Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts moving forward in Stow despite loss of key players
Some major players in Stow's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative have left their city positions, but the mayor says there is still much to come in the next year.
Recently, the chair of the initiative, Antoinette East-Jenkins, resigned from the city's planning department to work for Kent State University but plans to continue working with DEI in Stow.
Additionally, two of the most vocal supporters on council, Steve Hailer and Christina Shaw, completed their terms.
Hailer was behind the renaming of the John Lewis Memorial Bridge after the civil rights activist, while Shaw spearheaded the renaming of the Leona Farris Lodge in honor of one of the city's first Black residents. Shaw also introduced the city's resolution against racism and unsuccessfully fought for the phrase "Black Lives Matter" to be included in it.
More: 'Leona Farris is my pioneer': Stow honors 104-year-old, one of city's first Black residents
More: Summit County leaders, citizens celebrate renaming of John Lewis Memorial Bridge in Stow
Councilman At-large Cyle Feldman, who also is a co-chair for the Stow-Munroe Falls School District's DEI Committee, remains on council. Feldman was the only other councilmember to support Shaw's request to add "Black Lives Matter" to the city's resolution.
Mayor John Pribonic said new At-large Councilman David Licate also has expressed interest in the DEI committee's work.
Pribonic met with the city's DEI committee last week to begin brainstorming programs for 2022 but said that they are still working to solidify plans.
The city is in the process of renovating the Leona Farris Lodge, including installing a timeline of Farris' life. Farris is matriarch of one of the first Black families to live in the city. Once the timeline is complete, Farris and her family will be invited for a private unveiling at the lodge before it is opened to the public.
The city also is awarding its first DEI scholarships in May to Stow-Munroe Falls High School seniors.
One new idea is to bring Kent State University's "We the People - Portraits of Refugees" project to city grounds.
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Created by Erin LaBelle and the KSU Global Understanding Research Initiative, "We the People" is an exhibit that features 84-by-60-inch portraits of 25 refugees who now live in Northeast Ohio, along with a story about their journey to the United States and a personal message. The exhibit has been at the Kent State Esplanade and in Cuyahoga Falls.
Additionally, Stow is looking to incorporate DEI into its Mental Health Coalition and to collaborate more with the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library.
"They do a lot already, but they feel they can do more," Pribonic said of the library. "We've approached this as an educational process, so what better way than to have our libraries involved."
Pribonic plans to develop a formal plan at the next DEI meeting, which has yet to be scheduled but will include the mental health coalition and the libraries.
"This isn't just the schools, or just the city or just the library," Pribonic said. "We certainly could do it all separately, but we can do it better all together."
Reporter Krista S. Kano can be reached at 330-541-9416, kkano@thebeaconjournal.com or on Twitter @KristaKanoABJ.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Stow Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Initiative planning 2022 events
