Teen leader Ayden Howard helps elevate Texarkana’s Juneteenth Parade to new heights
As Juneteenth celebrations begin before this weekend’s parade, one local youth has been at the forefront of the preparations. At only 17 years old, Ayden Howard has not only helped bring members of the ArkLaTex community together but has also been a pioneer in the parade’s prominence.
Ayden began his journey at a young age, being involved with Piney Grove Baptist Church and at Resilience Studios with his mom, Andrea Kelley, also known as Coach Cookie. After a few years, though, he decided to branch out to other parts of the ArkLaTex. In 2019, Ayden joined The Scholars program, a non-profit dedicated to increasing academics and working with the ArkLaTex.
However, Ayden felt there was still more he could be doing, though he didn’t know what exactly. “I wanted to create a way for black businesses to network with each other,” he explained.
In 2021, he found his answer as the Biden administration recognized Juneteenth as a nationwide holiday, inspiring Ayden to pitch Texarkana’s first Juneteenth Parade to Coach Cookie and The Scholars.
For months, The Scholars and the team at Resilience Studios planned for the parade, with Ayden playing a massive part at only 11 years old. However, for some, his age kept them skeptical. “If an 11-year-old comes to you and is trying to convince you why you should pay money to be in a parade, you’re going to just shrug that person off,” Ayden explained. “But that was okay for me because it taught me how to curate a message, be powerful with my voice, and let people know that you are who you say you are.”
The first parade had a total of around 30 businesses and vehicles involved, though Ayden was hoping for more. However, in the five years since, the parade has grown in size for both business and crowd turnout.
Ayden learned from these setbacks how to make the event grow and has put him into a professional mindset early on in his career. More than anything, it’s taught him the importance of using his words to further his message.
On top of his social involvement, Howard’s time at Arkansas High School has also been an active one, involved as an AP student, a member of RazorbackTV, and as a member of the Arkansas High School Student Council, where he will be the Student Council President during his upcoming senior year. When he’s not on campus, he is attending classes at the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana with their collegiate academy program, where he’ll graduate next May with his associate’s degree. Recently, Howard was selected as an Arkansas High School delegate to go to Arkansas Boys State, held late last month at the University of Central Arkansas.
Both in the classroom and around town, Ayden has played a part in bringing people together, as will be seen with the parade this weekend. This year’s theme of “Resilient Women” will honor Grand Marshals Andrea Kelley, Katina Levingston, and Charkeitha Washington, all women whose leadership embodies the spirit of Juneteenth. The Juneteenth Parade will begin at the Four States Fairgrounds on 3700 East 50th Street this Saturday at Five PM, with open arms to all of the ArkLaTex.
“I think that a lot of people have been inculcated with the belief that Juneteenth is only a black event,” Howard expressed. “That is not true. This event is rooted in black culture, and it’s to celebrate black liberation. However, I would say that as a community, it brings people from all ages, all demographics, all races together.”