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African American Legacy Project Acknowledges Emerging
Leaders
By Tricia Hall
Sojourner’s Truth Reporter
Toledo’s African American Legacy Project honored five
emerging leaders during the annual Legends Hospitality
Reception on Friday, October 3, 2014 at the Toledo Club.
The event welcomed community and political leaders,
faith-based leaders and community residents. Individuals
were welcomed by event volunteers, enjoyed networking
opportunities, and celebrated the accomplishments of the
2014 emerging leaders. The five honorees each received a
plaque commemorating the event.
Honoree Faith A. Hairston, “I’m honored to have the
opportunity to serve in the community, because it’s very
important to me,” she shared during the reception. Hairston
graduated from Libbey High School and Bowling Green State
University. She has served as the manager at Kent Branch
Library located on Collingwood Blvd since 2002. After a few
years of successful operations and programming, plans were
started for a major renovation.
To overcome the budget crisis facing libraries in Ohio,
Hairston assisted in writing a federal grant for funds to
add more technology to Kent. Under the leadership of then
Deputy Director Margaret Danziger, Kent’s proposal was
accepted and awarded $2.1 million through the Broadband
Technology Opportunities Program, a federal stimulus
program. As a result, Kent is now a prototype of what public
libraries in the future should look like.
“It’s a blessing to be selected as an honoree. I was amazed
when I was selected,” shared Honoree Lionel D. Brock. He
joined the Managed Wealth Financial team in 2011, serves as
president of the University of Toledo Black Alumni Affiliate
and also serves as youth pastor and director of outreach at
his church.
Brock earned his BS in pharmacology/toxicology from the
University of Toledo and he began his career working and
teaching in the medical research field. Although much of
that experience was positive, he always wanted to make a
more direct impact on people's lives, which led him to look
at the financial industry.
Upon receiving his Masters of Business Administration from
Walden University in 2010, he began his career with a firm
where he gained valuable financial management experience but
realized he needed to align himself with a firm with a
broader array of client solutions. This led him to Managed
Wealth Financial.
Scott High School Principal and honoree Treva E. Jeffries,
“I want to thank the community for their continued support.
I’m humbled by this experience.” Jeffries is a graduate of
Scott high school and has served as the school’s principal
for six years. Jeffries received her B.S. in Biology from
Kentucky State University in 1997. She received her M. Ed
in Curriculum and Instruction from Bowling Green State
University. |
Marcus Sneed,Treva Jeffries, Lionel Brock, Faith Hairston,
Cherron Payne and AALP Executive Director Robert Smith
2013 Emerging Leaders Kenyatta Jones, Keith Jordan and
Merida Allen, 2012 EL Micheal Alexander
AALP volunteers - Gwen Roberts, Dawn Humphrey, Jacqueline
Humphrey, Brenda Hil, Essie Wiggins
Brian and Pamela Byrd
Commissioners - Carol Contrada, Pete Gerken, Tina Skeldon
Wozniak - handing out proclamations
TPD Officer Anita Madison and LC Administrator Laura Lloyd
Jenkins |
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“I’m humbled by the experience, I don’t serve the community
to earn awards, but I’m grateful for the acknowledgement. I
urge individuals to give back, because you always want to
help someone become better and do better” shared Marcus L.
Sneed, emerging leader honoree. Sneed is a Scott High School
and the University of Toledo graduate, and serves as
associate director for the Office of Alumni Relations with
the University of Toledo Foundation. He has quietly made
strides in securing scholarships for UT’s students of color,
and is as an ever-present voice and advocate for
African-American alumni through his role with the
university.
“I’m honored to receive this award by my community. It’s my
nature to give back to the community,” explained Cherron M.
Payne, Esq. Payne is the founder of Global Motion dance
troupe, plays the viola for an orchestra, and volunteers
with various boards and organizations.
Payne, a native Toledoan,
graduated from Notre Dame Academy and entered Ohio
University Honors College as a Templeton Scholar. She
graduated summa cum laude in only three years. Continuing
her education, she received a Graduate Fellowship to Harvard
University where she earned her masters degree and then
earned a law degree from Vanderbilt University as well as
advanced diploma with honors from Oxford University. Payne
is the founder and managing principal of ACP Law Firm, LLC.
[Connecticut]. She has worked as an adjunct
instructor of law and a contract specialist at the
University of Connecticut. |
