For more than 30 years, the Ohio Cultural Alliance, now known as the Mahoning Valley Cultural Alliance, brought the community together through positive and enriching stories about the many cultures that call the Mahoning Valley home. Dr. George Beelen, retired chair of the history department at YSU, noted that all people have more in common than they have differences.
The Cultural Alliance had a definite recipe for success. While the theme for each year was different, the meetings always consisted of a shared meal, entertainment, and an educational piece about the culture or country being highlighted that month. These opportunities helped OCA members tear down the barriers that can lead to fear and intolerance, and laid the groundwork to open the minds of citizens toward discovery of many similarities among the various cultures.
Some topics that were explored over the years were:
- Celebrating life in a troubled world
- Family in another culture
- Health care in other countries
- Old world traditions lost and retained
- Reflections on the millennium
- Resonating voices of the world
While the OCA ceased operations in 2017, it became an advisory committee of Mahoning Valley Historical Society in 2019, and after several years off due to the pandemic, has resumed its Culture & Cuisine dinners. Its mission remains the same, to promote and preserve the cultural diversity of the Mahoning Valley.
To preserve the stories and celebrate the Ohio Cultural Alliance, Dr. Beelen wrote a book titled “Genius Knows No Bounds:” The book reflects on the 30-year history of the OCA by sharing stories of well-known and not so well known citizens of our Valley. The book has been published, and is available through Dr. Beelen, or on Amazon. According to Dr. Beelen, “with every deed, you are sowing a seed, because you never know how far your works can go”.
April is Second Chance Month
Dionne Dowdy-Lacey, executive director of United Returning Citizens, had several guests with her who work for the organization that helps those who have been incarcerated rebuild their lives despite the barriers they potentially may face. The organization recently hosted an expungement clinic, where individuals learn how that process can increase their employability. A formerly incarcerated woman, now on Dionne’s staff, spoke about how her life has been changed through gainful employment.
Service Project Opportunities
St. John’s Episcopal Church: On the third Saturdays of May and June (5/20 and 6/17), help is needed at the women's coffee/breakfast from 8:30am -10am at the church. Volunteers will bring breakfast and serve those who come in.
After breakfast, from 10am -11:30am, the food pantry opens and volunteers will bag and distribute food will to those who come to the pantry. A few teams of 2 Rotarians are needed to deliver food in the community as well.
Taft Food Pantry:
Teams of 2 Rotarians are needed to deliver food in the community from the Taft Food Pantry to the Taft Families. The next several fresh food delivery days are on April 18th and May 16th.
This will take 30 minutes per team, and you will get food for 8-10 stops that are pre-routed. The teams of 2 Rotarians will pull up at the pantry at 2pm, load cars and deliver the food. About 8-10 Rotarians are needed for this as well.
Please let Josh know if you are able help for either of these opportunities.
Operation White Stork
Operation White Stork utilizes the skills of military veterans and entrepreneurs to provide “last mile” logistics solutions during disasters. The organization takes its name from the white stork, the national bird of Ukraine. Programs include evacuating women and children, the elderly, and their pets; directly providing hospitals with medical supplies; and providing first aid kits to Ukrainian railways, Ukrainian Postal Service, and Ukrainian defense forces.
One of the most important items needed are IFAKs, or Individual First Aid Kits for soldiers. These kits contain what you’d normally find in a first aid kit – tourniquets, chest seals, combat gauze, and nasopharyngeal airway devices. White Stork is also placing extra supplies in the kits.
While a fundraiser is being planned to help purchase these IFAKs, you can help this effort now by donating $150 toward the purchase of one kit. If the cost is a little beyond your budget, you can get together with several other Rotarians or friends and split the cost. Contact Josh Prest for more details on how to donate.
Square to Round
Marvin Logan, executive director of OH WOW Children’s Center for Science and Technology, was presented his round badge at last week’s meeting. Receiving the round badge means that Marvin completed his list of tasks required for the switch.
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