The Canton City School District Presents: It Takes A Village… Working Together for a Brighter Tomorrow (Wednesday, February 19, 2014)

Stirring musical performances and vibrant dance numbers highlighted the first district-wide Black History Month Program Wednesday night at McKinley’s Umstattd Hall. “It Takes A Village...Working Together for a Brighter Tomorrow,” celebrated the achievements of 12 local African American leaders and showcased our own students and staff members. Honorees were: retired Canton police Capt. Bruce Allison, Canton City School District’s Director of Student, Family and Community Support Krista Allison, Rev. Walter Arrington of People's Baptist Church, Canton doctor Albert Domingo, Rev. George Dunwoody of L.I.F.E. Ministries International Church, Repository reporter and syndicated columnist Charita Goshay, Tonja Marshall of the Canton/Stark County Convention & Visitors Bureau, former school board member Nadine McIlwain-Massey, outgoing Pro Football Hall of Fame president Stephen Perry, WHBC radio host Ron Ponder, attorney Corey Minor Smith, and Multi-Development Services of Stark County founder Betty Smith. Student presenters were Bianca Noch of Clarendon, Jorja Alston of Cedar, Tanner Smothers of Choices, Ben Oliver of Mason, Lakaleb Bowen of Deuber, Kayla Williams of Fairmount, Ari’a Everett of Harter, Cynizia Calhoun of McGregor, Erica Foster of Schreiber, Antonio J. Gillems of Early College High School, Madisyn Smith of the Arts Academy @ Summit and Natalie Brobst of Worley. Emcee Curtis Perry III of Joy Radio 1520 AM introduced Superintendent Adrian Allison as the first African American superintendent of the district and noted that his grandfather, a district janitor, was the first African American employee. “He polished the floors so that in the years to come, his grandson would walk the floors with authority,” he said. Allison later commended the students who performed and who read the biographies of the honorees, telling the audience, “I hope you have learned something tonight about African-American culture.” Among the performers were percussion group Elec Simon and Friends, the Zion Temple Church of God Praise Team, the All City African Unity Dance Troupe under the direction of Myra Watkins, the Timken High School Choir, the Timken Dance Line, and the McKinley Step Team. Organizer Lisa Turkalj said the goal of this inaugural event was to engage the community in a meaningful celebration with our students. “It’s our hope that this program will grow bigger and better each year and become an event that our entire community will embrace,” she said. To view photos from the event, visit: https://www.facebook.com/CantonCitySchoolDistrict