SPECIAL PROGRAM REQUESTS
Grantmakers for
Southern Progress:
Community & Collaboration
Our board team was honored to participate in the Grantmakers for Southern Progress Convening in Little Rock, AR, from October 14-16. This gathering brought together funders and community organizations dedicated to strengthening support for marginalized communities across the South.
As part of the opening, our president and spiritual leader, María Cristina Moroles, was invited to offer a traditional ceremony, joined by Jennifer Moroles and Karen Milla. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our cultural practices and to connect with partners who are committed to uplifting and resourcing communities that have historically faced barriers.
Thank you to everyone who continues to build pathways of care, resilience, and collaboration.Thank you to everyone who joined us in this important effort! Your dedication helps strengthen our communities in times of crisis.
LA Wildfires
Trauma Training:
Helping Communities Heal
Our LA Wildfires Trauma Training, which took place February 15-16, 2025, provided vital skills for supporting those affected by COVID and wildfire-related trauma while incorporating culturally educational programs to address diverse community needs. Participants gained practical tools to foster resilience and recovery with an emphasis on culturally sensitive approaches.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in this important effort! Your dedication helps strengthen our communities in times of crisis.
Crystal Bridges Museum
Beloved Festival
Honoring MLK Jr.
On January 17, 2025, The Beloved Festival at Crystal Bridges Museum brought together the community to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, hosted by the NW Arkansas MLK Council. It was an honor for the Arco Iris Earth Care Project to be invited to participate in this powerful gathering.
Maria Cristina Moroles, spiritual leader and president of AIECP, opened the festival with a Native American prayer, blessing the event and setting the tone for a day of unity, reflection, and celebration. The festival was a welcoming, family-friendly event, drawing a diverse crowd, especially many people of color from NW Arkansas. Attendees enjoyed incredible multicultural cuisine, vibrant performances, and an atmosphere of togetherness—a truly beautiful experience honoring Dr. King’s legacy.
During the Texas Book Festival weekend on November 12, 2024, María Cristina Moroles , our President had the privilege of sharing excerpts from her book at La Peña in Austin, TX. Surrounded by a vibrant literary community, she explored themes of resilience, identity, and place, bringing the words of Águila to life.
The evening was filled with rich conversations and meaningful connections, a reminder of the power of storytelling to bridge experiences and inspire reflection. We are grateful to everyone who joined and looking forward to more opportunities to share this journey.
Texas Book Festival
La Peña, Austin
Guadalupe Cultural
Arts Center,
San Antonio, TX
On November 15, 2024, María Cristina Moroles had the incredible opportunity to read from her memoir, Águila: The Vision, Life, Death, and Rebirth of a Two-Spirit Shaman in the Ozark Mountains, and share the stage with Jessica Hoppe at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center in San Antonio. It was a powerful evening of storytelling, culture, and connection, celebrating the voices and experiences that shape us.
She was honored to showcase Santuario Arco Iris, weaving its essence into her reading and sharing its significance in her journey. She extends her gratitude to everyone who joined—it was truly a night to remember!
University of Arkansas
Multicultural Student Center
For the past two years, we’ve had the honor of providing culturally rich and educational programs for Día de Los Muertos at the University of Arkansas, thanks to the dedication of Sofía Ortiz, student president of the Multicultural Center. These programs have offered students and faculty a deeper understanding of this important Mexican tradition, celebrating the lives of loved ones who have passed while honoring cultural customs, symbolism, and history.
Through interactive activities, storytelling, and educational workshops, we’ve helped foster appreciation for the vibrant and meaningful aspects of Día de Los Muertos, contributing to the university's ongoing commitment to cultural diversity and education.
Northwest Arkansas Girl Gang
A Weekend of Healing
On June 5-6, 2024, girls from Northwest Arkansas Girl Gang (NWAGG) joined forces with Arco Iris Earth Care Project and Santuario Arco Iris for a transformative weekend of healing. This restorative gathering, held in the heart of nature, offered participants a chance for reflection, connection, and personal growth, supported by a compassionate community.
The program’s founder, Rachel Fox, envisions a future where both children and adults with disabilities are fully integrated into the expanding opportunities in Northwest Arkansas. This weekend marked a significant step toward that vision, promoting inclusion, empowerment, and collective healing for all involved.
University of Arkansas
Celebrating the Release of Águila: The Vision, Life, Death, and Rebirth of a Two-Spirit Shaman in the Ozark Mountains
On March 7, 2024, María Cristina Moroles was grateful to share her work at Old Main at the University of Arkansas. As the founder of Arco Iris, she connected meaningfully with students, faculty, and community members through storytelling and reflection. This event marked her very first public reading and the kickoff of her book tour, celebrating the release of her memoir. Her reading explored themes of identity, resilience, and earth stewardship, sparking conversations about heritage, healing, and our deep connection to the land.
In late June/July 2023, María Cristina Moroles had the honor of participating in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, where she shared ancestral healing traditions with audiences from around the world. Through ceremonial storytelling, plant medicine teachings, and cultural rituals, she offered insights into the deep connection between land, spirit, and well-being.
It was a privilege to highlight the resilience and ongoing legacy of Native healing practices, fostering conversations on holistic wellness, sustainability, and Indigenous knowledge. She is grateful for the opportunity to honor these sacred traditions and help ensure they thrive for future generations.
2023 Washington, DC, Smithsonian Museum, National Monument