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Braden
UMC Honors the Legacy and Future of Education: The Class of
2020
By Megan Davis
Sojourner’s Truth
Reporter
Braden United Methodist Church has been in the local community for 112
years. It’s a church that has, through each decade, faced
challenges and has likewise accomplished many feats by faith
and perseverance.
The church is comprised of a body of members who have strong faith and
have been empowered to be activists in the community to
create change in the areas of outreach, government and
education. Retired Sen. Edna Brown, for example, has
represented Toledoans in the Ohio House and Senate, and her
political career spanned 32 years.
The late Gloria Layson, who was an activist and a retired nurse, started
the PASS Charter School and founded Mothers Outraged Against
Drugs (MOAD) in Toledo, had a vision for what is now the
Freedom School, sponsored by the Children’s Defense Fund,
that is held annually at the Monroe St. Community Center.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has stifled programming this
year, it usually runs six weeks, providing academic support
in reading and literacy to area youth.
Edrene Cole was an educator whose career spanned more than 35 years. She
was a teacher in Toledo Public Schools, was a dean at
Macomber Whitney, assistant principal at Pickett and
principal at Ottawa River School, a school where Joyce
Sparks, another Braden member, worked as a teacher for
30-plus years. Mrs. Cole chaired the ACT-SO competition and
was a lifetime member of the NAACP. She also worked with
Helen Cooks, PhD, at Toledo Excel.
Helen Cooks, who founded Toledo Excel in 1989, had a vision to ensure
that underrepresented students would be able to graduate
from high school and guarantee their college enrollment.
The program, which still exists today has impacted over
1,100 high school students, many of whom have graduated from
the University of Toledo and are now educators and
administrators or supportive staff themselves.
Whether it is Rahwae Shuman, who led the Toledo Ecumenical Youth Council
(TEYC) in the 90s, who revived the program four years ago
at Braden, or Marie L. Bush, PhD, retired principal, who
continues to serve in various capacities in community
organizations that empower youth, like the Boys and Girls
Club of Northwestern Ohio where she serves a board chairman,
the knowledge, wisdom and experience that entered the doors
of this local church each week is vast and long-lived, a
legacy that generations will continue to carry on.
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Nathaniel Mitcham
Cheyann Parker
Brooklyne Gregory |
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This is why, especially during the novel coronavirus pandemic and
extended stay home order, it is important for Braden to
recognize the now generation of students who have achieved
high school graduation and will pursue higher education in
Ohio universities. These youth have grown up in the church
along with their parents and even grandparents. These
students, whose shoulders will carry the mantle of faith and
scholarship weren’t able to experience the typical senior
year activities, from prom to senior pictures, to the
commencement ceremonies that afford them the opportunity to
be celebrated and rewarded with a diploma for their
accomplishments. They won’t get to hear the cheers of the
crowd in the Stranahan or Valentine Theatres; no marching to
the tune of Pomp and Circumstance, played by friends
in the band; and no singing of their Alma Mater one last
time.
The church honors all of its graduates each year, and this year, howbeit
different, it will still happen. The seniors being honored
are Cheyann Parker, Nathaniel Mitcham and Brooklynne
Gregory. Each has had an impressive high school career and
is moving forward to pursue degrees at a local university.
We have seen the resumes of Braden members before and take
joy in the sharing of these seniors’ accomplishments.
Cheyann Parker is a graduate of Springfield High School. A four-year
honor roll student, she has participated in The African
American Club, the Christian Girls Group, Be the Change Club
and the Foreign Language Club. She has had administrative
roles on the Homecoming and Prom Committees as well as the
Chick Fil A Leadership Academy, which extended their faith
mission by serving residents in the Spring Meadows Extended
Living Center during the holidays, bringing them Christmas
baskets.
