{"id":14453,"date":"2024-11-28T15:11:28","date_gmt":"2024-11-28T15:11:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=14453"},"modified":"2024-11-28T15:11:44","modified_gmt":"2024-11-28T15:11:44","slug":"aalc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2024\/11\/28\/aalc\/","title":{"rendered":"The African American Leadership Council Maximizes Impact with a Breakout Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Candice Harrison, Alexis Means, Alissa Mauter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Alexandria Leatherberry<\/strong>
\nThe Truth Reporter<\/strong><\/p>\n

United Way\u2019s African American Leadership Council held their annual fundraiser on November 14. The conference included several workshops to inform attendees how to best use digital platforms and local resources to drive their initiatives.<\/p>\n

The sessions covered personal branding led by Alissa Mauter, founder of GroundUp Creative agency; emotional intelligence led by Tim Clark, a New York Life Partner; AI business applications led by\u00a0 LaShean Shaw, president of Empowered AI.<\/p>\n

A panel discussion titled \u201cWhy Toledo\u201d moderated by Candice Harrison, SSOE director of DEI,\u00a0 unpacked the unique qualities that the community has to develop with leadership practices. The panel included diverse perspectives from native and relocated changemakers: entrepreneur Tashara Ballard; United Way\u2019s Director of Marketing Jon Dorcely; Pathway\u2019s Program Lead Avis Files and Mental Health Counselor Cecil Holston.<\/p>\n

Holston, a native of Toledo, shared that being \u201ccomfortable enough to go anywhere\u201d is the significance of staying local to reach the needs of people.<\/p>\n

The discussion followed the Keynote address of the notable Toledo informative, Alexis Means of 13abc. In her address she emphasized the importance of sharing stories and discovering the connection of talent to impact. She reflected on her own journey in discovering what her talents brought to her community, Means stated \u201cwhen you are true to yourself, you give others the permission to do the same and that is where real change begins.\u201d<\/p>\n

Means encouraged the attendees in their individual impacts, charging them up for the remainder of the conference that concluded with an engaging network session led by Sheila Eason, founder of Elevate People Solutions.<\/p>\n

As attendees left with new information and connections, the AALC group left with a new face to lead in 2025 with the announcement of Amanda Davis as chair.<\/p>\n