The Little Rock Nine
In the fall of 1957, Little Rock became the symbol of state resistance to school desegregation.
Our Commitment & Leadership
Little Rock is a city made of people of different ages, races, ethnicities, levels of ability, sexual orientations, gender identities, religions and socio-economic statuses, and we are at our best when these diversities are given light to show the full spectrum of our home.
We recognize that diversity is a strength and a unifier, not a divider. To that end, the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LRCVB) is committed to ensuring that Little Rock is a destination that is welcoming and open to all who seek to come here.
Our work reinforces what we know to be true about our city: that Little Rock is a place where all people should have equal access to the opportunity and promise of our city. We understand that not all visitors to our city have traveled the same road, but our commitment to equity ensures that everyone will have equal access to the promise of Little Rock: a warm, inviting and diverse city that is full of surprises.
We Are Committed to the Following Shared Values:
- Understanding what equity is and acknowledging that not all people have the same starting point.
- Being open to new ideas and information in regard to equity and to what we as an organization must do when we make a mistake.
- Working to make sure that our intent is in lockstep with the outcomes of our efforts.
The Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau is in a near-constant state of growth when it comes to understanding the complex and intersectional identities of our visitors. We seek to remove as many barriers to travel as possible from the path of anyone who would like to visit us. Through this process, we’re able to build a stronger, more diverse and more welcoming destination.
We also know that diversity and inclusion can’t just be buzzwords, and the LRCVB knows that to better serve you and our city, we have to better ourselves. These are the steps the LRCVB is taking to become our best selves:
- Conducting mandatory unconscious bias training for all employees.
- Distributing an equity, diversity and inclusion staff survey to better understand our employees’ thoughts and feelings related to these topics and identify areas of needed improvement.
- Expanding our recruitment practices to explicitly reach BIPOC.
- Creating a workforce development plan to expose more minority communities to the career possibilities and leadership roles within our industry.
- Promoting the importance of voting to all staff and providing additional paid time off on primary and general election days to allow individuals enough time to exercise this right.
- Increasing our marketing assets and direct messaging efforts to minority travelers.
- Expanding our work with national minority travel groups and meeting professionals on convention marketing efforts.
Our Leadership
When Arkansas native Maya Angelou said that there was strength in diversity, Little Rock listened. Our city leaders — both appointed and elected — truly reflect the makeup of our city.
Mayor
Frank Scott Jr.
Little Rock voters made history in 2018 when they selected pastor Frank Scott Jr. as the city’s 73rd mayor and the city’s first elected Black mayor.
Fire Chief
Delphone D. Hubbard
Chief Hubbard has led the Little Rock Fire Department since 2018, ensuring that it not only maintains its national accreditation but its prestigious ISO Class One rating.
Pulaski County Clerk
Terri Hollingsworth
Served on all levels of government and began her career working for the City of Little Rock as a city planner and later as the economic development administrator.
City Directory, Ward 1
Virgil Miller
A longtime banker and currently serving as Community Reinvestment Act director at Arvest Bank, Director Miller joined the City Board of Directors in 2021.
City Director, Ward 2
Ken Richardson
A nationally recognized expert in youth violence prevention, Director Richardson has been on the City Board of Directors since 2007.
City Director, Ward 6
Andrea Lewis
Assistant Vice President and CRA Officer of First Security Bank. She is very active in identifying credit and services needs within the community and emphasizing the importance of financial literacy.
City Director, Position 9
Antwan Phillips
A lawyer and adjunct faculty member at the University of Arkansas Little Rock’s Bowen School of Law, Director Phillips was elected in 2020.
State Senator, District 30
Linda Chesterfield
Senator Chesterfield is a retired educator and a leader of the Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus.
State Representative, District 29
Fred Love
Representative Love is the Vice-Chair of City, County, and Local Affairs Committee and is the ranking committee member on the House Public Health, Welfare & Labor Committee.
State Representative, District 30
Fred Allen
Before entering Arkansas state politics, Representative Allen worked as a parole commissioner with the Arkansas State Post Prison Transfer Board. He also served as a planning commissioner with the City of Little…
State Representative, District 37
Jamie Scott
Representative Scott serves on the House Judiciary Committee and the House State Agencies & Governmental Affairs Committee. She graduated from Arkansas State University with a B.A. in criminology and sociology and an…
State Representative, District 36
Denise Ennett
Representative Ennett serves on the board of directors for the Historic Arkansas Museum Foundation and Preserve Arkansas. She also serves on the City of Little Rock Arts and Cultural Commission.
State Representative, District 34
Joy Springer
Serving her second term in the Arkansas House after first being elected in a special election on March 4th, 2020. She has served on the House Public Transportation Committee, the House Aging…
Residents of Note
Herbert “Geese” Ausbie
Known as the “Clown Prince of Basketball,” Ausbie was a member of the Harlem Globetrotters touring more than 100 countries over 24 years.
Korto Momolu
Known for her appearance on season five of the hit TV-show “Project Runway,” Momolu’s designs are now available the world over and right here in Little Rock.
Lottie H. Shackelford
The first woman to serve as mayor of Little Rock, Shackelford was also the Vice-Chair of the Democratic National Committee for 20 years.
Explore Little Rock
Black History & Culture
Little Rock is no stranger to the changing tide of history and its power to shape a community.
Black-Owned Restaurants
Local businesses are the lifeblood of any community, and Little Rock’s Black-owned businesses are thriving.
Entertainment
In the evenings, Little Rock comes to life with the sounds of jazz, rap, hip-hop, and R&B. Little Rock is home to a vibrant mix of musicians, singers, and band leaders who…
U.S. Civil Rights Trail
The United States Civil Rights Trail connects more than 100 sites across 14 states, allowing visitors to witness the destinations and landmarks that defined the American civil rights story.
Attractions
Walking through Little Rock is like strolling through history.