The College of Education and Health Professions is encouraging faculty, staff, students, friends of the college and alumni to share its WE CARE message across the globe this summer.

Scroll banners with the phrase "WE CARE Everywhere" are waiting for their chance to shine in social media posts throughout the summer. The retractable banners are small enough to fit into any suitcase for trips to conferences, study abroad experiences, vacations, staycations, on campus or any other summer adventure.

WE CARE is an acronym for Wellness and Education Commitment to Arkansas Excellence and centers around caring for all communities in Arkansas and beyond by advancing impactful research, engaging in meaningful partnerships, and empowering caring professionals in education and health.

The WE CARE Everywhere campaign officially kicked off on May 3 at the college's end-of-year meeting. "I hope to see WE CARE banners all across Arkansas, the country and the globe this summer," said Dean Kate Mamiseishvili. "I'm excited to see colleagues, students and alumni spread the word about how much we care."  

Members of the college community, friends and alumni are invited to snap photos holding the banners while they're out and about this summer and post them on social media. They're asked to tag the college (under @uacoehp on Instagram, Twitter/X and Facebook) and use the hashtag #WECAREeverywhere.

Kathy Pillow-Price and her family at the Brittania Mine Museum.

Kathy Pillow-Price, managing director of the college's outreach program Early Care & Education Projects (ECEP), was the first to receive a banner so she could take it along while presenting at a conference in Canada. Price and her family snapped photos with their banner before a whale-watching excursion and at the Brittania Mine Museum.

She said the photo sessions sparked questions from onlookers.

"I think the WE CARE Everywhere campaign helps our college and those of us at ECEP promote the fact that we are directly improving people's lives," she said. "For ECEP, it shines a spotlight on our efforts to engage in meaningful partnerships across the state to educate, connect and equip early childhood professionals so we can enhance the quality of care and education for young children across Arkansas. I believe the WE CARE initiative has the potential to propel our college to have a greater impact in our state and beyond."

Those interested in receiving a WE CARE Everywhere banner in the mail may contact Kay Brusca in the dean's office (brusca@uark.edu) or Sean Rhomberg (smrhombe@uark.edu) in the communications department.