The BeLOVEd Community

In this episode, Chris Seawood and Lindsey Leverett-Higgins speak with Black Owned Expo and Black Paper Party founders Jasmine Hudson, J’Aaron Merchant and Sierra Polk about the history

In this episode, council president, Lindsey Leverett Higgins and treasurer Chris Seawood have a very special conversation with Dr. Michael Eric Dyson.

In this episode, Chris Seawood sits down with Irvin Camacho District 3 Podcast Mike Rusch (Pure Charity) to discuss their insights on the election, its impact on the community, and how we can move forward.

Pt.2 "Empowering the Vote: A Conversation with the Candidates"

In this episode, we sit down with City of Fayetteville, AR mayoral Candidates Molly Rawn and incumbent Mayor Lioneld Jordan to explore their platforms, the role of minorities in Fayetteville, and how their respective mayoral plans include strategies to undergird the minority communities in Fayetteville.

In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Bechet, President of the NWA Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, and MyKala Wallace, President of the Pi Chi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., to explore the critical role of voter education in our communities. Together, we delve into the innovative strategies their organizations are implementing to enhance voter awareness and mobilization...

In this episode we speak to Joi McGowan, from Amani Counseling about mental health. What it takes to be resilient in our mental health. Good mental health practices for minority communities and her journey to bring help, health and joy to Black and Brown people.

In this episode we speak to Dr. Syard Evans, CEO of Arkansas Support Network. We talk about her work at Arkansas Support Network and her broader advocacy work for people with disabilities; their families and ensuring they have equity in society and within our government systems.

NWA MLK Council president and treasurer Lindsey Leverett Higgins and Chris Seawood talk with IMPACT Period founder and current Historic Black District project manager for NWA Black Heritage, Emma Willis on her past project work and her current work in Nortwest Arkansas included the historic and momentous work of the Historic Black District in South Fayetteville.

Join NWA MLK Council president Lindsey Leverett-Higgins and treasurer Chris Seawood as they speak with Alice Gachuzo-Colin. They discuss her work in Springdale, her activism; and historic run for Springdale City council.

We sit down with Sarah Moore, Fayetteville City Council member and one of the founders of the Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition. AJRC works to end mass incarceration led by the voices of the families and individuals of those directly impacted.

Chris sits down with HR professional and community collaborator, Monique Jones, to talk about her experiences running the St. James Missionary Baptist Church's Community Food Pantry, addressing the transportation needs of the community in Fayetteville, running for public office, and her inspiration to continue speaking truth to power.

Chris and Lindsey sit down with a man well-known in Fayetteville, as an educator, leader, friend, mentor, and advocate, Dr. John Colbert. Dr. Colbert recently retired as the twelfth superintendent of Fayetteville Public Schools. In his ground-breaking 46 year career, 43 years with Fayetteville Public Schools, he has served as the district’s first African-American special education teacher, the fir...

For our fourth episode, Lindsey and Chris introduce and discuss The State of Black NWA, a groundbreaking community-wide initiative designed to amplify the voices of the Black community across Northwest Arkansas (NWA). The Council is launching the census project to gain a deeper understanding of the quality of life in Northwest Arkansas, with a particular focus on members of the Black community. Th...

Dr. Danielle Williams, Assistant Vice Chancellor & Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance and member of the NWA MLK Council, talks with Chris and Lindsey about the history, evolution, and meaning of Juneteenth, now a federal holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in Texas at the end of the Civil War. University of Arkansas' 26th annual cele...

Join NWA MLK Council treasurer Chris Seawood and Dr. Rickey Booker as they discuss the diversity, equity and Inclusion landscape, it's necessity, history and ongoing placement in the sphere of race relations in Arkansas and beyond. You can read Dr. Booker's article "Progress Takes Time" on Arkansas Soul here. And you read more about Dr. Booker's work and read more of his writing here. Learn more a...

For our inaugural episode, Lindsey talks with University of Arkansas Chancellor, Dr. Charles Robinson, about his historic appointment as the UA's first African American Chancellor. He also talks about his recommitment to the land grant mission of the University, increasing access and resources for students from Arkansas, and how hard it is to choose between R&B and hip hop in Lindsey's fast fi...

The Beloved Community Podcast is designed with community in mind. We seek to highlight individuals and organizations that strive to build Dr. King’s beloved community in the Northwest Arkansas region, the state of Arkansas and beyond. Each month, you’ll hear from leaders in our community, working to combat poverty, racism, and inequity and promote the ideals of the Beloved Community where injustic...