The BeLOVEd Community Festival

A celebration of the beloved community…

The Beloved Community Festival: A Tribute to Unity & Culture

Presented by:

Sponsored by:

Musical Extravaganza produced by:

Her Set, Her Sound

This year’s entertainment lineup features thrilling dance, spoken word, song, and DJs to keep your feet moving, your soul stirred, and your heart encouraged.

Entertainment Lineup:

Kids Zone:

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The Kid Zone at the NWA MLK Beloved Community Festival is a joyful, interactive space where children explore how sports, teamwork, and kindness help build a more inclusive and caring world. Through hands-on artmaking, games, and storytelling, kids learn that they are part of the ongoing story of the Beloved Community — one rooted in justice, empathy, and unity.

Children are learning from the past and becoming builders of the Beloved Community — now and for the future. Through creativity, play, and reflection, they discover that each act of kindness, teamwork, and courage moves the world closer to Dr. King’s dream

Gallery Talks:

We gather in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of the Beloved Community, a space where unity, justice, and creativity come alive. These talks invite you to experience art as a catalyst for dialogue and connection.

Our curators, Josie Johnson and Alejo Benedetti, alongside community partners the NWA MLK Dream Keepers and the Phi Alpha Omega chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Debutantes, will guide you through selected works that reflect themes of resilience, identity, and shared humanity. This is more than a tour, it is an opportunity to engage, ask questions, and see how art can inspire meaningful conversations about how we can work together to create the Beloved Community.

Thank you for joining us for this journey of reflection and discovery. Together, we honor the power of art to bring people closer and create spaces where everyone feels seen and valued.

Times: 6:40 and 7:15

Please meet in the lobby to join the tour

Community Partners:

Conexión de Negocios Latinos-

Somos una organización sin fines de lucro que busca promover, educar y apoyar a emprendedores Latinos en Arkansas, con el objetivo de ayudar a que los negocios Latinos prosperen en el estado, conectándolos con recursos, brindándoles información útil y creando oportunidades de networking y desarrollo de liderazgo.

We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, educating, and supporting Latino entrepreneurs in Arkansas, with the goal of helping Latino businesses thrive in the state by connecting them with resources, providing valuable information, and creating opportunities for networking and leadership development.

Ra – Ve Cultural Foundation Inc.

EDUCATE. INSPIRE. SUSTAIN

Diversity is the essence of life. What would we be without our artists? In a world increasingly dependent on a screen, we at Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation seek to bring real world experiences to our little corner of the world here in Northwest Arkansas.

We are a registered non-profit dedicated to promoting Indian performing arts in NWA. We organize various classes and events at our space, Kalaloka Institute of Fine Arts, and at other venues in collaboration with other organizations.

We are proud to receive grants from the Walton Family Foundation, CACHE and the Walmart Foundation.

Salvadoreños Unidos Para Arkansas

Salvadoreños Unidos para Arkansas is a non-profit organization that aims to support and empower Salvadoran immigrants and their families in Arkansas. The organization provides resources and services such as legal assistance, education, health care, and community events. They also work to create a sense of community and promote cultural awareness and integration.

Salvadoreños Unidos Para Arkansas is an organization composed of compassionate individuals who diligently serve their community. We are a group of volunteers from El Salvador whose mission is to strengthen and empower our community through education, leadership, cultural initiatives, and, above all, the protection of human rights. We lead by example, fostering connections and working to create a kinder world.

Salvadorenos Unidos Para Arkansas (SUPA) is a nonprofit organization founded in Northwest Arkansas in 2016. We are an inclusive group dedicated to supporting our community by providing essential services that promote personal and professional growth. Our organization is staffed entirely by volunteers committed to assisting others.

