On this edition of Let's Talkini, everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Everyone has the opportunity for *** living wage. Everyone has the opportunity for the American dream. The legacy of Cincinnati civil rights icon Mar and Spencer is giving educational opportunities for *** new generation of students and future leaders. These students have *** keen eye on educational equity. Racial equity and how they can be *** positive impact in the community they recognize that ordinary people like Mary and Spencer can do extraordinary things when you're supported. From 바카라게임 this is the Emmy Award winning show Let's Talkin presented by Western and Southern Financial Group. Put our financial strength behind you. Hello everyone, I'm Curtis Fuller, and welcome to Let's Talk Censi. When you think of some of the iconic names linked to our great city of Cincinnati over the years, one person who immediately comes to mind is civil rights advocate and former Cincinnati Vice Mayor, the late Marian Alexander Spencer. Mrs. Spencer passed away in 2019, shortly after her. Ninety-ninth birthday, but today we'll talk about how the legacy lives on in greater Cincinnati, beginning with the amazing scholarship in her name over at the University of Cincinnati. Mary and Spencer was really, you know, just *** force to be reckoned with. She was always larger than life. She always wanted to know what she could do to make *** difference, you know, whether it was with the NAACP or desegregating Cincinnati public schools. When she integrated Coney Island, she organized. The uh NAACP, the different churches, I mean moms from across the city, and they made it happen. Mary and Spencer taught us the power of making sure that education was available for everyone, and that really launched the idea of the Marion Spencer scholars. She came from *** small town and the idea of going to college, I mean in 1938, not *** lot of African Americans even had that opportunity, but they were the valedictorians of their high school class and so their family said you've got to go to college. UC was special to her because it gave her an opportunity to fly it gave her an education she wasn't afraid to come to this community and make *** difference here. She couldn't even live on campus when she came here and now we have ***. Dorm named after her it is pretty amazing when we talked about what we wanted this scholarship to be, we wanted it to be an opportunity to recognize students, but we wanted them to also realize that we are viewing them as the future leaders of this city. That is absolutely at the heart of Marianne Spencer and everything that she did. You have been admitted to the University of Cincinnati. It's just an honor to be in like kind of like the same light as someone you know as great as Mrs. Spencer. I'm just, I'm ready to help people. I know where I wanna be. I know what I wanna do. Ever since I got the scholarship, I learned that me and her are *** lot alike in many ways, and if you believe in yourself and everyone around you, you should apply for the scholarship because not only did Miria and Spencer make *** change, but you can make *** change too. What *** great program and here with me to talk *** little bit more about the Mary and Spencer scholarship program is the director of that program, Cindy Jones as I, as I look at that video, Cindy, I am reminded of my dear friend, uh, Mary and Spencer, but let's talk *** little bit about the Spencer scholar program. Absolutely. The Spencer scholarship program at the University of Cincinnati is part of President Pinto's 2016 initiative. Next Lives here to make *** CPS strong. District with the University of Cincinnati, so this scholarship is really to highlight the partnership between the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati public schools. We have this scholarship program that partners and there are 10 scholars each year that get this amazing scholarship to transform the city. To really highlight this beautiful partnership and to really grow leaders for the next generation of students coming from the University of Cincinnati. 10 scholars each year, people should know they get *** full scholarship, *** full ride. To the University of Cincinnati absolutely plus some other perks absolutely so this scholarship is all inclusive. It includes all tuition, room, board books. It includes *** trip to Tanzania which shows that we are committed not only. To local leadership growth but global as well as enhanced leadership mentorship co op and experiential learning so it's all encompassing where we're growing the entire student not just academically but professionally and leadership as well. They get *** chance to learn about this great lady um who was um as you said in the clip there you know. Uh, in many ways she was just *** very ordinary person who did extraordinary things absolutely and it also is the belief that we too as ordinary people can do extraordinary things. Marion Spencer came to the university in 1938 at *** time when all students were not welcome when black students could not participate in any of the extracurricular or any of the other benefits of the university other than coming to class and leaving. But Marion Spencer had two values that carried her as *** student and then carried her post UC graduate. She believed in racial and educational equity that every student, regardless of race, ethnicity, or social-economic background, deserved to be educated at the University of Cincinnati if they came through that door. And she used that when she graduated she built these things with her beloved husband. They created processes to form *** sense of belonging for the black students that were there. And she used that passion after she graduated in the city. Creating practices and building coalition collaboration to bring *** change in Cincinnati, Coney Island was just one thing that was well done, but she was deep at work with those fighters in Cincinnati who fought for racial equity. Marion Spencer and her husband were one, but there were plenty who wanted to see *** better Cincinnati, *** better city. And they use their voice she used her voice, but she also used *** collective. Of people to come together to bring