Darryl Rhymes, Associate Director of Human Resources & Special Assistant to the President for Inclusion, stays busy enough with his duties in his regular job hours at the college. However, he also teaches Continuing Education and Curriculum classes, rides his bicycle, and practices his singing.
And once a year, he organizes the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County Annual Prayer Breakfast, which is attended by more than 1,000 people. “There is no way I could take on this huge project if I wasn’t strong in time management, organization and interpersonal skills,” Rhymes said.
As chair of the Prayer Breakfast Committee, he is responsible for identifying a speaker, logistics, identifying the catering menu, selling tickets, and promoting the event. Vice Chair Dr. Joseph Fox agreed Rhymes had the organizational skills to make it happen when he recommended to Dr. Oralene Simmons, Chair of the Association, to bring Rhymes on board to assist with the celebration a few years ago. Rhymes taught as an adjunct for Dr. Fox before he retired from A-B Tech.
Starting in October, Rhymes starts planning the breakfast that takes place the third Saturday in January, some days rising as early as 2 a.m. to get a start on his tasks. “When we go on holiday break, I try to have it all wrapped up so I only have to tie in the loose pieces,” he said. He says he has a wonderful team and he is sure to facilitate the process and delegate the tasks.
“There are so many moving parts,” Rhymes said that include scheduling, parking spaces, honorary guests, sound system, the benediction, volunteers, and so much more. He has a colored-coded three-ring binder to keep him on task.
After years of perfecting the process, Rhymes manages to pull off the breakfast without requiring one meeting from the breakfast committee. He is able to organize and his team knows what to expect. Each year, it goes even more smoothly.
This year, the breakfast featured Dr. Joy DeGruy, author of Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury & Healing, who was approached by Dr. Simmons to speak. “When they told me she was going to talk about slavery, it did not resonate,” Rhymes said. “However, the way she framed it was absolutely beautiful. Whether a person witnesses slavery, abuse, a shooting, it all has trauma. You carry it with you,” he said.
Rhymes heard it all from his perch on the dais where he knows any of the volunteers can find him if something were to happen that needs his attention. When the event is over, he goes into the crowd, thanking everyone for their support and giving hugs.
“I think it’s quite impressive and many kudos to Dr. Simmons that she brought this to fruition 39 years ago. It’s an honor to know her and be her executive assistant. I really think this will go down in history,” Rhymes said.
Photos - Drs. Oralene Simmons and Joy DeGruy at the MLK Breakfast
President Emeritus Dennis King and NCCCS Board Member Mary Ann Rice
