Annual 'Save the Children' concert set for Sunday

Carol “Cookie” Marks established a local Save The Children program in Jackson County in the late 1980s.

Along the way, she put together the Boys to Men Choir as an outgrowth of the program, which is meant to give young people a way to develop and showcase their talents, character and scholastic skills. And as it has matured and gained support, scholarships have been established in the name of Save the Children. Each year, participants put on a Black History Awareness program for the public. It usually includes performances by the choir, and a skit presented by young people in the program.

It continues to grow, said Marks, who is still at the helm in 2012.

This year’s public event is set for Feb. 12, on Founders Day at Pope Chapel AME Church. Services begin at 9:30 a.m. All former participants are encouraged to come and participate in the spirit of homecoming and support, Marks said.

This year’s program gives evidence that the program continues to stretch its reach, as artists and writers are joining in to contribute in a significant way for the first time.

Artists Richmond Marks Jr. and Lillie Clark will display their work at the event.

Writers Margena Myrick, Queen Brown and storyteller/actor Mary Flowers will also participate. Myrick wrote Grandparents, Grand Lessons, and has several other books completed or in the works. Brown has written local historical pieces. Flowers wrote and performs a one-woman show. Among the books to be on display is “Black America Series-Jackson County, Florida.” It was compiled in 2000 by the Gilmore Academy Jackson County Training School Alumni Association Inc. The book committee was made up of Chairman Sarah Pender, Lucy Hawthorne, Barbara Dixon, Roy Roulhac and Queen Brown.

Marks said she believes the Save The Children program is vital.

“It needs to be continued because it impacts lives far into the future,” she said.” I was asked if there was a theme to the program, other than Save The Children. I say that is the overriding theme. There’s no particular way to save the children; we need to save them in every way possible.

“We are emphasizing reading with the writers being here this year, because reading scores need to be improved, but really, this program is about every aspect of a young person’s life. In the skit, they’ll be learning about black leadership in their own communities, the “firsts”; the first black mayor of Greenwood, and of Malone, for instance. They need to know that they don’t have to go to Jet or Ebony magazine to read about black leaders; we have some here at home that they need to know about, too. It’s important for them to see that others in their own backyards have taken leadership roles. It can give them inspiration that they can do it, too.”

The Boys To Men Choir, the Youth Community Choir, the United Praise Ministries, Minister James Rhynes, Isaiah McFarland, A’dajah Swilley, Carlos Staley, Brianna Johnson and many others will be featured in the program.

During the presentation, a scholarship will be given to a member of the Black Student Union at Chipola College.

Save The Children welcomes new members into the program. For more information, call Marks at 482-3020 or Leon Kelly at 209-4310.