CITY LIGHT

  50 Years of Thankfulness "When grace is joined with wrinkles, it is adorable. There is an unspeakable dawn in happy old age." - Victor Hugo  Paraphrasing Shakespeare, " All I can do is say thanks, thanks and ever thanks!" As I close in on my 50th birthday. I am clearly focused on God's grace. Every blessing and good thing has come from Him. In reaching this milestone I know I would not be here without the people God strategically placed in my life. Each person was vital in molding me into a man. At the top of that list are my mother and father, Grandmomma, Uncle Eddie, Aunt Rose, Aunt Lou Bee, Aunt Sheila, Aunt Pam and Godmother Barbara Oxner. Their love encouragement and challenges made me think and pushed me beyond mediocrity. They are the defining influences of my 50 years.  I am forever grateful to Zion/New Jerusalem Churches and Pastors T.T. Thomas, Bishop Edward T. Cook, Pastor Willie Mitchell and Pastor

My Black History Journey:  Mississippi and the Mott Branch Library Emerging from the backdrop of home and "The Shop" was the coalescing of different factors as I entered school at Martin Luther King School for kindergarten and later Nativity/Pickett Elementary. As the Civil Rights movement was ending my teachers in our urban community were motivated to adapt the curriculum to teach the predominantly black students about themselves. Ms. Ricketts, Ms Sutfield, Ms. Gibson, Ms. Coleman, Ms. Gaines, and Ms. Clark all excelled in introducing me and my classmates to our culture . Also, we traveled to the Sepia Theater in our community to watch the movie Sounder and took a field trip to the Mott Branch Library to get our first library cards in the second grade. Mott Branch Library located on Door Street in the heart of the black community in Toledo was a sanctuary to me. There were books to address almost every question my curious mind could consider.  It happen

Black History Beginning: Home and Woodley Auto Repair When you control a man's thinking you don't have to worry about his actions. You don't have to tell him to stand here or go yonder. He will find his "proper place" an stay in it. You do not need to send him to the back. Miseducation of the Negro 1933 Dr. Carter G. Woodson, Father of Black History In this sense the Negro problem is not only America's greatest failure but also America's incomparably great opportunity for the future. If America should follow its own deepest convictions, its well-being at home would be increased directly. At the same time America's prestige and power abroad would rise immensely. The American Dilemma 1944 Gunnar Myrdal My Black History journey started at home in Toledo Ohio (The Glass City), the home of jazz innovators Art Tatum and Jon Hendricks along with pioneering black lawyer Albertus Brown. The home of WKLR with, "Pau

49 Years of Blessings Psalm 112:1-10 MSG- Hallelujah! Blessed man, blessed woman, who fear God ,  Who cherish and relish his commandments,  Their children robust on the earth,  And the homes of the upright—how blessed!  Their houses brim with wealth  And a generosity that never runs dry.  Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people—  God's grace and mercy and justice!  The good person is generous and lends lavishly;  No shuffling or stumbling around for this one,  But a sterling and solid and lasting reputation.  Unfazed by rumor and gossip,  Heart ready, trusting in God ,  Spirit firm, unperturbed,  Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies,  They lavish gifts on the poor—  A generosity that goes on, and on, and on.  An honored life! A beautiful life!  Someone wicked takes one look and rages,  Blusters away but ends up speechless.   There's nothing to the dreams of the wicked. Nothing. I am humbled that God has given me another year. Some take i

A Note of Thanks From Arto Woodley "I can no other answer make but thanks, And thanks, and ever thanks..." --Sebastian, Twelfth Night , Act 3, scene 3 Thank you for all of your gifts, service, prayer, support and love. You have helped equip hundreds urban young people at Frontline Outreach over the past sixteen years. In January Bishop Allen Wiggins and I successfully launched the Strategic Alliance with Frontline Outreach and Hope Center West. The Alliance added new board members affiliated with Hope and added new team members to manage the daily operations of Frontline Outreach. Since we have completed the transition process I have moved out of my role as President of Frontline. I will complete my term as a White House Strong City Strong Communities Fellow serving Mayor John Linder ( http://www.gmfus.org/programs/urban-and-regional-policy-program/strong-cities-strong-communities-fellowship/chester-pennsylvania/ ) and finish a doctorate in Higher Ed

  Black History Month has always been a favorite time for me since the second grade when I read Great Negroes Past and Present and Great Negro Scientist. I learned that I was derived from a race of people have overcome insurmountable obstacles to become distinguished throughout world history. To kick off the  remembrance of the great African American achievements, I have to note one that will never become part of recorded history. It is one that will always be emblazoned on my heart and the collective heart of the Haynes-Glover-Jones-Woodley family. It is my personal black history connection in the life of Mrs. Virgie Lee Jones. Let me provide a disclaimer. She was not a civil rights leader, scientist, orator, or entrepreneur.  She was a widowed single mother at the age of 38 with twelve children. One of the eldest of twenty-one children who never completed high school. She was not independently wealthy and never lived in a mansion. She was my grandmother.