Ashton Ray

One Voice Arkansas

The (South) Main Attraction - Little Rock Soirée

Known for its unique flavors, art scene and events, the real star of the bustling South Main neighborhood is its community, and SoMa 501 is working behind the scenes to cultivate connection.

A Seed of Hope: How The Centers Helps Healing Take Root - Little Rock Soirée

Through daily struggles and deep-set traumas, the nonprofit works tirelessly to give youth and families the fresh start they need. This month, Layne and Morgan Hatcher lead the way at its signature Evolve Gala.

Study Guides: Leading Through Literacy - Little Rock Soirée

Diane and Randy Zook dip into the science of reading and community impact for AR Kids Read.

A Zest for Life: The Steligas Dish on Soup Sunday - Little Rock Soirée

The event's first-ever chair family serves up fun, flavor and community support for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.

Rest & Reclamation at the 20th Century Club's Lodge - Little Rock Soirée

Christy Lund and Laura Westlake let in the light with the 20th Century Club, providing comfort and community to help cancer patients heal with renewed strength.

Sanctuary - Little Rock Soirée

Among the wooded haven of southwest Little Rock, Women & Children First closes in on opening a revolutionary refuge for survivors of domestic violence.

Match Makers: Jonathan Wardlaw & Ante Jazic on Building an Undeniable Soccer Force - Little Rock...

The Little Rock Rangers Soccer Club is pulling a rare hat trick with successful men's, women's and youth programs in central Arkansas.

Glad Tidings for CARTI - Little Rock Soirée

For Drs. Grace and Vijay Raja, a 9-to-5 in the medical field underscores the need for the care CARTI provides, and they're only too happy to answer the call.

The Heart of the Matter for AHA - Little Rock Soirée

Pulaski Academy senior Emma Grace Bradley is honored at Go Red for Women after defying rare heart defects with resilience, joy and service.

A New Era of Empowerment for WFA - Little Rock Soirée

Former Miss Arkansas winners Ebony Mitchell & Cori Keller co-chair WFA's Power of the Purse, empowering women statewide through opportunity.

Dine & Dash: Potluck Food Rescue Dishes Out Help - Little Rock Soirée

Potluck Food Rescue fights hunger and food waste in Arkansas by redirecting surplus food, composting, and educating the community.

Tammie Davis and JoBeth McElhanon on the Journey to Finding Your Career Niche - Little Rock Soirée

"Be open to stops, starts and traffic jams."

It's Mind Over Matter for Dr. Deanna Sasaki-Adams - Little Rock Soirée

Dr. Deanna Sasaki-Adams leads UAMS Neurosurgery, aiming to inspire more women, advance care and balance family with a high-stakes career.

SWLS Keynotes Talk Courage, Risk and Choosing Purpose - Little Rock Soirée

Michelle Anne Johnson and Candace Doby delivered powerful messages and encouragement to act in authenticity at the 2025 Soirée Women's Leadership Symposium.

Wolfe Street's Growth Pattern - Little Rock Soirée

With more than 40 years of roots firmly planted in the community, the Wolfe Street Foundation is branching out.

The Rep is Sunny Side Up - Little Rock Soirée

With its signature spring gala getting the groovy treatment, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre celebrates its role as a bright spot in the community.

The Heat is On for Donnie Ferneau - Little Rock Soirée

The local chef and six fellow culinary champions prepare to go head to head in the anticipated return of Diamond Chef Arkansas.

Garden State: A Rosy Outlook for Ballet Arkansas - Little Rock Soirée

Stacey and Shay Sebree will chair Ballet Arkansas' 45th Turning Pointe Gala, supporting arts growth in Little Rock with a special performance at Robinson Center.

The Baked-In Charm of Blackberry Market - Little Rock Soirée

This local restaurant's freshness and community are just what the neighborhood kneaded.

WCF's Recipe for Restoration - Little Rock Soirée

Women & Children First is building the Forest of Hope Family Peace Center, offering 132 beds and centralized resources to empower domestic violence survivors.

Goodness Village Stays Close to Home - Little Rock Soirée

Goodness Village provides discounted apartments for patients like Jada Jackson, aiding healing and family unity during medical crises. It raised $150K for its mission.

The Peak Ambitions of the Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation - Little Rock Soirée

Executive director Deke Whitbeck and the AGFF team dream big for The Natural State.

The Museum of Discovery's Chemical Reaction - Little Rock Soirée

After it faced seismic setbacks, locals like Jeff Hildebrand provided a jolt of support to renew the MoD, and its pull is nothing short of magnetic.

The Six Bridges Book Festival's Next Chapter - Little Rock Soirée

Amid revisions and renovations, the 2024 fest shows a CALS focused on the future.

The Good Fight - Little Rock Soirée

As the Arkansas Foodbank marks a milestone battling hunger, it looks to deepen its roots in communities and on local farms with supporters like Hallie Shoffner.

Learning to Lead With City Year Little Rock - Little Rock Soirée

As the nonprofit marks a milestone, Creshelle Nash takes a page from her father's book on service.

3 Business Owners on What They Wish They'd Known - Little Rock Soirée

From problem solving to mentorship, these women share their stories.

Taking Fitness to the Next Level

Dr. Eric Robinson, Dr. Kelsey Reely and Trey Reely complete the grueling Iron Man Chattanooga 70.3 in May, sponsored by Unity Health.

Hot Stuff: 3 Burgers to Relish in the Little Rock Metro - Little Rock Soirée

The local foodie scene is bringing the heat and keeping customers hungry for more.

The Decade Dilemma: Communicating Across Generations in the Workplace - Little Rock Soirée

Jessie Wilson breaks down how to navigate connections between five generations.

