Pastor Paul Atkins tells Little Rock City Board Bridge to Work helped 273 people in 2025
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Summary
Pastor Paul Atkins of Canvas Community told the board the Bridge to Work program served 273 participants in 2025, logging 4,259 work hours and removing 3,680 bags of trash; the board praised the program but took no formal action.
Pastor Paul Atkins of Canvas Community delivered public comment to the Little Rock City Board describing outcomes from the organization’s Bridge to Work program in 2025.
Atkins said, "273 of them this year, worked in our program," and reported participants logged 4,259 hours removing city trash and filled 3,680 bags. He credited program staff—naming Felicia, John Ray and James—for casework and supportive services that helped participants secure health insurance (38), mental health connections (43), physical health services (57), addiction treatment referrals (26), legal assistance for some participants, help obtaining identification documents for 42 people, employment referrals for 21 participants and housing placements for 28.
Atkins read an alumnus' letter describing a "short but triumphant testimony" after participating in the program and asked the board to continue support for the Canvas Community work. Director Miller praised the program and thanked staff and volunteers, noting community partners such as First Security had helped at events.
No formal board action on the program was recorded during public comment; the one-year contract extension for Canvas Community was already included in the consent agenda and approved earlier in the meeting.
