2026 ACEs Summit Speakers

Casey has served her community for over 20 years, and her daughter is her “why” when it comes to the passion for which she tirelessly advocates.

Casey spent her first 20 years practicing law at the 6th Judicial Public Defender’s Office. All those years she chose to stay assigned to the Circuit Court Juvenile Division where she represented youth facing delinquency charges. In July of 2023, Casey made the transition to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office where she supervises not only the juvenile unit, but also anything within the office relating to children, families, prevention, intervention, rehabilitation, and community betterment.

Will Jones, the elected prosecuting attorney, invests her manpower in building the office’s relationship with community leaders, victims, facilitators, courts, community-based providers, business leaders, peer support specialists, and any agent of change that is willing to come together in a new approach to help our community become safer for everyone.

Casey’s passion to protect youth from crisis and violence encompasses advocacy for a complete wraparound approach to improving safety and quality of life not only for children, but also their caregivers in a two-generation approach to serving the community.

Charles Blake brings years of mission-aligned experience to his role as Market Executive with Southern Bancorp. After earning his bachelor’s degree in political science at Grinnell College in Iowa, the Little Rock Central High alum returned to Little Rock and began his career in banking and financial services with Regions Bank and later Morgan Keegan & Co. In 2015, he was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 36th District, where he would serve three terms. Following his time as an elected official, Blake served as Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr.’s Chief of Staff before joining Think Rubix, a public affairs and consulting firm based out of Washington, D.C. In his new role with Southern Bancorp, Blake plans, directs, and implements business development and community outreach initiatives in and around Little Rock for the CDFI.

Preston Clegg, a native Arkansan, stepped into the role of 2BC pastor in May of 2013. Uniquely qualified for the position, Preston has pastored four churches for twenty-one years, consecutively: Strawberry Baptist Church, Strawberry, AR (2000-2003); Bruceville Baptist Church, Bruceville-Eddy, TX (2004-2006); Spring Creek Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, OK (2006-2013); and Second Baptist Church, Little Rock, AR (2013-present). Pastor Clegg received his BA in Christian Ministry from Williams Baptist College (Walnut Ridge, AR) in 2003. Later, he attended George W. Truett Theological Seminary – Baylor University (Waco, TX) to earn his Masters of Divinity degree in 2006 and  Doctorate of Ministry in 2013.

A testament of his dedication, character, and talent, Pastor Clegg is the recipient of the McCall Racial Justice Trailblazer Award (2021) and George W. Truett Theological Seminary Preaching Award (2006). He has also been recognized as “Pastor of the Day” (2014) at George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

Adam Fogleman is the County Attorney for Pulaski County, Arkansas. Adam serves on the boards of the Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation, Downtown Little Rock Community Development Corporation, and Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas. In his spare time, he leads family-owned construction and development companies, focusing on rehabilitation and redevelopment in Little Rock's Pettaway Neighborhood. He is a graduate of the Delta Leadership Institute and has provided strategic advice to candidates, public officials, and business owners for more than a decade. He is a graduate of the U.A. Little Rock Bowen School of Law and Henderston State University, where he received an undergraduate degree in aviation. Adam is a lifelong Arkansan, a delta native, and lives in Little Rock.

Sheriff Eric S. Higgins is a licensed minister, a devoted husband of 33 years, and a proud father of two daughters. He has devoted over 37 years to law enforcement. He began his distinguished career with the Little Rock Police Department in 1984, rising through the ranks to become Assistant Chief of Police. In 2019, he made history as the first African American Sheriff of Pulaski County in 200 years, bringing visionary leadership and a commitment to public safety and reform.

A graduate of Liberty University with a bachelor's in government and business and a master's in executive leadership and counseling, Sheriff Higgins has also completed executive training programs with the Center for American and International Law and the Senior Management Institute for Police. His innovative approaches to law enforcement and rehabilitation have drawn national recognition, including being the vision behind Netflix's Unlocked: A Jail Experiment series.

Will Jones began serving as the elected Prosecuting Attorney in January 2023, bringing over two decades of experience as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and Assistant Attorney General. Throughout his career, Jones has passionately pursued justice, dedicating his efforts primarily to prosecuting sexual predators and individuals exploiting children online.

