Akron event brings law enforcement and public together at Faith & Blue

The Summit Faith & Blue event held Saturday at Hardesty Park in Akron was just one of thousands planned this year in the U.S., but it was nonetheless special for Summit County Sheriff Kandy Fatheree and its participants.

The festival-like event was the third for the Akron area and is part of a nationwide effort to strengthen ties between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.

The park was lined with booths from law enforcement, churches and government agencies. Some offered candy, donuts or other food, but all were willing to converse with attendees about the value of bringing people together.

Faith & Blue message an important one, says sheriff

Working together is a message that resonates with the sheriff, who organized the first local Faith & Blue event in 2021.

"Once I learned about it, I felt it was one of the most important things we needed to do for the county," the sheriff said Saturday.

Participants at the event agreed.

Lydia Rose, director of public relations and outreach for the Islamic Society of Akron and Kent, said her organization has been at all three events. About 2,000 to 5,000 Muslims live in the Akron-Kent area, she said.

"We really want to share our religion with people," she said. "… We love being part of community events."

Pastor Joe Shuman of Relentless Church Akron said it was the first time his church had participated in Faith & Blue.

"We wanted to try it out and see what it's like," he said. "… I think this is a great opportunity to come together."

In a speech at the park pavilion, Fatheree shared her vision of a closer, more trusting relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

"We did this because, at our core, we all share the same values," she said. "If you want to see positive change in our community, we do that by working together."

'A lot in common'

Gail Lewis from Abundant Faith Ministries in Barberton said the event helps people appreciate that police are human, too. Abundant Faith also participated in the event last year, she said.

"We learn that we've got a lot in common," she said.

On Saturday, Lewis said it seemed participation was up from last year and people were more willing to interact.

"Even if you meet one person, that's one more person you now know," she said.

Officers from several local law enforcement agencies attended, including Springfield Township Police Chief Jack Simone.

"I think it's a great event," he said. "... It's a positive for everybody."

Karla Butler of Blexit said Faith & Blue is one of many events she attends throughout the state. Blexit, which stands for "'Black Exit' from the victimhood mentality," according to its website, seeks to advance urban and minority communities, largely with a conservative message.

"We back the blue, and we try to help bridge the gap between the African American community and law enforcement," she said. "We try to give them the resources to become free thinkers [and] victors instead of victims."

'To protect and serve'

Pastor Bryan Jones of Maranatha Bible Church in Springfield Township said the event was "great" despite the colder weather that arrived Sunday.

Still, he said the event presented opportunities to reach out to attendees.

Fatheree said the whole point is fostering better relations through communication.

"We're here as guardians, not warriors," she said. "[We're] here to protect and serve. It is a partnership."

Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Faith & Blue event bridges gap between law enforcement, public