The Celebrate! Maya Project will honor the life and work of artist and activist Maya Angelou during the launch of the Still I Rise Delta Voices Initiative.
The event will be held from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at the McGehee Desha Alumni Community Center at McGehee. The project is also celebrating Angelou’s birthday.
“This event will include a screening of the ‘Still I Rise’ documentary, an inter-generational conversation about Maya Angelou’s life and its meaning for youth today, and community poetry readings,” according to a news release from Janis F. Kearney, the Celebrate! Maya Project founder. “The initiative is part of the Celebrate! Maya Project’s overall efforts to ‘Take Maya to Arkansas Schools and Communities,’ with specific focus on Arkansas’ Delta regions.”
While Angelou is recognized most as poet and author, she was noted foremost as a lifelong advocate for civil and social humanity, Kearney said.
“We seek to share a wholistic view of Maya Angelou, including her message for preparing for a better life, and finding ways to make the world better through service,” she said.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
This is an opportunity for the project to partner with schools, parents and community leaders, Kearney said, adding, “We desperately want to be a part of that village, to help them understand their power to make a difference.”
The Celebrate! Maya Project is a statewide 501(c) organization, whose mission is to “help honor and promote the inclusive literacy, creativity and social consciousness of the life and work of artist and activist Dr. Maya Angelou.”
Other upcoming events include:
Friday, April 8 — 5-6 p.m. — Hot Springs Celebrate! Maya Project Fundraiser; Celebrating Maya in Poetry and Music will be held at the Tower of Strength Ministries at Hot Springs.
Thursday, April 13 — 9:30-11 a.m. — A Day of Remembrance at Dumas High School; Celebrating Maya Angelou’s Life and Legacy; Scholarship and Poetry Awards event will be held at the school at Dumas.
Sunday, April 23 — 2-5 p.m. — Celebrating Maya’s Life in Film and Music…in honor of her 89th Birthday; Screening of “And Still I Rise,” and Music by the Art Porter Singers will be held at the Clinton Presidential Center at Little Rock.
“The Still I Rise Delta Voices Project seeks partnerships with Arkansas Delta schools, communities and organizations to help share the life and legacy of global icon Maya Angelou, whose roots are in Arkansas, but whose humanity, teachings and stories span the globe,” Kearney said. “Maya Angelou’s iconic ‘Still I Rise,’ will be used as a blueprint for success throughout this project. “We are so grateful to our partners: the Arkansas Humanities Council, the Arkansas History Commission’s Curtis Sykes Grant, the McGehee Desha Community Center, and special gratitude to the Arkansas Department of Education for their support.”
Details: www.celebratemayaproject.org .