Leslie Prince Raimond

Born in Laurinburg, North Carolina, 1940, and within a couple of years, when my sister Helen was born, 1942, the family moved about with Pop, Charlie Prince, during different postings during World War Two. By 1946 we had returned to The South. A new job opportunity was offered to Charlie, and in 1950 a few weeks after our baby brother, Prairie, was born, the family headed West. The Cotton Business was booming and we were now residents of Phoenix, Arizona.

In 1960 it was time to head back East. Helen, with a fabulous scholarship to Radcliffe and I with my sights on Washington College arrived at our respective schools and began a new phase in our lives. Part of the fun involved visiting each other’s places, and sometimes meeting in the middle to enjoy New York City.

Washington College, and Kent County, offered me a delightful life. I loved the novelty of changing seasons, proximity to major cities (and their museums), and the close-knit community where I belonged.

Graduating in 1963, I put my teaching degree to use at Galena High School as an English teacher.  The School Band was famous and was even invited to march at the New York World Fair, 1964. I helped with the majorettes, so I got to go along. We did dramatic productions that I also helped along. I introduced the students to Joan Baez and Bob Dylan in poetry class. It was always rewarding to be part of that tiny school.

I married Vincent Raimond in 1967.  And our three children, Morgan, Francesca, and Daniel joined his first three, Larry, Jenny and Marty to round out lots of great family gatherings and projects.

Vince started Kent County Arts Council in 1968 and was a powerhouse in kick-starting all sorts of arts activities. I joined in. I love dance and held classes through Parks and Rec and also in my own studio - teaching kids and adults ballet, creative movement, ballroom dance and theater/drama group classes. Vince and I worked hand in hand doing Arts Council projects with the support of the State of Maryland which was a leader in the field - supporting the Arts through state funding, especially aware of how powerful an economic engine the Arts is. We founded Actors Community Theater (ACT) and created over 100 productions, contributed to productions of Riverside Blues Festival, Chestertown Jazz Festival, Art Shows, Music in the Park, and many more.

Kent County High School has a radio station which is used for vocational ed in school hours and by adult volunteers at other times. I was fortunate to have a show where I could spin records (until CD’s came in) play my favorite music which ranged from be-bop to hip-hop… from Coltrane to Soul train. 25 Years once a week. WKHS 90.5 FM

Working at Kent County Senior Center gave me a deep insight and the most wonderful chance to know community members well, and that is what made the next chapter of my life in Kent County so extraordinary: I became more aware of the African American communities and was involved  in musical events such as the 100 Voice Choir, making recordings of local talented gospel singers, and celebrating this most precious and powerful American Art Form. And to further this involvement, I and the Kent County Arts Council took on the effort to finalize the restoration and use of Charles Sumner Post 25, Grand Army of the Republic, now known as Sumner Hall.

The difficult first steps of stabilizing a wreck of a building had been the daunting task of Preservation, Inc. and it was almost ready to be used, but a suitable mission for the building’s use had not yet been established. We stepped in and with tremendous help by Town, County, State and National agencies, with local volunteers pouring time and expertise into the project we had the grand opening on Juneteenth 2014. It was a triumph and continues to be a successful place to hold events which celebrate and commemorate the heritage of African Americans past and present.

In my Bio, my Life, the most precious aspect is my Family – there’s nothing so wonderful and meaningful. My lucky stars, which are plentiful, shine brightly with the beautiful, talented, loving and fun-loving children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, and the memory of fabulous Parents, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents.

Another constellation of lucky stars is travel: How fortunate it has been to have experienced these: many trips driving across America as we came and went to and from college, and later just to visit the other coast; the ultra-famous Yugoslavian Freighter trip when the kids were little, which really introduced us to Greece; Living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico for several winters; Europe: France, Italy, Germany, Britain; with Prairie to Hawaii, Jamaica and Morocco; and most recently taking my three granddaughters on the Manet to Monet trip to London and Paris. The Fairy-Wish I sprinkled on them at birth (a la Sleeping Beauty) if, by the time they were 10 years old they could describe the difference between a Manet and a Monet, I promised to take them on a trip to Europe. They could, and I did.  -- Leslie Prince Raimond