Celebrate! Maya Project Announces 10-Year Anniversary, Statewide Celebrations, Awards, and more!
2024 marks 10 years since the death of Dr. Maya Angelou, and 10 years since a small group of Arkansas women came together to create a “Day of Remembrance,” in honor of Dr. Angelou’s life, in Stamps, Arkansas—Dr. Angelou’s childhood home. This year, Celebrate! Maya Project is celebrating its 10-year anniversary as well as its annual celebration of Dr. Angelou’s birthday in April.
“We are so excited we’ve been able to keep our promise, to keep Dr. Angelou’s name alive in Arkansas, and share her amazing legacy with youth and communities around the state. We look forward to celebrating our 10-year milestone and continue our mission to touch the lives of the children of Arkansas,” Janis F. Kearney, President and Founder, said recently.
The 10th Anniversary celebration will include celebrating Maya Angelou’s birthday throughout April, and scheduled celebrations around the state throughout the year, including a 10th Anniversary “Remembrance of Maya,” in Stamps, Maya Angelou’s childhood home.
Scheduled CelebratingMaya@96 Events
CelebratingMaya@96 Benefit Jazz Brunch will kick off the monthlong series of events on April 6, 2024. The Jazz Brunch will be held at the beautiful Chenal Events Venue, at 21 Rahling Circle, in Little Rock, and will feature JJ Adams’ Sounds So Good Jazz Quartet, and Chef Curlethia Swanigan, of Black Swan Restaurant. A special treat will be celebrity poets reciting Maya Angelou poetry. $50
CelebratingMaya@96 Spirit of Maya Awards Luncheon and Celebration marks the 10th Annual celebration of Dr. Maya Angelou’s birthday since her death in 2014. The luncheon is an opportunity to honor the birth and lifelong contributions of the great poet, author, artist, educator, and humanitarian Dr. Maya Angelou. The highlight of the luncheon will be announcement of CMP’s 2024 Spirit of Maya award recipients, selected based on their life work that mirrors Dr. Angelou’s commitment to “When you get, give. When you learn, teach.” The Rodney Block Collective will be the featured entertainment. The event is in partnership with the Clinton Presidential Center, and scheduled for April 11, 2024, at the Clinton Presidential Center. $100
CelebratingMaya@96 Presents a Screening of Still I Rise: Maya Angelou, on Friday, April 19, 2024, at the Ron Robinson Theatre, beginning at 6 p.m. The award-winning film, produced by Rita Coburn is one of PBS’ most watched films. The Benefit Screening is in honor of Maya Angelou’s 96th Birthday. The Screening will be followed by a short discussion. Free
All benefits from CelebratingMaya@96 will go toward CMP’s We’re Growing Dreams capital campaign to transform a currently uninhabitable home in the Central High School historic District, into the Maya Angelou Home. Information on sponsorships and ticket purchases will be available soon. Any questions may be directed to celebratingmaya@gmail.com For more information about our organization, please visit www.celebratemayaproject.org.
