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The Annual Perry Burroughs Democratic Women’s Club Brunch
By Linda Nelson
Sojourner’s Truth Reporter
“The Time is Now”, was the
theme at the Perry Burroughs Democratic Women’s Club Brunch
on Saturday February 22. The ninth annual event was held at
the Premier Banquet Hall on Heatherdowns Blvd, with two
purposes: to dispel stereotypes of Toledo Public School
students and to stress to students the importance of their
voice in the democratic process.
“We want to show the
advantage of going to public school, and that all kids
aren’t bad,” said Club President Yvonne Harper.
About 450 adults and
students attended the ticketed event, where semiformal dress
was the attire. The banquet hall was filled with
well-spoken, well-dressed students representing Woodward
High School, Scott High School, Burroughs Elementary School,
Leverette Elementary School, Pickett Academy, Rogers High
School, among others.
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Senator
Nina and Jeff Turner |
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Students, dressed for
success, sat at tables sponsored by local business owners,
unions and political figures, and showed support for one
another during eloquent welcome speeches and presentations
to guest speaker State Sen. Nina Turner. Turner, who
represents the 25th district of Ohio, is also the
2014 endorsed Democratic candidate for secretary of state.
She stated that the intention of her speech was to bring
awareness to recent attacks on voting rights.
“We must fight to preserve
our voting rights,” said Turner. “The time is now to
continue to fight for justice and opportunity for all.”
In a press release on the
Ohio Senate website, Turner expressed her disappointment
with the passing of two bills, 205 and 236, that would
restrict voting opportunities.
“Voting is a fundamental
American right and Ohio lawmakers should be doing everything
in their power to encourage and protect opportunities to
cast a ballot,” said Turner. “These two unnecessary and
overly-restrictive bills are an insult to the
generations-long struggle to advance ballot access in our
state and nation.”
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Turner, who represents
Cleveland, serves on several committees including the
Commerce and Labor Committee, Education Committee, Education
Finance Subcommittee, Insurance and Financial Institution
Committee and the Transportation Committee.
Although Senator Turner
was the featured speaker with an important message, one
could not overlook Toledo Public School students who clearly
had their best foot forward, due in part to the guidance of
Toledo Public School Superintendent, Romules Durant, Ed.D.
Durant talked about the positive impact of encouraging
students to participate in events such as this, and
networking in positive climates that include public
speaking, ushering and greeting.
Durant, who is also the
founder of the Young Women of Excellence and Young Men of
Excellence programs, believes that the solidarity of the
uniform students are required to wear of black pants, shirts
and vest, create “peer to peer influence.” And he firmly
believes that “There is power in the pack.” Durant says that
more than 2000 students participate in the Excellence
programs, and the group is scheduled to make a trip to
Washington soon. |
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Durant, who is a graduate
of Waite High school, worked as a teacher and principal
before becoming TPS’s 30th superintendent. He
took office in December 2013, replacing retired
Superintendent Jerome Pecko.
Also present at the brunch
was Grace Edwards, the daughter of founder Perry Burroughs.
Edwards spoke about the reason her father began the
organization.
“My father began this
years ago at his house because he wanted to encourage voting
registration,” Edwards said. She also talked about her
reluctance to join the club saying “I didn’t want much to do
with politics.”
But Edwards would later
change her mind when she saw that the club continued to
embrace the intentions of her father. “This club represents
what he really wanted. That everyone is recognized, no
matter what.”
For more information on
the Perry Burroughs Democratic Women’s Club, you can contact
them at 419 265-6049 or go to
www.lucasdems.com.
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Copyright © 2014 by [The Sojourner's Truth]. All rights reserved.
Revised:
08/16/18 14:12:31 -0700. |
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