For years, Little Rock was just a stopover, a halfway point on long drives between important places in my life. When my son’s father was stationed in Louisiana, seeing the Little Rock skyline meant I was halfway to his military base. Later, as a graduate student at Texas A&M University, it marked the midpoint to visiting family in my Kentucky hometown. So when I accepted a summer internship in North Little Rock, I expected Arkansas to be a brief, three-month chapter in my life. After all, I already knew the city from the many trips I had taken through it – or so I thought.
After a few weeks of sitting alone in my short-term rental apartment, bored, alone, and counting down the hours until I was back at work again, a coworker suggested I check out Create Little Rock’s summer series Land in the Rock. I decided to give it a try, telling myself that it would at least give me something to do until my internship ended and I could go back to Texas.
Land in the Rock introduced me to a side of the city I had never experienced on all those drives through it. For example, it had been years since I attended a sporting event, but watching the Arkansas Travelers and Little Rock Rangers reminded me how much I enjoy live sports. Attending a tasting at Rock Town Distillery was a fun opportunity to compare Arkansas bourbon with bourbon from my home state. The pontoon boat ride on the Arkansas River by Rock Town River Outfitters during the river cookout at Rock City Yacht Club reminded me of my childhood boating trips on the Ohio River.
Beyond attending activities, Land in the Rock became my gateway to genuine connection. I hiked Pinnacle Mountain, strolled across Big Dam Bridge, and enjoyed dinners and movies, all with new friends I met through the program. During every activity, I quickly realized that this summer series was more than filling openings on my social calendar; it provided me with a welcoming community that made Little Rock feel less short-term and more like somewhere I could stay long-term.
As a non-traditional intern in my early 30s and a parent, deciding where to move after I finish graduate school has been a big decision. Over the summer, I evaluated Little Rock not just as a young professional, but as someone considering whether I could build a life there for many years to come. I looked for family-friendly activities, resources for military veterans and their families, good schools, and a supportive community. Through the people I met at Land in the Rock, those questions became conversations. I connected with military members and their spouses about their experiences living in the area and learned ways that I can give back to a cause that I am so passionate about. Medical residents talked with me about local healthcare, and teachers helped me understand the city’s educational options.
The people I met at Land in the Rock events also took an interest in what matters to my son. When they learned that he wants to be an artist when he grows up, they recommended we visit the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. Because he was raised in Germany and now attends a dual-language (English/Spanish) school in Texas, other Land in the Rock attendees suggested I take him to places like Plaza Frida and Fassler Hall. And when an attendee who works at Scouting America learned that my son is a Cub Scout, she answered my questions and offered to connect me with others in the organization.
When my son came to visit me on the weekend, we put some of those recommendations to the test. We visited the Little Rock Zoo, Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro, and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville – all of which were recommended to me by folks I met through Land in the Rock. These experiences helped me see Arkansas differently - not simply as a place where I could spend a summer, but as somewhere my son and I could enjoy building a life together.
As the summer progressed, I realized Little Rock checked nearly everything on my list: engaging work at a company I love, plenty of places to explore, opportunities for my son, resources for his military veteran dad, and a city big enough for adventure but small enough to build community. After 5 moves in 10 years, feeling truly at home somewhere is no small thing for me. But by the end of my internship, I realized I would miss the places that had become “mine” - the church, gym, library, restaurants, and familiar spaces that had quietly turned a temporary home into a real one.
It turns out that the city that had always been somewhere in-between had become my destination. Land in the Rock didn’t just introduce me to the city; it helped me imagine a life there.
Bailey Cummins, Land in the Rock Participant