A son of Warren County is receiving national recognition for a lifetime of excellence, leadership, and service.

Marcus Kearsey, a native of Hollister in the Warren-Halifax area, was recently honored with the Bolden Icon Award, the highest distinction presented during the Bolden Awards 2.0: Home Away From Home in Atlanta, Georgia on May 23rd.

The award recognizes individuals whose impact extends beyond professional accomplishments to include meaningful contributions in service, faith, leadership, and purpose. For Kearsey, the honor reflects a remarkable career spanning more than three decades.

During the ceremony, Kearsey not only accepted the prestigious award but also delivered a performance that highlighted the talent and artistry that have defined his career. Throughout the years, he has built an impressive reputation as a dancer, choreographer, model, and actor, earning respect both within the entertainment industry and among the communities he serves.

The Bolden Icon Award celebrates individuals who have demonstrated sustained excellence while inspiring others through their work and personal commitment to uplifting those around them. For Kearsey, the recognition serves as a testament to years of dedication, perseverance, and passion.

A proud graduate of Warren County High School’s Class of 2001, Kearsey remains deeply connected to his roots. He is the son of Cecelia Kearsey and the late Charles Kearsey of Hollister.

His journey from rural northeastern North Carolina to national stages and recognition is a reminder that talent, hard work, and purpose can open doors far beyond county lines while still keeping home close to heart.

As Warren County continues to celebrate the accomplishments of its native sons and daughters, Marcus Kearsey’s latest honor stands as another example of the excellence emerging from our communities.

Congratulations to Marcus Kearsey on this well-deserved recognition and for representing Warren County with distinction wherever his journey takes him!

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The Front Porch Grocery Cooperative is calling all middle and high school artists to pick up their pencils, markers, and imagination for an exciting new design challenge! “We’re launching a Youth Design Program to inspire young creators in grades 6–12 to help shape the look and feel of our co-op’s stickers and T-shirts—perfect for showing off local pride and spreading the word about fresh, community-driven food,” Korita Steverson, project lead stated.

This program is more than just a contest—it’s a chance for youth to be seen and heard. The Front Porch Grocery Cooperative is also developing a Youth Advisory Council, and this design project marks the first step in identifying passionate young leaders who want to make a meaningful impact in their community.

They’re encouraging parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles to rally their creative youth to participate. Whether they’re seasoned artists or enjoy doodling, this is a fun opportunity to express themselves, connect with local food culture, and contribute to a growing cooperative movement.

All design submissions should follow the themes provided in the program guide, which is available online. Participants will have the chance to win prizes and, more importantly, have their artwork featured on co-op swag seen around Warren County and beyond!

For full details and to download the theme guide, click here.

For more information about The Front Porch Grocery Cooperative and their initiatives, visit their official website at https://thefrontporch.coop.

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The Heritage Quilters take pride in introducing young, creative minds to the art of quilting. This past week was no exception.

With quilts and supplies in tow, the Heritage Quilters stopped by Mariam Boyd Elementary School to speak with a group of third-graders during their summer enrichment camp.

Jereann King Johnson, one of the founding members, started the morning session by introducing the other members in attendance (Sterling Cheston, Margaret Bullock, and Belinda Mack Alston).

Next, Johnson read The Kindness Quilt by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace. Each student was provided with one’s own copy to read along and to take home. Bullock showed the different tools used in quilting and their purpose.

And, then it was the students’ turn.

Cheston led the students in their activity: creating greeting cards using precut fabric to make a quilt block on the cover. With two blocks to choose from (the pinwheel and the nine-patch), the students grabbed their glue sticks, and quickly went to work. Afterwards, they were then encouraged to write a message inside to give to a loved one.

Before leaving, the students showed their gratitude in the form of hugs and high-fives for teaching them something fun to do this summer. And, who knows? We may have met some little quilters in the making. We’ll see!

Learn more about the Heritage Quilters by visiting their website at HeritageQuilters.net.

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Step into a night of power, passion, and poetic reckoning as award-winning artist *
Thomas Park takes the stage for Incredible Soul – No Ways Tired, a one-man show that celebrates the soul and resilience of Black America through poetry, music, and storytelling on Sunday, June 22nd at 4pm.

This evocative performance, which will debut at 134 On Main in Warrenton, NC, is more than just a show—it’s a tribute. Park invites audiences to witness and honor the enduring identity and life force of African American people, with a special commemoration of Juneteenth—the day in 1865 when the last enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas learned of their emancipation, more than two years after Lincoln’s Proclamation.

Blending fractured instrumentals, fresh original poetry, and spoken word with audience participation, Park pays homage to a lineage of Black creativity and struggle. The performance includes the words and legacy of towering literary voices such as Claude McKay, Langston Hughes, and Maya Angelou, alongside the raw sound and social groove of Sly and the Family Stone, James Brown’s iconic “Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud)”, and a stirring tribute to the revolutionary spirit of Gil Scott-Heron.

