Teachers are a key part of the Promise.  To honor our teachers, the CLRPN will host a special dinner for teachers in the CLRPN schools at Cajun’s  Wharf on Tuesday, March 13.  During dinner, the conversation will focus on what dreams and ideas teachers have for how the CLRPN can help them unleash all of the potential of all of their students.  We know it will take all of us working closely together and hearing from each other often to live up to our big Promise of a happy, healthy, and productive journey from cradle to career for every child.  If you teach in the CLRPN, we hope you join us for this first step.  Please R.S.V.P. to Julie Hall at 682-9537 or jchall2@ualr.edu no later than March 10.

What will it take to get 100% of the children in the CLRPN reading on grade level or above by the end of 3rd grade?  This is one of the first success goals the CLRPN will target with a series of coordinated actions over the next few years that will focus on strengthening reading programs both in the schools and in the community.  The Central Arkansas Library System will be a big part of this part of the Promise.  On Tuesday, March 13, Little Rock’s residents are being asked to vote on a proposal that could help CALS better serve its community.  More information for your consideration on this issue is available here.   And once you have made your decision on this issue, we hope you will get out and vote on the 13th as voting is another key part of the Promise!

What’s it going to take and how do we get there?  Please join us at the next Promise Forum on Thursday, March 29, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to share your voice on this question as a part of our collective, ongoing determination of next steps to ensure every child a happy, healthy, productive journey from cradle to career.  Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and child care is available upon request.  Reserve your spot by calling 682-9537 or emailing lrpromise@gmail.com. 

The Little Miss Promise program is up and running.  Thanks to Regina Taylor of the Girl Scouts for leading the young ladies through some wonderful leadership activities at the first Saturday seminar on March 3rd.  Pictures of these activities and more are available here.  Meanwhile, happy 100th anniversary to the Girl Scouts of the USA!

As a part of its commitment to effective leadership, members of the Promise Neighborhood Advisory Board will be attending a 1½-day leadership retreat at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute late this month. Training and discussion sessions will focus on building trust with the neighborhoods; more diverse, meaningful community engagement; relationship building; collective efficacy; understanding and managing the collaborative process; and considering the implications of CLRPN as a strategy, not a program.