By Fletcher Word
The Truth Editor
The Toledo community re-affirmed its partnership, its covenant, with Central State University on Sunday, September 27 during a celebration at Third Baptist Church, attended by a number of community leaders and residents and the president of Central State University, Morakinyo A.O. Kuti, PhD.
Local faith leaders had previously come together on August 20, at Third Baptist to sign a Covenant Supporting Excellence in Education. Specifically, the faith leaders acknowledged the historical importance of Ohio’s only public historically Black college or university – Central State University – and the critical importance that particular institution has had for the local community over the decades.
On Sunday, September 27, that faith community was joined by Kuti, along with Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz, State Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson, Dione Sommerville, PhD, president of Owens Community College and Romules Durant, EdD, superintendent of Toledo Public Schools, along with a variety of musical artists, to ensure that the commitment of the Toledo community for the continued success of Central State was still in place.
“It is a need for education that we cry out for,” said Kapszukiewicz during his remarks. “Education is our only chance of building that more perfect union. We need to embrace education in all forms.”
Central State University is Ohio’s only public historically black college or university and is facing funding issues from state and federal sources. So, the push is on to increase the student body and, in the case of Toledo, encourage students here to take a look at the HBCU.
Toledo desperately needs to get youngsters focused on college education. As the mayor noted, about 30 percent of adults in Ohio have a college degree, but only about 16 percent of Toledo residents have a degree and the percentage of Black Toledo adults with college degrees is less than 10 percent.
“We have a mission,” said Hicks-Hudson, following the mayor’s remarks. “We cannot wait for the state or federal government to cure our problems.” A graduate herself of an HBCU, (Spelman College) Hicks-Hudson knows well enough the advantages of such institutions.
“You are able to learn in an environment where the value of who you are is never in question,” she said of that experience. “And the return on investment is immeasurable.”
Sommerville spoke of the benefits for a community and its residents of having a variety of educational institutions enabling many to “share the value of education that we do at Owens Community College.”
Sommerville noted that “education is transformational” and that “there is no simple pathway to education” but that it “requires everyone working together … it requires us to listen to people in the communities we serve” and determine if “we are removing the barriers.”
Through the variety of high schools offering college classes, community colleges, four-year institutions, HBCUs, graduate schools, Sommerville stated that the various opportunities “help students find their unique path to success in education.”
Durant echoed the belief that HBCU’s “bring opportunity.” He spoke of the desire to build a bridge particularly between Scott High School and Central State University.
“Dr. Kuti, you have our commitment, we are going to make this happen,” said Durant.
Kuti’s message was also focused on the need to enhance the Toledo/CSU partnership for the benefit of both the educational institution and the Toledo community.
“We provide Toledo students what they need to succeed based sole on their work,” he said. “It’s not just about education, it’s about improving lives in the communities where we live … from Toledo to Central State University and back to Toledo, it’s a pipeline for Toledo to Central State and back to Toledo.”
The community discussion was highlighted by a number of outstanding musical selections. Attendees were greeted upon arrival by Damon Coleman, associate principal cellist at the Toledo Symphony. Several selections were presented by the My5tery Music Youth Choral and by soloist Ikpemesi Ogundare.
The covenant between the Toledo community and Central State University is led by the African American Legacy Project. The initiative, focused on the theme “Experience the HBCU Difference,” was created to explore new pathways for students to discover, prepare for and pursue higher education at Central State University.
