YMCA Leaders Club Presents Black Wax Museum

The Freehold Borough YMCA Community Center Leaders Club held a Black Wax Museum on Thursday, Feb. 10 in honor of Black History Month. Each member of the club memorized several lines about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The children stood in place and would recite their lines when someone came up to them and gave a small donation.

The funds raised will go toward the regional weekend rallies Leaders Club members attend four times a year, and the yearly Pennsylvania and Central Atlantic Areas conference the children participate in for a week in July, according to Shavonda Hickman, assistant outreach director for the YMCA and advisor to the Leaders Club. The club meets each Thursday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the YMCA and is open to students age seven to 18 years.

“We’re trying to teach them how to be better leaders in the community,” Hickman said.

The children originally learned their lines for the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast on Jan. 17 at Branches in West Long Branch. The YMCA decided to include the Black Wax Museum in their schedule of Black History Month events.

Members of the Leaders Club who participated in the Black Wax Museum include I’keria Council, 9, of Freehold Township; Shayla Hunley, 11, of Freehold Borough; DeeDee Bond, 11, of Freehold Township; Nessay Long, 13, of Freehold Borough; Neesa Mackey, 11, of Freehold Borough; Jakaia Harris, 14, of Freehold Borough; Shamar Hunley, 11, of Freehold Borough; Marques Adams, 14, of Freehold Borough; Shalonda Hickman, 11, of Freehold Township; Chloe Williams, 17, of Freehold Borough.

Harris joined the club several months ago after being introduced to it by Mackey.

“It’s fun. People here are respectful,” Harris said. “They teach you how to be an honest and good person.”

And, of course, there’s also a good time to be had.

“It’s really fun here. We go on trips and it’s a nice place to come and hang out after school,” Long said.

Freehold area residents also enjoyed the Black Wax Museum performances the Leaders Club members worked on during their weekly meetings. Audrey and Bob Taylor decided to come out to support the children and the YMCA.

“The kids were wonderful,” Audrey Taylor said. “I just like that there’s a facility here where kids can learn and can take advantage of the games and activities.”