Celebrate Maya Project

We are EXTREMELY excited to be a part of Mosaic Templars Cultural Center's historical 2026 Juneteenth Summit, on Friday, June 19th at noon, in the Robinson Center Performance Hall - 426 W. Markham St, Little Rock, AR.
It is a great honor to share this day with the iconic Little Rock Nine members Elizabeth Eckford, Carlotta Walls Lanier, Terrence Roberts, and the many other presenters on this historical program!

Please join us as we share Maya Angelou's transformative story in poetry, music, and historical narrative. A story of a riveting journey that took young Marguerite Johnson from St. Louis, Missouri, to Stamps, Arkansas, and to...the world!

Program presenters will include Janis F. Kearney, founder of Celebrate! Maya Project; Drew Pirtle, a University of Arkansas student and award-winning poet, and Derika Wilson, a recent graduate of Central High School and recipient of a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music. Join us as we Celebrate Maya Angelou by sharing her stories in music, poetry, and words.
For more information, contact us at [email protected]

We are so excited to see an amazing Juneteenth evolution in Arkansas! Congratulations to Director Quantia "Key" Fletcher, and the Mosaic Templars Cultural Centeron this year's Inaugural Juneteenth Summit, scheduled for June 19, 2026!

Celebrate! Maya Project is honored to be part of this dynamic, interactive, educational and cultural event. See the day's schedule below:

Summit Schedule The two-story dogtrot structure was constructed by Jacob Wolf in 1829 as the first permanent courthouse for Izard County in Arkansas Territory.

It's Mother's Day, and in honor of this day, we share an excerpt from Maya Angelou's poem written in honor of her mother.

"Mother, I have learned enough now
To know I have learned nearly nothing.
On this day
When mothers are being honored,
Let me thank you
That my selfishness, ignorance, and mockery
Did not bring you to
Discard me like a broken doll
Which had lost its favor.
I thank you that
You still find something in me
To cherish, to admire and to love.

I thank you, Mother.
I love you."

Maya Angelou. "Mother, A Cradle To Hold Me." Family Friend Poems, https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/mother-a-cradle-to-hold-me-by-maya-angelou