1. Honorable (ret.) Judge Marion A. Humphrey, Sr. to Be Honored At Scholarship Gala featuring Food Network Star, Shombe Jones
2. Little Rock Alumni Chapter Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. & The Little Rock Diamond Foundation Hosts Achieving Excellence Through Education Awards Banquet
3. Museum to Host Exhibition on the Underground Railroad
Little Rock – The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History is pleased to present the traveling exhibition Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad opening Friday, September 4, 2026 and running through Thursday, January 7, 2027. The exhibition features color photographs and narratives that tell the story of the Underground Railroad and the enslaved people who risked their lives along its many routes. Between 1830 and the end of the Civil War in 1865, an estimated 100,000 “fugitive” slaves chose to embark on this journey in search of freedom. Many consider the Underground Railroad to be the first freedom movement in the Americas and the first time people of different races and faiths worked together in such large scale against the system of American slavery.
Photographer Jeanine Michna-Bales spent more than a decade researching former slaves and the ways they escaped to freedom. While the routes of the Underground Railroad encompassed countless square miles, the path Michna-Bales documented encompasses roughly 2,000 miles and is based off of actual sites, cities, and places that freedom-seekers passed through during their journey. From the cotton plantations south of Natchitoches, Louisiana, all the way north to the Canadian border, this series of photographs by Michna-Bales helps us imagine what the long road to freedom may have looked like as seen through the eyes of those who made this dangerous journey.
This exhibition is toured by Exhibits USA, a national program of Mid-America Arts Alliance. Exhibits USA sends more than twenty-five exhibitions on tour to over 100 small and mid-sized communities every year. They create access to an array of arts and humanities experiences, nurture the understanding of diverse cultures and art forms, and encourage the expanding depth and breadth of cultural life in local communities. Local funding for the exhibition is provided by Wright, Lindsey and Jennings.
The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History is located at 503 E. 9th St. in downtown Little Rock’s MacArthur Park. Operated under the Parks and Recreation Department, the museum collects, preserves, and interprets our state’s military past from its territorial period to the present to a local, national, and international audience. The museum is open free to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am – 5 pm and Sunday from 1 – 5 pm. For more information on exhibits and programming, visit the museum website at littlerock.gov/macarthur.
4. From Fear to Friendship: National MLK Commissions Conference Honors 15 Years of Partnership Between Harrison, Arkansas and the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission
**HARRISON, Ark.** — During the National MLK Commissions Conference, an extraordinary story of transformation and hope will be recognized by honoring the 15-year partnership between the City of Harrison, Arkansas, and the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission.
Once widely recognized for its painful history as a “sundown town,” Harrison has spent the past fifteen years building meaningful relationships rooted in dialogue, mutual respect, education, and community engagement. What began as courageous conversations has evolved into a lasting partnership that demonstrates the power of reconciliation and the enduring principles of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of the Beloved Community.
The theme, “From Fear to Friendship: The Dream Still Unites,”celebrates the remarkable journey from division to understanding. This milestone serves as a reminder that communities are not defined solely by their past but by their willingness to confront history, build trust, and create a more welcoming future for all.
“For fifteen years, Harrison and the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission have demonstrated that healing is possible when people choose courage over fear and relationships over division,” said Dr. DuShun Scarbrough, Sr., Executive Director of the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission. “Their partnership stands as a national example that Dr. King’s dream continues to unite people across differences.” ” If you were to Google Harrison, Arkansas, the first thing that comes up is a negative image of this town and we want to show that the beautiful state of Arkansas can be an example of unity and healing.”
During the conference, participants will reflect on the lessons learned through this historic partnership and celebrate the progress made through sustained collaboration. The recognition will highlight how honest conversations, shared service, and a commitment to human dignity can transform communities and inspire others across the nation.
The commemorative program will feature a keynote address, community reflections, and recognition of leaders whose dedication has helped foster understanding and friendship between Harrison and the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission including DuShun Scarbrough, Executive Director of the AMLKC and Mr. Isaac Farris, who is the nephew of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr..
As communities across America continue to seek pathways toward unity, the Harrison story offers a compelling example that reconciliation is not merely an aspiration—it is achievable through intentional leadership, consistent engagement, and a shared commitment to justice and compassion.
The Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission invites civic leaders, educators, faith communities, and citizens from across the nation to join in celebrating this historic milestone and reaffirming Dr. King’s vision that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
**From Fear to Friendship. The Dream Still Unites.**
August 27, 2026
National MLK Commissions Conference
Maumelle Park on the River, 11903 Crystal Hill Rd, Maumelle, AR 72113
10:00 AM-3:00 PM
Mayor Jerry Jackson, Harrison, Arkansas will present at 1:00 PM
#Media Contact#
**Dr. DuShun Scarbrough, Sr.**
Executive Director
Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission
Phone: 888-290-KING
Website: www.arkingdream.org
5. UAPB/AM&N Pulaski County Alumni Chapter Hosts Black & Gold Kickback Party III
