutions to identified structural racism.

“The selected projects address a variety of important topics in the areas of criminal justice, community outreach, immigration, and higher education. Each of the projects selected will provide data that will aid the Institute in implementing tangible programs and initiatives,’’ said McChristian.

Dr. Michael Craw, assistant professor and coordinator of the Center for Public Collaboration in the Institute of Government, was awarded $4,980 to determine the effect active neighborhood associations have on the quality of life of residents in low-income areas. By using data collected in the evaluation of eight Little Rock communities, Craw will examine partnerships between community-led organizations and area residents, and will use data to make recommendations that promote neighborhood stability and development.

A multi-disciplinary project was submitted by faculty members Dr. Timothy Brown, Department of Criminal Justice; Dr. Ken Galchus, director of the Kenneth Pat Wilson Center for Economic Education, Department of Economics; and Dr. Andy Terry, Department of Economics and Finance. The project was awarded a $4,500 grant to study how the lack of financial literacy creates higher instances of recidivism among ex-offenders. Outcomes of the study will be used to develop and implement a training curriculum that will be applied to re-entry programs of the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

Dr. John A. Kuykendall, associate professor of higher education in the Department of Educational Leadership, submitted a proposal that addresses academic success rates of black male athletes attending universities in Arkansas. The study was granted $3,550 and data collected will be used to help policymakers and university administrators expand college access, improve graduation rates, and eradicate racial disparities in intercollegiate athletics.

Jennifer Miller, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Criminal Justice, received $5,000 to research sentencing disparities for violent felonies excluding homicides in Arkansas between 2000 and 2010. Miller will analyze high crime rates in Jefferson County, especially Pine Bluff, which has been listed in the top ten most dangerous cities in the country since the 1990s. Miller hopes her research will influence future legislation regarding sentencing policies in the state.

A collaborative project proposed by faculty in criminal justice and social work will focus on the Arkansas juvenile justice system. Dr. Shaun A. Thomas, Dr. Timothy C. Brown, Dr. Emily R. Berthalot, of the Department of Criminal Justice, and Dr. John Miller of the School of Social Work, will use data collected from ten years of Racial Attitudes Surveys to augment previous research aimed at understanding the causes of disproportionate minority contact in the juvenile justice system. The research project was awarded $2,750.

Dr. Haiyan Xie, associate professor and coordinator of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering, has been awarded $4,500 to investigate immigration issues in the construction industry in Arkansas. Through data analysis and interviews, Xie will identify what factors influence inefficiency, malfunction, and violations of equal hire in the industry and provide best practices for future productivity and improvement strategies.

These faculty and graduate student awards were chosen by a five-person committee of faculty and professional staff from the Chancellor’s Committee on Race and Ethnicity, chaired by McChristian.

The UALR Institute on Race and Ethnicity was founded in July 2011 to seek racial and ethnic justice in Arkansas by remembering and understanding the past, informing and engaging the present, and shaping and defining the future. It serves as a resource for producing multidisciplinary, research-driven data— including historical, sociological, educational, and economic analyses—to fulfill its mission.

For more information, contact the Institute at race-ethnicity@ualr.edu or by phone at 501-569-8932.

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Twyman comes to UALR from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, where he has been director of grant programs in Indiana since 1999.

He will begin his new position at UALR on Aug. 12.

“I have a strong family heritage in Arkansas, and I look forward to joining Chancellor Anderson, the UALR family and the residents of central Arkansas to help accomplish community goals and aspirations through the Institute.”

“Now is an ideal time in the life of the Institute, for it is uniquely poised to lead the state and serve as a model for the nation in promoting racial and ethnic justice,” said Twyman.

In his role at the Pulliam Charitable Trust, Twyman was responsible for overseeing grant investments in the major program areas, which primarily benefit underserved populations and communities of color.  Similarly, Twyman previously worked in the public and private sectors to advance economic and community development in inner-city neighborhoods.

Racial diversity has been a central theme in the undergraduate and graduate courses taught by Twyman at Indiana University Purdue-University Indianapolis.  Like UALR, the IUPUI campus is in the state’s capital and has comparable student demographics and organizational dynamics.

