BUNNELL, Fla. – So much more than just the cutting of a ribbon and a few words of encouragement, the gathering of residents, dignitaries and volunteers at the G.W. Carver Center on Saturday to celebrate the expansion of the facility and remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was symbolic of a community striving to move forward, together.
Surrounded by Flagler County Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore and members of the school board, Flagler County Commissioners, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly, and Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson, G.W. Carver Center Site Manager Bonita Robinson spoke about the legacy of the Carver Gym for generations of her family and residents just like her in Flagler County.
“Today means so much to me,” said Robinson. “The center itself means so much to me, the legacy of it. Just growing up here, being a member of this community, working in the community, working with kids for so long, and then having the opportunity to come here and be a part of the history of the G.W. Carver Center, that means so much to me.”
It was a poignant reminder of how far the Carver Center has come as the ribbon was cut on the facility’s expansion from the days of potential shut down just a decade ago.
A staunch advocate for the community resource’s survival while on the Flagler County Commission and after her retirement, Flagler County resident Barbara Revels was on hand to show her support and share a few words.
“It’s a 10-year dream with a lot of work from a lot of people. It’s just a dream come true,” said Revels, pleased by the progress.
“(Back then) I did not know that we would have overall support from the community, that we would come together, including elected officials that would be willing to put money forward to make it grow.”
Attending with fellow commissioners Leann Pennington and David Sullivan, Flagler County Commission Chairman Andy Dance appreciated both the storied history and the future opportunities ahead for the community hub.
“It’s very important to enhance programs here in south Bunnell. I remember reading, while doing a little bit of research, Reverend Emmanuel calling this a light in the community, the Carver Center and so it’s really hard to describe it any way else,” said Dance.
“There’s a special place for the children here to feel safe, and for the community to help them – the school district, sheriff’s office, and others that put time and effort to put programs on in here, it’s very important.”
While contract negotiations are ongoing for use of the facility between Flagler County, the Flagler County School District and the Flagler Sheriff’s Police Athletic League, one thing is for certain, everyone involved has the best intentions when it comes to ensuring the future of the G.W. Carver Center, and the opportunities it brings for underserved and at-risk youth in Flagler County.
“The partnership we’re hoping to work out for Sheriff’s PAL brings more programs, brings a lot of funding to support the Carver Center,” said Sheriff Rick Staly.
“Our goal here is to partner with the school district, partner with the foundation. What we want to do is stop the generational aspect of the things that go on, the drug dealing, the domestic violence and those kinds of things. You can create an environment that shows the youth they have an opportunity if they just stay in school, buckle down, work hard, opportunities abound. Sometimes that gets missed in a lower income area, so we just want to partner and bring that to it. We have no have no intentions of taking over. That just is not what we want.”
Saturday morning’s ceremony featured remarks from area dignitaries including NAACP President Dr. Phyllis Pearson and Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson.
It was The Dream Keepers Chairman Dr. Mark G. Anderson’s whose message brought full circle the sense of unity and need to work together as a community during his remarks, before the start of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade.
“Today, you all are my family. And I want you to know that myself and some other people that are behind the scenes, we don’t just have this MLK parade just to have it, just to see cars or throw candy,” said Anderson.
“We have it because there’s a real need for progression in this county. Not just Bunnell or Palm Coast or Flagler. There’s a need for progression. We have to start looking at each other as family. Anything else, anything less, is unacceptable.”
“You see Blacks, Whites, Hispanics here. Everyone’s here. It can stay this way. We don’t ever have to separate. Regardless of what anyone else says on the outside, whether you’re a Democrat, whether you’re a Republican, whether you’re an NPA, none of that matters. None of that matters. It’s a moniker, it’s a title. No titles. They don’t matter. What matters, is us.”
