Martha Morton, director of Arkansas Global Programs at UALR, announced this week two new long-term projects to help protect endangered minority groups in China’s southern and western Sichuan Province.

“Our partners are Sichuan University Museum and Archaeology Department in China, the Arkansas Department of Heritage, Delta Cultural Center in Helena, Arkansas Archaeological Survey; Tibetan specialists from the Archaeology Department of the University of Arizona; and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.,” Morton said. “We will be taking U.S. consultants to Chengdu on a training and selection trip this fall.”

In another China-Arkansas partnership, UALR coaches and those from various local school districts and community recreation programs will host Chinese coaches from Chengdu, Sichuan, for teaching and coaching skill workshops this fall. The program is sponsored by National Association for Sport & Physical Education.

“We are seeking Little Rock host families who can lodge, provide some meals, and help with transportation for the Chinese coaches, who will be in Arkansas from Nov. 1 to 10,” Morton said. Those interested in serving as host families should contact Morton via e-mail.

An ongoing partnership, China Sports for Life Success Project, UALR volleyball coaches will travel to Shengdu this fall for project training and evaluation efforts.