29th annual MLK Jr. Mayors' Breakfast celebrates unity, honors community leaders

Sam Zern, The Repository
·3 min read
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CANTON – “No one is an island.”

Those words came Thursday from Rev. Walter J. Arrington, chairman of Greater Canton Martin Luther King Commission as the group hosted its 29th annual Mayors' Breakfast honoring community leaders and recognizing student scholarship recipients.

“All of us are in it together. And when we work together, when we serve together, when we take an interest in each other, not to be repelled by one's religion, by one's race, ethnicity, by one's gender, by one's ideals, we come together, knock down those barriers, we can make it better for so many people.”

The event's theme “in unity...inseparable” celebrated Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy ahead of MLK Day on Monday.

Related: Local organizations plan events to mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Much of the event focused on leadership, with speakers highlighting the ways community leaders have worked to weather the storm of COVID-19 over the past two years.

More: Meet the forbears of Canton's MLK Commission

Sykes and Roth discuss leadership

In a facilitated conversation between state Sen. Dr. Vernon Sykes and Aultman Health Foundation President Emeritus Edward Roth III, the two discussed the ways that unity, and the idea that what affects one person affects all, plays into their work as leaders.

Sykes spoke about his work on Senate Bill 105, which if passed would require political subdivisions to recognize state certifications of minority, veteran and women-owned business. That bill, he said, grew out of an Akron-area economic development assessment that revealed the extent to which marginalized communities has been systematically excluded from economic development to the detriment of the whole area's ability to grow.

“Society's prosperity is gauged by aggregating the well-being of individuals,” Sykes said. “Any weak link is expensive to all of us, and that's why discrimination is so destructive to our society and the well-being really of everyone.”

The two featured speakers were also asked about servant leadership and King’s statement that "life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"

Roth said that in healthcare especially, servant leadership and ensuring that hospital leaders are integral members of their communities is necessary to build the types of relationships that ensure patients’ needs are met.

“I had someone say one time, servant leaders are softies, they can't make good decisions, they can't be a CEO and be a servant leader,” Roth said. “I would say you can't be a CEO if you're not a servant leader. If you're not serving the people that work for you, if you don't love those people and what they do, you can't lead an organization.”

While the event serves as a time for reflection – on the challenges of the pandemic, the community members who’ve made an impact in the last year and the life and legacy of King – organizers also took time to chart the course ahead.

In awarding scholarships to seven area high schoolers, the commission’s hope is to honor the work the students have already put into their education and support them in their journey to be the newest slate of community leaders and continue the King's spirit.

“One of the principles that Dr. King aspired to was top down and bottom up,” Arrington said. “Because real change cannot occur just from the top, nor can it occur just from the bottom, top down, has to meet bottom up so that real change can occur.”

Service Awards

  • Religious Outreach – Duane Wykoff, CEO, Refuge of Hope Ministries

  • Business – Kenny Peterson, entrepreneur

  • Education – Joe Chaddock, superintendent, Stark County Educational Service Center

  • Community – Regina’s Winter Drive

MLK Jr. Spirit Award

  • Leonard Stevens, president, Stark County Minority Business Association

2022 Gene DeChellis Scholarship Recipients

  • Kiera Collien, Perry High, Stark State

  • Dontay Mustin, Glenoak High, Ohio State University

  • McKenzie Mack, Glenoak High, Ohio State University

  • Morgan Hannon, Washington High, University of Findlay

  • Raine Rueschman, Canton South High, Aultman College

  • Nevaeh Simmons, McKinley High, undecided

  • Maraja Moss, Jackson High, University of Pittsburgh

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ahead of MLK Day, community leaders reflect on unity at annual event