MARY MOORE
Poetry Honor
Honors Awards 2026
May 24 | Gem Theater | Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District
A Living Legacy. A Cultural Voice. A Force of Truth.
The 18th & Vine Arts Festival Foundation is proud to honor Mary Moore, affectionately known as “Mother Mary,” as the 2026 Poetry Honoree — recognizing a lifetime of artistry, activism, storytelling, and cultural leadership.
Mary Moore is not simply an artist.
She is a living archive.
Her life bridges the Deep South, the Civil Rights Movement, the jazz era, international performance stages, and Kansas City’s modern cultural landscape.
From Froggy Bottom to Kansas City
Born in Froggy Bottom, Louisiana, Mary grew up during the height of segregation, working in cotton fields as a child and experiencing firsthand the realities of racism in the American South.
In 1968, just before the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mary and her family relocated to Kansas City in search of opportunity and safety.
Kansas City became the soil where her artistry would grow.
A Voice That Cannot Be Boxed
Mary began her professional entertainment career in the mid-1970s, performing alongside Kansas City jazz masters and R&B artists. She opened for Richard Pryor and toured internationally throughout Europe, living and performing in Paris, Germany, and Switzerland.
She made history as the first multiple-time winner at Showtime at the Apollo, with performances that were later featured on CBS’s West 57th Street — helping inspire the creation of the nationally known television show.
But Mary cannot be confined to one title.
She is:
• Singer
• Poet
• Storyteller
• Actress
• Writer
• DJ (KKFI 90.1 FM)
• Community activist
• Cultural visionary
Her performances are not simply entertainment — they are experiences rooted in truth, memory, and healing.
International Cultural Impact
In 1999, Mary joined a historic voyage retracing the Middle Passage, boarding a 120-foot sail ship to honor the millions of Africans who perished during the transatlantic slave trade. A monument was lowered into the Atlantic Ocean — marking the largest unmarked gravesite in the world.
She later made international headlines in Senegal at the historic Slave House on Gorée Island, where she participated in a cultural residency rooted in remembrance and reconciliation.
Her original productions, including Lest We Forget: A Journey from Oppression to Triumph and Meet Me at the Table!, continue to spark dialogue about race, identity, faith, and healing.
A Kansas City Cultural Anchor
In Kansas City, Mary is known as “Mother Mary Moses” for her community outreach and advocacy for homeless women and disenfranchised families.
Through her Back to the Table Initiative, she fosters dialogue, unity, and restoration.
She represents the spirit of Kansas City’s Black arts movement — rooted in jazz, faith, storytelling, and truth-telling.
Why This Poetry Honor Matters
The Honors Awards exists to celebrate artists whose work preserves memory and shapes identity.
Mary Moore’s voice has spanned generations.
Her life reflects survival, triumph, and purpose.
Honoring her at the Gem Theater in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District affirms that poetry is not just words — it is testimony.
What to Expect on May 24
At Honors Awards 2026, Mary Moore will be celebrated through:
• A cinematic tribute honoring her life and legacy
• Live poetry tributes from Kansas City artists
• An official City Proclamation
• A formal Poetry Honor presentation
This moment will honor both her artistry and her lifelong commitment to community.
🌹 Join Us May 24
📍 Gem Theater
Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District
🗓 May 24, 2026
🎟 Red Carpet: 6:00–7:00 PM
🎭 Program: 7:00–9:00 PM
🎟 Be in the Room
Celebrate resilience.
Celebrate artistry.
Celebrate living legacy.
Give flowers — while they can still be received.