This is not just a performance—it is a communal moment of reflection and celebration. Light refreshments will be served.

The admission is $10 with limited seating, so arrive early for a good seat.

Incredible Soul – No Ways Tired is a call to remember, to feel, and to rise—with art, with history, and with soul.

Don’t miss this stirring and timely journey. For tickets, visit warrenist.com/calendar.

134 on Main is located at 134 South Main in Warrenton, NC. This event is presented by the Warren Artists Market.

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If you were anywhere else in the world and not inside the Warren County Middle School gym last Friday evening (May 30), you missed out on a historic event in our community.

Under the directorial helm of Nichole Gibbs and Cherita Smith, the WCMS Musical Theatre 8th period class stepped into the spotlight and performed A Little Bit of Magic in front of their families, Warren County Schools staff, and community theatre enthusiasts.

A LITTLE BIT OF MAGIC, a stage production written by Gail Golden centers around “Do-Nothing Dale, a little picked-upon wizard, who wants to know what her little bit of magic is. On her journey to find out, she meets people like the laughing Coco the Clown and the singing Marilyn Melody, and she finds that she’s just as special as everyone else in the world.” (Source)

The magical night kicked off with a preshow featuring monologues from students, Lilly Byrd, Zha’niya Clark, and Elijah Pettus.

Nichole Gibbs, WCMS Theatre Arts teacher, prepped the audience for what would turn out to be an engaging and interactive event by breaking down Theatre Production 101 and what it takes to run a show by soliciting responses from the knowledgeable audience. Little did they know that, later in the evening, they, too, would be joining the actors on stage.

Overall, the show was amazing! There was singing. There was dancing. And best of all, we were so honored to witness these young talents at work. And with any good story, there was a lesson in the end: We all have that “something” that makes us special.

Who knows? Today, we’re applauding them in a school gymnasium. Tomorrow, it could be Broadway, and we can say we remember them when they got their start in Warren County.

Tickets for the show were $7, or $10 if one wanted to make a special shout-out.

Proceeds from the event helped cover costs for scripts, royalties, and security. Their future goal is to provide a starter fund for future WCMS Theatre Productions in order to produce shows on a larger scale.

If you’re interested in becoming a community partner or volunteer, contact Nichole Gibbs at ngibbs@warrenk12nc.org.

A Little Bit of Magic was presented by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., Denver, Colorado.

Preshow Feature Monologues/Scenes
Lilly Byrd, Zha’niya Clark, and Elijah Pettus

Cast of Characters (By Order of Appearance)
Player One – Keymoni Fuller
Player Two – Madison Aycock
Player Three – A’shayla Hawkins
Jonathan Primiano, Jr.
Pianist – Caleb Hargrove
Wonder Wanda – Ameerah Steed
Magnificent Mervin – Elijah Harris
Do-Nothing Dale – Amaris Yancey
Marilyn Melody – Serenity Henderson
Coco the Clown – Kira Cunningham
Depressed Daisy – Veronica Stewart
Flowers – Players and Audience
The Weatherman – Zyier Belcher
Kalabash Turnbull
Princess Patricia – Arely Gandarilla

Ensemble
WCMS Musical Theatre 8th period class and The Audience

Production Staff
Artistic Director – Nichole Gibbs
Musical Director – Cherita Smith
Choreography – Nichole Gibbs, Kayla Smith
Stage Manager, Lights, Ensemble – Jimmy Thorpe, Jr.
Sound – Kira Cunningham, Nichole Gibbs
Costume, Props, and Set – Nichole Gibbs and Cast
Publicity – Pioneer Drama, Jimmy Thorpe, Jr. and Production Stff
Production Assistance – Kayla Smith, Ayaina Blake, Kierra Townes
Box Office – Robin Closs and WCMS Staff

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Artist Max Dowdle will begin installation of the new mural on the Magnolia Ernest Recreation center pool building in Soul City on June 2nd. He is inviting community members of all ages to join him in the painting process. Individuals or families can participate for a one-hour shift between 3:00pm – 5:00pm on June 2nd through June 4th.

The new mural is part of the Legacy NC Mural Project by Dowdle, NC Main Street, and the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. The project aims to create a mural in each of North Carolina’s 100 counties that highlight the unique history and legacy of each county while creating a unifying thread that ties all of North Carolina’s counties together through art.

Dowdle worked with a committee of Soul City residents, community leaders, and members of the Warren County arts community to create proposed designs. These designs were then presented to the community and voted on. The winning design can be seen below (this design is still subject to minor changes from Dowdle).

Contact Hannah Jones at hannahjones@warrencountync.gov or (252) 257-3115 to sign up. To accommodate space, each shift will have no more than 10 people. No experience is necessary!

