Community Initiatives

OCTOBER 2021

STATUE COMMITTEE RECEPTION

On October 11, 2021, the News-Journal Center in Daytona Beach hosted a significant reception to unveil the marble statue of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune before its relocation to the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall. The event drew hundreds of attendees, including community leaders, educators, and members of Bethune’s family, all gathered to honor her enduring legacy as an educator, civil rights activist, and founder of Bethune-Cookman University.

The 11-foot, 3-ton statue, sculpted by Nilda Comas from marble sourced from Michelangelo’s quarry in Pietrasanta, Italy, represents a historic milestone as Bethune became the first African American to be honored in the National Statuary Hall with a state-commissioned statue. During the reception, Nancy Lohman, president of the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Statuary Fund, highlighted Bethune’s guiding principles, stating, “Our gaze is set. Our gait is steadfast. Our goal is service, and our mission is clear.”