change and I think that's why she's so beloved within the city but she's beloved within the University of Cincinnati as well because it's how you also do this she did it with grace she did it with eloquence and she did it. In *** peaceful way but with *** strong commitment. That she always had *** strong commitment and, and it's interesting, um. Uh, you knew when she was very serious about something you could see it on her face. You could hear it in her voice, you've brought some students along with you today and so, uh, we're gonna take *** break. We're going to talk to these students who are the beneficiaries of this great scholarship, so we'll talk to them, take *** break, and we'll be back in *** moment. Welcome back everyone. As I said, we want to introduce you to some of the recipients of the Mary and Spencer Scholars program with me, uh, to closest to me, Fisten uh Farozi, uh, next to him in the middle, William Walker, and then on the end, Muslim Kuzir. Uh, welcome to the program. I'm gonna have you tell me *** little bit about yourselves, um, and when you're graduating, what high school you. You attended, uh, yeah, my, my name is Fiston Frui, as you said, uh, graduated from Houston High School just right across the street from UC, um, I was born in Congo. I moved here around 2015, went to school, and, uh. Just like moved on to the next level of school just trying to uh get my degree in aerospace engineer aero and you're scheduled to graduate in 2029. Yeah, that's William, what about you? So I'm *** first year chemical engineering major minoring in math and I'm on an accelerated track to graduate in 2028. And I am *** graduate of Walnut Hills High School. Excellent, excellent. Muslim, uh, I'm *** 3rd year, not like these two, computer science major, and I'm expected to graduate in 2027. I graduated from theater High School and. Now going to you see so. This program, I mean this is like *** dream come true for any student and their parents um tell me about when you heard, uh, this is open to any and all of you when you heard that you were selected as *** Marion Spencer scholar. Um, Well, for me, the day I found out was where. Our principal just got everybody in my graduating class and below in the auditorium at Houston High School and I actually went to to the restroom because I had to use the restroom and when I come back I just see my uh face on the screen. I just had no idea what was going on until she announced that I got the Mary Spencer and my mother was right there where I just. You know, hug my mom because now I realizes that financial burden won't have to be on her or me anymore and just like I didn't have to look for alternative ways to pay for college or like working while going to school because. We didn't have that burden anymore and she was just very grateful for it. William, what about you? What, how did, uh, the announcement work out for you? Um, so it was the end of the school day and I was in my public speaking class and at that point I didn't realize but my teacher knew that I had won the scholarship so he suggested that our class go to the gym and kind of just play some games and have some fun. So when we arrived there there were *** few other classes already sitting in the bleachers and at that point I knew something was up and so we sat in the bleachers and no one really knew what was happening but there was *** lot of UC memorabilia and staff members in the gym. And then they started talking about the Mary and Spencer scholarship and I I knew I had gone through the interview process I had done my application I was like, are they gonna announce the winners right now? And eventually they started describing some of the activities that the winners were involved in. I was like. I'm involved in that I'm involved in that too and then once they called my name I it was just it was *** surreal experience and then my family was there it was great it was great. Tell me your experience, I couldn't sleep, but yeah, the whole week before I got out of decision that happened and I was just nervous, you know, the whole week I was just bad moves, cranky. My family was like they knew, they knew they had *** phone call before me, so the whole week they knew about me getting the scholarship, but I didn't know. So it's the week I saw the people getting selected as the students, and that day when I was like I was in English class and they called me up. And I was kind of because I saw *** smile on my teacher's face and I'm like smiling going into the office that's usually that means you're in trouble. So I go to the office, I open the door and I just see everybody smile faces and my family there, my friends and family, my teachers and principal, and that day just I, I can never forget that it was just changed my life trajectory at that point because the burden that you saw me and then. Everything it allowed me to do from then is been 3 years with the scholarship and I couldn't ask for anything more. Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna take *** break and then I'm going to, uh, we're we're gonna talk about what you've learned about this great Cincinnati and Mary and Spencer who some of us had the opportunity to know well, but, uh, uh, we're gonna take *** break we'll be back in *** moment. Welcome back everyone. I'm here with 3 amazing young men, uh, all Mary and Spencer scholars over at the University of Cincinnati, Fiston, uh, Ferruzi, uh, William Walker, and also Muslim Kuzr. Um, you've learned and heard so much about. This woman Marian Alexander Spencer, tell me, uh, if, if you had the opportunity to to sit down and have *** conversation with her, what would that be like? What, what have you learned from her and how would, what would you say to her about. How you want to be *** part of that legacy. Um, if I was in. And having *** talk with her, I feel like mostly I was just trying to listen, trying to understand how she was able to do all that she did, how to be as resilient as she was because there's *** lot of other people that didn't want. The change that she was looking for is to happen and having people just uh. Talk down on her or just like trying to oppress her and how she kept going even though that was happening because I know