PANAMA CITY — Education was the overarching theme during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration Monday at McKenzie Park.
Bay District School Board members Steve Moss, Joe Wayne Walker and Ginger Littleton all spoke, as well as John Haley representing Superintendent Bill Husfelt.
“A quality education is the key to individual freedom,” Walker said.
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Moss talked about the district’s effort to establish a mentor program, adding that adult male role models are in short supply.
“It’s easier to build strong children than to repair a broken man,” Moss said.
An example of a mentoring relationship was literally on display at the festival; both Ricky Steele and Quinton Johnson were showing off their art. Steele had a tent, three walls filled with paintings, with more waiting in stands. He was at work trying to convince patrons who already have a few of his paintings already in their homes. One man relented and purchased a small version of Jackie Robinson captured in mid-slide.
Johnson’s setup was more simple three white tables with his oil paintings splayed out in rows.
“He encourages me,” Johnson said of Steele. “If I don’t sell anything, don’t get discouraged.”
Steele has been working with Johnson, a 17-year-old Bay High School student, for about a year, and the influence of the older painter is evident in the work of the student. Steele described himself as an emotional painter and he conveys feeling by capturing specific moments — one is two boys at a water fountain; the larger of two lifting his short friend to the stream of water; another is a child sitting on his grandmother’s lap.
“I seldom do middle-aged people,” Steele said of his tendency to paint children and elders. “My age group is the group that dropped the ball. My parents were better parents than we are.”
Part of Littleton’s presentation was allowing Florida State Panama City student Brandon Yates to show off his robot, which recited a portion of King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. The white and orange robot was captivating Joscelyn Peterson, 10, and her three younger siblings — Kierston, Paradise and Prince.
Littleton said it is especially important the school district inspires students to be interested in science, technology, engineering and math.
“Those are areas where there are many jobs and lucrative jobs,” Littleton said.
Joscelyn already has a head start at North Bay Haven Charter Academy, where she is part of the tech club. She is a part of the podcast team and has played around with a green screen and pretended she was in Tokyo.
“For this new generation it’s mostly about technology and they’ll have to go further than high school,” said Juliatte Smith, who listened to all the speeches.
City Commissioner Kenneth Brown’s main message in his speech was about the community being active and participating. Rutherford student Cheri Hines was already out in front of that advice. The 15-year-old spoke at the march Saturday, relaying her thoughts on what King would make of the world today. On Monday, she sang two songs: “Listen” by Beyonce and “I Have Nothing” by Whitney Houston.
The Democratic Women’s Club gave out backpacks filled with notebooks, pencils and other school supplies.
“Because so many kids can’t afford them,” DWC member Mary Lee Raulerson said.
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Johnny Campbell and Zelene Cady were raising a small amount of funding for the Homer S. Jackson Scholarship, $1,000, which goes to students interested in pursuing a career for education.
Monday was a school holiday, so many children attended. Included in Monday’s festivities were a bounce house and other forms of entertainment.
“We do this for the kids, so they can have fun,” organizer Sharon Sheffield said.