There’s another Little Free Library in Brevard and I have the scoop. I am so very excited because our local Brevard Branch of American Association of University Women has put up a brand new Little Free Library. This has been a wonderful project and it all started when I filled in as a last minute speaker for a program last spring. The group decided to work towards putting one up in an underserved neighborhood and this week that dream became a reality.
We chose a spot that does not have one close by and one that would be part of a community that is underserved. The great thing is that we were able to partner with the Mary C. Jenkins Community and Cultural Center that was being built for this specific neighborhood. The Mary C. Jenkins Community and Cultural Center is located in the Rosenwald area of Brevard. The center will serve many and I loved reading what their mission, vision and purpose is.
Mission
To promote a healthy, livable community with opportunities for educational, personal and cultural enrichment.
Vision
To enrich and inspire our community through quality experiences, people and places.
Purpose
- Enrich and inspire our community through quality experiences, people and places and diversity and individuality.
- Celebrate MCJCC’s historical significance in the life of the community.
- Serve as a community gathering place.
- Be a multi-purpose, multi-generational and multi-cultural center that provides educational, social and recreational programs/activities.
- Collaborate with other organizations/agencies to help fulfill the mission of MCJCC.
Our Little Free Library is going to be filled with many wonderful books. We have taken the history of this area seriously and educated ourselves on what the original roots were. The following is taken from the MCJCC website:
Mary B. Kilgore, while she was a student at Shaw University, envisioned creating a place for African Americans to gather for community meetings and social events. Upon her return to Brevard, she initially presented her vision to a group at Bethel Baptist Church. The idea was greeted with enthusiasm and on June 8, 1942, the first Community Center in Rosenwald opened at the church. It offered a children’s nursery, daily craft activities for 6-12 year olds and sports activities for teens.
We were able to partner with our local independent bookstore, Highland Books, and with their help we have been able to obtain a great supply of wonderfully culturally diverse books that local residents and visitors have purchased for this Little Free Library.
The other really great thing is that the library itself was donated and a local student painted it. Another local business, 3 Oak, furnished the wood that holds the Little Free Library in place. It has definitely been a group effort but the good news is that it is finally up and will be ready to go for the Grand Opening of the center on October 22nd.
I am thrilled that we have another Little Free Library in our community. We do have an Amazon wish list of books and if any of you feel that you would like to help us out by buying a book you can go to this list and select one, select my gift registry as the shipping address and it will come directly to me. Here is the link. Even if you don’t want to donate, take a look at some of the great books that will be in the library. I am just so impressed with all of the great selections that are available that celebrate diversity.
Tell me, do you have any Little Free Libraries close to you? Do you seek them out? I would love to hear all about it so please leave me a comment and Comment for a Cause for Operation KeepSafe.