“His unique combination of philanthropic expertise, academic preparation, and civic service has Dr. Twyman well prepared to accelerate progress toward the Institute’s mission and goals,” said Chancellor Anderson.

“I appreciate Dr. Twyman’s enthusiasm for the Institute’s work, and I am confident he will provide strong leadership as we continue to work with the university and community to address issues of race and ethnicity in Arkansas.”

Twyman was listed in “Forty Under 40” by the Indiana Business Journal. He is the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award, NAACP of Greater Indianapolis, and the United Way of Central Indiana Outstanding Board Service Award.

In addition to his work with the Pulliam Trust, Twyman currently serves on the boards of the Indiana Humanities Council and the City of Indianapolis Parks and Recreation. His previous board service includes the Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE), Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP), and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis.

Twyman graduated cum laude from Fisk University in Nashville with a bachelor’s degree in political science and religious and philosophical studies. He earned a master of social work degree (planning and management concentration) and Ph.D. in social policy from Indiana University.

The mission of the Institute is to seek racial and ethnic justice in Arkansas by understanding the past, informing and engaging the present, and shaping and defining the future.

The university launched this important work with the firm belief that the fundamentals of respect, tolerance, dignity and cultural understanding begin at the local level, and that local success with an issue that exists all across the country will have national significance and impact.

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The survey, designed and implemented by the UALR Institute of Government, was completed by faculty, staff, and students from across the campus to gather information regarding perceptions of diversity at UALR.

Chancellor Joel E. Anderson, who established the council to lead the campus in launching strategic diversity initiatives, will welcome all guests to the lunch and learn.

In addition to focusing on the outcomes of the surveys, participants will take part in roundtable discussions while campus stakeholders facilitate the discussions.

“We’d like to be known for championing diversity with our actions, and the Lunch and Learn series is one small step in that direction,” said Dr. John Miller Jr., co-chair of the Diversity Council and assistant professor in the UALR School of Social Work.

All members of the university community are ask to come and participate.

The goal is to lead by example

The Diversity Council was created under the direction of Chancellor Joel E. Anderson in order to lead the university in becoming a diverse, multi-ethnic community characterized by an absence of institutional racism.

The council’s purpose falls under goal six of the mission of the UALR Institute on Race and Ethnicity.

The Diversity Council seeks to help UALR in its overall goals of promoting dialogue, enhancing understanding, and fostering respect for all students, faculty, and staff.

Want to present your research at an upcoming event?

“We feel that a strength of our metropolitan university is the rich and diverse knowledge and expertise of our faculty and staff. We are particularly interested in presentations that address diversity related issues including, but not limited to, disability, LGBT, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and the elderly, “ said Miller.

The council is accepting proposals from anyone who would like to lead one of the lunch and learn events. If you are interested in participating in an upcoming summer or fall session, please submit your proposal at Lunch and Learn Topics.

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For the fifteenth consecutive year, the city of Little Rock will gather for the annual Cinco de Mayo festival. The League of United Latin American Citizens Council will host the event from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Clinton Presidential Center Park.

The festival will feature authentic Mexican and Central American food, arts and crafts, and games for children throughout the afternoon.

There will be live Latin American bands, folkloric ballet, Mariachi, zumba and salsa dance, international and authentic Mexican food trucks, and more.

The event is free and open to the public. However, donations will be accepted on behalf of the UALR Patricia Guardado Endowed Scholarship Fund and other UALR Scholarships.

For more information, go to Arkansas events.

For more information on how to make a gift to the Guardado scholarship fund, please contact Angela Elizandro at 501-683-7501.

The UALR Institute on Race and Ethnicity is proud to be one of the sponsors of the annual event.

Students & Diversity Programs team up to host campus celebration

The Office of Campus Life Diversity Programs and the Hispanic/Latino Initiative, a a student success program, will celebrate Cinco de Mayo from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, May 6, in the upper concourse of the Donaghey Student Center

The event is a cultural celebration and will include music, dancing, and free food.

Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). A relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations.

