About
HALO exists because exposure can change what a person believes is possible.
We honor lives lost to violence in Little Rock by investing in the lives still being shaped through creative education, mentorship, hands-on experiences, and exposure to new skills, ideas, and possibilities.
Why HALO exists
Grief turned into a plan.
Little Rock has lost too many young people to violence. HALO began as a refusal to let those losses be the end of the story.
Instead of simply talking about what young people could become, we introduce them to the power of creativity. Through photography, music, film, visual art, and other creative disciplines, we create spaces where their ideas, experiences, and perspectives are valued. They are given the opportunity to explore something new, develop skills, express themselves, and discover possibilities they may not have otherwise encountered.
Creativity is the vehicle. Community is the foundation. Possibility is the destination.
Mission
HALO provides underserved youth with access to creative education, mentorship, and opportunities that encourage self-expression, build confidence, and open pathways to creative careers.
Vision
A community where every young person has access to the resources, relationships, and creative opportunities needed to imagine and build a future of possibility.
Our community
HALO is rooted in Little Rock and committed to investing directly in the young people and communities of this city, with programs built around the realities, interests, and possibilities of the people we serve.
Little Rock is where HALO's work begins, but the vision extends beyond one city. We want young people to have access to ideas, mentors, creative communities, and opportunities from both near and far. By creating those connections, HALO can help young people see what is possible without losing sight of where they come from.
Our approach
Create. Connect. Explore. Imagine.
Create
Photography, visual storytelling, art, music, and other creative mediums.
Connect
Relationships between young people, mentors, artists, professionals, and neighbors.
Explore
Creative careers and possibilities they may not otherwise encounter.
Imagine
Seeing themselves as creators, leaders, and contributors to their communities.
Leadership
The people behind HALO.
Founder / leadership
Kierra Richardson, Director —
KIERRA RICHARDSON IS AN ARKANSAS BRED, LONDON BASED CREATIVE WORKING ACROSS PHOTOGRAPHY, CREATIVE PRODUCTION, AND BRANDING.
AS A PRODUCT OF ARKANSAS, SHE CAME TO REALIZE THAT IF SHE AND HER PEERS (MANY OF WHOM PASSED AWAY TOO YOUNG) HAD BEEN GIVEN ACCESS TO CREATIVE OUTLETS AND TOOLS EARLIER IN LIFE, DIFFERENT PATHS MIGHT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. IN AN EFFORT TO GIVE BACK, SHE FOUNDED HALO TO PROVIDE YOUNGER GENERATIONS WITH THOSE RESOURCES, WHILE HONORING THE LIVES LOST IN COMMUNITIES WHERE OPPORTUNITIES WERE LIMITED.
Future vision
From one cohort to many.
HALO is built to grow: more cohorts, more creative disciplines, more scholarships, and more young people with a first credit, a first portfolio, and a first idea of what's possible.
Partners
Organizations standing with HALO.
Partner organizations will be listed here as HALO's community of collaborators grows.
Interested in partnering with HALO?
Let's work togetherSupport the work