Keep hope alive, because the struggle continues is message at 47th MLK celebration

Edd Pritchard, The Repository
·2 min read
Michael Pressley Sr., pastor of Mt. Zion Church of God in Christ, speaks during the 47th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration on Saturday at the Edward "Peel" Coleman Center in Canton. In the background is Stephanie Rushin Patrick, co-founder and executive director of the Leila Green Alliance of Black School Educators.
Michael Pressley Sr., pastor of Mt. Zion Church of God in Christ, speaks during the 47th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration on Saturday at the Edward "Peel" Coleman Center in Canton. In the background is Stephanie Rushin Patrick, co-founder and executive director of the Leila Green Alliance of Black School Educators.

CANTON – When he was younger, Michael Pressley Sr. wondered why his father wasn't angry because of the treatment he received as a Black man.

Pressley believed his father should be angry. His father worked hard and served his country during World War II, but he wasn't treated as an equal. Eventually, Pressley came to realize why his father wasn't angry.

"He was able to keep hope alive," Pressley said Saturday during Canton's 47th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration.

Virtual presentation: The 47th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration can be watched on Facebook.

"Keep Hope Alive! The Struggle Continues!" was the theme for the celebration. Pressley, who is pastor of Mount Zion Church of God in Christ, said the theme reminded him of his father and how he contended with the treatment of Black Americans during the 1950s and 1960s.

Pressley said his father kept hope alive as he watched his children grow and begin to live the dream. But the dream hasn't been fulfilled, and there is concern that hope has been fading for some Black Americans.

Education is a key to keeping hope alive, Pressley said. He commended the Leila Green Alliance of Black School Educators, who organized the event, for selecting "keep hope alive" as a theme.

Jeffery S. Talbert, superintendent of Canton City Schools speaks during the 47th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration at the Edward "Peel" Coleman Center in Canton on Saturday.
Jeffery S. Talbert, superintendent of Canton City Schools speaks during the 47th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration at the Edward "Peel" Coleman Center in Canton on Saturday.

During the program, Jeffery S. Talbert, Canton City Schools superintendent, said educators are the brokers of hope and can spark the dreams of youth.

Talbert encouraged youth to embrace the struggle and learn from it. "Success isn't handed to you on a silver platter. Hope is the product of who we are," he said.

The importance of education carried through with the recipients of the annual MLK Outstanding Community Service Awards. Each worked as an educator in the community.

Vince Watts, student success coach at Harter Elementary, top right, embraces Myra Watkins, bottom right, community activist and recently retired administrator at Canton City Schools, after he presented her a community service award during the 47th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration on Saturday. Ellen Camper, visible at left, board president of Queen Esther Village, also received a community service award.

The awards went to:

  • Ellen Camper, board president for Queen of Esther Village, and a community activist who worked at several school districts as a substitute teacher after a career as a programmer at Hoover Co.

  • Karen Kalk Okey, school secretary for Early College at Lehman.

  • Susan D. Scheetz, students services secretary at Crenshaw Middle School.

  • Lighthouse Ministries, at 1931 Third St. SE, for offering educational programs for children in the neighborhood.

  • Myra Watkins, a community activist and former teacher and administrator in the Canton City Schools.

Karen Kalk Okey, center, secretary at Early College at Lehman, and Susan D. Scheetz, right, student services secretary at Crenshaw Middle School, received community service awards from Stephanie Rushin Patrick, left, co-founder and executive director of the Leila Green Alliance of Black School Educators, during the 47th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration at the Edward "Peel" Coleman Center in Canton on Saturday.

Saturday's program was delayed several days because of the heavy snow that hit the Canton area and Northeast Ohio on Monday.

Darin Nissley, right, received a community service award, for the work Lighthouse Ministries does for children in southeast Canton. Andrea Ramsey, left, director of multicultural services at Malone University, and Stephanie Rushin Patrick, center, co-founder and executive director of the Leila Green Alliance of Black School Educators, presented the award during the 47th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration on Saturday.
Jamie Keys, retired school community worker, Canton City School District performs the Black National Anthem during the 47th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration on Saturday.
Jamie Keys, retired school community worker, Canton City School District performs the Black National Anthem during the 47th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration on Saturday.
The 47th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration was held virtually at the Edward "Peel" Coleman Center in Canton on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022.
The 47th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration was held virtually at the Edward "Peel" Coleman Center in Canton on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022.
Thomas M. Bernabei, mayor of the City of Canton, speaks during the 47th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration at the Edward "Peel" Coleman Center in Canton on Saturday.
Thomas M. Bernabei, mayor of the City of Canton, speaks during the 47th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration at the Edward "Peel" Coleman Center in Canton on Saturday.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Keep hope alive, because struggle continues is MLK celebration message