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What does it mean for a city to believe in itself? Sinovia Mayfield has spent a decade as the human behind Rocktown Realness, a hyperlocal civic platform built for action and powered by love for Little Rock, Arkansas. She sees her role not as the face of the platform but as its stage manager, turning the spotlight on a city whose story is often flattened by headlines and outside assumptions. In this conversation with Adena, Sinovia introduces the idea of municipal self-esteem: The collective belief (or lack of it) that shapes what a city thinks it deserves, what it’s willing to invest in, and what it allows itself to imagine. They discuss what happens when people stop waiting for someone else to build the thing their community is missing and how being “behind” can offer a clearer view of what’s ahead. About Sinovia Sinovia Mayfield is a Little Rock–based project leader connecting people, pixels, and purpose. She leads high-impact digital and marketing initiatives and builds community-centered platforms that turn big ideas into real-world impact, with equal parts strategy and heart. Learn more at sinoviamayfield.com.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Recorded inside the Central Arkansas Library System’s newly renovated Main Library in downtown Little Rock, hosts Adena White and Kara Wilkins sit down with CALS executive director Nate Coulter, board president Dr. Karama Neal, and chief communications and community engagement officer Tameka Lee to talk about the library’s transformation, its impact on the community, and the enduring power of public spaces.

Choosing Arkansas with Dr. Karama Neal shares stories of those who chose Arkansas as their home. In this episode, Dr. Neal talks to Shamim Okolloh. Shamim was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and came to the U.S. at age 19 for college. Unsure about staying or returning home, she moved to Little Rock to attend the Clinton School of Public Service. She fell in love with the state and has found a supportive community in Arkansas, balancing her career in banking and her family life.  We hope these conversations inspire you to learn more about professional, educational, social and other opportunities in Arkansas, and soon, choose Arkansas for yourself!  Send us feedback at [email protected].

Choosing Arkansas with Dr. Karama Neal shares stories of those who chose Arkansas as their home. In this episode, Dr. Neal talks to Jean Block, the CEO of the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority.   We hope these conversations inspire you to learn more about professional, educational, social and other opportunities in Arkansas, and soon, choose Arkansas for yourself!  Send us feedback at [email protected].

Choosing Arkansas with Dr. Karama Neal shares stories of those who chose Arkansas as their home. We want to help you make the Natural State your natural choice. On today's episode, we talk to Samantha Evans about what brought her back to her home state after living away for many years.  We hope these conversations inspire you to learn more about professional, educational, social and other opportunities in Arkansas, and soon, choose Arkansas for yourself!  Send us feedback at [email protected]

Dr. Karama Neal, principal of Neal Firm, aspires to help Arkansas achieve its full potential as a place where Black people can thrive. Achieving this potential requires not only the engagement of current Black Arkansans but also the economic, social, and political involvement of Black people with ties to the state — whether it's through kinship, friendship, business, or general interest. Facilitating this engagement and potential relocation involves helping these "potential Arkansans" 1) update their knowledge of current housing, employment, entrepreneurial, social, and other opportunities; and 2) learn from the paths and experiences of others who have moved to or returned to Arkansas and are enthusiastic about their choice and current quality of life. Through her "Choosing Arkansas" series, Dr. Neal will share the stories of Black newcomers and returnees, highlighting their positive experiences and the opportunities that exist within the state. Her goal is to inspire others to see Arkansas as a place where they can build successful and fulfilling lives.

This is part two of our dive into urban agriculture. We’re talking about how Black farmers and growers are creating solutions to the lack of healthy food options in their communities. Be sure to listen to Episode 41 with Leroi Emerson, who serves on the board for Urban Patchwork. In this episode, we’re talking to Gabriyel El-Bey, the owner and operator of Turtle Island in Little Rock, Arkansas, which is one of Urban Patchwork’s farm partners. He’s joined by Master Gardener Laverne Davis.   Since it opened in June of 2022, Turtle Island has provided residents in the South End neighborhood of Little Rock with fresh, nutritious produce from more than 20 local growers. Education and community is at the center of it all.

This two-part episode of the Blackbelt podcast explores how Urban Patchwork, a Little Rock-based nonprofit network of farmers and backyard gardeners, aims to build a sustainable local food economy and promote interdependence among residents. In part one, we hear from LeRoi Emerson, a board member for Urban Patchwork. He joins host Adena White to talk about his passion for farming and the organization's efforts to increase access to fresh food in low-income, low-access neighborhoods. By bringing people together around food, Urban Patchwork's goal is to foster a sense of community and collaboration while enhancing both the physical health and social cohesion of Little Rock neighborhoods.

We're back in the saddle! In this episode, Adena and Kara discuss the relaunch of Blackbelt Voices as a platform for authentic storytelling. After completing a Social Impact Storytelling program at Georgetown University and a fellowship with Solutions Journalism Network, Adena has come back with fresh ideas of how Blackbelt Voices can emphasize the importance of authenticity, belonging, and connection in storytelling.

Adena and Kara talk to writer and self-proclaimed Wypipologist  Michael Harriot. The South Carolina native is well known for his wit, cultural commentary, and gift of mixing humor and historical context. In this episode, Michael breaks down the discipline of Wypipology, Black humor, and the story behind his coining of the phrase "invited to the cookout." (Yes, he's the one who came up with it.) Michael is the host of the recently launched TheGrio Daily podcast, produced by theGrio Black Podcast Network. He has also authored a book, "Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America," which is available for pre-order now.  Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS Edited and produced by: Katrina Dupins and Prentice Dupins Jr. Music: Prentice Dupins Jr. Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of  Blackbelt Media LLC.

