10 minute read
THE FRONT
QUEENMAKER
Ladies, you better run. Emerge Arkansas Executive Director Stephannie Lane Baker is coming for you. Baker swooped across the state this summer, logging 1,000 miles to drum up new recruits and spread her message: If you’re a Democratic woman with your eye on public office, there’s a team in place ready to help you win. A single mom of two, Baker used to spend her free time helping women run for office. She took the helm of Emerge in December 2021 so she can do it full time.
What is Emerge Arkansas?
Emerge is an organization that recruits, trains and supports Democratic women running for office at all levels. Emerge is a national organization with chapters in over 20 states. Our candidates get the support of a national team of trainers, communications professionals and consultants. And since I’m here, you also get that person who’s working on the ground in Arkansas.
Tell us about your road trip.
I just did over 1,000 miles across Arkansas spreading the word about Emerge, PAWPAC [Progressive Arkansas Women PAC] and AFDW [the Arkansas Federation of Democratic Women]. It was my Win With Women Summer Roadtrip Adventure. I wanted to physically go to other areas of the state and have events to let people know, hey, we exist, this is what we do. PAWPAC exists, this is what they do. AFDW exists, this is what they do. We started out in Fort Smith, then went to Texarkana, El Dorado, Lake Village, Pine Bluff, Helena and Jonesboro, then ended with a celebration in Little Rock. In some cities we had four people show up, in some we had 30. In each city we had really meaningful conversations about recruiting, about government, about difficulties of running a campaign, especially in smaller rural areas. In every city there was enthusiasm and energy and excitement that these resources exist.
What kind of resources are you talking about?
We’ve already completed training for this year. In election years we do bootcamp training, which is an attenuated version of the longer trainings we do in other years but covers the same topics. Class size is limited to make sure everyone gets enough focus and attention. We had 24 applicants. I was told I could take seven, but finally got up to 11. The virtual training is 30 hours over one week. What we try to deliver to them first and foremost is the understanding of the nuts and bolts of how to run a campaign: how to craft your story, how to create a story of self, how to create a budget, how to fundraise for that budget. Secondly, candidates get these connections to expert trainers. The third and most important thing, what I love most about our training, is that it creates a network of women we can rely on for practical help or encouragement.
How do you pay for all this?
We rely on donations from our supporters. Part of my job as executive director is to fundraise. For folks who share our mission, I offer the opportunity to invest in that mission.
Being a Democrat and a woman in Arkansas feels pretty tough right now. How do you keep your chin up?
I think there are people in power who are trying to limit the rights of everyone else. But I see women who have power in their communities, who are respected in their communities. We are seeing trends of Democratic women doing better. I have to keep hopeful. We have two choices in the face of this unprecedented time. We can give up, or we can keep going. I don’t think giving up is a viable option in Arkansas right now. Every woman I met is energized and ready to do this work. They’re not going to stop. People who believe in common sense and decency will be the majority eventually. The best way I can see to achieve that is to recruit women, encourage them to run and give them the best tools possible to run their campaigns.
What are the issues energizing Arkansas women right now?
Obviously the overturning of Roe has been extremely energizing. When we ask people what’s important to them, we’re hearing reproductive rights, contraception, marriage equality. People are fired up! I think people underestimated what SCOTUS would do and are feeling let down. We need to focus on the local again because now this is a battle at the state level. The other thing I’m hearing about is climate. We’re seeing fires, we’re seeing droughts, we’re seeing mudslides. People can look at that information and feel overwhelmed, or they can decide to take action.
Would we be better off with more women in office?
We live in a representative democracy that is not representative of the people it is serving. Women are more than half the population but make up only a quarter of the Arkansas legislature. That is not representative. And data tells us that women tend to be better representatives. When they’re elected, there tends to be more transparency, more communication, they literally bring home more dollars to their home districts. They are more collaborative, they introduce more legislation and get more legislation passed.
BOOK RECOMMENDATION:
“Burn the Page” by Danica Roem, executive director of Emerge Virginia.
SELF-CARE PLAN: When we don’t have such ridiculously high COVID numbers I host a ladies night at my house once or twice a month. We hang out, have snacks, float in the pool. It’s just a space to connect. I also spend a lot of time cuddling with my kids. POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS: None for me, but I really, really love helping the women around me run.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ARKANSAS
ARKANSANS FIND FAME, FUN ON HIT SHOWS
BY MARY HENNIGAN AND GRIFFIN COOP
Nothing compares to learning one of your favorite reality stars is from Arkansas. It brings forth childlike excitement to have a Natural State native, Razorback-lovin’, Buffalo River-floatin’, biscuit-bakin’ contestant on prime-time television. Whether they’re surviving on the Fijian islands with Jeff Probst, winning over the hearts of strangers in paradise or keeping it real on the “Real World,” it’s fun to watch our underappreciated state get some overdue recognition.
