Graduate students are invited to network from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Mediums Art Lounge, 521 Center St., Little Rock. 

Young Black Professionals of Arkansas (YBPA), Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) and Just Communities of Arkansas’ Change Agents will welcome Little Rock's graduate and professional students to network during a special Back to School edition of YBPA's Stal Cool Thursdays happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 8) at Mediums Art Lounge, 521 Center St., Little Rock.

Admission is free. 

Students from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the Clinton School of Public Service, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and UALR Bowen School of Law are encouraged to attend. Young professionals already in the workforce are also invited.

“As we chart a blueprint, both individually and collectively, we know that relationships are important,” says Ivan Hudson, YBPA president. “This networking initiative allows us to play an active role in developments across Little Rock, specifically downtown, while demonstrating the power in partnering with individuals and organizations throughout the community.”

Young Black Professionals of Arkansas is a nonprofit membership organization that focuses on developing African-American professionals through community service and educational and professional development opportunities.

Young Nonprofit Professionals Network is the Little Rock area's professional association for emerging leaders in the nonprofit sector, dedicated to strengthening Arkansas' nonprofit organizations through an emphasis on professional development and peer relationships.

Change Agents is a program of Just Communities of Arkansas to involve young people in inclusion work by training leaders who value diversity and provide philanthropic support for JCA and its youth and community leadership education and awareness programs.

For more information about Stay Cool Thursdays Back to School event, contact president@ybpa.net or ynpnlr@gmail.com.