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Mosaic Templars
Cultural Center

The mission of the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center is to preserve, interpret, and celebrate African American history and culture in Arkansas. We spoke with longtime employee and MTCC director Quantia “Key” Fletcher about her role at the museum and the $3 million renovation that’s currently underway. 

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What do you wish more people knew about the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center?
 

That we are nationally accredited. In April 2020, the MTCC became one of only three Black history museums in the South to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is a distinction of which only one percent of museums nationally hold. This milestone has earned MTCC a place among some of the most prestigious museums in the country, including the Frederick Douglass House and the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air & Space Museum. We have the hardest working museum professionals ever and the gold seal of accreditation only tells others what we have always known: Black excellence lives here. 

What people, books, and/or life factors have influenced and impacted you?

The Warmth of Other Suns and Becoming really are speaking to my journey right now. My family migrated to Arkansas 20 years ago due to Hurricane Katrina, and I recently lost my mom in January due to COVID. I am learning that what my story is, is always being written. That to live must also mean to lose and embrace and share it with the world. I realize that my ancestry is rich and not just 100 years ago but 30 years ago when my mama laid my head across her lap and braided my hair. And even five years ago, because I’ve lost six immediate family members within that time. Our time is priceless and our stories matter. 

Describe your training, your interests, and/or your hobbies. What do you do when you’re not at the office and why?
 

While I may be a museum professional by day, I am a fitness professional 24/7. A series of health-related losses in my family turned my passion into purpose. My husband, daughter, and I love working virtually with people who want to improve their health. We provide opportunities for people all around the country to get moving and to transform their lives, their movement, and their wellness. My goal is to continue to empower and inform our community, which will in turn break generationally unhealthy practices. 

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