omni@omnicenter.org


How to Change the World With Your Lawnmower

Last night I couldn’t stop watching a Frontline episode I missed when it came out a couple years ago. The one about the rise and impact of Facebook and what it’s leadership thinks they can do to fix the problems it causes (they were vague on that point). Here’s the link to that episode if you missed it too: While trying to go to sleep afterward the thought that keep oozing back into my mind was how idealistic the founding group was and how determined they were to make the world a better place. A few of them still believe […]


The Climate Moment #222

What’s happening around the world about climate? Selected moments from the collection of Reevaluation Counseling leader Russ Vernon-Jones and shared by local Omni member Dorothy Marcy #222 Indigenous youth protecting forests in the Philippines Indigenous youth in the southern Philippines are keeping alive an ancient forest monitoring practice known as “panlaoy” to help protect ecosystems on the slopes of a biodiversity-rich mountain. Panlaoy requires immersion in the forest, where participants observe, document and assess the condition of the ecosystem and any threats to it. It includes spiritual practices and passing on traditional ecological knowledge and forest management practices from one generation […]


National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend starts June 2!

Every year on the first Friday in June, members of our movement come together to honor survivors of gun violence and demand a future free from this crisis. We wear orange throughout the weekend to show our support—in every state and every community across the country. Make sure you’re ready to join us on June 2–4 for this year’s National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend. Find an event near you and share it with your friends! FIND AN EVEN Closest one to is is a Rogers City Hall proclamation signing with mayor at city hall June 2 […]


Remarkable Tiny Home Village for Formerly Homeless in Austin

https://mlf.org/community-first/ Mobile Loaves and Fishes, Alan Graham founder image: Community First Village site map #TinyHome #tinyhouse #tinyhomes We share a look inside Community First Village, a beautiful 51-acre master-planned tiny home village providing affordable housing in a supportive community for the disabled, previously chronically homeless in Central Texas. It’s currently home to 500 individuals in tiny homes & RVs and plans to expand. As a way to invite the outside community in, they offer volunteer opportunities, events, and a bed and breakfast featuring classic trailers & tiny house on wheels. Also, a missional community lives and works on-site. “Mobile Loaves […]


An Overview of the PIT Count of homeless people in NWA

A Point In Time (PIT) Count of people living in temporary housing and unsheltered on the streets was held in January this year and the results were released a couple weeks ago.  It was the first “complete” count since before covid. During the pandemic counts were only done in emergency shelters and transitional housing and mostly by phone to their offices, but no counts of unhoused people were done to avoid infections.  The radical changes in housing that came about because of covid are known about, including eviction moratoriums and the ways they were often ignored by major realty companies. Now […]


The Climate Moment

What’s happening around the world about climate? Selected moments from the collection of Reevaluation Counseling leader Russ Vernon-Jones and shared by local Omni member Dorothy Marcy #221 Chinese courts backed to help with emissions reduction One of China’s top courts has encouraged judges to hear climate-related cases and weigh up carbon impacts to help the country achieve its emission reduction goals. Climate litigation has been difficult in China because, unlike many other countries, it does not have specific legislation to combat climate change. But the judiciary has signaled a willingness to engage with the issue. This new document gives courts across […]


Juneteenth, A Community Conversation

Please join us for an engaging discussion on the historical significance of Juneteenth. A multiracial panel will address the past, present and future. We welcome special guest speaker Dr. Charles Robinson, the first African American Chancellor of the University of Arkansas.  Panelists include Pastor Steve Dixon, Christian Life Cathedral; Kabir Kumar, Walmart; and Megan Tullock, NWA Equality.  The discussion will highlight how we can further build equity in our region and together honor and celebrate a significant movement in our history by taking action now and into the future. Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 2 to 4 p.m. Springdale Public Library 405 South Pleasant Street Springdale, AR 72764


Congratulations Keaton

Keaton Smith won the School Board open seat hands down thanks to you, friends. Next we need to stay tuned to what’s going on at school board meetings, when controversy may begin to rear its ugly head. Well-know community leader and community servant, environmentalist, founder of mixed-income neighborhood communities, father and husband. Keaton has served one powerful term on the school board and proven himself to be a firm advocate for education and children.