2021 through 2024
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.”
Pictured left to right: Sculptor Nilda Comas, Daisy Grimes, Volusia County African American Leadership Council CEO, and Nancy Lohman, president of the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Statuary Fund.
JANUARY 27, 2022
CONVERSATIONS ON CANNABIS
On January 27, 2022, Florida A&M University’s Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative (MMERI), in collaboration with the Volusia County African American Leadership Council, hosted a virtual “Conversations on Cannabis” forum. This session focused on the theme “Cannabis and Nutrition,” exploring the growing trend of cannabis-infused foods and supplements. Medical and culinary experts discussed the nutritional benefits and potential risks associated with consuming cannabis, aiming to educate the public on safe practices and health implications. The event was part of MMERI’s ongoing efforts to inform Florida’s communities about medical marijuana and its impact, particularly within communities of color.
FEBRUARY 2022
CRITICAL RACE THEORY
In early 2022, the Volusia County African American Leadership Council (VCAALC), the Daytona Beach Branch of the NAACP, and Bethune-Cookman University’s Center for Law and Social Justice (CLSJ) co-hosted a community forum at Bethune-Cookman University. Moderated by Dr. Randy Nelson, Director of CLSJ, the event featured a distinguished panel that discussed the origins and purpose of Critical Race Theory (CRT), clarified its current use, and urged attendees to strengthen community ties around the notion that all people deserve a safe and productive environment to raise a family.
Panelists explained that CRT is a 40-year-old academic framework used in law schools to examine how policies and laws continue to uphold inequality and racism in our society. They emphasized that CRT is not used in K–12 schools but serves as a tool for critical analysis of various societal issues at higher education levels. The forum also included two brief videos demonstrating the long-term impact of historic racist policies that prevent groups of individuals from accessing opportunities that develop wealth and prosperity.
This forum exemplified the collaborative efforts of local organizations to educate and engage the community on pressing social justice issues. The VCAALC aims to unite the strengths of multiple African American organizations throughout Volusia County, while the CLSJ at Bethune-Cookman University focuses on developing programs that address historic and contemporary issues of social justice.
Pictured above are members of the Volusia County League of Women Voters with Volusia County African American Leadership Council’s CEO, Daisy Grimes, front and center.
JULY 10, 2023
THE UNVEILING
The bronze statue of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune in Daytona Beach was unveiled on August 18, 2022, at the Riverfront Esplanade Bethune Pavilion. This ceremony took place about a month after her marble sculpture was installed in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall on July 13, 2022.
While the bronze statue was not unveiled on her birthday, July 10, the community continues to honor Dr. Bethune annually on that date. For instance, on July 10, 2023, local leaders and students gathered at the statue in Daytona Beach to commemorate her legacy on what would have been her 148th birthday.
Pictured above are members of the Volusia County League of Women Voters with Volusia County African American Leadership Council’s CEO, Daisy Grimes, front and center.
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