Valencia Mathews celebrated for 30 Years of transforming young lives through theatre

Three Key Takeaways

• Three decades of service: Leon County recognized Valencia Matthews for 30 years of work with young people and the arts.
• Theater as a pathway: Through the Irene C. Edmonds Youth Theatre Camp, Matthews has used theater and education to help young people develop confidence, creativity and skills.
• A community legacy: The county’s proclamation, spearheaded by Commissioner Carolyn Cummings, recognizes Matthews’ broader impact on generations of Leon County youth.

Valencia Mathews, Dean of the FAMU's College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities and director of FAMU Essential Theatre, Irene C. Edmonds Summer Theater Camp for youth, has spent three decades showing young people that a stage can be more than a place to perform — it can be a place to discover themselves and imagine what is possible.

Through her vision, dedication and years of work, Mathews has transformed the theater into a classroom, giving generations of young people in Leon County an opportunity to find their voices, cultivate their creativity and develop skills that reach far beyond the spotlight.

On Tuesdday, the Leon County Commission recognized Matthews with a proclamation honoring 30 years of service and her lasting contributions to the community through the Irene C. Edmonds Youth Theatre Camp, commonly known as ICE Camp.

The recognition was spearheaded by Commissioner Carolyn Cummings, who helped bring attention to Matthews’ longstanding commitment to youth development through theater, education and the arts.

Matthews established ICE Camp in 1997 to honor the legacy of pioneering children’s theatre educator Prof. Irene C. Edmonds, who in 1948, founded the nationally recognized FAMU Creative Children's Theatre. Under Matthews' leadership, ICE Camp became known for its profound impact on the lives of children and high-quality theatrical productions. Since its inception, ICE Camp has provided young people with a space to learn the fundamentals of theater while building confidence, creativity, discipline and teamwork. For Matthews, the work has represented more than putting on performances; it has been an effort to give young people an avenue for expression and personal growth.

The county’s proclamation recognizes the breadth of that commitment and the generations of young people touched by Matthews’ work.