Carver’s 75th a call to action
Community center needs those who benefitted to give something back
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On the evening of Oct. 29, there will be a monumental occasion at Pastarrific’s Bel Air events center. The Carver Community Center will celebrate its 75th Anniversary, and the event will be a fundraiser to secure a future for the historic landmark.
The keynote speaker that evening will be Bob Knowling, a Kokomo native who is a successful corporate business leader, author, mentor, and philanthropist. One of the hopes of the event is that a restoration of pride and a rejuvenating enthusiasm for the enduring institution is generated.
There is a sense with community folk that this anniversary means a great deal. Byron “Big Daddy” Ellison who will be MC of the event expressed, “it is personal for me. Not only did I grow up in the Carver Center, but man [memories of] running those hallways, throwing the ball in the old gym. Back in those days downstairs was the game room, it was a hangout, it was a community place to be. Parties would be thrown down there. It was just our place, to grow up and to grow in.”
The overwhelming majority who came up experiencing the Carver Center felt an emotional connection like no other. The Carver Center for decades has been a haven for young people and adults who needed activities and structure in their lives. “It provided us with enough structure that we didn’t necessarily have to be at home to feel at home,” said Ellison.
Carver’s very intent was to fulfill a need for African American youth in the Kokomo community. In early 20th century Kokomo, during a time of institutional segregation, black youth did not have the same access to recreational facilities as others and were denied entrance to facilities young white people took for granted.
Rev. Henry A. Perry of Wayman Chapel AME church, and principal of Douglass School, saw this need in his community and as early as the 1920s knew there had to be a place the African American child could grow up and participate in the same activities as white youth. He called on a friend he met while attending the Tuskegee Institute. That friend was George Washington Carver, an Afro American hero, innovator, and botanist.
With Carver’s blessing, Perry worked diligently over the years to make this dream a reality. World War II slowed progress on the project, but after years of work, Perry’s dream came to fruition in 1948 when the Rec Center opened its doors. According to the Howard County Historical Society, “to this day [Carver] remains a significant part of life in the community for people of all racial, social, and economic backgrounds.”
Adrianne Brown a lifelong resident of Kokomo, spoke of how much Carver has meant to her. Her comments highlight the significance of a place like Carver in the area of town known as the “neighborhood.” After naming off a list of people who made an impact in her life, including Ms. Joanne Ellison, Ms. Dupee, Ms. Gaines, Ms. Fears, and the Tolers, from whom she received services and was taught life skills such as cooking, knitting, crotchet, finances, Brown herself stepped into these roles for those youth who came after her.
“There were so many clubs I was involved in,” said Brown. “Then, I was on the board for 20 years or more. Carver Center means and meant a lot to me growing up. I would like more people to get involved with Carver.
“I’m old school and don’t like changes too much, but I’d like to see where it’s busier over there and more activities for the youth. That’s my dream. I’m just hoping to see some of the things that I had seen in the past. It was a success, and that’s what we need.”
Brown is an example of action. There is a call for greater action, volunteerism, in local youth facilities for the benefit of the future; the children. The time has come for the torch to be passed; for individuals in their 20s, 30s, and 40s to step in and be what the older generations were for them as kids.
Danny Patterson has been active with the Carver Center for more than 40 years, and his contribution has always been one of giving the younger generation the “esteem,” as he puts it, to be great.
“I’ve always dealt with kids to give them the esteem to want to play, or the esteem to want to be a good person and upstanding student,” said Patterson. “Also, to be a team player. It’s taught me a lot about people, how to deal with people and things that come up, good or bad. I think the Carver Center has been that to the black community for many years. I’d like to see it stay that way.”
Patterson emphasized his belief this anniversary celebration will highlight all of the good things that have happened through the Carver Center. He has been a “Carver kid” since about the age of 9 and was a part of numerous programs for youth coming up. He witnessed the beginning of the prestigious Carver basketball program and has coached for many years.
“I turned 72 this year,” said Patterson. “The ones I taught coming through there, it’s time for some of them to give back.”
When people think of Carver Community Center, they often think of sports, basketball primarily. Director of Carver Center Donta Rogers feels that there should be a greater push for the other components of the mission statement: “Building on the legacy of our community by promoting education, health, and well-being.”
“Carver has been around and a pillar in our community for all these years and has been great for all walks of life,” said Rogers. “We want to continue that for another 75 years. We’ve sustained our sports side, and well-being side, but we really need to push that first thing it says in the educational piece.”
Rogers mentioned a goal of the Carver Center is to pick up on the after-school tutoring and increase after-school programming. He stressed the importance of community support.
“We need support, we need membership, and I need people to come and talk about new ‘think outside the box’ ideas they have,” said Rogers. “We must change with the times and get younger people in the building.”
To support the Carver Community Center through donation, volunteering, or sponsorship, contact the office by calling 765-457-9318 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.