'The fierce urgency of now,' Metro NAACP members grant awards, hear call to action

ELYRIA — On Saturday, members and friends of the Metro Central Ohio Unit of the NAACP celebrated the successes of local Black Americans, but also heard an impassioned call to continue the fight for inclusion and representation at its annual Freedom Fund Banquet. A packed room at the Lorain County Community College Student Center was brought to its feet by keynote speaker the Rev. Thomas Bowen, as he challenged the attendees to remember why the NAACP was founded, and told them that organization to fight for freedom and equality was needed as much today as ever. "The fierce urgency of now demands that you not only remember what we're fighting against, but we commit to what we're fighting for," Bowen said. "If we ever need the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ever before, we sure enough need it now. My mama made sure that we had memberships in our house. She knew the value of this organization. She knew that the NAACP wasn't just about court cases and protests. It was about dignity, about community, about making sure that we knew we belonged to something greater than ourselves." Bowen, the founder of Engage Faith, former senior adviser for Public Engagement in the administration of President Joe Biden and a former Elyria Board of Education member, called many of the actions of the administration of President Donald Trump as antithetical to what the NAACP stands for. He said that attacks on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, or DEI, initiatives, attempted changes to voter registration policies and the policing of American cities with National Guard troops represented a threat to the freedom of African Americans and other minority communities. "The NAACP was born for such a time, as this and the fierce urgency of now demands that we rise again," Bowen said. "Alencia Johnson in her powerful book, Flip the Tables, wrote these words: 'We don't just need representation, we need transformation. We don't just need seats at the table, we need to build the table itself.' And I say tonight, let's start swinging at our hammers. That's what this generation must do, flip the tables that were never meant for us, and make new ones that are meant for all of us. Black, brown, queer, trans, white, we're all precious in God's sight." In light of what still needs to be done, Bowen said, Saturday night was also a time to celebrate the success of Black leaders in Elyria and Oberlin — Metro Central covers both cities — as well as the resiliency of all its members. Attendees also enjoyed a vocal performance from 17-year-old Dajeun Dickerson Jr., as Marsalis Hammons, the founder of the Elyria-based nonprofit Leader of Today, served as master of ceremonies. "Thank you Reverend Bowen for your powerful, powerful words," Marsalis said. "Y'all didn't know you were attending church this evening. … The fierce urgency of now, if you didn't know, now you know. Do not overlook an opportunity to create change; I believe there is a special, special opportunity in this area, and it's evident just in (Bowen's) speech." After the prelude of speeches, the Metro Central NAACP granted its scholarships and awards to Black community members and organizations which have achieved highly in their field. The Business Excellence award went to Sha'Quanna Young, the owner of Studio 828, a salon and spa she opened in Elyria just under a year ago after relocating. The Community Civic Engagement Award went to the Sidonia Chapter No. 69, Order of the Eastern Star Inc. a charitable fraternal organization which has offered myriad community services in Elyria since it was first chartered in 1927. The Social Justice Award was given to Farad Lillian Emeka, an attorney and community leader who was recognized for her position on multiple local nonprofit organizations. Emeka is running against Richard Ramsey to replace retiring Oberlin Municipal Court Judge Thomas Januzzi. Finally, the 2025 President's Award, granted by Metro Central NAACP President Ardelia "Dee" Tolbert, went to Veronica Smallwood Cofield, the founder of Cofield's BBQ 2 and More. The NAACP also recognized six recipients of the 2025 Book Scholarship Award: Elyria Early College High School graduate Jocelyn Eldemire, Clearview graduate Josiah Longo, Oberlin and Lorain County JVS graduate Clara McCown, Lake Ridge Academy graduate Solomon Peterson, Elyria graduate Cherish Tillman and Oberlin graduate Ziarie Williams. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.