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The annual event also will feature speeches from the
following winners of the 2016 Statewide MLK Oratorical
Contest held last April: Elena Earley, now a third-grader,
Columbus; Mackenzie Lewis (who also is receiving the
Governor’s Humanitarian Award), now a fifth-grader,
Columbus; Playon Patrick, now a ninth-grader, Columbus; and
Ivy Holley, now a 10th-grader, Lima.
The awards and their recipients are as follows:
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: 10-year-old Mackenzie Lewis, Columbus.
Concern over the Flint, Mich., water crisis sprang Lewis
into action last year. She spent hours planning and
executing drives and a fundraiser to collect safe water and
other supplies for the people of Flint. In two trips, she
delivered 1,330 cases and 320 gallons of water. Lewis’ other
initiatives include collecting more than 200 T-shirts for
children in Haiti and more than 150 stuffed animals for her
Berwick Cares Bear Project at her school, Berwick
Alternative K-8 in Columbus, for children going to foster or
adoptive homes.
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 make our communities a more wholesome and desirable
place for living, learning and loving. The recipient has
used Dr. King’s vision of nonviolent social change in his
efforts to successfully bring people from diverse
backgrounds together to build a better community.
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Winner: Wayne McLaughlin, Chillicothe,
has dedicated his life to the service of others.
Professionally, he recently retired from serving as
executive director of Ross County Community Action,
a social service delivery agency in Chillicothe.
During his 11-year tenure, McLaughlin was diligent
in securing funding for the development of a
homeless shelter for men; he implemented a support
program for individuals with lupus; collaborated
with Chillicothe City School District to bring a
minority student leadership program to Ross County;
and partnered with Ohio University-Chillicothe to
enhance the Head Start program for children.
Relative to the community, McLaughlin is an ordained
minister who has been active in the prison ministry.
He has been instrumental in the Chillicothe-area Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebrations, Black
History Month celebrations and health events for
minorities. In addition, he has served on more than
20 boards, commissions and other organizations. |
Wayne McLaughlin |
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 Dr.
King’s vision of unity among people of diverse cultural
backgrounds.
Winner: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Lima.
During the past 26 years, the Sigma Mu Omega chapter of the
Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sorority has served the Lima
community in numerous ways. A non-profit international
service organization, AKA is the oldest Greek letter
sorority for African American women in the United States.
The Lima chapter provides a college readiness program for
students. They also host the largest MLK breakfast in Lima
with 500 to 700 attendees, where they raise funds for
programming and scholarships. Other projects include giving
bags of food to youth for weekend meals and serving as
reading buddies.
Economic Opportunity Award
criteria: The recipient in this category may be an
organization or individual who seeks to improve the quality
of life for its citizens in economically challenged areas
through economic incentive programs. The recipient has
demonstrated accomplishments in one or more of the following
areas: workforce development programs; upgrading skills of
existing workforce; infrastructure improvements; creation of
community partnerships; housing assistance programs; energy
efficiency programs; environmental programs; encouragement
of new business startups; or ability to take advantage of
state and federal aid to provide economic opportunity.
Winner: JumpStart, Inc., Cleveland,
is a venture development organization making many positive
contributions to improve the quality of life for citizens in
economically challenged areas. JumpStart and its
partners in northeast Ohio have helped more than 1,150
early-stage entrepreneurs raise more than $2 billion in risk
capital, generate more than $1.7 billion in revenue and
create more than 10,000 total jobs. The organization also
was the first major venture development organization to
launch a fund specifically for minority and female
entrepreneurs. JumpStart’s pioneering efforts to focus on
traditionally underserved communities has achieved
international recognition, and now serves as a model for
other communities to leverage investments for economic
revitalization. In addition, JumpStart leadership has helped
spearhead national efforts to increase diversity in the
venture capital investing community.
Educational Excellence Award
criteria: The recipient selected in this category recognizes
the personal commitment and example that Dr. 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.
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Winner: Jill Ackerman, Lima,
has spent her entire 29-year education career
dedicated to the Lima City Schools, where she has
served as superintendent since 2012. Ackerman has a
strong dedication to helping students succeed inside
and outside of the classroom. For example, Ackerman
was instrumental in bringing the Closing the
Achievement Gap program to Lima. The program helps
at-risk students move in the right direction and
toward graduation through various activities and
adult mentors. The program was initially implemented
for African American male high school students, but
the success of the program resulted in it expanding
to females and then middle school students because
Ackerman and her team saw the need to intervene at
an earlier age. The program has led to improved
grades, confidence, attendance and behavior.
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Jill Ackerman |
Health Equity and Awareness Award
criteria: The recipient selected in this category
offers exemplary community outreach and educational programs
that serve an underserved population in the state. These
services increase the accessibility of health care for the
under-served while providing a high quality of customer
service.
Winner: Katie Potter, Brook Park,
is the manager of the women’s house of the Ed Keating Center
located in Brook Park. The Ed Keating Center, headquartered
in Lakewood, provides recovering alcoholic and drug-addicted
men and women a chance for sober living. Potter provides
guidance and support to residents while also maintaining
order and accountability for the business side of the house.
She also embraces empathy without enabling destructive
behavior. Potter also provides support for relatives who
need help understanding how to live with an afflicted
alcoholic/addict. She is on call 24/7 and maintains the same
open-door policy for alumnae and community members.
Social Justice Award
criteria: The recipient selected in this category has made
significant contributions to achieving justice for
individuals or communities, including contributions made
through the legal, legislative and governmental systems as
they apply to the more vulnerable elements of our society.
Winner: Phillip Morton, Lima,
is the past chair of the Lima affiliate of the National
Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice, a non-profit
organization dedicated to improving the administration of
criminal justice. A goal of the organization is to achieve
equal justice for blacks and other minorities. Members
include criminal justice professionals and students as well
as community leaders. Under Morton’s leadership, the Lima
affiliate raised money for college scholarships for students
studying criminal justice and other related fields. Members
also have adopted a school where they tutor and mentor
students. The affiliate also has supported many community
programs, including crime victim services, Salvation Army
and Family Promise, an organization helping homeless and
low-income families.
The commission is housed in the Equal Opportunity Division
of the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, which
provides centralized support for state agencies.
For more information about the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. Holiday Commission, visit
das.ohio.gov/mlk.
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