The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
TIME TO GET ALONG
Groups gather to talk about raising boys to be true men of wisdom and courage
Lorain County organizations, others within Northeast Ohio and of the city of Lorain continued an annual celebration Oct. 20 of Holy Day of Atonement as well as the 23rd Anniversary of an historic Million Man March.
Folks of all ages discussed the event Oct. 16, 1995, in Washington, DC, and related it to current issues faced throughout the county today while at the Lorain Historic Society, 329 W 10th St.
The Official Lorain County Organizing Committee for the Holy Day of Atonement invited people to discuss not only a day where African American men marched to stand up against all odds and the way society looked at them, but to tie it into issues such as Lorain’s opioid crisis and community violence.
“We can’t not work together.” — Imam Paul Hasan
Imam Paul Hasan, founder of Interfaith Ministries of Lorain County, orchestrated the event at the historical society and the march in 1995.
Hasan said the annual day is not only for African American men, but for all men of any race to face challenges, persevere, reconcile
and make commitments to love and respect one another.
The theme of the event was the Healing Dimensions of Self-knowledge: Holistic Solutions for Holistic problems.
The committee invited guest speakers and organizations throughout the county and outside of it to show their commitment to the community and helping others reach that point of atonement in their lives.
Some of these organizations and guests were Genesis House; Gathering Hope House; Khaled A Samad, chief executive officer of the Coalition For a Better Life Inc. in Cleveland; Matt Lundy, Lorain County Commissioner; Beth Thames, deputy state director for Sherrod Brown; and Dennis Flores, ward 2 councilman of Lorain.
The committee awarded a few representatives of these organizations for
what they do in the community in helping individuals reach atonement or for reaching that moment themselves.
“We want to recognize the day of atonement,” Hasan said. “We want to recognize what people are doing, which is reconciliation and responsibility.”
Steel City Youth Football Mentorship Program was also invited as a team with their coaches Ricky Smith and David Blaine.
Hasan said the youth football team was invited to see the importance of being responsible as young African American males.
“We want to give them hope to become leaders as they grow into adults,” Hasan said.
Light was not only brought from an adult male’s point of view but from youth of Lorain High School, who explained there is much good rather than negativity through what
most perceive it to be.
However, the issues of fighting and more were discussed from the student’s perspective who said it’s important for young students to come together and find that unity to decrease problems.
“We have to unite and come together if we want to (see positive change) and use this day as a day of working together,” Hasan said. “We can’t not work together.”