MLK celebration honors Ohioans working for peace, racial harmony
-- DAS Equal Opportunity Division, January 2003

Governor Bob Taft led Ohio's 18th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration honoring six individuals and three organizations for work furthering King's legacy.

"Keeping the Dream Alive" was the theme for the event, held Jan. 16 at Trinity Episcopal Church, downtown Columbus. Taft, Lt. Governor Jennette Bradley and Wiley Clodfelder, deputy director of the DAS Equal Opportunity Division, as well as the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission presented the awards.

The winners were as follows:

Community Building Award -- Dr. Clayton Hicks, Columbus, was recognized for starting or participating in crime watch, economic development, historical preservation and prenatal care programs.

Cultural Awareness Award -- Susie Crawford, a teacher for the past 26 years at Franklin Middle School in Springfield, was honored for classroom efforts to promote understanding of various cultures and combat racial stereotypes.

Educational Excellence -- Two winners were named in this category. Clementine Compton, a teacher in Lakewood City Schools, was recognized for teaching her students lessons about mutual respect. Deborah Lipscomb, director of the Upward Bound Program at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, was recognized for her program which helps disadvantaged students and military veterans prepare for college.

Economic Opportunity Award -- Donald W. Emerson Jr., Warren, executive director of the Trumbell Metropolitan Housing Authority, was honored for creating programs to improve the academic and life skills of low-income youths.

Health: Equity and Awarness Award -- Summa Health System, Akron. Employees Tracy Carter, Robert DeJournett, Chaplain Elaine Henderson and Margie Waliga were honored for promoting health programs and reaching out to non-English speaking patients and families.

Social Justice Award -- Bilingual Free Clinic, Columbus. Employees Natalia Bohorquez, Oscar Budde, Judy D'Andrea, Dennis Muchnicki and Walter Tucker were recognized for providing free legal services to the Latino population of Columbus.

Youth: Capturing the Vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award -- Partners About Loving and Sharing (PALS), Ashland. Ruthie Fisher, Courtney Hartzler and Dave Plott were honored for their work in a program in which outstanding high school students mentor elementary school students.

Governor's Humanitarian Award -- Pastor Flanvis Josephus Johnson was honored for his work as a community leader and pastor of the House of the Lord Church in Akron for nearly 30 years.

The event also included speeches from winners of the 2002 Statewide MLK Oratorical Contest -- Todd Blaisdell of Toledo, Wendy Boyes of Minerva, Elise Preston of Columbus and Bianca Tharpe of Canfield.

The event is sponsored by the commission and conducted with assistance from DAS.