Cheyann also volunteered as a third grade tutor at Holloway Elementary
School and was in the Color Guard. She was a part of
Students in Action and developed athletic skills on the
track and powder puff football teams. A young lady of
compassion and class, she was a part of the P.E.A.C.E
Project (Protect Every Abused Child Everywhere) and she
participated in the Toledo Debutante Cotillion, which could
not be held this year. She has been a part of the Braden
Youth Ministry, serving on Youth Sundays as a speaker,
liturgist, and in the music ministry. Cheyann will attend
The University of Toledo, pursuing a degree in Healthcare
Administration.
Nathaniel Mitcham is a graduate of Jesup W. Scott High School, with
honors. Tenth in the senior class, he has been on the honor
roll and principal’s list. Nathaniel is one of 140 seniors
who received the H.O.P.E Program Scholarship, which is
paying the tuition of students attending accredited
colleges, universities and trade schools, for up to 4.5
years.
Nathaniel serves on the Shepherds Ministry and sings in the Harper Male
Chorus at Braden. A young man of faith, who started in Jr.
Church is an aspiring leader, attending Bible Study
regularly and has served as an acolyte, and lead worship
services in the Youth ministry, also singing with the youth
choir. He participates in the Mystery Music Choir and also
helps maintain the Our Brothers Keeper Community Garden,
alongside his grandmother, retired LSW, who also received a
scholarship to attend school this far from the H.O.P.E
Programl.
He has been accepted into Lourdes University in the fall and has
received an additional scholarship for $1,000 per year as a
result of his audition and acceptance into the Lourdes
University Choir. Nathaniel’s major is Psychology and he is
considering a minor in Sociology. He said, “I plan to help
as many youth as possible through mentorship and counseling,
helping them cope with and manage the pressure and stress of
adolescence.”
Brooklynne Gregory is a graduate of St. Ursula Academy. An emerging
leader, Brooklynne was instrumental in establishing the
African American Club at St. Ursula. Serving as president,
she has helped to create opportunities for St. Ursula
students to learn about African American Heritage, celebrate
culture and engage with younger students at Ella P. Stewart,
working together on projects to support and mentor them. In
her presidential role, she was also responsible for the
Black History Month Program, organizing the events, theme
and celebration held at the school.
She was awarded a trip to Tokyo, Japan to learn of their culture and how
it relates to and differs from American Culture. Brooklynne
has been a part of the choir and drama productions all four
years and also was a varsity cheerleader for St. Francis de
Sales. She was a part of the track team and has also
enjoyed being a part of the Music and Spanish Honors
Programs.
At Braden, Brooklynne was an acolyte, a part of Jr. Church and the Youth
group, serving during Youth Sundays as a speaker, choir
member and the resident liturgical dancer. She was a
recipient of a scholarship from The Toledo Alumnae Chapter
of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and was adopted by several
people in the community through the Facebook Adopt-A-Senior
Group. Brooklynne has been accepted into the Provost’s
Leadership Academy, a high-achieving group of first year
students, at Kent St. University. There, she will major in
Psychology with a minor in Music.
Brooklynne shared, “With the closing of all Ohio Schools, my senior year
has abruptly come to an end. I will never forget the amazing
memories I had with my peers or my teachers St.Ursula
Academy has taught me many valuable lessons that as a young
woman, I will carry no matter how far I go.” The sisters
that I have made over the past seven years will always
remain in my heart. To my SUA sisters, this is not a goodbye
but just a see you later! With one door closing, another
must open.”
Rev. Cecil J. Fitzgerald Thompson, Braden Pastor, The
Theresa M. Brister Scholarship Committee and the Braden
Christian Education Dept. and members would like to
Congratulate the Class of 2020 High School Seniors on their
graduation!
Braden will unite to celebrate these Youth Grads on
Sunday, May 31 at 12 PM, with a Drive Through
Graduation Parade/Party! Each student will be
present (with social distancing in place) and the Braden
church family and Toledo Community are welcome to decorate
cars and bring gifts/cards to our graduates and enjoy a
treat, to go! Simply drive up and drop off, in celebration
of our graduates! Braden is located at 4725 Dorr St. Toledo,
OH 43615.
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