By Fletcher Word
The Truth Editor
The 19th annual African American Festival Prayer Breakfast was held on Friday July 19 at the Toledo Museum of Art’s Glass Pavilion and hundreds of guests attended the 8 a.m. event to pray for various causes, to help celebrate this year’s honorees and to enjoy a breakfast buffet catered by Eric Smith.
The Breakfast was the opening of the African American Festival weekend which included a parade on the following Saturday morning and the musical Festival Saturday afternoon at the Huntington Center.
Friday’s Prayer Breakfast was hosted by Valerie Walston, ThD, chief officer of Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships at the University of Toledo, who did an outstanding job of keeping the guests both enlightened and entertained.
After the opening remarks by Walston and Suzette Cowell, CEO/president of the Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union and the organizer of the Festival, a worship song was sung by Shekinah Gregory of The Refreshing Place.
The opening prayer was offered by Velma Pryor of Friendship Baptist Church, followed by the prayer for the city and leaders by Elder Alisa Key of People’s Baptist Church.
Ivana Butler of the Toledo Opera, accompanied by the Opera’s Artistic Director Kevin Bylsma, proceeded to enthrall the audience with a spiritual selection.
Then followed the tributes to the honorees led by Cowell as she explained what each had meant to TUFCU over the course of the 28 years of the credit union’s existence.
This year’s honorees are Angela Cattladge, Kevin Cowell, Terry Crosby, Alison Day, Toledo City Councilman John Hobbs, II, Bishop Pat McKinstry, Shareese Norwood, Toledo Deputy Mayor Karen Poore, Jodie Summers, Shariva Sutton and George Thomas.
Cattladge, a member of the TUFCU staff, started with the credit union right out of high school 24 years ago, left for a number of years to continue her financial services career in Columbus and returned in 2021 to the credit union in her current position of electronic services manager.
Cowell is the son of Suzette Cowell, the CEO of K & L Transportation and a longtime volunteer at the credit union assisting others in achieving their financial aspirations and securing their futures.
Crosby, a former star athlete in high school, college and professionally, has served this community as a youth service manager, a certified mental health and well-being professional, a youth offending mentor and a host of Terry Crosby Youth Basketball Camps. He is a community ambassador for Taylor Automotive Group and involved in many activities throughout the community
Day, a funeral director, has been in the funeral business with House of Day for three and a half decades, and is also a realtor with the Whittington Realty Group. One of her many contributions to the community is the founding of a group “Wake Up Youth” which helps get young women off the street by assisting them with obtaining GEDs, employment and starting businesses.
Hobbs was appointed o City Council in 2020 and won election in 2023. His council leadership roles include Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform committees. He is a founding pastor of Dominion Fellowship Church and is a member of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.
McKinstry, the pastor of the Worship Center, is also the chairwoman of the TUFCU board. She has been in the ministry for over 60 years and is the founder of the McKinstry Midwest College of Theology and the Toledo Rise and Shine Academy. Evangelism, education and leadership have been her calling and have enabled her to impact many lives over the years.
Norwood, a licensed practical nurse, has been a member of the credit union since day one and a supporter of the African American festival. She is a member of Top Ladies of Distinction and an entrepreneur with her company, the Norwoods Concierge Laundry Service.
Poore, who serves the city overseeing the departments of Building and Code Compliance, Housing and Community Development, Economic Development and Public Safety, is a 31-year public service veteran and has been of enormous assistance to the credit union of the years as a primary contact within city government.
Summers, a poet, spoken word artist, author, illustrator, event coordinator, chef, business owner and content creator, has been a community activist for years working with countless organizations – artistic and political. This year he was the first poet to perform at the African American Festival.
Sutton, also a member of the credit union staff, is the compliance officer and collections officer for the last five years. Cowell noted that Sutton’s rare gift in her duties as collections officer bring her in contact with members in a manner in which the task is accomplished and mutual good feelings are maintained.
Thomas, the CEO and general counsel of the Toledo Fair Housing Center, has served as an attorney focused on civil rights, housing, community development and nonprofit services for more than 15 years. He has been instrumental in working with the credit union in an effort to increase homeownership among community members.
After the tributes for the honorees, breakfast, a sumptuous buffet, was served and prayer continued afterwards.
Reginald Coley of Friendship Baptist offered a prayer for the credit union; Calvin Burney of the Worship Center, a prayer for the youth; First Lady Angela Savage of Lo-Salem, a prayer for women and Pastor James Willis of St. Paul MBC, a prayer for the festival.
This year’s Prayer Breakfast was sponsored by TARTA and the Toledo Museum of Art.
