The Truth Staff
If you are new in town or even if you have been around for a while and have a need to learn more about the services and opportunities available in the Glass City, one of the best ways to get that information is by attending the monthly Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance meetings held at Mt. Nebo Baptist Church.
Normally held on the first Monday of each month, the September meeting was postponed to the second Monday due to the Labor Day holiday. Once again, an hour and a half was packed with information about happenings around Toledo.
This month’s meeting, moderated by Rev. Cedric Brock, pastor of Mt. Nebo Baptist Church and president of the IMA, on September 14, featured, first on the agenda, Romules Durant, EdD, superintendent of Toledo Public Schools, who spoke of the impact TPS’ wide range of educational opportunities has on those students whose interests may lie outside of traditional reading, writing and arithmetic offerings.
“We want kids to see where their talents lie,” said Durant during his opening presentation. “Our goal is that every child graduates but graduates with industry credentials.”
Avis Files, the longtime – 10 years – director of Pathway’s Brothers United program, has taken over the leadership of the Lucas County Fatherhood Network and, in that capacity, also works on issues such as infant mortality health and child welfare, especially as those issues relate to fathers.
“If we invest in our fathers, we can change the trajectory of this community,” said Files.
Anita Madison, of Ohio Unity, introduced the issue of voting, an issue that would be repeated by a number of presenters given the timeliness of the issue. “We are gearing up to get our people out to vote,” said Madison of the effort that started the very next day, Tuesday, September 15, at the new offices of Ohio Unity at 1565 S. Byrne Rd, which featured a rally on National Voter Registration Day.
State Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson iterated Madison’s call for voter awareness and the ability of all those in the room to make sure that local residents are registered and actually get out to the polls. Early voting starts on October 6 this year.
“You can get people to the polls,” said Hicks-Hudson to her listeners. “Ask yourself if you know 50 people and can get them to the Board of Elections, then tell them to each get five people to the polls.”
A wide range of presenters gave the attendees a quick vision of what their organizations had to offer, such as Jason Kuscma, CEO of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library; Tina Williams of the Area Office on Aging; Allison Huff of the Zepf Center; Elaine Page of the Grace Community Center, Latoya Morgan of the Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union; Darlene Sweeney Newbern of the Toledo NAACP; Blair Johnson of the Greater Toledo Realtist Association; Harvey Savage, Jr, of the Kitchen for the Poor; John Jones, of HOPE Toledo.
The theme of voter registration and getting people to the polls was recurring. Harold Harris, former independent candidate for mayor spoke passionately about the subject near the end of the meeting as did Shaun Strong, who is part of Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur’s Black Leadership Table re-election campaign.
The next IMA meeting will be at Mt. Nebo on October 5.
