Summit Schedule

Opening

Welcome to the Moment: Opening Remarks | 9:00 - 9:20 AM

An energizing kickoff to the inaugural Juneteenth Summit—welcoming attendees, setting the vision, and grounding the day in culture, history, and forward momentum. This moment brings together city leadership and cultural stewards to officially open the experience.

Location: Performance Hall

Speakers:

  • Quantia “Key” Fletcher, Director, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center
  • Gina Gimberling, President & CEO, Little Rock Convention Bureau & Visitors Bureau
  • Frank Scott Jr., Mayor, City of Little Rock
  • Shea Lewis, Secretary, Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism
Quantia
Gina Gimberling, a woman in a black and white blazer and large pearl earrings with medium long brown hair smiling.
Frank Scott Jr., a man with dark colored glasses in a blue suit with a red tie smiling.
Shea Lewis, a man in a dark suit with a patterned tie smiling.

Lift Every Voice: The Opening Experience | 9:20 - 9:50 AM

A soul‑stirring opening that sets the tone for the day—inspired by the Arkansas Black Voices Exhibit, this showcase honors legacy, culture, and collective power through music, dance, fashion, and more.

Location: Performance Hall

Keynote Sessions

Living History: The Legacy of the Little Rock Nine | 10:00 - 11:00 AM

An intimate and powerful conversation with living legends, the Little Rock Nine, whose courage reshaped America—connecting past sacrifice to present-day purpose.

Presented by: Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site

Location: Performance Hall

Speakers:

  • Elizabeth Eckford
  • Carlotta Walls LaNier
  • Dr. Terrance Roberts
An older woman in a yellow blazer and white blouse seated with a microphone on a stage.
An older woman with short hair in a red blouse posing and smiling.
An older man dressed in a black suit with a yellow tie smiling.

Beyond the Field: Real Talk on Health, Success, and Life After the Game | 2:00 - 3:00 PM

NFL legends Darren McFadden and Fred Taylor sit down for an honest conversation about men’s health, mental wellness, alcohol use, pressure, and life after the game. Drawing from their lived experiences on and off the field, they will reflect on the pressures men face, the struggles that often go unspoken, and the role alcohol can play in coping with stress and everyday life. This barbershop-style conversation will explore what it takes to overcome real challenges, redefine strength, and become a champion in real life.

Presented by: Barbershop Talk – Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health: Center for Research, Health, and Society

Location: Performance Hall

Speakers:

  • Darren McFadden, Arkansas Native, Former Arkansas Razorback and NFL Player
  • Fred Taylor, Former NFL Player & Host of the Pivot Podcast
A man posing in a black shirt with a football held in his left hand.
A man in a black blazer and a gray hat holds a football in his right hand and points to it with his left.

Breakout Sessions

The Blueprint: Data, Dollars & the Future of Financial Empowerment | 11:00 - 11:50 AM

The City of Little Rock's Office of Financial Empowerment is creating its first-ever Financial Empowerment Blueprint. Funded by the CityStart Grant and powered by resident feedback, the Blueprint will detail economic boosts and blocks for residents in their money journey. This session will explore the data about what residents are saying about economic opportunity and financial security, but also what Little Rock can do to promote prosperity throughout the whole city.

Presented by: The City of Little Rock

Location: Hamilton Room

Speakers:

  • Marquise Willis, Chief Data Officer for the City of Little Rock
  • Kendra Pruitt, Founder and CEO of Solution Seekers
  • Jacob Hall, Banker, Mortgage Lender, and Entrepreneur

Moderated by:

  • James Owen, Director of Financial Empowerment for the City of Little Rock

Her Power, Her Way: Women Leading the Future | 11:00 - 11:50 AM

Bold women. Real stories. Unmatched impact. A powerful conversation on leadership, ownership, and building legacy on your own terms.

Location: Porter Room

Speakers:

  • Ashley McBride, State Director of AARP
  • Dr. Cherise Jones-Branch, Dean at Arkansas State University
  • Theresa Timmons, Westwind School for Performing Arts
  • Brittany Moss, Entrepreneur, Arkansas Business 30 Under 30

Moderated by:

  • Jennelle Primm, Southwest Power Pool

Motown of the South: The Legacy of Stax Records | 11:00 - 11:50 AM

This session explores the sound, soul, and cultural impact of Stax Records and its influence on Southern music, identity, and Black excellence. More than music, this is the story of a movement that shaped culture, created icons, and continues to inspire generations.

Location: Davis Room

Speakers:

  • Joe “Broadway Joe” Booker, Program Manager & DJ, KIPR Power 92
  • Al Bell, Former Executive & Co-Owner, Stax Records

Banking on Us: Wealth, Ownership & Access | 12:00 - 12:50 PM

A blueprint for building wealth in our communities—covering capital access, ownership strategies, and how to move from survival to scale.

Presented by: Southern Bancorp

Location: Hamilton Room

Speakers:

  • Kenya Gordon-Davenport, President, Southern Bancorp Community Partners
  • Charles Blake, Little Rock Market Executive, Southern Bancorp

Still I Rise: A Tribute of Maya Angelou | 12:00 - 12:50 PM

An immersive performance of poetry, music, and movement inspired by Maya Angelou. This live artistic tribute brings her words and legacy to life.

Presented by: Celebrate! Maya Project

Location: Davis Room

Speakers:

  • Janis Kearney, Celebrate! Maya Project

Turning Aura into Currency: The Arkansas Influencers Economy | 12:00 - 12:50 PM

Turn your presence into power. This session breaks down how creators, influencers, and entrepreneurs are monetizing culture and building real businesses.

Location: Porter Room

Speakers:

  • Demarco Bullock, Father, Fitness Advocate, Veteran, and Influencer
  • Roosevelt Harris, Musician, Comedian, and Influencer
  • Alia Pope, Teacher, Comedian, and Influencer
  • Kaila Holloway

Moderated by:

  • Tim Campbell, Media Personality, Entrepreneur, and Community Leader

Philanthropic Power, Partnership and Possibility | 1:00 - 1:50 PM

Join the Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative as we explore how to use  collective resources to build power and mobilize communities toward economic prosperity and progress.

Presented by: Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative

Location: Hamilton Room

Speakers:

  • Joyvin Benton, King Foundation
  • Sharon Lanier, Delta Dental Foundation
  • Stacy McAdoo, Executive Director at Teach Plus Arkansas
  • Keesa Smith-Brantley, Executive Director, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families

Moderated by:

  • Charity Hallman, Sr. Vice President of Community & Economic Development, Hope Credit Union

Southern Couture: Fashion, Style & Global Influence | 1:00 - 1:50 PM

Where culture meets couture. Designers and creatives break down how Southern style is influencing fashion, identity, and global trends.

Location: Davis Room

Speakers:

  • Bruce Brown, CEO, Tribe Aesthetic
  • Rochelle Johnson, Beauticurve
  • Korto Momolu, Project Runway Finalist and Fan Favorite
  • Michelle Revere, Fashion & Home Designer, Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Honoree

Love You Some Little Rock: The Rise of the City | 1:00 - 1:50 PM

Little Rock is on the rise—and the world is starting to take notice. This session highlights the city’s growth, momentum, and emerging identity as a cultural and tourism destination. From major investments to cultural experiences and national visibility, this is a look at how Little Rock is positioning itself on the map—and what it means for the people, businesses, and communities shaping its future.

Location: Porter Room

Speakers:

  • Andrea Lewis, First Security Bank
  • Antwan Phillips, Wright Lindsey Jennings
  • Jean Block, Little Rock Water Reclamation
  • Brenda Ficklin, Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau