The beauty of Bentonville’s magnetism is the type of people it attracts - Creative and ambitious thinkers from around the world, like Allyson de la Houssaye. The consultant from Cleveland arrived in Bentonville in 2013 and has since collected an impressive list of local leadership titles with organizations like Women of OZ, People for Bikes, Bentonville Parks and Recreation, and the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resource Council.
What is it about this place that captures outsiders like de la Houssaye and converts them into passionate advocates? She believes it has a lot to do with the collective desire for community.
De la Houssaye’s background is in media production and in 2007, she spent some time in Bentonville while working on a documentary for the History Channel, but she didn’t move here until six years later when her husband accepted a job with Walmart.
“Between 2007 and 2013, it was already becoming a new Bentonville. This is a small town, but there are a ton of very neat innovators and creators here, and it took getting involved in WOZ [Women of Oz] to start making those connections.”
At that time, the mom of three had no local connections and asked herself, “What is there to do here?” She took her Craigslist bike used for commuting in Chicago and started trailering her kids on the Greenway.
“It started there,” she said. “Then my oldest was in Pre-K with this woman who kept talking to me about bikes; her name is Kyla Templeton, and she owns Bike School Bentonville now. She’s very persistent, and that’s how I got connected with Girls Bike Bentonville. When I wanted to ride more, Kyla said there was this other lady who does a group ride on Tuesdays. It was Kourtney Barrett, the founder of JUNK Brands."
Barrett's Tuesday ride started as a group text and swiftly grew from 20 to 50 women. The need for a bigger solution was clear and Women of Oz was born.
In a few short years, de la Houssaye’s narrative was changing. She had taken her “rock hopper” and created the connection she was looking for, all while weaving herself into a fabric of doers who would help eliminate barriers for women in cycling and ultimately influence how families engage with trails in Bentonville. How? “Instead of fitting a woman into cycling, we fit cycling into a woman's life. That was the difference.”
“I remember the first meeting I got invited to and I was looking around the room thinking, ‘I shouldn’t even be here,’ she shared. “I ended up becoming the chairwoman, not intentionally, but I think I was just willing to show up and say, ‘Yes.’ All of these founders brought a skillset and just started doing.”
Like de la Houssaye, WOZ became a launch pad for other leadership roles in outdoor rec and cycling. “Through Women of Oz, I was able to make connections in the industry, which brought me to consulting for People for Bikes.”
Funny enough, de la Houssaye doesn’t even claim to be a bike enthusiast. “But it’s not about the bike,” she says. “It’s about what you can do with it. We know we can build community, we can create economic stimulation. I have such pride for this state.”
As a member of the Arkansas Natural Resource and Heritage Commission, de la Houssaye plays an influential role in what could be considered a rebranding of Arkansas recreational tourism. “How do we tell the story where we're being honest about the history, but also sharing a path forward? I've done some work with CJRW, who is doing content for state tourism, and I think the biggest opportunity is getting folks from Northwest Arkansas to understand what the rest of the state has to offer. We need to make sure that we're creating awareness and exposure, because this state as a whole is so beautiful and telling that story is the goal.”
One sentiment we shared as fellow transplants: "Isn't it funny when, in your mind, you think about home and you picture Arkansas? It's like a shift has happened."