CoHO And East Robins: A Story Of A Neighborhood Led with Generosity and Community Driven Renewal6/30/2025  On the East side of Conway, just over the railroad tracks and crossing Harkrider St, the E. Robins neighborhood is experiencing a quiet but profound transformation. Oakwood Trailer Park, seen once as a forgotten corner of our town, E. Robins St. is now the site of renewed momentum, fueled by the strength and generosity of its residents, and supported by the City of Hope Outreach (CoHO). This transformation is guided by the principles of the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach, which focuses on building from the inside out. Rather than centering on deficits or needs, the ABCD model begins with existing strengths, people, skills, relationships, and shared spaces. For CoHO and its community partners, this philosophy is not just theory, it is a daily lived practice. “Our role is not to 'fix' this neighborhood, it is to walk with the families who live here, to amplify their strengths, and to support the dreams already in motion.” Said Tara Ward, COO of CoHO. Through this lens, CoHO and residents are co-creating resident-led opportunities that blend neighborhood pride with collaborative as well as entrepreneurial action. These efforts include beautification projects, selective demolition and renovation of structures, and the creation of shared community spaces where connection, creativity, and culture can thrive. Kindness and generosity are central to this movement. Kindness shows up not only in words but in everyday actions: conversations, on the porch, weekly walks through the community, shared meals, and educational programs designed to bridge communication and learning gaps. Leadership is often seen in the way neighbors extend understanding and communicate across differences. Exemplifying empathy and clarity, as one of many acts of kindness. Generosity is seen in the ways residents offer time, talent, and resources from leading projects in the community garden to mentoring youth and supporting cultural celebrations that preserve the neighborhood’s deep history. As neighbors show up for one another, E. Robins is already a place of visibility, dignity, and shared ownership. Because it is not about programs alone, the transformation depends on the diverse people showing up. For CoHO, this work is deeply aligned with our mission, with Hope Village, and future initiatives. By investing in residentially led solutions and embracing the ABCD model, CoHO supports communities where individuals and families do not just survive, but truly live! The continued revitalization of E. Robins exemplifies what is possible when local applied knowledge, resident pride, and community generosity can come together. As this neighborhood continues to expand into its vision, it sends a message far beyond Conway, Arkansas that real, lasting change happens when people believe in their community, leading with love, kindness, and generosity, while building a future that's rooted in what's already strong. The foundation of hope is resilience and connection. Tara Ward is the Chief Operations Officer of The City of Hope Outreach (CoHO), a 501c3 nonprofit organization in Conway, Arkansas.
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 Marie does not possess many material items. She lives in a small one bedroom trailer on the backside of the trailer park. The years have not been kind to her physically as she deals with scoliosis and hearing loss. Marie, despite the physical limitations takes time to bake cookies for her neighbors. Her warm offerings provide a loving gift to a few children, an elderly couple, and a young college student. Marie while weak physically demonstrates a strength builds connection between neighbors.
Marie embodies kindness. She is a human being acting and speaking, empowering others to replicate similar behaviors towards the self and others. A home, neighborhood, or society which experience kindness become places supportive of human flourishing. Kindness in leadership, particularly in nonprofits, creates a culture where individuals feel valued, empowered, and inspired to extend similar kindness to others, fostering a cycle of positive change. Understanding Kindness as an Action and a Virtue A kind act accomplished at one particular point in time can have an impact on the subject of that action. In that particular moment isolation is replaced with companionship; hunger is satiated; a thirst is quenched. An isolated act of kindness can be compared to a band aid placed on an scraped knee. The consistent practice of kindness can produce a type of excellence which can be experienced by giver and receiver alike. The virtue of kindness can move from an isolated action to a daily practice through contemplation and practice. Aristotle promotes the importance of an individual taking time to reflect on the kind, quality, and implications of the virtue. From the point of contemplation, an individual can develop the habit of the particular virtue. An individual looking for opportunities at home, in the workplace, or other social settings can begin to experience a gradual change leading to improved character. Intentional kindness as a result of some serious reflection can reinforce positive self-perception, promoting healthier relationships and greater emotional resilience. How I view myself has such an impact on my daily life. Internally, when I view myself as assertive, personable, and energetic, my approach towards my daily tasks are more successful. Yet when I find myself in moments of struggle wrestling with my PTSD, my movements and communication are with a serious limp. Intentional kindness can offer the internal and external strength influencing a better view of the self. In other words, doing good can lead to being good. Kindness and Self-Perception I am my worst critic. I offer significantly more grace to others than I do myself. Standing in the mirror daily looking at my imperfections, physical and psychological, I recognize I could be better and I want to be better. Kindness if it is to be poured out on others and the world, must begin with myself. The world is difficult and honestly, the greatest problems I must confront are not the systems which advance homelessness or contribute to illiteracy among the youth; the problems I constantly face are internal. I can choose an emotional hammer as the implement to deal with how I perceive myself or choose measures which consider the complexities of my personality to assess growth and where I still need to mature. Kindness can serve as the tool to build a better man and a better world, if I courageously choose.  Conway, AR – On April 1, 2025, community leaders, advocates, and economic developers gathered at the Arkansas Community Development Society (ACDS) Annual Conference at the University of Central Arkansas to explore strategies for sustainable growth. This year’s theme, Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), emphasized the power of local resources and partnerships in driving meaningful, community-led change. The conference featured in-depth discussions on affordable housing, public-private partnerships (P3s), and economic development, highlighting the ways communities can leverage their existing strengths rather than focusing solely on deficits. Attendees shared best practices, innovative approaches, and strategies for building more resilient and equitable neighborhoods. “Building strong communities starts with recognizing and utilizing the assets already in place,” one attendee noted. “It’s about shifting the focus from what’s missing to what we already have and building upon it.”
