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Rebuilding The ‘Hood: The Black Lives Matter Awards Held In Toledo, Ohio

By | Last updated: May 25, 2016 - 1:31:33 PM

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The award recipients holding their ‘Twilas’: Vanice Williams, Minister Chris McBrayer, Ty Cleveland, Hunter Prey, Kyndra Gaines, Alicia Smith, Tyrone Jacobs Jr., Julia Clemons, Roshawn Jones and not pictured is Marcus Walker.

Artwork: Washington Muhammad

While everyone was eating Sunday dinner and preparing for the week, the Community Solidarity Response Network of Toledo was setting tables and chairs for the guests of their First Annual Black Lives Matter Awards.

The banquet was held in the gymnasium of the Frederick Douglass Community Center, a pillar in the urban community. This evening it was transformed as it was decorated in red, black and green—the colors of the Black nation. There were lights, music, and CSRN protest signs and placards.

After being given permission from an elder to start the event, Ruth Leonard of the CSRN opened the program with an energetic welcome to all present. Ruth asked each person to stand with fists high as they proudly took part in singing the Black National Anthem, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing.”

At the Black Lives Matter Awards Ceremony, CSRN recognized 10 people, under 40 years of age, for giving of their time and energy to help advance the lives of Black people.

Each recipient the afternoon of April 17 would receive a handcrafted, wooden statue from Ghana. The award is called “The Twila,” named after Twila Page, a Toledo native, who has fought for decades helping to advance Black lives, particularly children. Julian Mack, spokesman for CSRN, said naming the award after Ms. Page represented acknowledging the actions of a great person who has done and continues to do great things for the youth and families of Toledo and beyond.

Those awarded a “Twila” included:

CSRN-Black Lives Matter Justice Or Else Toledo in Unity-Pictured left to right-Julian Mack, Vanessa Avery, Washington Muhammad, Jodie Summers, Passion Brown, Brittany Moore. Photo by Vanessa Avery

Vanice Williams, principal at Life Skills High School, where she helps young people ages 16-21 get high school diplomas;

Minister Chris McBrayer, who hosts rallies on various issues important to the Black community and hosts an annual shoe drive for those in need;

Ty Cleveland, founder of IMPACT College Initiative Program which is an early college program for middle school children, and sponsor of a yearly college campus tour to the Historically Black Colleges and Universities;

Hunter Prey was honored for his spoken word pieces that speak to the plight of Blacks and contributions to the Black Lives Matter Movement, and other organizations that work to better Black lives;

Kyndra Gaines, a freshman at the University of Toledo, was honored for volunteerism, including heading up a Black Student Union lock-in on the campus to raise funds for the organization Toys for Tots;

Alicia Smith, director of the City of Toledo’s Youth Commission, was recognized for her efforts at helping to better the lives of young people within Toledo as well as her volunteerism at The Frederick Douglass Community Center;

Tyrone Jacobs Jr., a junior at the University of Toledo majoring in engineering was honored for his on-going efforts of speaking at elementary schools in Toledo helping to motivate, and inspire young people to reach for high goals;

Julia Clemons was honored for volunteerism at shelter houses throughout Toledo for the homeless and female victims of domestic violence;

Roshawn Jones, head boxing and wrestling coach at Soul City Boxing and Wrestling gym, was honored for his work helping fight childhood obesity, keeping youth out of trouble, helping youth obtain jobs and attend college;

Marcus Walker, who is described by many as an “Outstanding Citizen,” was recognized for mentoring young people.

All fists in the air as songstress Megan Yasu Davis sings the Black National Anthem at the Black Lives Matter Awards.

CSRN was formed on November, 25, 2014, the day after it was announced that the Ferguson, Mo. police officer, who killed Michael Brown, Jr., a Black unarmed teenager, would not be indicted.

CSRN brings awareness to injustices experienced by Black men, women and children who are disproportionately murdered, attacked, provoked and harassed by law enforcement. CSRN also brings awareness to the fact that most often, police brutality goes without consequence and accountability.

The group utilizes protests, civil disobedience, event disruption and citizen advocacy to give voice to those who are otherwise voiceless. CSRN facilitates progressive community–based events that help to foster self-development and discuss how to hold local leadership accountable, whether politicians, clergy, law enforcement, educators or others in responsible positions

According to CSRN members, “We want Justice, Equal Justice under the law. We want justice applied equally to all regardless of creed or class or color. For all lives to matter, Black Lives Must Matter.”

Washington Muhammad, a CSRN representative, said the organization likes to apply a non-traditional approach in organizational tactics. For example, he said, the young people of the organization took the time to search out, and identify the 10 award recipients as opposed to having the older members select the recipients.

“This is a true Joshua Generation that we have with our local Black Lives Matter and Justice Or Else! programmatic efforts. First we meet and identify the needs of our people and then immediately put together a game plan to get it done,” he said.

Bro. Washington added, “Since the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan challenged us all at 10.10.15 to go back and make the central cities of America a safe and decent place to live, the CSRN has diligently been keeping up with that directive.”

As well as giving awards, CSRN donated $300 each to four local non-profit organizations—Ben E. Williams Youth Services Inc., FAMED Studios, Soul City Boxing, and the Martin Luther King Kitchen for the Poor.

In addition, Richard B. Muhammad, editor-in-chief of The Final Call newspaper, called into the awards banquet via phone thru the sound system with greetings on behalf of the newspaper and the Nation of Islam and congratulated and encouraged the youth organizers to continue their efforts of making a difference in Toledo, Ohio and not be lulled to sleep by the current presidential contenders. He insisted much grassroots organizing and community work needs to be done.

Julian Mack, the CSRN spokesperson, thanked the community, civic and political organizations, local clergy and supporters who helped sponsor a table, buy an ad for the CSRN backdrop and program handout. He then presented an overview of what the organization has done over the last year and shared with guests what they could look forward to seeing in the future. Mr. Mack announced the release of a petition for greater transparency of local citizen-police relations and an independent civilian complaints office. The petition can be found on change.org.

The Community Solidarity Response Network of Toledo can be reached at Facebook.com/Community Solidarity Response Network of Toledo and Instagram.com/CSRNToledo; via Twitter.com/@CSRN_Toledo; email [email protected] and YouTube.com/Community Solidarity Response Network of Toledo.

Submitted by Rosalyn Whickum, Jurry Taalib-Deen, Washington Muhammad