Fourteen students from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Emerging Scholars Leadership Institute (ESLI) participated in the annual L.C. & Daisy Bates Brunch on March 14.
They gained valuable exposure to leadership, history, and civic engagement, according to a news release.
Through the generous support of corporate partner West Fraser Timber, ESLI scholars were able to attend the event and engage in a cultural experience designed to deepen their understanding of leadership and legacy.
As part of the visit, students also participated in a private tour of the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, led by Curator of Collections Courtney Bradford. The tour provided a connection to Arkansas’ African American history and the enduring impact of leaders who shaped social change.
The annual brunch honors the legacy of civil rights leaders Daisy Bates and her husband, Lucius Christopher (L.C.) Bates, whose home served as the command center during the 1957 desegregation crisis at Little Rock Central High School. The event also supports the ongoing preservation efforts of the Daisy Bates House Museum.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“West Fraser is proud to partner with both the L.C. & Daisy Bates House Museum Foundation and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff,” said Al Simcoe, West Region manager for West Fraser Timber. “Having students present at this event was truly impactful. It is important that they are included in spaces that recognize and celebrate transformational leadership.”
The program highlighted Daisy Bates’ leadership as president of the Arkansas NAACP and her pivotal role in supporting the Little Rock Nine, as well as L.C. Bates’ influence as publisher of the Arkansas State Press.
Featured speakers included Charles King, president of the L.C. & Daisy Bates House Museum Foundation Board, and keynote speaker Dr. Marlene Battles, president of the Arkansas Medical, Dental and Pharmaceutical Association Inc., who discussed leading with purpose and courage.
“I was privileged to accompany the ESLI Scholars to the L.C. & Daisy Bates Brunch,” said Kathy Richards, Ph.D., ESLI program coordinator. “The students gained a deeper appreciation for the legacy of Daisy Bates and left inspired to pursue leadership and service in their own communities.”
ESLI Executive Director Tim Campbell emphasized the value of partnerships in creating transformative student experiences.
“We are grateful to West Fraser Timber for investing in our scholars and making experiences like this possible,” Campbell said. “This is what it looks like when corporate partnership meets student opportunity.”
Student Alaura Myers reflected on the experience, noting its personal impact.
“The brunch was inspiring because it showed how leadership and courage can shape history,” Myers said. “Touring the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center made that history feel real and reminded me that leaders like Daisy Bates helped create opportunities for students like us today.”
Jaimie D. Wright, corporate and foundation relations officer at UAPB, highlighted the broader significance of these collaborations.
“It is through strong corporate and community partnerships that UAPB students graduate not only with a degree, but with the leadership skills, professional confidence, and networks needed to thrive,” Wright said. “We thank the Walton Family Foundation, West Fraser Timber, and the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center for their continued support of ESLI students and for helping us pair academic persistence with leadership formation, professional exposure, and real-world experience.”
ESLI PARTICIPANTS
ESLI participants include students: James Newbern; Shilayah Hammond; Sa’Niya Robinson; Tauryn Walker; Kadyn Bardwell; Taylor Jackson; Serenity Knighten; Janiyha Cherry; Alexis Smith; Kamuri Trotter; Alaura Myers; Peitton Harris; Paris Smith; and Brianna Butler.
Accompanying ESLI staff were: Jaimie D. Wright, corporate and foundation relations officer; Kathy Richards, Ph.D., ESLI program coordinator; and Tim Campbell, ESLI executive director.
ESLI is a leadership development and workforce readiness initiative designed to support first-generation students and expand access to career pathways. Founded with support from the Walton Family Foundation, ESLI equips students with the tools needed to persist, graduate, and lead in their professions and communities, according to a news release.