The Centerville-Washington Diversity Council is co-sponsoring a Tuesday-night series on the Middle East that continues now through April 10. We hope you can attend one or more of these sessions and that you’ll spread the news to your friends, coworkers and neighbors.

The series focuses on different aspects of the Middle Eastern region, including history and treasures, geography, economics, social interactions, conflicts, and prospects for the future. Presenters include professors and experts from local universities and colleges as well as community leaders noted for their expertise on the region.

The program is co-hosted with the Washington – Centerville Public Library and Hithergreen Center Programs take place 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays at Hithergreen Center, 5900 Hithergreen Dr. Details are on the attached flier. Diversity Council Middle East Series. Upcoming topics include:

• March 13 – Ancient Treasures & History
• March 27 – Gender & Social Issues
• April 3 – Land of Turmoil
• April 10 – Future Prospects, panel discussion by all presenters of the series

Diversity Council members helped Centerville High School students celebrate Black History month by sharing some favorite writings by African-American authors. Our members were among more than  50 teachers, students and community participants who shared a favorite poem, song or book during the 1 1/2-hour program held at the high school’s central theater on February 28.

For their readings, Diversity Council members selected a variation of readings that included both excerpt from an essay by Zora Neale Hurston, “How it Feels to be Colored Me” read by Helen. Anagho-Beny  and our own Dr. Rochelle. Garner,   who fittingly shared a poem she authored for her son at the age of sixteen. (Many thanks to both)

The readings were wrapped up with a brief interview on camera by two  Centerville High school  students noting  the importance of  upholding events that highlights February- Black History month.

ANNUAL MEETING FEB. 24
You’re invited to the annual meeting of the Centerville-Washington Diversity Council at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, in the program room of the Centerville Library, 111 W. Spring Valley Rd.

The Diversity Council is planning a sociable afternoon event with light refreshments. Committee chairs will report on their 2011 activities at the meeting and CWDC members will approve a new Leadership Team slate for the coming year.

The Annual Meeting is open to the public. If you’re interested in learning more about Diversity Council and its members — or know someone else who might be — this is a great meeting to attend. Looking forward to seeing you on February 24!

The Centerville-Washington Diversity Council celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with a sell-out breakfast on Monday, January 16, at the Golf Club at Yankee Trace. This marked the ninth time in 12 years that the 250-seat venue has sold out for the MLK Breakfast.

“This speaks volumes for our community, the quality of our speakers and members of the Diversity Council’s MLK Committee,” said Jackie Curl, council chair.

The breakfast featured a presentation by Sherrie Tolliver, who performed as Rosa Parks, the quiet, unassuming woman who sparked a year-long boycott of the  Montgomery, Alabama  bus company in 1955, led by Dr. King.  She has been called the “mother of the civil rights movement”  as it was her actions which propelled Dr. King into prominence as a Civil Rights leader in his own right.

Ms. Tolliver has a BFA in acting from New York University, where she minored in African-American History, and is a member of the organization Women In History, located in Lakewood, Ohio,  which features actresses who portray women who have played significant roles in history.

Sharon Howard, director of marketing and communications for the Dayton Development Coalition returned as moderator. Norman Plair and Jan Harry served as event chairs.

MLK Jr Breakfast 2012 Photos

MLK Jr Breakfast 2012

Six local families shared the humor, struggle, love and joy of family life in its many forms. In case you were not able to attend this year’s Voice & Stories program at Centerville High School Central Theater on Thursday, November 10, you now have the opportunity to watch the entire program by connecting to the Miami Valley Communications Council page here. You can also view photos from this year’s event at Jerry Huffman’s website here under Gallery.

The program was directed by Chris Shea, Artistic director for Free! Shakespeare and featured live music by Michael & Sandy Bashaw, Dayton musicians and Emmy-nominated composers.

For more information, visit the program page Voices & Stories: Tales from Diverse Families

The Council is comprised of more than 50 representatives from local government, public and private schools, businesses, media, faith and other ethnic communities, as well as a cross section of various races, ages, physical abilities and sexual orientations.