News Flash Home
The original item was published from 11/28/2022 11:14:00 AM to 11/28/2022 11:44:43 AM.

News Flash

Daytona Beach - City Highlights

Posted on: November 28, 2022

[ARCHIVED] Popular community center to be renamed to honor couple

Charles and Julia Cherry_Photo from Charles Cherry_06-17-2022

The Midtown Cultural & Educational Center will be renamed the Julia T. and Charles W. Cherry Sr. Cultural & Educational Center in a public ceremony 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at the center, which is located at 925 George W. Engram Blvd. 

Commissioners approved the renaming of the facility in the Cherry’s honor to commemorate the couple’s legacy and philanthropic contributions to the City of Daytona Beach. 

Charles W. Cherry, Sr. (1928-2004) was a U.S. Army veteran, who worked at Bethune-Cookman as a business professor. He was the founder of the Daytona Times and its sister newspaper, the Florida Courier. He led the Florida State NAACP Conference and local NAACP branch (1971-1980 and 1995-2001).

Mr. Cherry was elected a Daytona Beach City Commissioner in 1995 representing Zone 6. He was reelected in 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003. He served until his death in November 2004. He was the first Black to be admitted to the Daytona Beach Board of Realtors in 1967. 

Cherry's life was multi-faceted, with an extensive number of accomplishment but the center piece was always a determination to see equal rights for all people, not only in Daytona Beach, but throughout the U.S. and the world. He was appointed by former Governor Bob Martinez to the Florida Advisory Board for Education of Blacks in Florida (1989-1991); appointed by Governor Rubin Askew to the Statewide Steering Committee on Health (1977-1981); established and developed a highly successful Cooperative Education Program, which placed students at Bethune-Cookman College in internships with businesses, government and the military.

In addition to being an educator, Julia Troutman Cherry was an assistant counselor for women at Bethune-Cookman College and a member of Hope Fellowship Church. She also was an active member of the Bethune-Cookman University Women’s Advisory Board, a charter member of the DeLand Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and a Golden Heritage Life Member of the NAACP.

The community center features a gymnasium, a music recording studio, a dance studio, meeting rooms, a computer room and offices. It opened in 2012 and replaced the Cypress Street Recreation Center, also known as the PAL Center.

 

Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in Daytona Beach - City Highlights

Summer fireworks on Saturday nights in Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach is lit

Posted on: May 18, 2023
EC_Computer_Classes (1) (1)

Free computer classes

Posted on: June 2, 2023
EC_Gymnastics_SpringB23 (1)

Gymnastics summer camp

Posted on: May 30, 2023
FB_Pool_Hours (2)

Summer pool hours

Posted on: May 31, 2023
KIDS SUMMER CAMP WEB

Youth summer camp starts June 5

Posted on: April 12, 2023
Juneteenth Daytona Activities

Juneteenth Activities

Posted on: May 18, 2023
EC_Game Night

Join us for Game Night this summer

Posted on: June 1, 2023
Annual fire hydrant maintenance

Testing of city’s hydrants underway

Posted on: April 12, 2023
WEB_Adopt-A-Drain_July 7 2021

Residents can Adopt-A-Drain

Posted on: April 7, 2023
Deadline for Biketoberfest vendors

Deadline for Biketoberfest vendors

Posted on: March 20, 2023
WEB Parks and Rec hiring (1) (1)

Join our team

Posted on: April 18, 2023
WEB_Flooding Study_Nova_March 1 2023

Nova Canal Flood Mitigation update

Posted on: March 1, 2023
Daytona Beach Hurricane Recovery

Beach access and recovery updates

Posted on: February 3, 2023
Midtown Center renamed to honor community icons

Center renamed to honor community icons

Posted on: December 21, 2022
WEB_First Step Shelter_Jan 10 2023

Contribute to the solution

Posted on: January 10, 2023
A New Design (1)

Motor oil collection sites

Posted on: September 2, 2022
FB_Stay Connected_April 6 2022

Stay engaged and connected!

Posted on: August 26, 2022