The 9th annual US Trail Running Conference begins today in Fayetteville. 

• Learning from runners: The mission of the conference is to “lead, educate, connect, and empower an inclusive family” of trail people. There will be speakers, special guest athletes, interactive workshops, and panel discussions catering to race directors and runners through Oct. 30. 
• Running for the planet: The Conference’s theme is Trail Running as a Restorative Sport. The keynote will be talking about the trail running community as a positive force in combatting the climate crisis.

To register or for more information, click HERE.

The Rogers based solar company, Shine Solar, sent 10 volunteers to La Sierpe, Colombia to make the first trip of many to assist the rural village with solar power. 

• First steps: On the first trip, the team of 10 were able to help install a solar power system and a battery system for the local school. They also donated a smart TV for educational programing and 3 freezers and refrigerators.
• Clean water, clean energy: Shine Solar is partnering with the nonprofit GivePower. The ultimate goal of the project is to provide a solar water purification facility along with enough solar power and battery backups for the entire village. 

Read the full KNWA story HERE. 

Two NWA nonprofits are partnering together to distribute bikes to those in need in the community.

• The Non-profits: Pedal It Forward is an organization that collects used bikes, fixes them up, and gives them away through 60+ Pedal Partners. New Beginnings is a community of homes meant to be a restart facility to transition out of homelessness. 
• The Partnership: Last week, Pedal It Forward donated 20 bikes to residents at New Beginnings. The housing community at New Beginnings is close to the Razorback Greenway, which makes the bikes a perfect tool to commute to jobs, social engagements, and back home.

Listen to the full KUAF story HERE. 

In a report released earlier this year, Northwest Arkansas ranked as having some of the most clean air in the US. 

• Zoom in: The Fayetteville metro area had no unhealthy air quality days in regard to ozone pollution and short-term particle pollution. The region's year-round particle pollution levels were in the national standards. 
• Zoom out: The American Lung Association’s 2021 State of the Air report, which covers 2017-2019, reveals that more than 4/10 people lived with polluted air, which is getting worse due to climate change.

Learn more about Northwest Arkansas's State of the Air HERE. 

It’s the last week of Namida Lab’s Tears on Tap Tour collecting tears from volunteers at local breweries. 

• Purpose: Namida Lab has a mission to develop novel breast cancer diagnostics from the proteins in tears. And because tears cannot simply be bought like blood samples, the lab is collecting them. 
• Locations: Columbus House is hosting the tour tonight. Ozark Beer Co is on the lineup for Friday, and Boston Mountain Brewing for Saturday. Namida Lab is covering the cost of 1 beer for every participant who donates a tear. Grab your friends, donate tears and get free beers.

For more information, click HERE.