COLE MEDDERS
“Survivor,” Season 35
JOHN DAVID PITTMAN
A Little Rock native, Cole Medders took his Arkansas-grown adventure skills and ran with them. As a kid, Medders would skip school at Little Rock Christian Academy (we can let that one slide) to go to the climbing gym. He made countless trips to Northwest Arkansas to soak in its natural beauty and grow his skills. As a survival and wilderness coach it would make sense that he would end up on a show like “Survivor,” right? Surprisingly, he was scouted for the show at a Chipotle while visiting Los Angeles. It’s crazy how life works out. Since braving the Fijian elements on Season 35, Medders also made a recent appearance on “Bachelor in Paradise” and is set to head off again to the South Pacific for another survival show in August. Between being a reality star, personal trainer and competitive rock climber, he’s a pretty busy guy. Still, he makes time to come back to Arkansas and unwind with his family. MH
MATTHEW GARLAND
“Naked and Afraid” isn’t one of those shows you go on just for the fun of it — it’s raw, real and tough. Matthew Garland took on the challenge twice — 14 days in the Arizona desert and 21 days in the African forest. He admits he thought, “What idiot would do that?” when he initially heard of the show, but soon he was addicted to the grueling feat of surviving in the wilderness with next to nothing. He became the first Arkansan to complete their endeavor. He mixes his tech day job with Advanced Alarm Technology in Benton with his passion for the outdoors. This third-generation Eagle Scout takes pride in life’s primitive aspects. He’s already excited to see his 2-year-old baby boy splash in puddles and play in the mud. MH
KELLEY WOLF
CARLA BOECKLIN
Kelley Wolf was waiting tables at Bordino’s in Fayetteville around 1999 when her boss said, “MTV is on the phone.” The Indiana-born, Fayetteville-raised Wolf (then known as Kelley Limp) was soon cast on MTV’s “Real World,” a forerunner to the reality TV craze. The show placed young, attractive singles in a house and let viewers observe their lives inside the bubble. Wolf admitted in a recent Arkansas Times interview she was a little “withholding” in her interactions in the house, believing that her actions on TV could follow her in the real world even after “Real World.” After the show wrapped, Wolf went back to waiting tables (this time in New Orleans) where she had plenty of fame but not much cash. She hadn’t gotten paid to be on the show. Wolf later met her husband, actor Scott Wolf of “Party of Five” fame, on a blind date and got married at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville in 2004. Wolf regularly visits her family and friends in Arkansas where her dad recently retired as a University of Arkansas professor. “As much as I’m away, Arkansas remains one of the most special places I’ve ever been on planet Earth,” she said. Wolf, who has three kids, lived in Vancouver, British Columbia, where Scott was shooting a TV show during the pandemic, but the family is moving to Park City, Utah. Wolf’s Utah neighbors should get ready for her brand of Arkansas hospitality, because she said she regularly bakes biscuits for new neighbors. Wolf, who has a psychology degree and works as a life and executive coach, recently published “FLOW: Finding Love Over Worry” about finding joy in life. JGC
KEAUNO PEREZ
KELLIANNE PRATT
Keauno “Keke” Perez is a Texan-turnedArkansan-turned-Texan. On the Netflix original “Twentysomethings: Austin,” Perez said he was from Fayetteville — so we’re going with it. His time in Northwest Arkansas was short, four years for work at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, but Perez said some of his most transformative moments were in The Natural State. Although proudly out now, Perez grew up in an intensely Catholic environment. When he came to Arkansas for work in higher education, he found students sought advice from him about being queer — even though he was closeted at the time. In addition to being surrounded by incredibly accepting co-workers, giving students that representation was part of what encouraged him to embrace his true self. He’s an enneagram two, also known as “the helper,” and would describe himself as positive, futuristic and empathetic. These days, Perez is back in Texas working for TikTok, but said he still gets teary-eyed when he thinks about his time in Arkansas. MH
RAVEN GOTTSCHALK
“The Bachelor,” Season 21 and “Bachelor in Paradise,” Season Four
Only a true Arkansan would make her future potential husband call those hogs on their first meeting. Sweet, southern Raven Gottschalk (nee Gates) of Hoxie charmed her way into the hearts of America on Season 21 of “The Bachelor.” She brought relatable values of family, faith and football to viewers and offered an alternative to the more common “city girl” contestant. Gottschalk’s Jonesborobased boutique, Grey Suede, got quite a bit of attention from her TV presence, and online orders became the shop’s main revenue. But recently, she sold the boutique and started a new chapter in life. Five years ago, Gottschalk met her husband on Season Four of “Bachelor in Paradise.” After multiple pandemic-pushed- back wedding plans, she’s now a wife and mother of a 6-month-old baby boy, Gates. The small-town girl now resides in big-city Dallas, but tries to make monthly visits to her hometown. Gottschalk said she still keeps up with “Bachelor” friends, including the iconic shark-costume-wearing Alexis Waters. MH