The Magnolia Ernest Recreation Park is located at 252 Duke Drive, Norlina, NC off Soul City Boulevard.

Learn more about Max Dowdle and to view his work, visit NCPublicArt.com.

For more information about the Legacy NC Mural Project, visit https://www.ncmainstreetandplanning.com/blog/categories/legacy-nc-100-murals-100-counties.

RELATED: Warren County Residents to Vote on New Mural Design for Soul City

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Joined by the Lake Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Warrenton, and mural artist Tom Lang, residents and friends from afar celebrated the new Eastern Bluebird Mural with a ribbon-cutting ceremony during the Eastern Bluebird Festival on Saturday, April 26th in downtown Warrenton.

Ahead of last year’s festival, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed Warrenton, NC as the National Eastern Bluebird Capital because the town has the highest concentration of them.

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Warren County Government is inviting residents to help shape a new public art piece by voting for their favorite mural design.

The poll opens this Friday, April 4, during the Statewide Star Party and will determine the artwork that will adorn the Magnolia Ernest Recreation Center pool building. The mural will celebrate the history and legacy of Soul City, a pioneering planned community founded in the 1970s with a vision of Black empowerment and economic opportunity.

Residents can cast their votes online via the Warren County Government Facebook page or website, as well as in person at the Statewide Star Party on April 4 or at the Warren County Memorial Library. Voting will close on April 14, with the winning design announced via Facebook Live on April 17.

The mural is part of artist Max Dowdle’s Legacy NC project, an initiative aiming to create public murals in all 100 North Carolina counties. Each mural highlights local history and unsung heroes, weaving a visual narrative that connects communities across the state. The two designs up for consideration were developed through collaboration between Dowdle, a committee of Soul City residents and community leaders, and members of the Warren County arts community.

Beyond selecting the design, residents will have the unique opportunity to contribute to the mural’s creation. Community members are invited to take part in the painting process, further embedding local pride and participation into the project.

The Warren County Facebook page and website will soon have details on how to sign up for the painting experience.

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Known for crafting compelling narratives that resonate deeply with audiences, Warren County native Garrett Davis is bringing another profound stage production, Father Figure to the McGregor Hall stage on Sunday, February 2nd.

Centered around the importance of why fathers should be in the lives of their sons, Father Figure is branded as an “Edutainical(TM)” experience, which combines the emotional depth of live theatre with music and storytelling. In Father Figure, Davis highlights the impact of fatherlessness while offering hope, healing, and a path forward.

Gdavis Productions and Films, founded by Davis in 1994, is a leading theater company known for nationally touring stage plays that depict real-life situations, including Mama’s Girls and Forget Me Not.

Another Warren County native, Dartez Wright, once Davis’s student at Warren County High School and now serves as Creative Director, is also featured in the play.

Tickets for Father Figure are $20 (advance), $25 (day of show), and $15 (student), and are on sale now at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/11557 or by calling the McGregor Hall office at (252) 598-0662. The box office will also open one hour before the show starts.

McGregor Hall is located at 201 Breckenridge Street in Henderson, NC.

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The North Carolina Arts Council is pleased to announce the opening of its grant application period for the fiscal year 2025–2026. Starting January 6, 2025, arts organizations and artists across the state are invited to apply for funding to support projects that enhance the cultural landscape of North Carolina.

All applications must be submitted electronically by the deadline (Monday, March 3, 2025) unless otherwise specified in the grant guidelines. It’s important to note that applications will undergo a preliminary review by Arts Council staff; incomplete submissions or those not meeting evaluation criteria will not be considered for funding.

Funding Period:
For most grants, the funded activities should occur between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. Applicants should be aware that award notifications may be delayed until the state budget is approved.

Eligibility Requirements:
To qualify for funding, organizations must:
* Be a nonprofit in good standing with the state of North Carolina or have applied for nonprofit status using a fiscal agent.
* Have been producing quality arts programs for at least two consecutive years.
* Have prior-year organizational cash operating expenses of at least $20,000.

Additionally, all applicants are required to have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, which can be obtained through Sam.gov.

Grant Categories:

The Arts Council offers a variety of grant opportunities, including:
* Grants for Organizations: Supporting arts organizations in delivering programs that engage audiences and reflect their communities.
* Grants for Artists: Providing project grants to individual artists to pursue projects that further their artistic and professional development.

Applicants are encouraged to review the specific guidelines and eligibility criteria for each grant category to determine the best fit for their projects.

Application Assistance:
Prospective applicants are encouraged to begin the application process early to ensure all materials are completed and submitted by the March 3 deadline.

For more information and to access the online application portal, visit the North Carolina Arts Council’s official website.

The North Carolina Arts Council is dedicated to supporting the state’s vibrant arts community and looks forward to funding projects that contribute to the cultural enrichment of North Carolina.

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