A different fight
By Kirsten Ballard
Published in News on November 21, 2014 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
From left, Malik Jones, 11, Samuel Cannon, 10, volunteer Nikki Brown, Semaj Davis, 11, and Eric Beard, 10, cut sections of a drainage pipe that will be made into a self-watering planter during a Buffalo Soldiers Club meeting at Dillard Academy Nov. 14. The program is designed to promote teamwork, discipline and healthy living.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Eric and Nikki Brown discuss how the group's self-watering planter will work when it is finished.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Semaj Davis, 11, cracks open one of the Carolina Black peanuts grown by the Buffalo Soldiers Club at Dillard Academy.
Charles McNair's "soldiers" are fighting a different kind of war.
They are drilled in patience and perseverance.
They are battling cold weather, bugs and limited space.
McNair is training his "Buffalo Soldiers" for the real world.
The Buffalo Soldier Project is an after-school program at Dillard Academy that teaches students about gardening and the value of hard work. McNair is its director.
"It's a way to re-image what it means to be hardworking," he said.
McNair wants to teach his students about the work ethic exhibited by the Buffalo Soldiers. The name refers to African-American soldiers, dating back to 1866.
The soldiers won medals and awards for their valor in both the Civil War and the Spanish-American War.
"Black men and women did hard work and forged trails," McNair said. He wants to translate that type attitude to his students.
"I want these kids to be soldiers for their neighborhoods," McNair said.
He eventually wants the project to be a full-fledged mentorship from elementary school to graduation. "Right now, we're just planting the seeds," he said.
The group has made lifted planters for the Peggy Seegars Senior Center. They have a garden at school as well. McNair and the students have planted various crops, including peanuts, squash and sweet potatoes.
D.R. Halliday moved to Goldsboro to help with the project. He was involved in a similar program in Raleigh.
He spends his Sundays at different local churches talking about the different ways the community can get involved.
"The kids love it, once they get that discipline," Halliday said. "It helps at home, too."
Many of their projects focus on urban gardening and utilizing the space they have available to them. They have learned bucket planting and how to construct self-watering containers. Some of the students have achieved Junior Master Gardener recognition.
Malik Jones, a fifth grader Buffalo Soldier, has enjoyed picking worms the best.
The group also built bikes that they ride to the farmers' market.
"We can work together as a team," Malik said. He has been in the group since kindergarten.
"It helps us stay off the streets," said Samuel Cannon, another Buffalo Soldier who is in the fifth grade.
McNair fears that many of his soldiers will stop coming to the after-school program in middle school. He wants to keep them involved.
The group meets on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week. During their meetings, they learn different gardening practices, do homework and have discussions. On Wednesdays, they practice drums.
"It's things they need as a part of growing up," Halliday said.