Inspirational Moments pg. 6 Do Good, Do Good!
Business & Entrepreneurship pg. 14 When Business Becomes Personal
Contents
Health & Wellness pg. 18 Dog-Ergy Self-Mastery is the Ultimate Goal
Education Is Key pg. 22 Preserving Wilberforce University (HBCU) Legacy
Community Outreach pg. 44 From Pew to Purpose
Authors Speak pg. 26 The Voice of Poetry
All Things Fashion pg. 48 Do you like the things life is showing you?
Arts & Media pg. 52 Being A Positive Contributor To Community
Cover Story pg. 30 "Community is EVERYWHERE!!" Community Heroes pg. 10 Community News Flash pg. 46 Birthday Shoutouts pg. 56
Education Is Key Preserving Wilberforce University (HBCU) Legacy By Michelle DeMarcia Davis While attending Wilberforce University Professors did a good job advising me of the importance of being an Alumni. We must continuously evolving to help others evolve their education. De-Ajura (Dee) Mathenia, our Cincinnati Chapter President of Wilberforce University Alumni Association, shared great insight about being an active Alumni aka Wilberforcean. Meet De-Ajura (Dee) Mathenia Dee is a visionary who believes vision and purpose are intertwined. She knows there has to be a plan that is both strategic and tactical in order to achieve any goals associated with the purpose. Her actions show, she believes through dedication and hard work goals are obtainable and achieved. The Cincinnati Chapter, like Wilberforce University, is small and mighty. It’s comprised of twenty-five dedicated alumni who are focused on engaging with the Cincinnati community to share the great opportunities and rich history of Wilberforce University. In Cincinnati, the Queen City, the Methodist Episcopal Church and the African American Methodist Episcopal Church collaborated to purchase the land that would serve as the initial location for Wilberforce University. The Cincinnati community and our school-age students, also need to know that Wilberforce University is the nation’s first Historically Black University (HBCU) privately owned by African Americans, founded in 1856.
22 Vision & Purpose Community Magazine
The Cincinnati Chapter's goals, mission, vision, and values align with the National Alumni Association; which is to promote the welfare of Wilberforce University, its Alumni, and society at large with funding, student referrals, and overall support for the good of the continuing existence of the University. Our alumni association is organized for the mutual benefit and prosperity of Wilberforce University, graduates, former students, and others committed to our Alma Mater. The ultimate goal of our work and dedication will strengthen and support our Alma Mater ensuring it remains a viable institution and memories of our student experience be kept alive. Specifically, the Cincinnati Chapter is focused on increasing knowledge of Wilberforce University, its rich history, and the alumni network through a three-pronged focus of community involvement, partnership with local K -12 schools, and local churches.
The preparation of current and future, leadership of the chapter ensures the local chapter remains vibrant and active. The steadfast chapter leaders and members like Rev. Kenneth Bibb, Gloria Jenkins, Walter Vaughn, and Milton Wiggins, have worked to mentor and prepare, Dee and all other chapter members, to ensure that our local chapter history is preserved and proper operation and procedures are incorporated. Vision & Purpose Community Magazine 23
Community Outreach
From Pews to Purpose By Michelle DeMarcia Davis
Pastor/Teacher Dwayne D. Flood humbly says “I’m a nobody, trying to tell everybody, about somebody, who saves anybody.” The move of the Holy Spirit called him to preach and whom he gives all control of his life. His heart’s desire is to please Him. He truly believes that God sent him to Pastor the loving people of Trinity Missionary Baptist Church (TMBC) – Madisonville, OH. He accepted his call to pastor TMBC on January 22, 2022, and he sincerely loves the great people of TMBC. Pastor Flood has always had an admiration and love for the Word of God. When it comes to biblical interpretation, he is very studious and careful to rightly divide the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15). He stands on the Bible as it is written, and he preaches and teaches with strong convictions concerning biblical theology. Pastor is the proud husband of twenty-eight years to Latoya Flood, and they share four beautiful children; Isaiah, Kaleb, Simeon, and Khira. His favorite quote is by Les Brown, “When life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up.” His favorite Bible verse is Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” 42 Vision & Purpose Community Magazine
TMBC is friendly, family-oriented and knows that Community Outreach is a critical aspect of the church. The church is composed of people, not the building. They are the church that God uses in order to bless others who are in need. The Bible says, "Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again" (Luke 6:38). TMB wants God to bless them in the same manner that they bless others. Pastor Flood states “Community Outreach is a direct reflection that Jesus has for us. Since Jesus loves us all, we should love as He loves. Jesus gave all that He had . . . Himself. The church has a responsibility to show forth the love of Jesus Christ. In return, those who experience His love may come to accept the precious gift of salvation.” TMBC shares the love of Jesus Christ that transforms the heart through faith and develops spiritual growth through the teaching of the Gospel. (Matthew 28:19-20). To experience the love of Jesus Christ that leads to salvation (Romans 5:8). They believe in one God, creator of all things, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. TMB stands firmly on the Word of God and allows it to lead, guide, and provide instruction on how to live a Spirit-filled life. Pastor Flood shared his thoughts on some of the challenges that he faces. “The pace – at times your heart’s desire is to do and be everywhere at the same time. This leads to exhaustion and burnout. I have learned that I must keep in step with the Holy Spirit. Not behind Him, and certainly not in front of Him. I simply just need to hold His hand and keep in step with Him.” Growth has been exactly what I think everyone needs to grow “Belief – when you read in the Bible that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20), it goes to a whole new level when you see Him do it. I have seen God do some amazing things in the past year. Our church went from barely surviving to thriving all due to the grace of Jesus Christ. God is great and greatly to be praised!” Vision & Purpose Community Magazine 43