SMITHFIELD – On Saturday, April 15th, the Partnership for Children of Johnston County held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Gray Wolf Homes Children’s Stage at the Partnership for Children Park.
The celebration began with songs from the Johnston County Community Choir followed by opening remarks from Suefan Johnson, the Partnership’s Board Chair, and Owen Daughtry, Park Committee Chair.
Throughout the day, the stage hosted performances by several well-known people and groups including words and juggling by speaker Curtis Zimmerman, guided story telling by author Cherie Feemster, and interactive dance by Artistry in Motion Performing Arts Center. Amongst the entertainment, there were several art stations for children to practice fine motor skills and information tables for parents to get connected to community resources.
This celebration illustrates two big accomplishments. First, the Gray Wolf Homes Children’s Stage, built to facilitate a variety of programs that promote children’s imagination and creativity, will now increase access to free programming for families across the county. Second, the Partnership for Children Inclusion Park has proven to draw diverse crowds, since opening in 2018, and the ribbon cutting was no exception.
“For our park to bring together people from different communities, speaking different languages, both young and old, to support our efforts is incredibly moving,” says Partnership’s Family Services Manager Beth Moore. The park began as a vision for a space where all children can play together regardless of ability and now with the addition of a stage, it offers another opportunity for inclusion while supporting children’s development.