For CoHO (City of Hope Outreach), a nonprofit in Conway committed to empowering underserved communities through housing, education, and economic development, this approach is at the core of our mission. By applying the principles of ABCD, we can strengthen our efforts to provide sustainable housing solutions, create economic opportunities, and create thriving neighborhoods where individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency to flourish for future generations. The insights gained at this conference will help us refine our strategies, expand our partnerships, and deepen our impact across Faulkner County. “When we focus on what communities already possess in their people, talents, and local institutions we create real, sustainable change. That’s the foundation of our work at CoHO,” said Tara Ward, COO of CoHO. Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) directly aligns with CoHO Hope Village by emphasizing the strengths and capacities already present within the community to foster sustainable growth. Rather than focusing on deficiencies, CoHO leverages the talents, relationships, and local institutions in Conway to build housing, promote economic opportunity, and empower individuals toward self-sufficiency. This approach mirrors ABCD's philosophy of community-led transformation, making CoHO Hope Village not just a housing initiative but a catalyst for holistic neighborhood renewal. The insights from the ACDS conference reinforce CoHO’s commitment to nurturing resilient, people-centered communities. Networking and collaboration were central to this year’s event, with professionals from across the state coming together to align efforts and share solutions. With a strong emphasis on grassroots leadership, collaboration, and resource-driven development, the ACDS conference reaffirmed that Arkansas’s future is built from within by the people and for the people. Tara Ward is the Chief Operations Officer of The City of Hope Outreach (CoHO), a 501c3 nonprofit organization in Conway, Arkansas.  The issue of homelessness in Arkansas and across the nation has grown increasingly visible in the wake of the pandemic. Individuals and families who once enjoyed stability have been thrust into uncertainty due to soaring housing costs, medical hardships, and an inability to secure employment that reflects their pre-pandemic earning potential. What was once an abstract societal challenge has now become a lived reality for men and women from all walks of life.
In Arkansas, 2,783 individuals experience homelessness, seeking shelter in emergency facilities or transitional housing. This experience is indiscriminate—crossing lines of gender, ethnicity, and health status. However, while homelessness is often framed as a category, a social issue, or a statistic, it is, at its core, an intensely personal experience. Behind every number is a name, a story, and a person whose dignity remains intact despite their circumstances. Philosopher John F. Crosby reminds us that each human being is “unrepeatable” (Crosby, 2019). This profound truth compels us to see beyond the broad label of homelessness and recognize the irreplaceable worth of every individual. The man on the street corner collecting spare change for shelter is not merely a figure in the margins of our city; the child in the classroom struggling with instability is not just another at-risk student. These individuals are unique, irreducible, and inherently valuable. They are not problems to be solved but persons to be acknowledged, respected, and supported. Yet, all too often, their richness and dignity are obscured by stereotypes that prioritize discomfort over understanding. Crosby challenges us to look beyond fatigue-lined eyes, unkempt clothing, and disruptive behaviors to recognize the profound worth of the human being before us. This March, The City of Hope Outreach (CoHO) will launch its 10th annual Unseen Campaign, an initiative designed to awaken awareness, cultivate education, and inspire action. This campaign does not seek to place the burden of solving homelessness on any one individual but rather to invite the citizens of Conway and Faulkner County to engage with their neighbors in a new way. The challenge is simple yet profound: to see. To pause long enough to recognize the unrepeatable dignity in the face of another, to move beyond passive acknowledgment and toward active compassion. Being seen matters. To be acknowledged, to be valued, to be treated with dignity—this is a fundamental human need. And just as we desire to be seen, we must also commit to seeing others. This March, let us embrace the challenge to see. Dr. Philip D. Fletcher is the founder and executive director of The City of Hope Outreach, a 501c3 nonprofit organization in Conway, Arkansas. To learn more, please visit the website coho58.org |
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