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Lights, Camera, Arkansas: Previewing Filmland with Cade Bethea
A Hug that Changed Everything: Women and Children First
In this episode of the podcast, host Kim Meyer-Webb sits down with Cade Bethea to explore the recent activities of the Arkansas Cinema Society and the highly anticipated return of their annual film festival, Filmland. Cade shares insights into the background of the society, noting its steady expansion since 2018 and looking forward to the upcoming tenth iteration of the festival next year. He emphasizes the core tenets of the organization—watch, make, learn—and details their extensive efforts to foster film education and production across the state through workshops, classes, and special screenings. A key aspect of their work is the collaboration with other cultural institutions, notably the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, which provides a high-quality venue for year-round cinematic experiences. The highlight of the discussion centers around the big announcement for this year's Filmland: "Variety is giving the Legends and Groundbreaker Award to Matthew McConaughey at Filmland." Cade reflects on the massive response to this news, admitting that the office has seen an unprecedented amount of interest and demand, noting, "it's we've never seen anything like it, which is good, it's a good problem to have, but it's also a little overwhelming." The connection between the actor and the state is further underscored by past productions like the film Mud, directed by co-founder Jeff Nichols and shot in the Stuttgart area, which left a lasting impression on the local community. Looking beyond the star power, Cade emphasizes that the core reason to attend Filmland is to engage directly with the burgeoning filmmaking environment in Arkansas, particularly through the festival's dedicated Arkansas section and pitch contests, which provide practical funding and resources for local creators. Educational programs, such as the summer film filmmaking lab for teen girls, remain central to their mission, helping to shape the next generation of storytellers. The episode wraps up with a reminder of the unique social and community aspect of the festival, featuring daily happy hours and opportunities to mingle with visiting directors and producers, making it a fully immersive and unmissable summer event for film lovers.
In this episode of the podcast, host Kim Meyer-Webb welcomes Kathy Browne and Daniel Robinson to discuss the critical work of Women and Children First and the revolutionary development of the Family Peace Center. Kathy shares the deeply moving story that changed the trajectory of her life nearly five decades ago when a young six- or seven-year-old boy looked at her and asked, "Will you hold me?" This simple moment of connection solidified her life's mission. Daniel highlights the overwhelming barriers survivors face when trying to leave abusive situations, emphasizing the logistical nightmares of navigating legal paperwork and courthouse bureaucracies. He points out how the Family Peace Center addresses this by bringing eighty-eight partner agencies under one roof to streamline the process, proudly stating, "We've been approved to issue temporary restraining orders at the new facility." The discussion covers the widespread community and economic toll of domestic abuse, with Daniel explaining that added holiday pressures always cause numbers to rise. To help fight this and bring normalcy to the shelter, the organization relies heavily on its young professional auxiliary group, the Peace Keepers. Kathy praises their energy, noting that "They have developed a fundraiser that we just finished in May called Mardi Gras in May," while also highlighting how they host monthly, non-fundraising events like holiday parties to give mothers and children a window of normalcy. Strategically located on Daily Drive right off Baseline Road next to a Children's Hospital clinic, the center represents a massive step forward. Looking ahead, Kathy shares her visionary goal to see "Smaller Family Peace Centers maybe in six places in the state" to make coordinated care accessible everywhere. Ultimately, the guests remind listeners that support begins long before anyone enters a shelter, urging anyone in need to reach out because "Help is only a phone call away."
Welcome to the debut episode of You’re Invited, the podcast from Inviting Arkansas, hosted by Kim Meyer-Webb. In this episode, we continue the vital conversations that start within the pages of Inviting Arkansas Magazine by introducing you to the people, organizations, and missions that strengthen our communities across the state. Today, Kim sits down with Jessica Ford, the newly appointed President and CEO of the Arkansas Community Foundation, as the organization celebrates its milestone 50th anniversary. Jessica shares her inspiring journey from her small hometown of Redfield, Arkansas, to taking the helm of one of the state's most influential philanthropic organizations, building on a legacy that has already granted more than $600 million to nonprofits and stewards over $1 billion in assets. During their conversation, Jessica demystifies the idea of philanthropy, explaining that you do not need extraordinary wealth to be a philanthropist because the Foundation offers a accessible $1,000 minimum to establish a fund that can grow over time through the power of endowment. She highlights the critical role of the Foundation’s statewide affiliate network, which features 29 local offices run by local boards who use the flagship Giving Tree program to make sure grant decisions remain deeply rooted in the communities they serve. Jessica also shares a behind-the-scenes look at how the Foundation steps into a vital leadership role during statewide crises to safely coordinate relief funding, drawing on their recent experiences helping communities navigate tornadoes, the pandemic, and the tragic mass shooting in Fordyce, Arkansas. Beyond direct grantmaking, they discuss how the Foundation utilizes data to act as a statewide matchmaker, connecting local leaders and resources to tackle core issues like early literacy, food security, and maternal health. To learn more about how you can get involved, apply for grants, or start your own family legacy of giving, you can visit the Arkansas Community Foundation website at arcf.org and explore the latest issue of Inviting Arkansas Magazine online at invitingarkansas.com.