MANSFIELD – The Mansfield-area community is invited to the 4th Annual Kay Day Community Celebration on Saturday, July 20, from noon to 4 p.m. at the NECIC Urban Farm, located at 311 S. Bowman Street in Mansfield.
This free event honors the legacy of North End Community Improvement Collaborative (NECIC) community organizer and anti-violence advocate, Geneva ‘Kay’ Smith, who died in December 2019.
The celebration includes food, live entertainment, praise dance performances, free backpacks from Legacy Academy of Excellence and school supplies provided by (Bar Pregame and the Mansfield Senior High Class of 89) and a balloon release.
The community celebration also serves as a day to uplift mothers who have lost a child recently and kids in the community that need school supplies — both are groups that Smith was passionate about.
This year we’ll also be honoring families in our community whose loved ones were the victims of gun violence.
Each family will be presented with a beautiful Compassion Blanket.
The 4th annual Kay Day Community Celebration is presented by the Kay Day Committee, Mother’s United To S.A.V.E. (Standing Against Violence Everywhere), the North End Community Improvement Collaborative (NECIC), City of Mansfield Police Department, Mansfield Branch of the NAACP, Mansfield Community Against Violence (M-CAV), Restored Visions, Richland County Children Services (RCCS) and We ACT.
With the help of Kay’s sister, Aretha Grier, and members of the community; ‘Kay Day’ celebrates all of Kay’s accomplishments and her love for the city of Mansfield.
“This event honors my sister’s legacy for her service in our community and the lives she touched,” Grier said. “She was the founder of Mother’s United to S.A.V.E. (Standing Against Violence Everywhere) that meant so much to her.”
Some of the initiatives and programs Kay led were: The North End Elder program, Neighbor Up Night, M-CAV, Open Table, My Brother’s Keeper, and so much more.
She was the Youth Advisor 3rd Vice President of the Mansfield Ohio NAACP Branch. She also was an active partner with the Mansfield Police Department, Richland County Children Services, Restored Visions and We ACT.
For more information about the 4th Annual Kay Day Community Celebration contact at Aretha Grier at 419-565-2793 or Tionna Perdue, NECIC Operations Manager, at 419-522-1611.
Donations for the event are also being accepted at Park National Bank.