1. Chris Jones Launches Vortex PAC to Transform Arkansas Politics Away From the Far Right
Press Contact [email protected] or 479-966-9363
Vortex PAC Launches to Transform Arkansas Politics Away From the Far Right
Effort to Flip All Four Arkansas U.S. Congressional Districts Grows Out of Grassroots Movement From Chris Jones’ Historic Arkansas Gubernatorial Campaign
SPRINGDALE — Dr. Chris Jones, who made history last year in his 2022 campaign for governor of Arkansas, has launched Vortex PAC, which will recruit, train and support Democratic candidates to flip all four of Arkansas’ U.S. congressional districts and build a grassroots movement to bring long-term political change to Arkansas.
Jones – whose campaign focused on choosing community over chaos and uniting Arkansans around issues of common interest across the state, including education, infrastructure and jobs – launched Vortex PAC as his 2022 opponent and current Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders delivered the Republican rebuttal to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address. In her rebuttal, Sanders seemed to resume her former role as a spokesperson for former U.S. President Donald Trump, spreading misinformation and hysteria and fomenting division.
Vortex seeks to transform Arkansas politics by building organizing power for Democrats in all 75 counties. Its first objective is to replace all four of the Arkansas Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Jones made the following statement:
“Today, we launched Vortex PAC, an all-new grassroots movement that will transform Arkansas politics by building organizing power for Democrats in all 75 counties. Our first objective is to replace all four of the Arkansas Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Gerrymandering and voter suppression have played a significant role in keeping these far-right politicians in power in our beautiful state. The only way to change that is to build the infrastructure we need to get better people elected – representatives who will actually listen to us and stand for our values.
“I know this is a heavy lift, and I also know we can do it.
“If you followed my campaign for governor closely, you may have heard me tell the story of the bumblebee. Years ago, scientists determined that it was aerodynamically impossible for the bumblebee to fly – their bodies are too big and their wings are too small. But someone forgot to tell the bumblebee, because they’ve been flying all along.
“We know now that bumblebees work hard and by flapping their wings they create a vortex that lifts them up and makes them fly. And that’s just what we’re going to do here in Arkansas. We are the vortex, and together we will rise up.
“If you’re with me, I need your help right now. I’m asking you to become a founding donor to the Vortex PAC, and let’s take the swarm to D.C. in 2024.”
About Vortex PAC Vortex was co-founded by Chris Jones, Arkansas’ first Black major-party nominee for governor as a 2022 candidate. Up against a candidate with unprecedented political advantage and privilege in Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Jones exceeded expectations while building a grassroots movement of extraordinary ordinary Arkansans willing to invest and work hard to choose community over chaos. Vortex is a new grassroots movement co-founded by Dr. Chris Jones, the former Democratic nominee for governor of Arkansas, to transform politics in Arkansas away from far-right extremism and to build Democratic organizing power. Vortex is building the bench by recruiting, training, and supporting Democratic candidates to flip all four of Arkansas’ U.S. congressional districts and help win back the House majority in 2024. Learn more at vortexpac.com.
2. Ananse Journal Founder, Patrick Oliver Hosts Virtual Conversation with Mother/Son Culinary Artists, Shanay & Dallas Wise
3. FirstSecurity Bank Hosts Its FirstSteps Virtual Workshop on Financial Literacy
4. Arkansas Public Policy Panel Hosts It Friday Noon Webinar – Discussion Against SB71: An Attempt To End Affirmative Action w/Featured Panelists Ryan D. Davis and Rosa Velázquez
5. Shorter College to Celebrate Black History Month with New Dormitory Ground Breaking (North Little Rock)
Contact: James Cain, [email protected]
501.374.6305
Shorter College will celebrate Black History Month and Founders Day by holding a groundbreaking ceremony for a new dormitory to house out of town students and athletes for its new men and women’s basketball program. It will be at 1 pm on February 11, 2023, at the proposed construction site on the corner of Locust Street & Bishop Lindsey Avenue in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
6. Hearne Fine Art Announces New Exhibit – KEVIN COLE: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? II Exploring Gerrymandering & Voting
Fresh off its debut at the Museum of Contemporary Art Georgia, Where Do We Go From Here? II: Exploring Gerrymandering and Voting is Kevin Cole’s continued exploration into historical and contemporary tactics and policies that disenfranchise Black American voters. Hearne Fine Art is honored to present the gallery adaptation of the groundbreaking museum exhibition featuring the artist’s signature wood, acrylic, and aluminum networks of neckties, a nod to a life changing conversation about lynching Cole had with his grandfather when the young man hesitated to exercise his voting rights. Cole resumes his amplification of the racial injustices and dark histories of disenfranchisement by employing the tangible and real into what would be considered abstract art with two new series.
| MEET THE ARTIST |
| RECEPTION Friday, February 10, 2023 at 5:00 PM ARTIST TALK Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 2:00 PM VIRTUAL ARTIST TALK (VIA ZOOM) Sunday, February 26 at 3:00 PM EST Register at https://tinyurl.com/KevinColeHFA22623 |
7. Revolt Renaissance Publishing Hosts Its Black Book Fair
8. Divas in the Rock: A Whitney Houston Tribute Concert
Opera in the Rock announces two unforgettable nights of music and celebration with “Diva’s in the Rock: A Whitney Houston Tribute.”
Featured vocalists are Adrianne Collins, Crissy P., Nia Renee and NaJe–with a special appearance by Nicky Parrish.
The two-night-only event is Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. at The Hall. Tickets are $75 per person and are available at littlerockhall.com/tickets/ or at The Hall’s box office at 721 West 9th Street.
9. The Ivy Foundation of Little Rock Presents A Night of Hollywood Glitz and Glamour
