PHILLIPS COUNTY, AR

Artist, Creative Co-Lead

Andrea is an international award-winning photographer, educator, and experiential designer who uses her platforms of academics, activism, and art to witness and leverage the stories of communities devastated by mass violence to assist in rebuilding efforts.

Schooled as an expert on policy, culture, education, and religions of the Middle East, she worked as a diplomatic advisor, professor, researcher, and artist. Her research specialties include the project of justice after mass violence, through which she used photography and the documenting of oral histories for education and evidential purposes. Using her research from post-genocide Rwanda and South Africa, she sought venues for establishing transitional justice structures in the Middle East. Her residencies include the Elaine Museum and Richard Wright Civil Rights Center and Out of the Circle in Cairo.

She is currently based out of Rochester, New York, where she teaches and works collaboratively with artistic communities on issues of social justice, indigenous truth-telling, and anti-racism work.

Artist

Faisal Mohammed (he/him) is a Dance Artist and doctoral candidate in the Heritage Studies Program at Arkansas State University. He has a decade of experience of using dance as a creative tool for community development and immersion programs in three Continents. His field of study integrates cultural anthropology, performance, and heritage studies to interrogate methods for fostering community resilience and sustainable heritage promotion in rural and underserved towns of Arkansas, U.S.A.

Elected Official and Administrator

Lenora Marshall was born in Snow Lake, AR along with 13 siblings. She earned a Bachelors of Arts in Home Economics Education (UAPB) and a Masters in Special Education (Arkansas State).

In 1975, Lenora, a pioneer in education, was the first to establish the Special Education Program in the Elaine School District where she taught 34 years ( Teaching 1 Year in Eudora, AR totaling 35+ years of educational services).

Lenora is not only the first woman, but the first African American to serve as District 11 Justice of the Peace of Phillips County, AR 2008-current. Due to redistricting she is currently serving as the District 9 Justice of the Peace of Phillips County, AR.

Pastor

The Rev. Dr. Mary Olson is a United Methodist clergy serving in Elaine, Arkansas. She pastors Waves of Prayer and is volunteer CEO of The Elaine Legacy Center. Prior to coming to Elaine in 2020, she was appointed to Philander Smith College and earlier to United Theological Seminary where she was professor and dean of doctoral studies. She serves on the Phillips County, Arkansas cohort's core team of One Nation One Project which is planning events leading up to and on July 27, 2024, all focused on "Clean Water." In a county where most water systems are old and failing, and poverty and tensions are high, we all agree we want clean water for everyone.

Artist, Head of Story Collecting Team

Faye Duncan Daniel was born in Phillips County, Arkansas, and came into adulthood in Las Vegas, Nevada. They attended Adult High School, Clark County Community College and University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Following, she became the first Black Policewoman in Nevada, the First African-American female Hotel Manager and a number of administrative first in Nevada. Faye eetired in 2006, returned to Arkansas and became an AmeriCorps volunteer. She is an avid reader and traveler and environmental advocate.

Artists

Hollerin Space (2015) conducts public space takeovers, walks, coumbites, hush harbors, and impromptu happenings. muthi reed is an electronic musician and media maker from Lenapehoking, Philadelphia. Angela Davis Johnson, a lifelong sojourner from Phillips County, Arkansas, renders symbols through paint and song. We live, work and travel as Afropolitan soul shakers thinking about social arrangements of care, world building for a future now. Collective dream culture, channeling personhood through fellowship.

Vacant Lot Farmer and Community Organizer

Scott Smith is a lifelong resident of the Arkansas delta and a son of the late Francis House, a well-known farmer in Lexa, Arkansas. He has spent lots of time working with non-profits and community-based projects, assisting members of the community health resources. Aside from that, Scott is an entrepreneur. He farms, drive trucks, and advocate for the community.

Artist

Simone Cottrell (Northwest Arkansas) is a multi-hyphenate creative and owner of Rachhana Creative Consulting, LLC. Her durational protest performance art Where is Justice? enters its third year of exploration in 2024. Simone’s contracted projects have included the 2023 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Jonathan Gonzalez’s Perejil, and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art’s Creating Connections. Other 2024 projects include One Nation, One Project - Phillips County, and Theatre Squared’s Cambodian Rock Band. She is a board member for NWA Girl Gang, as well as the National Cambodian Heritage Museum & Killing Fields Memorial. Simone is the recipient of the Arkansas Arts Council Individual Fellowship Award - Community Engagement, Sipp Culture’s Rural Artists Award, Artists 3 60 Grant, Interchange Grant, and Innovation Grant.

Health Advisor

Dr. Hall has recently retired, after 30 years, from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where she served as the Center Director for UAMS East in Helena, AR. At UAMS East, she was the driving force for constructing and operating a 25,000-square-foot Wellness Center, including a medical clinic. During her tenure, Hall was the recipient of many grants. Some of the most notable were grants for Farm Safety, Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Sickle Cell, Diabetes Education, cardiovascular education in churches, and a Food Pharmacy, “Good Food Rx .” Hall also organized a county-wide Opioid Task Force.

County Judge

Clark Hall, the Phillips County Judge, brings a diverse background with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Arkansas State University and executive training from Harvard University. Serving seven years as County Judge, he previously held roles as Mayor of Marvell, State Representative, and worked in the Office of Governor Mike Beebe. Noteworthy achievements include securing grants for healthcare improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and cultural projects in Marvell. As a State Representative, he played a key role in the 2012 Congressional Redistricting plan and served on various legislative committees. In his current role, Hall initiated projects like a new adult detention center, courthouse renovations, and a county-wide wellness program. He collaborated with UAMS East to create a bike trail connecting Memphis to New Orleans and improved the Phillips County Courthouse Park. Involved in community initiatives, Hall is a member of the Phillips County Opioid Taskforce, Rotary Club, and serves on multiple boards.