Pulaski County Youth Services

06/23/2026

📣 Little Scholars – Celebrating Creativity, Learning, and Fun! 🤠💃📚

Last week was full of exciting opportunities for our scholars to learn, create, and grow!

At Little Scholars Harris, our Classroom Champions put their creativity to work by making their very own paper fans! 🪭 They then used their fans during physical activity as they showed off their best line dancing moves. 🤩 Be sure to check out the video of our scholars dancing to "Boots on the Ground!" They had an amazing time building confidence, staying active, and making memories together. 🎶✨

As part of our Daisy Bates Program, we were excited to welcome Ms. Porchia from CALS! 🌟 She facilitated a fun and interactive diorama activity where scholars used a variety of creative materials to design and build their own unique projects.
Through this hands-on experience, participants strengthened their problem-solving, critical-thinking, and teamwork skills while expressing their creativity.

Our scholars were highly engaged throughout the activity, enthusiastically sharing ideas, collaborating with peers, and taking pride in their work. Ms. Porchia's guidance and encouragement helped create a positive learning environment that fostered both artistic expression and confidence. The activity was a huge success, and our scholars were proud to showcase their completed dioramas at the end of the session! 🎨👏

We love seeing our scholars learn, create, collaborate, and have fun all at the same time! ❤️🎉

06/22/2026

✨ WHERE ARE THEY NOW? | FROM EMERGING CHAMPION TO CAMPUS STAR✨

Talk about leveling up, Montoria Kelly is doing just that!

As a proud member of the very first Emerging Champions Workforce Program cohort, Montoria kicked off her journey gaining hands-on experience with the Pulaski County Community Programs Department and she hasn’t slowed down since.

Today, Montoria is thriving at Arkansas State University, where she’s balancing academics, multiple jobs, and campus life like a pro. 💪📚

And if that wasn’t enough, she’s also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, continuing her commitment to leadership, scholarship, and service. Through her involvement, she stays active in volunteer efforts and community initiatives, all while keeping her academic game strong.

🎓 Milestone unlocked: Montoria has earned her Associate’s Degree in Criminology and is currently pursuing her Bachelor's Degree, with plans to graduate in December 2026. Her dedication to higher education, professional growth, and community engagement exemplifies the qualities of an Emerging Champion.

We are incredibly proud of Montoria's accomplishments and look forward to seeing all that she will achieve in the future.

🌟 Keep shining, Montoria! Your PCYS family is cheering you on every step of the way.

06/18/2026

📚✨ ACT PREP BOOT CAMP SESSION 2 IS ALMOST HERE! ✨📚

Are you ready to boost your confidence and improve your ACT scores before test day? Pulaski County Youth Services is excited to offer our FREE ACT Prep Boot Camp once again this summer for students who want to sharpen their skills and prepare for success.

📅 July 13–17, 2026
🕘 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Daily

Students will receive:
✅ Instruction in Math, English, Reading, and Science
✅ Proven ACT test-taking strategies
✅ Pre- and post-assessments to measure growth
✅ Guidance from certified ACT instructors

Whether you're taking the ACT for the first time or looking to improve your score, this boot camp is designed to help you feel prepared and confident on test day.

📲 Registration is required and space is limited!

Register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevmnQZ2rfSpO.../viewform

Don't miss this opportunity to invest in your future and take the next step toward reaching your college and career goals. 🎓📈

06/17/2026

🏅 Going for the Gold: PCYS Summer Professional Development 2026 🏅

Last week, the Pulaski County Youth Services team came together for our annual Summer Professional Development Training as we prepared to make a positive impact on the youth and families we serve this summer.

Our staff participated in a series of engaging and informative sessions led by outstanding presenters:
⭐ Jamie Scott, Executive Director of PCYS – Elevating Your Impact and Influence
⭐ Keisha Ri'Chard Patterson, PCYS Board Member – Self-Awareness & Personal Branding
⭐ Shay Fortune, SWEAP Connections – Building Healthy Work Teams
⭐ Stacy McAdoo – Still Standing: The Practice
⭐ Kelsey Thomas, UAMS Behavioral Health – Healthy Outcomes for Positive Experiences (HOPE Training)
⭐ Dr. Adam Benton, Arkansas Families First, LLC – Understanding ADHD, Autism, and Trauma

In addition to professional development sessions, our summer staff completed one-on-one meetings, reviewed program expectations and duties, and prepared for a successful summer season.
We are grateful to each presenter for sharing their knowledge and expertise. The investment in our staff helps ensure we continue providing high-quality programs, meaningful experiences, and positive outcomes for the youth of Pulaski County.

☀️ Here's to a summer of growth, learning, leadership, and impact!

06/16/2026

☀️📚Little Scholars Mt. Pisgah Launch Into a Summer of Fun and Learning

Our scholars kicked off the summer with a day full of learning, creativity, and fun. Students participated in recreation and basketball activities, explored STEM challenges through LEGO building, created arts and crafts projects, and engaged in technology and team-building activities.

Most importantly, they began building new friendships, gaining confidence, and creating lasting memories in a safe and positive environment. We are excited to watch our scholars learn, grow, and shine all summer long! 🎉

06/16/2026

☀️ Summer Starts Here: Learning, Laughter & Active Adventures Kicked Off Across All PCYS Sites!

At our Audubon site, youth participated in an academic lesson focused on learning how to tell time on an analog clock. To make learning fun and interactive, they used their arms as the clock hands to demonstrate different times. ⏰🙌

Today, participants took their learning beyond the classroom and enjoyed an outdoor physical fitness session, staying active while building healthy habits and teamwork skills. 💪🏃‍♀️☀️

We are proud to provide engaging academic enrichment and recreational opportunities that help our youth learn, grow, and have fun throughout the summer. Stay tuned for more highlights from all four locations!

06/15/2026

“Students are gaining the confidence, skills, and direction they need for life after high school, and our community has chosen collaboration over competition.” — Bobby Gosser

Last week, more than 300 community leaders, educators, students, and business partners gathered for the inaugural Academies of Central Arkansas Annual Awards Luncheon to celebrate the transformational impact of the Academies model across Central Arkansas.

Congratulations to PCYS’s own Celeste Wilson of Mills University Studies High School for being named Academy Ambassador of the Year for her school and, even more impressively, Regional Academy Ambassador of the Year!

We are incredibly proud of Celeste and grateful for the partnerships that continue to create life-changing opportunities for students across our region. The future is bright! 💙💚

06/12/2026

Pulaski County Youth Services is proud to celebrate one of our dedicated and hard-working board members, Shantonio Elliott, on this well-deserved recognition!

Please join us in congratulating Shantonio Elliott, Senior Director of Market Operations at ArchWell Health – Little Rock, for being honored at the 2026 Men of Merit Recognition on July 26, 2026, at The Greens at North Hills in Sherwood.

A native of Camden, Shantonio is a servant leader who leads with vision, integrity, and purpose. Through his leadership, he continues to drive healthcare operations that prioritize people, performance, and quality care while making a meaningful impact on communities across Arkansas.

We are especially grateful for his unwavering commitment to the youth and families we serve through Pulaski County Youth Services. His leadership, support, and dedication help strengthen our mission and create opportunities for countless young people to thrive.

Congratulations, Shantonio, on this well-deserved honor. We celebrate your achievements and thank you for the difference you continue to make in the lives of others! 💙💚

06/12/2026