Mary Lou Cook, activist, teacher, minister and mentor turns 90 years old in an unprecedented tribute to kindness. The Mary Lou Cook Legacy Celebration is scheduled for Sunday, April 27th, from 1pm – 4 pm, at the Milner Plaza, Santa Fe Folk Art Museum, Museum Hill.
The Mary Lou Cook Legacy Celebration (MLCLC) was conceived as more than a tip of the hat to Mary Lou Cook’s 90th birthday. It was created as a reminder of the legacy that she leaves and to the opportunity every Santa Fean has to live a meaningful life. The focus for the celebration is kindness; kindness for ourselves, each other, the world around us and especially the children.
In keeping with this intention, The MLCLC has created alliances with several organizations in Santa Fe who serve the children. This has been done to encourage awareness of how much difference one person can make in the lives of the children. From a minute to a lifetime, the various groups offer opportunities for service from being an advocate for children moving through the legal system to mentoring a child to foster care and full adoption.
The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern NM; CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children; New Mexico Children, Youth & Families Department, Foster & Adoptive Parenting Opportunities; Girls Inc., and the Heart Gallery of New Mexico Foundation are among those participating in the day.
The celebration Sunday, April 27th, begins at 1 pm at Milner Plaza at the Santa Fe Folk Art Museum on Museum Hill. Drumming and dancing will be provided by Fred Simpson, Eric and Elise Gent with D’Jeune D’Jeune. Also performing will be the Sally Blakemore Orchestra. A variety of activities will be available for friends and family of Mary Lou Cook including custom calligraphy by the Scribes 8.
The Legacy Ceremony is from 2:30 to 3:30 in the Santa Fe Folk Art Museum followed by birthday cake. Friends, family and anyone wishing to celebrate the 90 wonderful years of Mary Lou Cook and become more aware of opportunities to help Santa Fe children at need are welcome.
The Mary Lou Cook Legacy Celebration (MLCLC) is being sponsored by friends of Mary Lou Cook. Connie Buffalo is the Event Coordinator, Karen Walker is Publicity Coordinator.
Mary Lou Cook Legacy Celebration
What: Mary Lou Cook Legacy Celebration
Where: Santa Fe International Folk Art Museum, Museum Hill
When: Sunday, April 27th, Mary Lou Cook Legacy Celebration
Why: To celebrate Mary Lou Cook’s 90th birthday with a tribute to kindness; and build awareness of some of the short and long term volunteer opportunities to help Santa Fe’s children at need.
Contact: Connie Buffalo nativeintel@frii.com or Karen Walker walkerre@aol.com
Part One—Milner Plaza 1-2:30
(In case of inclement weather, we will move these activities inside the Folk Art Museum)
Balloon trees color themed to match the invitation will line the pathway from the parking lot to the entry deck. Mounted sheriffs will be directing traffic, and balloon decorations will be placed at the entry streets leading to the Milner Plaza. (The museum advised that colorful balloons are more effective in providing directions to guests).
As guests enter the first level, there will be a name tag table where the Scribes 8 (calligraphers) will be writing out nametags for guests as well as writing any favorite quote that they may want scribed.
On the Milner Plaza landing, balloon trees will add color and movement to the scene. Two bands will alternate playing in the labyrinth circle. Tables will be set around the perimeter of the plaza leading to the Folk Art Museum. They include:
Book Table
Introducing “Kindness”, a compilation of thoughts on kindness. Mary Lou Cook is one of three compilers who created this beautiful book.
Love Notes
A table resplendent with beautiful colored paper is where guests can write their birthday messages for Mary Lou. (These messages will later be gathered along with photos of the day, into a memory book for Mary Lou.)
Big Brothers Big Sisters information Table
The Big Brothers Big Sisters table is staffed by members of Big Brothers Big Sisters and provides information on volunteering activities.
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children/ New Mexico Children, Youth & Families Department Foster & Adoptive Parenting Opportunities
Information will be available on how to volunteer as a child advocate or apply for foster care or adoption. Photos and information from the Heart Gallery of New Mexico Foundation will also be available here.
Girls, Inc Table
Girls, Inc. will be passing out information on their organization and sharing about what their organization does.
Gift Table
This table will be the place for anyone who wants to, to create a check-gift bag for MLC.
Since the theme of this occasion is to invite everyone to pass on a legacy of kindness, members of the various organizations will be passing out brightly colored buttons to the guests, “Today I make a difference.”
This first segment gives people a time for guests to arrive and for mingling. At the stroke of 2:30, the drummers begin leading the guests into the auditorium for the Ceremony.
Part Two – Ceremony (Folk Art Auditorium) 2:30-3:30
There are three segments to the Ceremony
Segment One: Proclamation of MLC day
Segment Two: Alliance presentation
Segment Three: Surprise segment for MLC
Segment Four: Surprise segment for MLC
Sorry about that, you’ll just have to be surprised too!
As people are leaving, they are given Karma coins, a coin of kindness to use and pass on. The guests are invited into the next room, the Atrium for the birthday celebration of cake (or cupcakes) and refreshments.
Part Three – Birthday Festivities (Atrium) 3:30-4:00
Guests are invited into the beautiful Folk Art Atrium for refreshments. Music plays in the background and a microphone is available for toasts.
Although we say 4pm, the guests will probably linger until 4:30, or later if they could. The Ceremony is a heartfelt series of presentations that will open the most resistant heart.
Clean up 5-5:30. We must be out by 5:30.
Ancillary Event
What: Book Launch and Signing, The Book of Kindness, the newest book compiled by Mary Lou Cook, along with Richard Polese and Jan Lurie. The Book of Kindness is a collection of over 100 quotations on the universal virtue of kindness from sources throughout the ages, published by Ocean Tree Books. Mary Lou Cook will be signing copies of this new release.
Where: Garcia Street Books, 376 Garcia Street, Santa Fe, NM
When: Saturday, April 26th, 4 pm – 6 pm
Contact: Edward Borins, 505-986-0151 garciastreetbooks@yahoo.com