Since assuming office, Jones has been driven by a clear mission: to achieve justice for victims, enhance crime prevention, support rehabilitation efforts, and bolster community safety. Within his first two years, he successfully implemented innovative digital technologies for efficient case processing and tracking, strengthened the juvenile division, established a specialized unit targeting violent drug crimes, and contributed to a 44% reduction in the homicide rate.

Jones firmly believes in the importance of building strong relationships with community members, local leaders, and law enforcement agencies as essential for creating safer and more cohesive communities.

A native of Murfreesboro, Arkansas, Jones graduated from Henderson State University in 1998 and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 2001. He currently resides in North Little Rock, Arkansas, with his wife and their two children.

Kelly Owen currently works in Little Rock as a Development Director in the nonprofit sector. Her professional expertise concerns program design, volunteer management, and fundraising. She received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English Literature from The University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a Volunteer Manager Certificate (CVM) from The Arkansas Public Administration Consortium. She is a former Americorps and VISTA National Service Member and a Yoga Alliance Certified YTT 200-hour teacher. She lives in Little Rock with her husband, Jordan. They share two dogs and a cat, all of whom are very spoiled. In 2023, she received her Master of Public Service (MPS) from The Clinton School of Public Service, and this presentation is based on research conducted for her first-year program design and evaluation course. She also has a high ACE score, and most of her personal and professional life has centered on ensuring that she has better life outcomes and helping others do the same.

Robyn Starling-Ledbetter is an experienced communications strategist and the host of AFMC TV, a statewide public health television program produced by the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care. With a background in higher education and public health messaging, she specializes in storytelling that connects audiences to critical health and wellness resources, and she is passionate about using media to advance health awareness and education across Arkansas.

Jamie A. Scott is the Executive Director for Pulaski County Youth Services. She has dedicated her career to public service and to fighting for equal rights and fair opportunities for all. She is known as a “Champion for Youth” and exudes that energy in every endeavor for the youth and families of Pulaski County via the opportunities and programs of the Youth Services Department.

As Pulaski County Youth Service’s Executive Director, Jamie ensures that free mental health services, college preparation, leadership development, academic enrichment afterschool programs, and restorative juvenile justice program are available to children in Pulaski County.

Due to her tireless commitment to youth and her diligent efforts in Pulaski County, Ms. Scott has received numerous accolades and awards including the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families’ Legislative Leadership Award, Arkansas State University’s Living Legend Award, Arkansas Municipal League’s Distinguished Legislator Award, Arkansas State University’s Emerging Young Alumni Award and the Brown Girls Rock Nellie Award in Public Service.

Christine Spearn has spent nearly 30 years in education, championing inclusive, student-centered support for youth with unique learning needs—especially those impacted by trauma. She holds a B.S. in Education and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction, and is a certified Trauma Resilience Coordinator with the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care. Christine is also trained in Mental Health First Aid and trauma-informed education.

Her work across multiple states includes roles as Instructional Specialist, Behavior Consultant, Special Education Consultant, and 504 Coordinator. Grounded in research on Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences, she brings a holistic, systems-level approach to supporting neurodivergent and vulnerable students.

Christine is deeply committed to relationship-building and believes all students thrive when schools embrace trauma-informed practices. Through both her professional and volunteer work, she continues to advocate for equity, resilience, and compassionate education.

Attorney Brenda Stallings is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the William H. Bowen School of Law. She has practiced law for 29 years, dedicating her career to community-focused legal service. Brenda currently serves in the Public Defender’s Office, representing youth facing truancy, misdemeanor, and felony charges in Perry and Pulaski Counties. She previously worked for the First Division Circuit Court and the Center for Arkansas Legal Services.

A lifelong advocate for equity, Brenda recently won a federal racial discrimination case against the Arkansas Public Defender’s Commission. For 15 years, she has taught as an adjunct professor and mentor at Bowen Law School. She also serves as a certified instructor at the Criminal Justice Institute and holds certifications as both a Dependency-Neglect and Domestic Relations Attorney ad Litem.