Framing the Future for AMFA - Little Rock Soirée

In its first year after reopening, the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts brought the community "Together." Now, it's setting itself apart as a beacon of expression for tomorrow.

'We Told a Different Story': Soledad O'Brien on Disappointment, Defying Expectations and...

The award-winning journalist and documentarian shared her hard-learned lessons on and off the air at the 2024 Soirée Women's Leadership Symposium.

Ballet Arkansas is Setting the Barre - Little Rock Soirée

Wrapping up its 45th anniversary season, the company sets its sights on performance accessibility and educational expansion.

The Greatest Camp on Earth: Aldersgate After Dark Meets the French Circus - Little Rock Soirée

Lilias & Olive's JoBeth McElhanon helps give Camp Aldersgate's signature event that certain "je ne sais quoi."

Sum and Substance

Between inspiring kids to learn finance and inspiring three generations of service in one family, it all adds up for Economics Arkansas.

An Oasis of Hope

Chocolate Fantasy Ball chairs Lanny and Colleen Nickell spread the healing they found at Ronald McDonald House.

Opportunity by Design: Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation's 'Relentless Pursuit of Equity'

With president & CEO Sherece West-Scantlebury at the helm, WRF takes up the mantle of its namesake to build an equitable Arkansas.

The Heart of Justice

The legacy of an icon leads the way for the Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission and executive director DuShun Scarbrough.

Striking Out Homelessness With CATCH

How a band of local organizations aims to address and eliminate homelessness in central Arkansas.

Where the Heart Is

Drawing from her own past, executive director Angie Taylor works to bring "hope for the holidays" to patients and their caregivers at the 20th Century Club Lodge.

Geoffrey Robson Strikes a Chord With the Community

With a rich history of musical performance and ASO involvement, the new music director is ready to lead the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra into its 58th season and unite Arkansans with music.

Performing in Perfect Harmony

ASO Opus Ball chairs Kristen and Carlton Saffa compose a magical night of Americana music to support musical education.

Shunqetta Cunningham on the 3 Ts to Women Getting it Done

And why "you don't have to be the one responsible for throwing all the retirement parties."

How the ASPF is Helping the Helpers

For the Arkansas State Police Foundation, building up its troopers is all about building up their support systems.

Delicious Temptations and the Breakfast of Champions

As the iconic brunch spot steps into a tasty new era, we catch up with the father and son duo behind the scenes.

The Field Strategy of Judy Henry

Wright Lindsey Jennings attorney Judy Henry traveled a winding path into sports law, but her love for athletics was evident from a young age. Henry grew up in Texarkana, and when she started school, her athletic ability and competitive nature began to take shape. In third grade, President John F.

Life Cycle: Pedaling Out a Passion for Cancer Care

Carol Wadley's and Dr. Sam Makhoul's worlds collided in 2005 when Wadley was diagnosed with breast cancer and Makhoul became her oncologist at CARTI. It would be the start of a long medical relationship and eventual friendship as she went on to subsequently battle stage 4 metastatic malignant melanoma, thyroid cancer and a recurrence of melanoma over an 18-year period.

SWLS Panelists Share Their 'Encore Career' Journeys

The fifth annual Soirée Women's Leadership Symposium on April 27 featured a series of breakout sessions for participants to attend ranging from trade insights to mindfulness. During the "Second Life" panel, three local professionals discussed their starting careers and what led them to transition into a different field.

Word for Word

Founded in 2012, AR Kids Read was the brainchild of multiple community members who saw a need and acted. "It really has so much breadth and depth to it because so many people bought into the vision," says executive director Kathy French. "It was the community itself that saw the need.

Staying the Course for Home for Healing

A small toy frog sits on the desk of Home for Healing Executive Director Kristin Trulock. She picks it up, smiles and says a guest of the home, a young cancer patient, passes out plastic frogs to symbolize "Fully Relying On God."

5 Daily Practices for Leaders to Employ

Dr. Veronica Guinn, an assistant professor at Arkansas State University, teaches courses focusing on leadership development and critical thinking in the professional setting. At the 2022 Arkansas Business Women's Leadership Summit in Jonesboro, she shared some of her favorite daily practices for leaders to adopt in the workplace. 1.

Ushering in Aid With Les Moderns

Susan French, president of Les Moderns, got her start with the volunteer organization like so many others: a combined love for theater and philanthropy. "I had a friend who was in it at the time, and I was a single mom with three children, and I was broke and working two jobs," she says.

Heart on the Horizon

Despite the obstacles of the past two years, the American Heart Association has persevered, keeping the cardiac health of Americans as its central focus. "I think I'm proudest of how the American Heart Association pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic," communications director Cyd King says.

Mentors, Sponsors and How They Can Change Your Career Trajectory

Tamika Edwards, director of inclusion, diversity and equity at Southwest Power Pool (SPP), uses electricity to demonstrate the differences between mentorship and sponsorship during her session at the 2022 Arkansas Business Women's Leadership Summit in Jonesboro. Mentorship, Edwards says, is more about influencing and advising others to tap into the power they hold within.

5 Things Your Employees Need to Hear

At the Arkansas Business Women's Leadership Summit in Fort Smith, ArcBest VP of Customer Experience Lori Brooks shared her advice with attendees on how and what to communicate with their employees. Here are her top tips. 1. "Your success is my success. We are in this together."

What's Behind 'The Great Breakup' in the Workplace?

McKinsey and Company statistics led the moderator's questions for three panel members at the Arkansas Business Women's Leadership Summit in Fort Smith. Recent research revealed the country is facing what is being called "the great breakup," where women are leaving their jobs in unprecedented numbers and at a much higher rate than male counterparts in the same leadership role.