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Kasich &
Taylor Speak at MLK Celebration
Ohioans Recognized for Carrying on King’s Legacy
Columbus — Governor John R. Kasich and Lt. Governor Mary Taylor spoke
today at the 28th annual Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative
Celebration held at the Trinity Episcopal Church, Columbus. The
event was sponsored by the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Commission, which is housed within the Equal Opportunity Division of
the Ohio Department of Administrative Services.
“Martin Luther King is one of the heroes of mine.” Kasich said.
“When you think about Dr. King and you think about William Wilberforce,
these are great men who accomplished great things. But let them
not just be in a history book. Let them be a burning flame who
can inspire all of us against what, at times, can seem to be impossibly
long odds. And let’s not forget the fact that, at the end of the
day, the Lord is in charge, and we can remember Him on the road where
we met Him, and meet Him regularly in a humble and contrite way.
We can make this world a better place for everyone.”
In her address to the group, Taylor said, “As a scholar, pastor,
theologian, and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dr. King touched the
conscience of America with his dream of a better world for everyone...
free of pain, suffering, prejudice and discrimination. Sometimes
we need to look back in order to move forward. We need to
re-apply the timeless, powerful messages of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
who became the eternal symbol of social justice and peace."
Later in the program, Taylor and the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Holiday Commission recognized the following five Ohio individuals and
organizations for their efforts to advance social change:
Governor’s Humanitarian Award criteria: The recipient of this award has
acted independently of associations and organizations. The recipient
has given his or her time and service freely to those in need without
question and often without recognition. This award honors quiet
soldiers who promote the welfare of humanity and elimination of pain
and suffering through their own selfless service.
Winner: Judge Nathaniel R. Jones, Cincinnati — Nathaniel R. Jones is an
internationally renowned civil rights activist. As general counsel of
the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP),
Jones gained recognition for his legal efforts to end school
segregation in the northern United States. Also, he defended
affirmative action and fought against discrimination in the U.S.
military.
Jones’ civil rights efforts have taken him to nations throughout the
world, including South Africa where in 1993 he served on the team of
observers for the country’s first democratic elections. The drafters of
South Africa’s new constitution and laws consulted him.
Jones’ positions included serving as an assistant U.S. attorney for the
Northern District of Ohio and as assistant general counsel to President
Johnson’s National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders. He was a
judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit from 1979
through 2002.
Community Building Award criteria: The recipient selected in this
category has made significant contributions toward building a sense of
unity among Ohio citizens. The recipient has demonstrated the ability
to build safer communities through various activities and programs that
help to revitalize areas and serve the community beyond his or her
regular job responsibilities.
Winner: Wuyanbu Zutali, Canton — Zutali has taught chess to urban youth
in a scholastic program for 15 years, winning 40 individual and team
championships as well as three national championships. He teaches chess
to provide them a skill they normally would not be afforded while
gaining a sense of unity among their peers and keeping them away from
negative environments. In addition, as a community activist, Zutali
formed two successful organizations, the North Lehman Neighborhood
Alliance and the Community Coalition Against Violence.
Cultural Awareness Award criteria: The recipient selected in this
category has demonstrated an appreciation for diversity and evidenced
skill in building and maintaining harmonious cross-cultural
relationships. The recipient’s achievements foster King’s vision of
unity among people of diverse cultural backgrounds.
Winner: Center of Science & Industry (COSI), Columbus — Last year
COSI hosted the travelling exhibition RACE: Are We So Different?
Developed by the American Anthropological Association in collaboration
with the Science Museum of Minnesota, RACE is the first nationally
traveling exhibition to tell the stories of race from biological,
cultural and historical points of view. This exhibition brought
together the everyday experience of living with race, its history as an
idea, the role of science in that history, and the findings of
contemporary science that are challenging its foundations. COSI
developed additional exhibits to enhance the RACE experience and held
numerous events to engage visitors.
Educational Excellence Award criteria: The recipient selected in this
category recognizes the personal commitment and example that King
provided for academic achievement. Therefore, the recipient has
demonstrated a personal commitment to scholarship and/or attainment of
educational goals despite significant barriers or obstacles. The
recipient also has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in
eradicating systemic barriers that impede the attainment of academic
excellence.
Winner: Emeka Aniagolu, Columbus — A professor of black world studies
at Ohio Wesleyan University for more than 27 years, Aniagolu has
written a dozen books and has taught his students about the history of
Africans and people of African descent. In addition, for 25 years,
Aniagolu taught and mentored college-bound African-American students
through the Upward Bound Program, helping many African-American high
school seniors apply to college and to be prepared for college-level
learning.
Social Justice Award criteria: The recipient selected in this category
has made significant contributions toward achieving justice for
individuals or communities. The recipient may have contributed through
the legal, legislative and governmental systems as they apply to the
more vulnerable elements of our society. The recipient has engaged in
activities that embrace Dr. King’s commitment to non-violence while
fostering social justice.
Winner: Rev. Dr. Jefferey P. Kee, Columbus — Kee, pastor of New Faith
Baptist Church of Christ in Columbus’ Olde Towne East neighborhood, is
co-president of Building Responsibility, Equality and Dignity (BREAD)
in Columbus and has served the organization for 15 years. Through his
leadership with BREAD, Kee worked with the Franklin County Affordable
Housing Trust to build more than 3,000 housing units. He spearheaded
the efforts to reduce the interest on payday loans and pressed Columbus
City Schools to reduce out-of-school suspensions for truancy and helped
to get proven reading programs established in the school system.
Today’s event also featured the following winners from the 2012
Statewide MLK Oratorical Contest, which also is sponsored by the Ohio
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission. The winners of this
April contest who spoke today were Asher Reddington, Bre’Anna Walker
and Assata Gilmore, all of Columbus; and Matthew Scott, South Euclid.
For more information about the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Commission, visit das.ohio.gov/eod/mlk.
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