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Signature Bank of Arkansas Launches Bilingual Bank Brand

Banco Sí is the name of Signature Bank of Arkansas’ multicultural bank located in downtown Rogers, the first dedicated bilingual bank in Arkansas. The bank is expected to have 10 employees and is currently hiring for multiple positions. All staff will be bilingual, speaking English and Spanish, and serve Banco Sí and existing Signature Bank customers. A bank advisory board comprising 100% Hispanic members will guide the new brand’s staffing, product development and marketing efforts.

The brand expansion is part of a larger initiative to create a more inclusive banking environment in Northwest Arkansas. Recently, Signature Bank partnered with Serve2Perform to prepare and place Hispanic members on the bank’s market advisory boards.

Francisco Herrero, president for multicultural banking at Signature Bank, will now carry the title of president of Banco Sí. The grand opening is planned for September during Hispanic Heritage Month.

University Libraries Offer Resources for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

The University of Arkansas Libraries curated resources to help celebrate and learn more about the AAPI community. Add these series and films to your streaming queue and check out the virtual book display. The collection features books, primary sources, background information and lesson plans for teachers. Physical items are also on display on the lobby level of Mullins Library.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrates Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States each May. The month was established in 1977 by Congress and recognizes the history, culture and important contributions of people from the Asian continent and Pacific islands.

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Life Styles Celebrates 14th Graduating Class of Launch Program

Life Styles, the Fayetteville-based nonprofit human services agency helping people with disabilities live full lives, recently graduated five members of its Launch Program. The program, now in its 14th year, offers students ages 18-25 with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to experience everything university life offers. Through a partnership with the University of Arkansas, Launch students eat, work out and attend classes at the university. On-campus classes are carefully designed to develop scholarship and teach independent-living and social skills tailored to the specific needs of this cohort.

Congratulations to the Launch Class of 2022: Brandon Christopher Baskin, Joshua Caleb Farnsworth, Peyton June Keeling, Daniel Christopher LeBlanc and Noel Andres Rodriguez.

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Early Voting Has Started! Make a Voting Plan Today

When Arkansas votes, Arkansas wins. Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 24, with early voting currently underway through May 23. As of May 18, only 4% of Washington County and 5% of Benton County had voted. We hope you will do your part by encouraging your colleagues, family and friends to get out and vote in the May Primary Election!

We’ve compiled a Primary Election 2022 Resource Guide and PSAs in English and Spanish with everything you need to know to cast your primary election vote. For information about how to support civic engagement from a business leader perspective, check out this recent post from the Northwest Arkansas Council.

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Save the Date! NWA Pride Returns to Downtown Fayetteville June 18

The 18th annual NWA Pride Parade and Festival will return to full capacity on June 18. This year’s celebration marks the 50th anniversary of the Miss Gay Arkansas and Miss Gay America pageants. The NWA Trans March will also return as part of the NWA Pride Weekend.

With over 25,000 participants, Northwest Arkansas Pride Weekend is the state’s largest LGBTQ celebration. We hope you will help us continue to celebrate one of the most colorful displays of diversity and inclusion in Arkansas.

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Organizations Host 2022 Juneteenth Freedom Weekend

Organizations across the region invite the NWA community to celebrate the anniversary of African American emancipation the weekend of June 17-19. The following events are open to the public:

  • Thursday, June 16 from 6 to 10 p.m. — Second Annual Arkansas Black Film Showcase, Great Hall, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville.
  • Friday, June 17 at 11 a.m. — Center for Black Excellence Ribbon Cutting, 4083 N. Shiloh Drive in Fayetteville.
  • Friday, June 17 at 7:05 p.m. — Black Action Collective will host Freedom Night with the Naturals at Arvest Ballpark. Pastor Curtiss Smith, Senior Pastor of the Historic St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Fayetteville will throw out the first pitch. Reserve tickets here.
  • Saturday, June 18 at noon – Crown of Hope Luncheon at Mermaids in Fayetteville hosted by the Black Action Collective. Tickets and sponsorship information here.
  • Saturday, June 18 at 8 p.m. – Juneteenth Sneaker Ball at Doubletree Hotel in Bentonville hosted by 4theCultureNWA. Purchase tickets here.
  • Sunday, June 19 from 1 to 9 p.m. – Freedom Festival at Shiloh Square in downtown Springdale. Free event hosted by Music Moves, Community Cohesion Project (CCP), Interform, University of Arkansas Juneteenth Committee and Crown of Hope.
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What We’re Reading: A Recent Report by Arkansas Association of Asian Businesses

A report recently shared by the Arkansas Association of Asian Businesses shows that the top industries of Asian-owned firms in Arkansas are in other services, accommodation and food services, followed by retail trade. The report also shows that Japan has the largest number of foreign-owned companies in Arkansas (46) of any country, and those companies employ over 6,000 people.

Arkansas Association of Asian Businesses is a nonprofit organization aiming to promote Asian owned businesses in Arkansas, help foreign investors from Asian countries do business in Arkansas, and provide career development assistance to Asian young professionals in Arkansas.

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Thank you for your continued commitment to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in Northwest Arkansas!

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