Think Big reveals 25 ideas for Little Rock

Diverse workplaces, commuter transportation at top of list

Ideas dreamt up by young professionals -- who spent months picturing Arkansas' capital city as it could be -- reached a modest number of ears Thursday night.

The ideas came from Think Big Little Rock. It's a collection of millennials and Generation Xers put in charge of brainstorming improvements that will attract and retain other young professionals in the region.

In September 2016, 54 young adults were split into six subgroups based on topic: arts and culture, diversity and inclusion, economic development, public education, public safety and governance, and transportation and environment. Each subgroup studied shortcomings and solutions in its category.

Think Big came up with 25 recommendations, which were unveiled to about a dozen people during a town hall-style meeting in Longley Baptist Church at 9900 Geyer Springs Road.

Two of those people were not directly affiliated with Think Big. One was Graham Cobb, chief operating officer at the Little Rock Regional Chamber.

Attendees stuck sticky notes on the initiatives -- printed on poster board -- that excited them the most.

Among the most favored ideas were encouraging Little Rock businesses to host diverse workplaces and establishing sustainable commuter transportation for people within 40 miles of the city. Diverting youngsters from the criminal justice system was another lauded goal.

Other ideas included "Artober," a dedicated month to celebrate arts and culture, and a quarter-percent tax to fund public transportation and connect surrounding towns with bicycle and walking trails.

Increasing access to affordable, quality pre-kindergarten received the most votes: six sticky notes.

Kalena Jones, who serves on the diversity and inclusion committee, said she was forced to choose a private preschool for her children.

"I would prefer to go public, but that's just not an option for us," she said.

Cobb gave feedback on a plan to expand War Memorial Park. Think Big suggested converting the golf course from 18 holes to nine.

Cobb envisioned driving near the university district and spotting murals, foliage and flowers that bridged both sides of Interstate 630.

"I get goosebumps thinking about it," he said. "It'd be so cool."

Caraline Vaughn went to the meeting with pen and paper in hand, not knowing what to expect. She works for AR Kids Read, a nonprofit that promotes literacy for elementary school children.

Vaughn said she was "slightly disappointed" that the education proposals didn't include anything reading-specific or oriented toward the Hispanic population.

"Their outlets are few and far between," Vaughn said of Hispanics in Little Rock. She suggested an English as a Second Language program for parents.

But knowing there's a group of passionate young people who want to plot Little Rock's future is encouraging, the 23-year-old said.

"Maybe in a couple of years, I can have a seat at the table," she said.

The 54 Think Big members applied for their positions. They're lawyers, public servants and entrepreneurs, among other professions.

About half of the group is white, and the other half is black or Hispanic. No one was younger than 25 or older than 40 when selected to serve.

Their ages are a major asset, because young professionals are seldom big players in road-mapping Little Rock's future, said Dr. Dean Kumpuris.

Kumpuris is an at-large representative on the Little Rock Board of Directors and a member of Fifty for the Future, Think Big's parent organization.

It's easier for young people to influence a city's direction when there's a crisis, Kumpuris said.

"It's like in the army. If there's a war, you can rise up through the ranks," he said. "But when everything's fairly stable, it's hard to have your voice be heard."

Without input from a diverse section of young people, older people end up running the show, he said, and the community is planned "almost in a vacuum."

Think Big, his "brainchild," was created to fight that type of planning, Kumpuris said.

Participants met monthly. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock's Arkansas Economic Development Institute helped facilitate the get-togethers and research the subjects.

Randy Wright and Carlos Silva, who both work for the institute, directed Thursday's discussion.

Any interested young adult could attend Think Big meetings, said Buckley O'Mell, vice president of advocacy at the Little Rock Regional Chamber.

About 150 people were involved at one point or another, O'Mell said. Most groups met outside the allotted monthly time periods, as well, he said.

Think Big isn't the first time citizens have pored over Little Rock's problems. In 1992, Future-Little Rock began amidst a gangs crisis. People split into groups and studied similar issues, like crime and economic development.

Kumpuris, who was involved in the 1990s effort, said Future-Little Rock didn't have the financial backing that Think Big does, and it wasn't age-specific. It was coordinated by city staff members, he said, unlike Think Big.

Fifty for the Future-- a group of corporate executives and community leaders that supports regional projects -- funded Think Big by paying the UALR institute for its services. Money was also set aside to implement the generated ideas.

Neither amount was disclosed.

Think Big committee members were obligated to only a year of brainstorming. They can continue with the program and try to enact their plans, if they choose.

O'Mell said a "large number" of the 20- and 30-somethings seem committed to hanging with the work. From the get-go, stakeholders didn't want Think Big to be a group that's just "throwing out a problem with no solution," he said.

Going forward, interested members will decide when to meet. They'll talk to city officials, business leaders and anyone else who's interested in tackling the projects, O'Mell said.

Fifty for the Future will also meet with Think Big members to discuss how much money they need to pursue certain ideas and how to find funding sources, Kumpuris said.

Thursday's town hall meeting was one of four scheduled for the beginning of October. Think Big will host sessions in downtown and west Little Rock, as well as in North Little Rock next week.

After getting the public's feedback, a report will be published online. An implementation committee is also forming to continue the Think Big efforts, said Abbi Siler, who mans the messaging arm of the group.

When asked about the lack of turnout Thursday, Chris East, a co-chairman, said the group predicted that Thursday's meeting would be "the most difficult one" for attendance.

Metro on 10/06/2017

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