La'Twana Scott, the owner of Sweet Mama T's in El Dorado, Arkansas, developed a reputation as a great cook at an early age. The El Dorado native enjoys cooking for people and got her start from helping her mom as a child.  Eventually, with the help of Southern Bancorp, Scott found the perfect location for her restaurant.  Find out more about Sweet Mama T's by visiting her Facebook page.  Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is one of America’s oldest and largest community development financial institutions, founded to provide underserved communities with access to capital and the wealth-building tools needed to grow. On the web at BankSouthern.com and SouthernPartners.org. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices.

On episode 37 of Blackbelt Voices, we continue our conversation about Black food, this time focusing on barbecue. Guest Michael “Mike D” De Los Santos of North Carolina walks us through his journey of becoming an expert on the topic, which eventually led to him creating his own sauces and rubs and selling through his company, Mike D’s.  Mike’s journey to becoming a small business owner has uplifting and heartbreaking turns, including the loss of his infant son Aaron, which he wrote about in a book he authored called “My Heart Warrior: Living With HLHS Through A Father’s Eyes.”  Mike and his business was also featured on Discovery Channel’s “I Quit.”  Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is one of America’s oldest and largest community development financial institutions, founded to provide underserved communities with access to capital and the wealth-building tools needed to grow. On the web at BankSouthern.com and SouthernPartners.org. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS Edited and produced by: Katrina Dupins and Prentice Dupins Jr. Music: Prentice Dupins Jr. Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of  Blackbelt Media LLC.

In episode 36 of Blackbelt Voices, Adena and Kara continue the conversation about Black food culture – this time from an agricultural angle. Our guest, Gerald Harris, along with his partners Derek Beasley and Gabrielle E.W. Carter (who was featured in the Netflix series High on the Hog  as well as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal)started Tall Grass Food Box, a community-supported agricultural model (CSA).  Gerald told us about a Tuskegee professor named Booker T. Whatley who many call the godfather of CSA. He is best known for his regenerative farming system, in combination with the direct-marketing concept of a customer harvesting operation known as pick-your-own. Dr. Whatley has been said to be 30 years ahead of his time. Lots of experts in the field still refer to his 10 commandments for small farmers.  Gerald also pointed to the 1920 Census, which shows the number of Black farmers in America Peaked at  949,889. In 2019 there were just over 45,000 Black farmers according to figures from the US Department of Agriculture.  Tall Grass was born out of the pandemic. So Gerald says they’ve learned a lot about the CSA business space, who they could trust, and how to help. They have been expanding. Some other positive outcomes include they now have a refrigerated vehicle. Those funds were raised by their community and people who wanted to see them succeed. Thanks to Gerald for being a guest on our podcast. Check out Tall Grass on Facebook or Instagram or send them a note via email: [email protected]. Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is one of America’s oldest and largest community development financial institutions, founded to provide underserved communities with access to capital and the wealth-building tools needed to grow. On the web at BankSouthern.com and SouthernPartners.org. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS Edited and produced by: Katrina Dupins and Prentice Dupins Jr. Music: Prentice Dupins Jr. Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of  Blackbelt Media LLC.

We’re starting a new series of episodes about Black Food Culture, which is a very broad topic to tackle. It can be fun, but it is also deep. Ashante Reese, Ph.D. is a writer, teacher, and anthropologist who works at the intersection of critical food studies and Black geographies. Her latest book, “Black Food Matters: Racial Justice in the Wake of Food Justice, enters two conversations at once: one that concerns the persistent threats to Black life and another that concerns problems produced by the increasingly global and corporatized food system.” Dr. Reese recommends some texts for our listeners who are interested in learning more about BlackFood studies. They include Building Houses out of Chicken Legs by Psyche A. Williams-Forson; and  Dethroning the Deceitful Porkchop, a collection of essays that basically interrogate the concept of soul food. And for an even deeper dive, here are some of Reese's food-related recommended readings.  Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is one of America’s oldest and largest community development financial institutions, founded to provide underserved communities with access to capital and the wealth-building tools needed to grow. On the web at BankSouthern.com and SouthernPartners.org. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS Edited and produced by: Katrina Dupins and Prentice Dupins Jr. Music: Prentice Dupins Jr. Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of  Blackbelt Media LLC.

Jennifer Williams of Cleveland, Mississippi, always knew she wanted to be a teacher. When she was a girl, her favorite game was playing school. Williams is teaching future teachers at the Cleveland Career Development and Technology Center. Once a week, her students get to serve as teacher's assistants, giving them a realistic feel of what it could be like to run a classroom. The center offers a practical learning environment designed to prepare students for employment or future study in various skill areas ranging from auto mechanics and welding to health and public safety.  As an adult, Williams continues to learn and pass along those lessons to her students. Several years ago, she went through some financial hardship and needed extra funds to get her through to the next month. A friend suggested she try a payday lender. Nine loans later and drowning in debt, Williams found help with Southern Bancorp.  Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is one of America’s oldest and largest community development financial institutions, founded to provide underserved communities with access to capital and the wealth-building tools needed to grow. On the web at BankSouthern.com and SouthernPartners.org. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices.