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December 1 - 8, 2023 - Dayton Weekly News
December 1 - 8, 2023
Officer Ronald Strehle Retires from the Dayton Police Department
Vol. 29, Issue 51
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Trotwood-Madison Central State University Foundation High School Graduate Honors Hometown, Board Member Appointed to Supporters TourismOhio Advisory Board
William Lumpkin
Officer Ronald Strehle
Officer Ronald Strehle is retiring from the Dayton Police Department on December 8, 2023, after 29 years of service to the Dayton community. “It has been a pleasure to work with each and every one of you who have strived to make our city a safer and better place to reside However, this will not be goodbye, as we may work together in the future in my new role, as Police Community Programs Supervisor. Thank you for making this job seem less like work and more like a group of friends working together towards common goal, the quality of life for our families. It has truly been an honor.” said Officer Strehle.
Wilberforce, Ohio-Columbus native and Central State University Foundation board member Jason Dunn has earlier this month been appointed to the TourismOhio Advisory Board by Gov. Mike DeWine. As a board member of the Central State University Foundation, Dunn has worked with his colleagues to provide Marauders with financial assistance via scholarships and other forms of underwriting, subsidies, endowments, and awards that may be pertinent to stu-
The Montgomery County Prevention Coalition (MCPC) is inviting the media and the public to the dedication of the first of four grant-funded murals to increase awareness of suicide. The mural was painted by MCPC volunteers and students of the Dayton Leadership Academies with the message “The sun will rise, and I will try again.” A QR code embedded in the mural will direct people to mental health resources. “As suicide numbers continue to climb in our community, we knew
we needed to spread positive messages throughout Montgomery County. We are grateful to Culture Works for providing grant dollars that will allow us to paint four murals to provide hope and to help guide people to the mental health support they need,” said Brittini Long, Senior Program Coordinator for Montgomery County ADAMHS and Project Manager of the murals. Culture Works provided $10,000 toward the project, which was matched by the MCPC. MCPC was also awarded a $1,000 grant from Keep Montgomery County Beauti-
Jason Dunn is shown at the the 5th Annual World Kannada Summit welcoming convention participants to Ohio.
dents in need. Such funding goes to student education, housing, and other necessary expenses to ensure qualified Marauders are able to focus on their schooling and achieve success in graduation. While attending the University of Cincinnati from 1998 through 2001, Dunn became intimately involved in community activities and soon “cut (his) teeth in local politics,” as he put it. Dunn became particularly involved in the political scene during what he referred to as the “unrest” and series of
protests that took place in 2001 after the 15th shooting of an African American man by area law enforcement. “The Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau was in the bull’s eye of many of the protests, and many of the conventions, organizations, and concerts that would be coming to the city decided to boycott,” Dunn said. “As more and more groups were pulling out of coming to the city that year, I became something of a bridge between UC and the community.”
Around the time of his graduating from UC, Dunn emailed the vice mayor of the time to tell her that his experiences as mediator during the political unrest had piqued his interest in getting involved with tourism. Dunn was brought in to assist in a variety of capacities to act once again as an intermediary, this time between the city writ large and local community members, ultimately leading to joining the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP). Continued on Page 5
Mural to Spread Hope as Death by Suicide Numbers Increase
ful to purchase paint from Sherwin Williams. The mural is located at 2232 North Main Street which according to ODOT data will generate 75,000 impressions each week. The dedication ceremony will take place at 4:00 pm on December 13, 2023, at 2232 North Main
Street. Parking is available at the Dollar General store across the street. To register for this free event, please click here. For more information or to schedule interviews, please contact Tina Rezash Rogal at trezash@ mcadamhs.org or call 937-416-1458.
What is the MCPC? – The MCPC is comprised of community leaders with a passion to prevent substance misuse and promote positive mental health. The mission of the coalition is to mobilize Montgomery County to prevent youth substance use and promote positive mental health through the implementation of evidence-based prevention strategies and community collaboration. The vision of the coalition is a community where every individual lives a substancefree life with optimal mental health.
Mental Health at Christmas: How to Cope During the Holidays
How Christmas Affects Mental Health Christmas is traditionally a time of celebration, eating, drinking, spending time with family and friends, and generally enjoying the festive spirit. However, for those who struggle with a mental health condition, the yuletide season can be an especially difficult time. First of all, it’s important to recognise that if you’re struggling over the Christmas period, you are far from alone. Mental health issues at Christmas affect more of us than you might think. Depression at Christmas Society tells us that Christmas is a time of joy, laughter, cheerfulness, family and celebration. However, for people who struggle with depression, these types of pressures and constant reminders that you should be happy, can make you feel even worse. Key symptoms of depression include: Intense sadness Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness Anxiety Low energy Changes in appetites and weight fluc-
tuations These symptoms can be especially hard to deal with at Christmas, when everyone around you seems to be in a good mood. This can make you want to withdraw from other people – which, again, can be difficult during a season of goodwill and catch-ups with loved ones, whatever form they take. A specific type of depression, known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is also prevalent during this time of year. Also known as ‘winter depression’ or ‘winter blues’, SAD occurs primarily in the months of December, January and February as a result of people being exposed to less sunlight.
“Winter months can trigger seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in those vulnerable to the condition. Shorter daylight hours combined with lack of sunshine can impact negatively on your mood. Many people find themselves staying in the house over the Christmas period. However, try and get out at least once a day, even if it is just for a short walk.” Managing Anxiety over the Holidays Everything seems to be heightened and more intense at Christmas – from the music and lights to the traffic and crowds. All of the above is daunting for most people, but can be even more intense if you struggle with anxiety. People with social anxiety disorder may find the prospect of having to make an effort to see people, in person or over video, overwhelming. If you struggle with panic disorder, you may find that the intensity and frequency of your panic attacks increase at this time of year. Here are some of the most common signs of anxiety to look out for: Continued on Page 4
William Lumpkin is the living embodiment of the saying, “Remember where you come from.” A successful sales and marketing executive based in Houston, Texas, William credits the support and encouragement he received as a standout athlete, class president and one of the top graduates of the TrotwoodMadison High School Class of 2001, for the successes he’s enjoyed in life. “I greatly benefited from family, lifelong friends and coaches who believed in and supported me in every step of my life journey,” Lumpkin said. “It’s important for me to give something back to the community where I grew up.” This desire to give back is rooted in his earliest memories of giving. His parents, Sandra and Floyd Lumpkin, and aunt and uncle, Hortense and John Lumpkin, Sr., were among his strongest supporters in his pursuit of furthering his education and playing football. This support, along with his hard work and determination, led him to Indiana University on a football scholarship, where he achieved Academic AllBig Ten Team honors four times and served as senior team captain. After graduating from IU with a finance degree, he earned his MBA in 2012 from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Lumpkin’s mother, in particular, had a big impact on his desire to help others. It’s a philosophy he and his wife, Layla Lumpkin, hope to carry on with their three children and through a scholarship fund he established in 2019 through the African-American Community Fund of The Dayton Foundation. “My mom is the most giving person I know. She regularly serves food, has spent time Continued on Page 5
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