Black History Month

2 Toledo women named ‘Legends’ at University of Toledo event

UT students call them inspirations

2/20/2013

Two African-American women from Toledo were honored at the University of Toledo on Tuesday for making achievements that have improved their community and inspired other women to follow in their footsteps.

That was the concept behind A Night with the Legends, a student-hosted event that paid tribute to Alicia Smith, a consultant for Alternate Solutions 43607, which provides services to low-income housing communities throughout Toledo, and Monica Holiday-Goodman, program director of the Division of Pharmacy and Health Care Administration at the University of Toledo’s College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science.

“The purpose of the event is to find prominent African-American women who don’t get the recognition they deserve,” said Brittney Brown, student president for Miniya, the student organization that hosted the event.

“In the past we would choose African-American women of prominence from the past and highlight their achievements,” said Ms. Brown, a UT senior. “Now we choose women of the present and have them physically come in and share their stories to help give guidance and words of wisdom to the minorities of today, who are trying to get where they are — leaving their own legends.”

A Night with the Legends is an annual event held during Black History Month at the university. This year’s program was held in the Student Union building.

Mrs. Smith, a longtime community advocate for low-income families, said she was “honored to be considered for such a historical event.”

Her message to students was to “get involved” and help promote positive change in the community.

“There are a number of community efforts that are focused in different areas — find your niche and get involved,” she said. “We are in a state of crisis for our children, our families, our communities, and our society. We must educate in order to develop and grow.”

Mrs. Smith is pursuing a doctorate in theories of social foundations of education at UT. In 2010, she created Maturing Young Men and Aspiring Young Women, a Toledo-based program that promotes the growth and the concept of brotherhood and community service for youths ages 12-18.

Mrs. Holiday-Goodman’s teaching and research have focused on the sociocultural, behavioral, and administrative aspects of pharmacy practice. Her main research interests are health disparities and barriers to care for underserved patients.

According to her biography, she has served on the thesis committees of more than 50 graduate and undergraduate students during her 23 years at the university. She also has numerous publications in peer-reviewed and professional journals and books.

Mrs. Holiday-Goodman was selected to participate in the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacies Academic Leadership Fellows Program in 2010-11.

Contact Federico Martinez at: fmartinez@theblade.com or 419-724-6154.