The AALP Board

Supported by the Toledo Rotary

Mr. Robert Lawrence Smith is the visionary and founder of The African American Legacy Project. Educated in the Toledo Public Schools, Mr. Smith attended St. Thomas Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he minored in business with an emphasis on marketing. He graduated from the University of Toledo. Robert is a former Radio Announcer and Television Producer. He is also a former recruiter Counselor for Grand Valley State Colleges in Allendale Michigan and a Manger of Special and Ethnic Markets for the Coca-Cola Bottlers of Ohio. Mr. Smith brings more than 30 years of media and marketing experience to The AALP.

Dr. Cecelia Adams Ph.D. is Assistant Superintendent of Middle Schools the Toledo Public Schools, a Toledo native, as well as being known as an educator, Dr. Adams, along with members of her family [mother and siblings] have a strong record of giving excellent recitals through out the arts community.

Mr. Norman A. Bell, Sr. was born in Baton Rouge Louisiana. Mr. Bell earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration at Southern University A & M College. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army in 1956. he earned his masters in Education from The University of Toledo. After 33 years as a public servant, 26 with the city of Toledo, Bell retired in 1987.

Dr. Helen Cooks Ph.D. is a retired Associated Professor of Social Foundations in the College of Educational and was the Assistant Vice President of EXCELlence Programs at the University of Toledo. Dr. Cooks has served on the Board of Directors of The African American Legacy Project since its inception. Dr. Cooks hold the distinction of being the first board member honored at The African American Legacy Project’s annual [2006] Legend’s Luncheon.

Mr. John Edwards currently serves as the Executive Director of Urban Minority Drug and Alcohol Abuse Programs. A graduate of the Toledo’s catholic school systems, Mr. Edwards pursued is career at The Ohio State University. Mr./ Edwards commitment to The AALP and the community is evidenced by his continued moral and financial support of a wide array of individuals and efforts.

Mr. Michael Hollie is a retired insurance executive. Since retirement, Mr. Hollie dabbles in real estate investment, but spends a lot of time following his grandchildren and their chosen career paths. Mr. Hollie continues to pursue his true passion [music] and is still frequently pops on the local music scene. Mr. Hollie – drummer – managed and performed in a trio for more than 25 years. The groups name was the Mike Hollie Trio.

Mr. John C. Moore is a native Toledoan who committed his business and professional life to helping grow the overall prosperity of Toledo and Northwest Ohio. Retired after 40 years of professional work experiences in banking and higher education. Mr. Moore was a Corporate Vice President for the old Toledo Trust Company and vice President of Advancement at Bowling Green State University. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Owens Community College.

Ms. Shawanna Smith is an associate Director with the Toledo EXCEL program. Ms. Smith is a former Toledo EXCEL student who continued to train under Dr. Cooks. Ms. Smith is the youngest member of the Board of Directors of the African American Legacy Project.

Ms. Betty Valentine is the Director of Diversity for Owens Community College. Ms. Valentine has extensive training in the field of Human Resources and her hobbies, dare we say – one of her previous and continued professions is as a still photographer.

John E. Fleming, PH.D is the Vice President of Museums for the Cincinnati Museum Center Terminal in Cincinnati, Ohio. His career has focused in the areas of human rights and African American history and culture. He joined the senior staff of the Ohio Historical Society in 1980. He is the founding director of the National Afro-American Museum at Wilberforce, Ohio, and was the first director an chief operating officer fo the National Undergroond Railrood Freedom Center which opened in Cincinnati in August 2004. Dr. Fleming has served as The archival and board consultant to The African American Legacy Project since November 2004.

100 Grandmothers

Grandmothers are often the moral barometers of a family. They are spiritual, and inspirational leaders and quite often are the single person whom each family member seeks council and entrusts their deepest secrets. In our own experience, grandmothers are the heartbeat of the African American culture.

Need: It is critically important for the African American community to begin to find develop mechanisms to begin to resurrect, reclaim, and recover core community values and there is a need to assemble and deliver a cadre of respected voices to impact the current community landscape.

100 Grandmothers will speak to community about those things that youth and others will have an opportunity to be exposed to traditions that historically aided in producing better citizens.

If you would like to be interviewed or know that special grandmother that we should interview please email us at: info@africanamericanlegacy.org; or call us at 419-720-4369