Cinco de Mayo traditions include parades, mariachi music performances and street festivals in cities and towns across Mexico and the United States.

For more information, contact, Kara M. Brown, of UALR Diversity Programs.

For more events from around the state, see our Community Calendar.

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The observance is a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. Historically, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month was established to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843.

It also marks the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

For more information, contact the Office of Campus Life at campuslife@ualr.edu or 501.569.3308.

To find out more about upcoming diversity related events sponsored by the Office Of Campus Life, go to Campus Life Diversity Programs.

For more events from around the state, see our Community Calendar.

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The book launch will take place at the Daisy Bates Home and Museum located at 1207 W. 28th Street in Little Rock.

The book titled, “Daisy: Between a Rock and a Hard Place,” is based on numerous interviews Kearney conducted with Bates during her lifetime. She recreates her conversations and interviews to “fill in” places, incidents, and experiences.

The event will include a reception and remarks from community members including Dr. John Kirk of the UALR History Department, Priscilla McChristian of the UALR Institute on Race and Ethnicity, and Adjoa A. Aiyetoro, of the UALR William H. Bowen School of Law.

The book covers Bates’ childhood; her life with husband and fellow activist, L.C. Bates; her non-traditional role as co-publisher of their award winning newspaper, the Arkansas State Press; and her leadership role at a time, and place when women were rarely in such positions.

Kearney, who took over ownership of the State Press from 1988 to 1997, uses Daisy’s words to take a “look back” at her life, and…finally, a self-analysis of how, and possibly, why she became the Daisy Gatson Bates for which she is known throughout the world.

The UALR Institute on Race and Ethnicity Department and the UALR Department of History are sponsors of the event.

For more events around the state, see our Community Calendar.

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The public event is  part of a worldwide celebration hosted by the Birmingham Public Library to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the day Martin Luther King Jr. began writing his famous letter.

Students from local elementary and middle schools and the Clinton School will read parts from King’s famous letter. Similar events will take place simultaneously all over the country.

To reserve a seat, email publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu or call 501.683.5239.

For more information, go to Clinton School events page.

Find More Events on the Community Calendar

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For the 10th consecutive year, UALR will host the Racial Attitudes in Pulaski County Conference. The event will take place Thursday, March 28, at the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall in the Fine Arts Building.

During the conference, the UALR Institute on Race and Ethnicity will present and lead discussion of the findings of the 2012-13 survey, on crime and punishment, conducted by the UALR Institute of Government.

Chancellor Joel E. Anderson will address what it means to the state of Arkansas to have 10 years worth of data on racial attitudes by highlighting trends that have surfaced during the survey collection process.

“People find it easy to dismiss national data as not really relevant to state or local problems. It is hard to deny the findings of a local survey,” he said. “Over the last decade the annual surveys on racial attitudes, and the work of the Institute over the last two years, have increased awareness of the fact that there is still a racial divide here.”

Racial Disparities in the Arkansas Criminal Justice System project director, Adjoa A. Aiyetoro, will join a panel of stakeholders to address the survey results. Following the panel, a round table strategy session will be held where audience members will participate in a community discussion.

The event is free and open to the public. The conference will begin at 9 a.m. followed by the roundtable strategy session from noon until 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Register online at the 10th Racial Attitudes Conference site.

Featured panelists include retired appellate court judge Olly Neal, Robert Tellez of the Monterrey and Tellez law firm, Leta Anthony, director of Lewis-Burnett Employment Finders, Inc., Little Rock assistant chief of police, Eric Higgins, and Dr. Charles Chastain of the Prison Library Project and professor emeritus of criminal justice at UALR.

IOG has collected data on attitudes concerning race relations in central Arkansas since the beginning of Anderson’s tenure as chancellor in 2003.

“Consistent with a pledge in the university’s strategic plan, UALR has been a keeper of the flame on the subject of race,” said Anderson.

To learn more about the 2013 Racial Attitudes Conference, go to the 10th Racial Attitudes Conference site. For more information, contact the Institute at race-ethnicity@ualr.edu or by phone at 501.569.8932.

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