February is Black History Month and there are plenty of exciting events in NWA to get involved and celebrate the history and culture of Black Americans. Leisurlist put together a comprehensive list of all events in the area, lasting all month long.

• Virtual Events (Feb. 2-6)
• Honoring the Legacy (Feb. 2) - Virtual Lunch and Learn - Join Judge Wylie Branton, Jr. for a lively lunchtime discussion hosted by the University of Arkansas School of Law, the Office of Admissions, and the Arkansas Alumni Association.
• Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in the Modern Age (Feb. 3) A conversation with Reginald J. Miller, McDonald's Vice President and Global Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer.

• In-Person Events (Feb. 2-6)
• Black History Month First Friday at the University of Arkansas (Feb. 5)
• Virtual Events (Feb. 7-14)
• Sweet Chariot (Feb. 10) - For students - Contact University of Arkansas Housing to participate: housing@uark.edu
• Barbershop Talk (Feb. 11) The barbershop is essential in the Black community. It's the place where you get your hair cut and have conversations about anything in the world. This series will be facilitated conversations geared toward the black male.
• Virtual Events (Feb. 15-21)
• The New Era of Blackness (Feb. 19) This event will provide a historical and sociopolitical description of Black politics and social change.
• Get Faded, Get Screened (Feb. 20) Healthcare and mental health are often overlooked for men in the Black community. This event provides information, screenings, and other healthcare necessities for men.
• Virtual Events (Feb. 22-28)
• Untamed: Curls, Coils, and Conversations (Feb. 23) This year's event will feature Sarah Roberts, author of You and Your Hair: The Ultimate Healthy Hair Masterclass for Afro Textured Hair. They will also have a style showcase featuring local stylists and barbers.
• Trap N Paint (Feb. 26) This will be a time for you to listen to some fly tunes and be inspired to paint what you are feeling. All supplies for the Trap & Paint will be provided by the Multicultural Center.

We hardly covered it all! Head over to Leisurlist's website to see the full list.

Fayetteville has been recognized by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world governing body of cycling, as a Bike City.

• In good company: Fayetteville joins 14 other countries from around the world, including Paris and Copenhagen, to be selected. The city is also the first in the United States to achieve the designation.
• The "Bike City" label recognizes cities and regions that not only host UCI cycling events, but also invest in developing cycling programs and infrastructure. -Experience Fayetteville
• Molly Rawn, CEO of Experience Fayetteville, said the cycling trails are one of the main attractions to the city all year long. “I am tremendously proud of our city’s long-standing commitment to cycling and am excited about the impact this recognition will have," she said.
• Read more on the UCI's requirements for the Bike City label HERE.

Springdale-based Ozark Guidance was recently awarded a $4 million expansion grant by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to build a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) program over the next two years.

• Ozark Guidance is apart of the Springdale nonprofit Arisa Health, which has four community health centers in Springdale, Conway, Jonesboro and North Little Rock.
• The grant will serve to provide outreach and new resources for the Marshallese and Latinx communities in NWA, along with support for specialized services such as Assertive Community Treatment.
• Dr. Jared Sparks, Ozark Guidance VP, said recent community survey data highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing health inconsistencies in NWA.
• “Our collective experience with COVID further informs the need for targeted outreach programs that will improve access to care," Sparks said. "The CCBHC grant will do just that by creating a new and accessible space for the underserved to receive expert care”. -Talk Business & Politics

Fayetteville's AcreTrader, an online farmland investing brokerage, announced Thursday that the company’s proprietary real estate investing platform grew 12 times last year.

• AcreTrader was founded in 2019 and has already accepted investors from 48 states, doubled its employee count to 25, and confirmed 500 investor distributions in December 2020 - growing well into the tens of millions. - Talk Business & Politics
• CEO Carter Malloy said this unpredictable year has led investors to seek out other options beyond the traditional stock market.

• Want more? According to the company, farmland investments have generated over 11 percent average returns for the last 30 years with lower volatility than most other asset classes. Malloy said those statistics are pushing continual appreciation of the asset class. -Talk Business & Politics

Benton County has adopted a new form of communication with its constituents, texting. "TexMyGov" was built to provide an alternative flow of communication between Benton County residents and its local government.

• The software uses keywords to relay information. You can text in requested contact information ("Assessor" or "Collector") or key words ("Burn Ban", "Convenience Center", "Road closures", etc).
• So how does this work?

• Text “Hi” to (479) 269-3466.

• You will receive a reply with options on how to find contact information, how to report an issue, or if you'd like to few view the FAQ. The service is intended to be offered 24/7 and will guide the resident to a FAQ page if the message is unclear. - 5News

*This method of communication is not recommended in emergency situations.