For the first time in its history, the American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) has selected Little Rock, Arkansas, as the host city for its annual conference, scheduled for June 4–7, 2026. This landmark event underscores ACGA’s grassroots efforts to empower, build, enhance, and sustain gardens through education and collaboration.
This year’s conference theme, “Pathways to Food Security: Localizing Solutions,” highlights the urgent need to strengthen community-based strategies to address food insecurity. The conference will convene over 500 attendees from across the nation and abroad for hands-on workshops, panel discussions, community tours, youth programming, and networking opportunities.
“We are thrilled that the American Community Gardening Association recognized Little Rock as an ideal location for this year’s conference,” said Dr. Charles Donaldson, Vice Chancellor Emeritus at the University of Arkansas Little Rock. “Nearly 1 in 5 Arkansans faces food insecurity. Community gardens can increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables and serve as pathways to physical, mental, spiritual, and social well-being—especially in low-resource communities.”
Dr. Donaldson, who was appointed to the ACGA national board in 2025, is a leading voice in Arkansas’ community gardening movement. Through the Central Arkansas Sphinx Foundation and the Community Garden Health Block Executive Steering Committee, he has helped establish gardens in more than six Arkansas counties. His leadership continues to elevate Arkansas as a vital contributor to the global community gardening network. As a member of ACGA, he is committed to bringing together people, partners in gardening, resources, and education to benefit lives and neighborhoods through community gardening.
A conversation with Dr. Charles Donaldson, ARUMC Laity in Leadership
Dr. Charles W. Donaldson is Vice Chancellor Emeritus/Emeritus Associate Professor of Higher Education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He has overseen educational and academic support services, including admissions, financial aid, academic advising, housing, health services, testing, counseling, career planning, and disability support services. His work is highly regarded on the UALR campus and among his peers nationwide. He has served on numerous dissertation committees. Most importantly, his work is valued by students. The Student Government Association at UALR recognized the legacy of Donaldson as a student administrator when the Association established the Charles W. Donaldson Administrator of the Year Award, which is presented annually to a top administrator as recognized by students.
Charles Donaldson received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Arkansas, a Master of Education in counseling from State College of Arkansas at Conway, Arkansas (UCA), and a Doctorate of Education in counseling from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Arkansas. He has also completed the prestigious Institute for Management Education at Harvard University and the Academic Leadership Institute of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). Donaldson attributes much of his educational and professional success to his family and community support during his childhood in Newport, Arkansas. Donaldson, a 1965 graduate of W. F. Branch High School, was valedictorian of his class, president of the Student Council, Honor Society, band, and choir member. “Mrs. Gladys Mays, Mrs. Ionia Oates, Mr. Norman Calhoun, and Mr. Curtis Craft had a profound influence on me. I loved all my teachers. They had high expectations of all students, and failure was not an option.”
Donaldson became a counselor for UALR’s Student Special Services program in 1973. From his next role, director of Career Planning and Placement, to his appointment as associate vice chancellor for Educational and Student Services and dean of University College, to Vice Chancellor of Educational and Student Services. Donaldson’s leadership resulted in student programs and services that serve as models for many campuses across the nation.
Donaldson’s implementation of Cooperative Education and the TRIO Program, which included Student Special Services, Upward Bound, the Educational Opportunity Center, and Talent Search, resulted in national and international recognition for the First-Year Experience course as well as federal funding that exceeded $16.5 million. He expanded the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps from a class of 50 to a fall 2012 class of 200 student leaders, each receiving $32,000 in scholarship support over four years. Donaldson also provided leadership for the African American Male Initiative, a program that has garnered national and international recognition for its significant impact on the retention of the UALR minority male student population. The African American Female and Hispanic Initiatives were also developed under his leadership. He provided leadership for the Rwandan Presidential Scholars Consortium at UALR.
