Henderson’s city operations facility has had a few names since it was constructed – but the name it officially got today (Tuesday, Feb. 1) will be a lasting one. From now on, the building, located on Beckford Drive, will be named for Dr. Andrea Harris, who died in May 2020.
Harris grew up in Henderson and was an educator, as well as a civic leader and activist at the local and state level. The City Council voted in 2021 to rename the building in memory of Harris.
Alice Sallins was among those in attendance at the official ribbon-cutting and dedication Tuesday morning. Sallins worked alongside Harris when they both were involved with the NAACP.
“I knew her very well,” Sallins said of Harris. “When she was president of the NAACP, I was vice president.” Being involved in the community in which you live was important to Harris, and Sallins continues to follow Harris’s example.
“If you’re involved, then you represent the rest of the community,” Sallins told John C. Rose in a phone interview Tuesday morning. If you’re sitting at the table, “you’ll make sure you get a slice of the pie,” she said.
Although Sallins said things have gotten better, she said there’s still room for improvement when it comes to have diversity among the various boards and governing bodies and agencies in the community. “We’ve come a long way, but we’ve got a long ways to go,” Sallins said.
“If you’re planning for me and not including me, then you’re not planning for me at all,” she said.
As Sallins waited for the dedication to begin, she reflected on her friend, Andrea Harris. “She would be pleased, really, if she were here today.”
Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington offered remarks on the occasion of the dedication, saying that city officials gathered “to commemorate an exceptional part of our community’s history and celebrate one of our own.”
“Looking at the City Operations building and the name that is forever etched, helps to tell a brighter, fuller story of who we are,” Ellington said in a written statement to WIZS News on Tuesday. “Many citizens pass through those doors to cast their votes in every election – local, state and federal – with a promise of democracy and it reminds us that we all are created equal. Today we remember one of the brightest lights of our time. A brilliant champion for all people, a fierce friend and truly a phenomenal lady. We cherish the time we were privileged to share with Dr. Andrea Harris.”
Vance County Arts Council Black History Month Virtual Program
The Vance County Arts Council is planning a virtual Black History Month program that will be available beginning Monday, Feb. 7 for viewing.
Alice Sallins, the council’s executive director, shared names of some of the artists who will be featured in the project, which can be viewed via YouTube. Willa Brigham, a Charlotte-based storyteller and daytime Emmy award winner, is one well-known personality who will be a part of the virtual celebration.
Sallins said Brigham will have a 45-minute session that will be recorded and offered to the Vance County Schools, as well as the general public, for viewing.
Stella Jones will share African American poetry and vocalist Evelyn Couch will perform Negro spirituals. Johnny Watkins will recite poetry by Langston Hughes, she said.
The program should be completed this week and will be uploaded by Saturday.
The link will be live from Monday through the end of February. Look for the links on the Vance County Arts Council Facebook page and in other locations, she said.
“Look for a high time,” Sallins said. “We have some very good artists who are working hard” to create a quality program for the community to enjoy.