Our fundraising efforts include collaborating with local businesses, organizing food catering events, and, most notably, hosting the annual Salvadoran Festival. The funds generated support individuals in need both within our community and abroad, including (but not limited to):

Funeral expenses

Legal immigration services

Hospitalization and treatment costs

Construction of schools

Construction of churches

Other vital initiatives

We take pride in our ability to aid our brothers and sisters in Arkansas, El Salvador, and Mexico. While we may not be able to change the entire world, we believe we can profoundly impact one person’s life at a time.

Chinese Association of Northwest Arkansas

The Chinese Association of Northwestern Arkansas (CANWA) is a 501(c)3 non-religious, non-political, and non-profit community-based charitable organization. 

Our mission is to promote, preserve, and celebrate Chinese culture, heritage, and community among Chinese, Chinese American, and those interested in Chinese culture. It provides a platform for people to connect, network, support each other, enhance the understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture among the broader community, and to support their integration into society, whether they are new immigrants or have been in the states for generations. Through various initiatives, such as Holiday celebration, cultural events, social gatherings, and educational programs, we aim to build bridges between people of Chinese descent and non-Chinese communities, promote cross-cultural understanding and exchange, and contribute to the diversity and richness of the broader community. 

Overall, CANWA is dedicated to preserving and advancing Chinese culture and values, while promoting harmony and inclusivity among all people.

Latinas En Bici

Our Mission: To empower Latina women through cycling education, community building, and inclusive outdoor experiences that foster mental wellness, build confidence, and create lasting connections.

What started as founder Olivia Barraza’s vision to create inclusive cycling opportunities for Latina women has grown into Northwest Arkansas’s most welcoming cycling community.

Salute To Greatness Awards:

Celebrate servant leaders from our region during our Salute to Greatness Awards.

Scholarships:

Celebrate the awarding of 17 local graduating High school seniors and 13 currently enrolled college students as they recieve $1000 scholarships from the J. Aaron Hawkins Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Schedule:

Eleven

5:45 – 6:30p | DJ N8TiV

7:00 – 9:00p | DJ Dribblz

Great Hall

6:05 – 6:08p | Land Acknowledgement

6:08 – 6:11p | MLK Council

6:11 – 6:15p | Mayor Orman

6:15 – 6:30p | Afrique Aya Dance Company

6:30 – 6:40p | Intro to hosts: Stacy Harper & Anthony DiNicola; house Ty Walker

6:40 – 6:45p | Kenzie Booker – Negro National Anthem

6:45 – 6:55p | Award #1 – Lifetime Achievement Award #2 Posthumous Award

6:55 – 7:15p | CC Mercer Watson

7:15 – 7:20p | Award #3 – Organization of the Year

7:20 – 7:30p | Blake Worthey

7:30 – 7:35p | Award #4 – Individual Contributor

7:35 – 7:55p | Papa Rap

7:55 – 8:00p | DJ Break

8:00 – 8:10p | Arlynda Jonas

8:10 – 8:25p | Scholarships & Young Adult Award #5

8:25 – 8:35p | Ladd Steppers

8:35 – 8:40p | Youth Award #6

8:40 – 9p | Sohan, Rajesh, and Ruthu

9 – 9:05p | Final Announcements

9:05 – 9:55p | Don Doc & the Devine

Art Workshops

Let Love Shine!

7-8 pm or 8:30-9:30 pm

Design your own glowing message of love and community! Use battery-powered string lights woven through black canvas to create neon-style words or symbols that shine bright and spread positivity.

Community Engagement:

Connect with fellow community members, fostering conversations, friendships, and mutual understanding.

Invitation to All:

Join us in celebrating the ideals of love, unity, and community, inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as we revel in an evening filled with cultural richness and communal harmony.

Follow us on Social Media for updates and announcements!

Culture– Connection – Unity

Let’s come together to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s vision of the 'Beloved Community.' Unite in celebration of our shared humanity and cultural richness at the Beloved Community Festival!

#BelovedCommunityFestival #NWAMLKJrCouncil #UnityInDiversity #NWAArtsCulture