Lafayette County Leadership Council advocates for the economic development, safety and well-being of Lafayette County in southwest Arkansas. Once home to Maya Angelou, who grew up in Stamps, Arkansas, and wrote about her experience in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Lafayette County is a multiracial, rural community situated in a food desert and was, until recently, ranked #75 out of 76 Arkansas counties for health outcomes and access to medical care. LCLC was founded in 2014 by a group of concerned citizens led by Dr. Ethan Dunbar, now the mayor of Lewisville, and Chantell Dunbar-Jones, an alderwoman of Lewisville and Public Health Educator with the Arkansas Department of Health, to support the community and improve the quality of life in the area. Lafayette County Leadership Council is dedicated to filling the gaps by offering free and low-cost community activities and services. Because of its efforts, Lafayette County is now ranked #53 amongst all counties in public health.
The Lafayette County Leadership Council supports young people through mentorship, back-to-school drives, and Little League sports. Photo: Chantell Dunbar-Jones
Lafayette County Leadership Council is a mostly volunteer organization that was the first to offer Little League soccer for youth in the county. It also hosts annual 5K races, back-to-school and holiday toy drives, Scripps-accredited spelling bees, and a black-tie banquet honoring African Americans who served in the Buffalo Soldiers regiment during the American Civil War. LCLC has also mentored dozens of young people between 8 to 18 years old and taught them valuable skills in teamwork, community service and financial management. One of LCLC’s current focuses is renovating a vacant school complex into a community center by early 2026. Once opened, LCLC aims to offer classes and resources on digital literacy, anger management, and substance abuse prevention, as well as health screenings and consultations related to housing and energy use.
Lafayette County Leadership Council hosts Scripps-accredited spelling bees for the region. Photo: Chantell Dunbar-Jones