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Annual Black History Month Program
Honors Three Community Leaders
By Tricia Hall
Sojourner’s Truth Reporter
Toledo
Chapter Coalition of Black Trade Unionists held their annual
black history month banquet and honored community leaders on
Saturday, March 5, 2016 at Ramada Inn. The 28th
annual dinner focused on the theme, “Still Striving to
Overcome,” and welcomed dignitaries, union workers and
supporters.
The program
opened with warm greetings from facilitator Sergeant Anita
Madison of the Toledo Police Command Officers Association,
“Giving honor to our Lord. It’s a pleasure to be here and
serve for this very special occasion.”
The 2016
honorees were Toledo City Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson, for
political achievement; Helen C. Cooks, PhD, for community
activism and Erika D. White for trade unionism. The dinner
also featured guest speaker State Representative Fred
Strahorn of Dayton, minority leader of the Ohio House of
Representatives.
“It is truly
an honor to be in the presence of so many individuals who
support us annually. I want to thank each of you and welcome
you here tonight. Please fellowship because we appreciate
your support,” said Cenia Willis, CBTU chairman and retired
AFSCME local 1184.
The annual
dinner was supported by NAACP Toledo Branch, Northwestern
Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Region 2-B
UAW, National Association of Letter Carriers, Greater
Northwest Ohio AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 8, Toledo
Federation of Teachers, Mecca Temple 43, Ohio State A
Phillips Randolph Institute, AFSCME Ohio Council 8, Alpha
Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, C. Brown Funeral Home,
Inc. and Preneed Center, UAW Local 1435, AFSCME Local 3794,
LIUNA Laborers’ Local 500, Ohio AFL-CIO, InteraCopy
Printing, African American Police League, Congresswoman Mary
Kaptur, Cecilia M. Adams of Toledo City Council, State Rep.
Michael D. Ashford, Councilwoman Yvonne Harper, CWA Local
4319, Democratic Women in Action and Instaplak Event
Photography.
Toledo
Chapter Coalition of Black Trade Unionist officers and
committee members are: Cenia M. Willis, chairman and
committee member; Cheryl Tyler-Folsom, vice chairman and
dinner co-chairnab; Pierrette Talley, secretary; Henry
McCoy, treasurer and dinner committee member; Cheryl
Bennett, Sergeant at Arms; Cerssandra McPherson, co-chairman
and committee members: Micheal Alexander; Phil Boles; Gary
Johnson, John Folsom and Jim Snodgrass Sr. |
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