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The diversity of entertainment offerings at Popejoy Hall, whether a play, musical, ballet or concert, change from day to day. But one virtual constant remains – two volunteer ushers at the front of the house who have been greeting performance attendees since 2011. Pearlene Dawson and Joanne Kirby have contributed over 1,000 hours of volunteer service to the performing arts venue. And, they are not slowing down this season.

“I love working with the kids. It can be the first time they see a play, and their eyes light up. It’s just fun,” says Kirby.

While the ladies enjoy volunteering at Popejoy for the love of the arts, they also see themselves as role models for the children, and often adults, who attend.

“We are two of six African-Americans,” says Dawson of the volunteer staff for events. “We like to have our students see blacks involved and hope it will encourage them too. They want to give us a high five.” She notes they cannot reciprocate due to policy that restricts physical contact of any kind. But she adds, “Even the teachers’ faces light up.”

Each volunteer is responsible for serving at least 80 hours per Popejoy Hall Presents season. As of this writing, Dawson has already passed the halfway mark, with 58 hours in and only 22 more to go. It would not be a stretch to say she will likely exceed the season’s required hours, as she has done in years past. Her current “life total” is 558 hours.

Kirby has a similar track record which most often includes Schooltime Series performances during the daytime. She has accumulated 88.5 hours already this season, and her Popejoy volunteer history reflects a current “life total” of 592 hours.

Dawson and Kirby’s volunteer service, on average about 100 hours a year, does not stop when the curtain closes. They are dedicated members of the Albuquerque Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. You can find this dynamic duo giving of their time to assist in any one of the public service organization’s focus areas, including the arts and initiatives surrounding its five-point programmatic thrust –political awareness and involvement; education; physical and mental health; economic development; and international awareness and involvement.

The hit musical Motown’s debut at Popejoy Hall last season was a “Red Carpet” event for the Albuquerque Chapter’s Arts and Letters (A&L) Committee of which Dawson and Kirby are members. The previous year, the Chapter rolled out the red carpet for actress, singer, and dancer Jasmine Guy, who performed in “Raisin’ Cane: A Harlem Renaissance Odyssey,” featuring the acclaimed Avery Sharpe Trio.

Dawson was on double duty, volunteering for the Motown show and representing Delta Sigma Theta’s commitment to the arts. She considers herself to be a liaison between Popejoy and the Sorority on red carpet nights. For several weeks before curtain, she helped drive the Albuquerque community to the Duke City Deltas website promoting attendance at the performance. Theater goers could buy discounted tickets on the site before the performance, which is often a pre-show perk of “Red Carpet” events.

The Albuquerque Chapter is among Delta Sigma Theta’s over 900 chapters, which are expected to participate in sponsoring “Red Carpet” events across the country. The initiative is an enterprise of the Sorority’s National Commission on Arts and Letters’ Project ART: Actively Redefining Together. According to its national website, “Delta Sigma Theta is deeply committed to boldly advancing the African-American experience through arts and letters and promoting the contributions of African-Americans in the arts.” Further, “The goal of the initiative is to encourage and continue public support of projects that accurately portray the true essence of African-Americans.”

The volunteer efforts of Dawson, Kirby and their Sorority have not gone unnoticed.

“It’s a joy to have the women of Delta Sigma Theta come to Popejoy Hall to honor the contributions of artists to the African-American community, of course, and to the world of arts really, says Terry Davis, Marketing Manager of Popejoy Hall. “They embrace the arts. They embrace the shows and the performances. Just to see the joy in their celebration of the arts, we’re so delighted to have even a small part in that.”

Dawson and Kirby, who have reached the status of Delta Dears with the Sorority, can record their volunteer hours and are eligible to compete for regional and national awards recognizing their community service. These two “Dears” are following in the footsteps of one of their Sorors who blazed a trail at Popejoy before them.

“When they started volunteering, I was into a year of chairing the Arts and Letters Committee,” says Florence Bowers, a Delta Dear who was Albuquerque Alumnae’s Arts and Letters Chair from 2011 to 2016 and Co-chair, along with Vicki Scott, in 2017. “Before their effort, there was a longtime Delta, Dorothy Howard, who reached emeritus status. She was one of the only African-American volunteers you would see (at Popejoy Hall). Then came our active members Joanne and Pearlene.”

Says House Management Associate, Dave Bentley, who is Kirby and Dawson’s direct supervisor, “They are extremely reliable. I know when I give them an assignment or position they know exactly what to do and they’re very glad to help out.”

While the two are go-to volunteers, Bentley sees them as more. “I like them both as friends. They’re fun to work with.”