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Alyssa Smith graduated from Little Rock Central High School in 2016 — the school the Little Rock Nine integrated in 1957. In the summer of 2021, she returned as a Historically Black Colleges and Universities Internship (HBCUI) interpretation intern at Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, working the front desk, talking with visitors, helping with tours and creating her own projects. Her friend and fellow intern Kambrya Bailey nominated her for the Park Service's Dare to Imagine series, describing her as funny, humble, adventurous and always ready to help a friend.
Her projects
| Project | What it did |
|---|---|
| Explore the Buffalo | In 2016, as a volunteer, Alyssa had backpacked at Buffalo National River — her first real camping trip and first visit to a natural park — and it changed how she saw the value of parks for physical and mental health. Knowing such experiences often aren't open to young people of color, she created a visual guide to encourage inner-city youth and first-time campers to visit, and to help make parks a welcoming place for minorities |
| My Little Rock Central High School Experience | Visitors who learned she was a recent graduate had many questions about how her time at Central compared with the Little Rock Nine's. She compiled interviews with recent alumni to show today's school from many perspectives |
| Spanish-language virtual tour | For Little Rock's large Spanish-speaking community, she and Ranger Fabian Ruiz recorded a tour of the site and the events of 1957 in Spanish |
Her path
Alyssa grew up in a single-parent home in a tough neighborhood. Her mother made sure she was exposed to the arts, sciences and new experiences, so she'd see that the world was bigger than her city. She was the curious kid who liked exploring and wasn't afraid to step outside her comfort zone, and she encountered other cultures and languages early.
- In high school she volunteered at the Central High visitor center, which sparked her interest in civil rights and led her to social justice and cultural clubs.
- At the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a historically Black university, she majored in political science and was deeply involved in international programs.
- After graduating she joined the Greening Youth Foundation's HBCUI program, which places HBCU students and recent graduates at national parks to diversify the Park Service. At 23, she was taking time to travel before choosing a career or graduate school.
What she's proud of
Alyssa has done what she once only dreamed of: she has lived in Central America and Asia, speaks three languages and has friends in more than 20 countries. In college she created her own study-abroad program in Guatemala, taking five participants for four weeks of language and culture study — and she hopes to open more such opportunities for young Black people.
The Dare to Imagine project, funded by an Innovation and Impact Grant from the National Park Foundation, shares stories of women whose vision and resilience shaped history and their communities.
Sources
Based on "Dare to Imagine: Alyssa Smith," Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, National Park Service; rewritten in hubnx's own words.
Licence : CC0 1.0 (domaine public) · Adapté de www.nps.gov
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