News Release

Little Rock Central High School NHS Hosts 68th Anniversary of the Little Rock Nine

Logo of Central High School National Historic Site, symbolizing the courage of the Little Rock Nine and the historic struggle for civil rights in education.

NPS

News Release Date: September 9, 2025

Contact: Brian Schwieger, 501-516-7223

Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site plans to host a free public event on Thursday, September 25, at 7:00 p.m. in the Harry R. Kendall Health Nugent Conference Center at Philander Smith University, 900 W. Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive.

The event marks the 68^th commemoration of Central High School’s desegregation by the Little Rock Nine in partnership with the Arkansas Association of Black Psychology Professionals, City of Little Rock, Friends of Little Rock Central High School NHS, Jefferson National Parks Association, Little Rock Police Department and Philander Smith University.

Join a conversation on the psychological impact of trauma and pathways to self-wellness featuring members of the Little Rock Nine and Dr. Ivory A. Toldson, professor of counseling psychology, Howard University. Dr. Toldson previously served as executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities under President Barack Obama. He serves as the executive editor of the Journal of Policy Analysis and Research for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and Chief of Research for Concentric Educational Solutions.

Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site commemorates the 1957 desegregation crisis and preserves the stories of the Little Rock Nine, their families, and community members who shaped this pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement. Through education and engagement, the site encourages reflection on past struggles and the continuing pursuit of civil rights in the United States.