The Mary McLeod Bethune bronze statue is located outside the Bethune-Cookman University’s Performing Arts Center. It is surrounded by a beautiful garden with plaques inscribed with parts of Bethune’s well-known writing, Last Will and Testament. Bethune was an educator and an activist for equal rights for African-American and women. She was the founder of many schools and organizations. In 1904 she opened the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls, which expended over the years to become what is today the Bethune-Cookman University.   The statue depicts her standing tall, holding a cane in her right hand, wearing a big smile. Read more...