By Dawn Scotland
The Truth Reporter
The Toledo Branch NAACP held a celebration of MLK Day on Monday, January 19, at Macedonia Baptist Church. The theme for the event was “The Fierce Urgency of Now: “Mission Impossible” and featured speaker Wendell Anthony, DMin, of NAACP Detroit Branch and Pastor of Fellowship Chapel Detroit, Michigan.
The Opening and Welcome were provided by Monita Mungo, EdD, second vice president of NAACP Toledo and Darlene Newbern, president of NAACP Toledo followed by the Black National Anthem sung by Nicole Wilson.
Pastor Otis Gordon of St. Stephens AME Church presented the scripture reading and Bishop Pat McKinstry of Worship Center led the prayer for education, hurting families and social justice while Pastor Calvin Sweeney, pastor of Tabernacle Church followed with prayer for political, economic equality and leadership.
The Community Choir of Toledo gave the powerful praise and worship and Davion Williams, president, NAACP Toledo Youth Council performed a spoken word piece.
Presentations were given by Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz, Representative Marcy Kaptur, Lucas County Commissioner Anita Lopez and City Councilwoman Cerssandra Mcpherson.
The Introduction of the speaker was given by Pastor Doc Kelly, pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church and Nicole Wilson sang “Precious Lord Take My Hand.”
The Speaker for the afternoon was Rev. Wendell Anthony President, DMin, NAACP Detroit Branch Pastor, Fellowship Chapel.
Closing Remarks were given by Verna Chears, Special Events chairperson and the Benediction by Rev. Wendell Anthony. The Benediction Song, “We Shall Overcome” was led by Fellowship Community Choir of Toledo Rev. Wendell Anthony has served as the Pastor of Fellowship Chapel since December 1986. Through its James E. Wadsworth, Jr. Community Center, Fellowship Chapel has a full-time outreach ministry with programs ranging from health and wellness, youth mentoring and development and job training.
Rev. Anthony is the developer of the Isuthu Institute (Coming into Manhood Rites of Passage Program) for boys ages six – 18, dealing with African American male responsibility. It is one of the oldest mentoring programs of its kind in the country. He also initiated its female counterpart, the Intonjane Institute (Coming into Womanhood Rites of Passage Program) for girls ages six -18.
Currently, Rev. Anthony is a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors. In addition, he is serving his 17th term as president of the Detroit Branch NAACP, a position he has held for 30 years. The Detroit Branch NAACP is the largest branch in the country. It hosts the largest sit-down dinner in the nation, bringing at least 10,000 persons to gather every year to celebrate and commemorate the struggle for social justice, freedom, and equality.
He is the founder of the Freedom Institute for Economic, Social Justice, and People Empowerment, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, which also sponsors the annual Freedom Weekend in the city of Detroit. He is also the founder of the Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee, a grassroots community-oriented organization which supports issues and candidates often overlooked by those in the traditional political arena.
Reverend Anthony is the originator of the Take Your Souls to the Polls voter registration and mobilization program. He is also the recipient of numerous awards and recognition, locally and nationally. Among them are the Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference How Beautiful Are Thy Feet Award and the 2021 NAACP Image Award for Activist of the Year.
Special Events Committee: Pastor Jon Talbert, Cynthia Dye, Dr. Monita Mungo, and Verna Chears Sponsors for MLK Day 2026: Lucas County Children Services and Buckeye Broadband.
Upcoming events for the Toledo NAACP:
Black History Month Prayer Breakfast
February 16, 2026 9am – 12:00 pm
Frederick Douglass Community Center
1001 Indiana Ave. Toledo, Ohio 43607
Juneteenth Celebration
June 19, 2026 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Wayman Palmer YMCA
200 E. Bancroft St Toledo, Ohio 43620
To learn more about the Toledo Branch NAACP visit their website naacptoledo.org or
Facebook page.