WHERE HISTORY MEETS OPPORTUNITY
In the heart of the historic Little Rock Central High School Neighborhood, Square One is a workforce, skills, and entrepreneurship center. We are dedicated to fostering opportunities that empower individuals and catalyze our vibrant community.
Located in the former Ponders Drug Store, Square One stands as a beacon of the historical legacy of the Little Rock Nine. Built in 1926, the space reflects their extraordinary fight for educational equality and now serves as a destination for inclusive and innovation.
The Little Rock Nine (9) Desegregation Crisis catapulted Little Rock Central High School into a historic and iconic educational site.
A pillar of strength and perseverance, The Little Rock 9 has and continues to inspire and impact innovation in Central Arkansas, the nation, and educational environments globally.
One such impact is the home of Square One which was restored by Central High alum and owner of Faithland Properties, Pam Brown Courtney.
A 66-year symbol of the 1957 integration of Little Rock Central High School, Elizabeth Eckford, one of the Little Rock Nine, recalls being turned away from entering the doors of Ponder’s Drug Store when trying to escape the harassment and threats of segregationist.
This Historic Site is now the home to a dynamic and inclusive space dedicated to fostering workforce, skills, and entrepreneurship while promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion.
PARK STREET ARTS & INNOVATION DISTRICT
A HISTORIC WORK, LIVE, & CREATE DESTINATION
Square One marks the initial phase in the realization of the Park Street Arts & Innovation District.
Conceived to bridge history and innovation and drive wealth and lifelong education in the historic Little Rock Central High School community - this dynamic project will be achieved through converging entrepreneurship, technology, and creative collaboration in this urban corridor.
The above-mentioned houses form a continuous stretch of properties, all owned by Faithland Properties.
These structures will be ingeniously repurposed to establish an arts and innovation district – an inviting milieu where creatives and entrepreneurs can converge to work, live, and create.
Located within the vicinity is the National Historic Site of Little Rock Central High School District, a landmark that attracts over 150,000 visitors annually for guided tours and site visits. By fostering the development of the Park Street Arts & Innovation District, we aim not only to augment the geographic footprint of this neighborhood but also to reinvent the narrative of the area, intertwining past and future in a tapestry of art and innovation.