Donaldson’s leadership has resulted in the development of building projects dedicated to student support, totaling approximately $70 million, beginning with the expansion of the Donaghey Student Center. The creation of the UALR Welcome Center followed. Donaldson led student housing from its beginning, with a 300-bed single residence hall, to four unique facilities that provide living-learning opportunities for 1,400 students. The Student Services Center at UALR was renamed the Dr. Charles W. Donaldson Student Services Center (DSSC) in his honor.
In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Donaldson bore the title of associate professor of higher education. He also served on several boards within the Arkansas community and the United Methodist Church.
Charles Donaldson is a servant of the United Methodist Church and its institutions, including its colleges. He has served as vice chair of the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, Philander Smith College, and as chair of numerous boards of the Arkansas Annual Conference, including the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministries. He was a member of the National Task Force to Strengthen the Black Church for the 21st Century and has served on the board of numerous United Methodist institutions, including Camp Aldersgate and the Methodist Children’s Home. Philander Smith College recognized Donaldson and his wife as “Living Legends” of the College and the United Methodist Church.
Donaldson spent 40 years at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock. He was selected for membership in Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society, Golden Key Honor Society (honorary), Outstanding Young Men in America, Who’s Who Among Black Americans, and Who’s Who in the South and Southwest. Donaldson was the recipient of the 1995 Man of Volunteer Achievement Award. He served on several boards of civic and non-profit agencies.
Since retiring in 2013, he has been busy serving as a consultant to various higher education agencies through Donaldson & Donaldson Associates, LLC.
Question: What leadership roles have you held in Arkansas United Methodist churches/district/conference?
My leadership roles in the Arkansas Conference have and now include:
Central District Lay Leader, Imagine Ministry Team CFA Personnel Chair, Conference Board of Higher Education Committee Chair, Arkansas Conference Board of Trustees, Aldersgate Trustee, Methodist Foundation of Arkansas Scholarship Committee Chair, Methodist Foundation for Arkansas Board of Directors, Bishops’ Club- Methodist Foundation for Arkansas Lay Delegate, Arkansas Annual Conference, Administrative Council Chair, Sunday School Superintendent, Church Trustee, Grant and Program Coordinator, Leadership Team
Question: What inspired you to focus on community gardening after retirement?
My fraternity (Alpha Phi Alpha) and the Central Arkansas Sphinx Foundation wanted to do something to help our community and the state of Arkansas deal with food insecurity. We were able to secure funding through the USDA to support the establishment of community gardens, backyard gardens, and container gardens. Arkansas remains number one or number two nationwide in terms of being food insecure. We also have many areas that are designated as food deserts. We wanted to do something to help change the statistics for our state.
Question: Was there a specific moment or experience that sparked your passion for gardening and community work?
Being diagnosed as having diabetes and recognizing that I could control this chronic disease through diet and exercise led me to understand and value the need for healthy eating and exercise.
Question: How do you see that community gardening can directly affect the treatment of your diabetes?
Learning to eat healthy can help reduce a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes. Change in lifestyle to include exercise, and reduce stress. It can encourage regular physical activity, and it can help the body use Insulin more efficiently. Access to fresh produce can help maintain a healthy weight, which is vital for managing Type 2 diabetes.
Question: How has your experience as an educator influenced the way you approach building and organizing community gardens?
My experience helped me to realize that, through our workshops, a toolkit was necessary to help participants learn what was necessary to succeed with the garden endeavor.
Question: Do you see any connections between teaching and gardening in terms of growth, nurturing, or community building?
Absolutely. Teaching and gardening are interwoven. There is a science associated with gardening. What to plant, when to plant, testing of soil, harvesting, and cooking healthy meals.
Question: What have been some of the biggest challenges in starting and maintaining community gardens?
Identifying, training volunteers, and sustaining gardens.
Question: What advice would you give to others (all ages) who want to start something similar in their own neighborhoods?
Attend workshops, check out sessions on YouTube, organize neighborhood associations, and identify a friend with a like passion.
Question: What lessons from the garden have had the most meaning for you personally?
The lesson that I learned was that I could control my own destination as it relates to health and controlling chronic diseases.