The Truth Staff
Once again, the Sisters 4 Unity brought together a variety of organizations, community leaders and attendees focused on the goal of making the Toledo community safer, especially for youngsters.
A community march on Saturday, August 17 began at Smith Park and also concluded in the same area so that a range of speakers could address issues on violence and commend the efforts of those bringing awareness of such issues to community residents.
The Sisters 4 Unity stand out among those who are placing an emphasis on community violence – Aviance Hill, Abena Rowland, Lashawanda Kinnebrew and Jannell Ector have all had the misfortune to experience the catastrophe of losing a child to gun violence. However, instead of giving in to that sorrow and trying to heal by themselves, they have come together in an effort to use their families’ misfortunes to help prevent others from undergoing similar experiences.
The Sisters were joined in their Saturday march by the Maumee Bay Club and New Life Church of God in Christ. In addition, Smith Park on Saturday as the site of numerous other exhibitors and vendors. Visitors could register to vote, eat lunch or even ride a horse.
“Despite their pain, they continue to show up for our community,” said Malcom Cunningham, director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, of the Sisters 4 Unity as he addressed the crowd following the march. “They are deeply committed to this work. But it’s not just about losses, it’s also about hope. They are working to address this issue [of violence] by getting to its true causes.”
“This right here is the type of concern that put me in the Fire Department,” said former Mayor Mike Bell, who also was the city’s longest serving fire chief. “They care about service and care about issues. What this group of mothers is doing, it’s going to take all of us to come together – it’s about caring about people. So, I appreciate anything these mothers are doing to move this agenda forward … maybe the city of Toledo will be one of the first places in America to see if this will work … when there are zero [homicides] then we will have met our goal.”
Also speaking was Crystal Taylor of the Maumee Bay Club (part of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club – Toledo Chapter). After explaining her group’s reason for its alliance with the Sisters 4 Unity on march day and describing the other services they brought – such as the book bag giveaway, Taylor informed the attendees that a Zoom community conversation will be held on Friday, August 23 with Teny Gross of the Institute for Nonviolence in Chicago. Teny, noted Taylor, is a “paramount peacemaker” who has brought together “former gang members who go out and change the community”
Councilman Nick Komives, who has been a supporter of Sisters 4 Unity for a long time, also praised their efforts “to come out and do the work … it’s moving the needle on violence in our community.”
Komives urged those in attendance to pay attention to the Healing & Compassion Fund which is coming up for a vote in City Council. The Fund is a result of the work of Community Action Table Victim and Survivor Services group that is part of the mayor’s office. The Fund will supplement current resources and help to ease barriers to survivors’ recovery.
Also speaking were Byron Davis and Chris Matthews, both part of the Violence Interrupters, to describe their efforts in various parts of the community.
Saturday’s Sisters 4 Unity march and engagement session at Smith Park was also accompanied by the Unitarian Action Committee of First Unitarian Church of Toledo which set up an information table for the second annual Back to School Extravaganza and second annual Communities Against Violence March.