it wasn't easy and I know like she had. Uh, her boyfriend at the time, Mr. Spencer, and how they just, uh, would go to the theater to have *** meeting and talk about some of the changes to they wanted to happen, especially at UC with how housing, so I would say I just would try to learn from her how to uphold the legacy that she had and get as much information as as I can because prior to the scholarship I would say I didn't really know of Mark Spencer. And just to get this scholarship and then having the opportunity to learn about her and the changes that she made that. Although I wasn't aware of it, the changes that she put forth just like benefit me and other African American or minority group at UC, especially with housing where now we can live in *** in *** dorm where at the time that she went there she couldn't live in *** dorm and. Yeah just learn yeah what about you? If I were able to sit with Ms. Spencer, the first thing I would do is talk to her about this scholarship program because it really is an embodiment of her legacy. The community we've developed in such *** short time in just *** few years has really made waves on campus. All of us are involved in volunteerism. And promoting racial equity on campus. I know personally I, as well as *** lot of my peers are involved in Bearcat buddies, which is *** tutoring program where we go into the CPS schools and teach 1st graders all the way up through 8th graders and. Since we're all CPS students ourselves, I think it's opportunities like that where we're able to give back to the Cincinnati community that really allow us to. Honor Ms. Spencer's legacy and your thoughts. If I had *** talk with her at the moment, I would, I know she's *** fighter. I wanna do *** fraction of what she would be like what can I do to help my community to help not just in Cincinnati but around the world, you know she fought for people like her, people minorities, all of, all of us, so I would wonder what can I do, how can I help and. What, how did she, how do you have such so much courage because I know she's *** fighter, *** strong fighter. She fought for her kids in Coney Island incident, and that's there's history behind that. And every day I go through situations or see things, and I wonder how can I better this? How can I make an example out of it or what would Mary and Spencer do? and I always wonder what would she do? and I knew, I know she would do great things and I'll always try to. Follow her steps footsteps because those footsteps are great big footsteps. That that they are and I am sure she would tell all three of you, uh, to keep on fighting. Uh, I'm certain she would be very, very proud of you. Congratulations on being Mary and Spencer scholars and thank you for uh taking some time to be here with me. All right, we're gonna take *** break and we're gonna talk more about the legacy of Marian Alexander Spencer back in *** moment. Welcome back. What ***, what *** fascinating group of young people that we talked to and um here with me once again Cindy Jones and also Rhonda, uh, Holly Phil Manii um we're gonna talk about the Spencer Awards dinner that's coming up in in May. This honors Donald and Marianne Spencer. I heard one of the young men, uh, mention her boyfriend. Uh, Donald Spencer, when they were in, uh, college, well, that boyfriend turned into *** 70 year marriage and just, uh, just an amazing love affair. Um, Rhonda, talk *** little bit about this, the Spencer Awards program. It's been around now for about 10 years, 10 years. So in 2014, the inclusion panel, which is *** panel of the Cincinnatist Association. Decided that they wanted to honor the memory of Donald and Marion Spencer in addition to honoring their memory also to lift up the work that they had done and advocacy also ensuring that we focus on. People who have been marginalized, so the inclusion panel came up with the idea of the dinner and to also recognize organizations throughout the city of Cincinnati who are doing the work, who are keeping the legacy of the Spencer's alive and are focused on diversity, equity and inclusion and so in 2015 was the first banquet. Yeah, I'm sorry, they, they really. Uh, we're *** great team, uh, and we, we've been talking *** lot about Mr. Spencer, but I should tell you that, uh, Donald Spencer, uh, was in real estate in education, uh, and also he was at one time the board chair of Ohio University. Uh, their work as *** team was just an amazing, uh, collaboration and, um. Over the years you you focus on making sure that you recognize individuals and companies and nonprofits that really. Um Are, are, are focused on inclusion and equity and diversity. Talk *** little bit more. So this year um our honoree are um artworks also Cincinnati Children's uh Cincinnati Works and Found House and all of those organizations are focused on uh either children, adults, and how can we lift those individuals focusing on health, education, housing, and those. Issues that are for the benefit and well-being of our citizens and that's keeping with the mission of Cincinnatus. So if you look at artworks, artworks has 4000 teenagers and young adults who are focused on art around the city and they're paid so it's building into the economy if you look at Cincinnati Children's they're focused on. Where in the neighborhoods are there issues health issues that we can focus on and improve the health of children if you look at Cincinnati Works, they're focused on the education of um adults in the city how can we educate them financially educate them and lift them out of poverty. And so, um, that's keeping with our Cincinnatus mission and also with the work that the Spencers did. Yeah, uh, it's coming up in May, uh, yes, May, it's gonna be Tuesday, May 20th at the Hyatt Hotel downtown. Yeah, the, the 10th anniversary is hard to believe, and I remember when Mrs. Spencer, uh, was still alive, she was able to attend and enjoy and have fun. Uh, we started it after, uh, Donald Spencer passed away, but thank you very much. We'll be talking more about it, uh, uh, as the, uh, days roll on, but thank you very much and, well, that's all the time we have for you now. Thanks for joining us. I'll see you next time for another edition of Let's Talk Sensing.