MANSFIELD – The community is invited to the 5th annual Kay Day Community Celebration on Saturday, July 19, 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.
This year’s celebration includes a concert featuring Christian Hip Hop artist Chawa Music, Danny “Dynasty” Holmes and De’Zs Wayy. There will be free food, backpacks, school supplies 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 5th 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.
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 5th Annual Kay Day Community Celebration contact Aretha Grier at 419-565-2793 or Tionna Perdue, NECIC Chief Operating Officer (COO), at 419-522-1611 Ext. 102.
Donations for the event are also being accepted at Park National Bank.