What's in a name?

St. Joseph • March 12, 2026



Established in 1907, St. Joseph's Home & Farm served this community for over a century. As an orphanage, school, military hotel, nursing home, daycare, and retreat center run by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica, it was always a place of purpose.


In 2008, when the Diocese of Little Rock announced that St. Joseph's Home would close and the property would be sold, a group of passionate community members stepped up and created of St. Joseph Center of Arkansas.  In 2010, SJCA (501c3) signed a 50-year lease with the diocese, assuming all fiscal and management responsibilities for the property.


What followed was a remarkable resurrection. Through the hard work and dedication the historic site was transformed into a dynamic urban farm and community hub.

Over the course of the last 17 years, we used this historic place to build our community-based organization focused on agricultural education, historic preservation, and supporting local artists. What started on a single Century Farm grew into something much bigger than any of us imagined:


  • Supporting over 50 local artists with subsidized studio space and markets where they could share and sell their work
  • Empowering local farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs through free classes, market access, and the space to grow their businesses
  • Operating the largest community gardens in North Little Rock, putting food and knowledge directly into the hands of our neighbors
  • Welcoming thousands of RV and overnight visitors introducing them to our corner of Arkansas
  • Hosting AmeriCorps groups year after year, giving young people hands-on experience in public service
  • Growing food for the Hunger Relief Alliance and local food pantries, turning our soil into meals for families who needed them
  • Caring for farm animals with the help of an incredible team of dedicated volunteers
  • Building a farm store focused on local farmers and producers that grew to serve 22,000 customers a year,  proof that people will show up when you give them a way to support their neighbors


On March 19th, 2025, a fire claimed the iconic historic building. It was a devastating loss for the entire community that had come to call this place their own. The fire prompted a period of reorganization and deep reflection about who we are and what we stand for. What emerged was not a new organization, but a renewed one with a sharpened mission and a greater emphasis on community:


SJCA grows community through agriculture, arts, and innovation. Cultivating spaces where people grow together.


SJCA is no longer physically located at or tied to the historic St Joseph farm and building, but we carry forward the tradition of gathering people together, serving this community, and creating spaces where good things take root. That tradition doesn't live in a building, it lives in the work. By keeping our name we honor the legacy of St. Joseph's Home while making clear that our work has grown beyond any single place. The community spirit that defined that property for more than a hundred years is alive in everything we do.

A New Chapter for SJCA: Leadership Transition, Innovation Hub Relaunch, and a Growing Vision for Central Arkansas

By St. Joseph • March 4, 2026
The SJCA Board of Directors met this February and made several landmark decisions that will shape the future of our organization and the communities we serve across central Arkansas. From a leadership transition to bold new programming initiatives, here's everything you need to know. Honoring Sandy DeCoursey: 18 Years of Dedicated Service With this transition comes a heartfelt farewell and a grateful thank you to Sandy DeCoursey, who is retiring after 18 remarkable years of service to SJCA. Sandy's leadership, vision, and tireless dedication helped build the foundation that SJCA stands on today. From the earliest days of our agricultural programming to the development of community partnerships across central Arkansas, Sandy's fingerprints are on every part of this organization's story. But don't worry — Sandy isn't going far. She will remain as Executive Director Emeritus until September then move on to the SJCA Board of Directors, continuing to lend her wisdom, institutional knowledge, and steady guidance as we navigate the exciting road ahead. We are deeply grateful for everything Sandy has given to SJCA, and we look forward to her continued involvement in shaping our future. Scott Shellabarger Steps into Executive Director Role We are excited to announce that Scott Shellabarger has been named the new Executive Director of SJCA. Scott brings a deep passion for community-driven agriculture, education, and cooperative development, and has been instrumental in guiding SJCA's mission and vision. His leadership will carry the organization forward as we enter one of the most ambitious periods in our history. Scott possesses the skills needed to navigate this challenging transition. SJCA is in good hands. "I'm honored to lead SJCA into this next chapter, and I'm committed to making sure our work continues to grow alongside the communities we serve." The Innovation Hub Is Coming Back Bigger and Better In one of the most exciting developments to come out of the February meeting, the SJCA Board voted unanimously to pursue leading the relaunch of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub. The Innovation Hub was the community resource that provided hands-on STEAM education, maker space access, and creative programming for people of all ages. Under SJCA's leadership, the relaunched Hub will keep all of the programming that made it a community cornerstone and expand it significantly. Here's what's new: Expanded Classes — SJCA plans to offer an expanded catalog of classes that qualify under the Arkansas LEARNS Act, making high-quality education more accessible to families across the state. From coding and robotics to digital fabrication and beyond, the Hub will be a destination for students looking to build real-world skills. Farm and Garden Training — True to SJCA's roots, the relaunched Hub will integrate agriculture and horticulture education into its programming. Expect hands-on workshops covering everything from urban farming techniques and soil science to food forest design and sustainable growing practices. Arkansas Made & Grown Market — Perhaps most exciting of all, SJCA plans to establish an Arkansas Made & Grown market within the Hub space. This market will showcase products from local makers, artisans, farmers, and producers — creating a vibrant marketplace that supports Arkansas's creative and agricultural economies while giving the community a place to shop local and connect with the people behind the products. The Innovation Hub relaunch represents SJCA's commitment to the "Living Bridge" philosophy connecting education, agriculture, and the arts under one roof, owned and operated by the community it serves. The Search for a New Farm Continues SJCA also reaffirmed its commitment to finding a permanent farm location in North Little Rock. The search for a 5–20 acre property in central Arkansas remains a top priority, and the board is actively pursuing opportunities that will allow SJCA to expand its Growing Urban Farmers program, host Field Days, and establish a working demonstration farm that serves as both an educational resource and a productive agricultural operation. If you know of available land in the North Little Rock area that might be a fit, we'd love to hear from you. Looking Ahead This is an extraordinary moment for SJCA. With new leadership at the helm, a beloved community institution is preparing to reopen with a clear vision for connecting agriculture, education, and local commerce, the future has never looked brighter.