Yvonne Pointer, renowned youth advocate, author and philanthropist from Cleveland, will visit The University of Toledo along with two chiefs from West Africa to speak with the students of Toledo Excel’s Global Diversity Institute Friday, June 9.

The Global Diversity Institute is a program for fourth-year students that allows them to study the global community.

In 1984, Pointer’s 14-year-old daughter, Gloria, was the victim of a murder that took three decades to solve.

This tragedy started Pointer’s passion for improving the safety of communities around the world through programs that provide alternatives to violence and increase self-confidence.

She also has established three schools in Ghana, West Africa, in her daughter’s name.

Two prominent leaders from Ghana, Chief Nana Kodwo Eduakwa V and Chief Nana KraKwamina II, will join her at UT and speak to students about the areas they govern and how students can get involved.

Pointer will deliver her talk 11 a.m. Friday, June 9 in Memorial Field House Room 2200.

“I had heard bits and pieces of Pointer’s story over the years, but had the opportunity about a month ago to actually hear her speak and tell her full story in person at my church in Toledo,” said David Young, director of Toledo Excel.

“The timing was perfect because our staff was developing our curriculum for Global Diversity. I had been giving a great deal of thought to our students studying countries on the continent of Africa as we had done in the past, so when I heard Pointer’s amazing connection to Ghana, I saw the potential for a wonderful partnership.”

Through a partnership with the three schools in Ghana, Toledo Excel students will have the opportunity to study and connect with their peers in the country throughout the year.

“Students gain insight into the effects of history, geography and politics on the human rights of individuals. They study specific countries and their cultures, and when possible connect with those countries through cultural exchange and service,” Young explained.

“They gain a better understanding of how small a place the world is and the importance of a global marketplace and economy. The cultural and academic enrichment gained enables students to better understand how their career aspirations might connect with international opportunities.”

For 28 years, UT’s Toledo Excel has provided college preparation and scholarships to underrepresented students, including African, Asian, Hispanic and Native Americans.

Through services such as summer institutes, academic retreat weekends, campus visits and guidance through the admission process, students increase their self-esteem, cultural awareness and civic involvement.

The state awarded The University of Toledo a $330,000, two-year grant to continue to host the Minority Business Assistance Center Program that serves the 17-county region.

The program, which supports economic development in northwest Ohio by providing resources for minority-owned, early stage businesses, is housed in the UT Minority Business Development Center (MBDC) on Scott Park Campus and funded through the Ohio Development Services Agency Minority Business Development Division.

“The University of Toledo Minority Business Development Center is once again glad to be selected an award site for this important grant,” said Dr. Shanda Gore, associate vice president of the Minority Business Development Center and the Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women. “We are one of the few incubators in the country that focuses on minority businesses. This award supports our commitment to the community, our students and research to support business growth and economic development.”

The program offers no-cost counseling, state certification support and trainings focused on creating jobs and increasing sales.

“Through our partnerships across the state, minority-owned businesses will be better supported in their growth and development,” said Jeffrey L. Johnson, chief of the Minority Business Development Division at the Ohio Development Services Agency.

The grant will be used in Toledo to hire a regional director and an operations manager.

Last year the MBDC’s 11 member companies and 11 affiliate companies supported 97 jobs and generated $15.5 million in sales.

Since receiving the state grant in 2015, the Minority Business Assistance Center Program in Toledo engaged 211 new clients. It helped 33 companies earn minority business certification and helped 37 earn EDGE certification, which recognizes workplace gender equality.

In two years, $2.3 million in capital was awarded in approved state bonds to minority-owned businesses that grew with the help of the program. The companies also were awarded 649 public sector contracts valued at $22.3 million. In the first grant-cycle period, 2,400 jobs were retained and 110 jobs were created.

In honor of June being National Cancer Survivor Month, the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center at The University of Toledo is honoring cancer survivors with a celebration reception on Thursday, June 8.

Registration begins at 5:30 p.m., and the free program starts at 6:10 p.m. Each cancer survivor can bring a guest.

“Every year of survivorship is a reason for joy,” said Renee Schick, manager of the UTMC Survivor Shop and cancer survivor. “We believe it is important to celebrate all cancer survivors and their unique experiences, as well as provide continued support and connect them to community resources available as they continue their journey.”

The celebration will bring together survivors to share their stories and introduce various community services and organizations. The event features door prizes and music. Food and beverages will be served.

Guests will also have the opportunity to have their photo taken with Porshia, UTMC’s therapy dog.

Register by calling 419.383.5243 or email EleanorNDanaCancerCenter@utoledo.edu.

A University of Toledo physics professor and students are members of a Toledo team awarded $60,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy to participate in a $5 million prize competition called the Solar in Your Community Challenge.

The team, which is named Glass City Community Solar, aims to expand solar electricity access to low- and moderate-income residents. It’s comprised of community partners, including UT, Vistula Management Co., Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and City of Toledo.

The Glass City Community Solar team is one of 35 teams nationally to be selected to receive seed funds from the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative to support project planning and to raise awareness. All teams will compete for $1 million in prizes, which will be awarded by judges based on each project or program’s innovation, impact and replicability.

Over the next 18 months, Glass City Community Solar will demonstrate innovative financing for commercial solar installations.

“It is extremely exciting for us to be able to have a hand in a project that has so much potential to benefit families by reducing electric bills, as well as educating the Toledo community about the use of renewable energy,” said UT student Blaine Luszcak, who is co-president of the UT student group called Building Ohio’s Sustainable Energy Future.

Glass City Community Solar will develop 300 to 750 kW of photovoltaic systems on rooftops and vacant lots to serve low- and moderate-income housing across the metro Toledo area. The cost savings will reduce electricity expenses and also will support residents interested in pursuing education and training in the solar energy field.

“Our students will benefit tremendously from these real-world photovoltaic projects, as they create an extended learning lab that will result in several large, operational photovoltaic power systems,” Dr. Randy Ellingson, UT professor of physics, said.

“We are thrilled that our team was selected to join the challenge,” said John Kiely, president of Vistula Management Co. and the team leader of Glass City Community Solar. “Our projects will benefit the people of Lucas County, and bring The University of Toledo’s leadership and passion for photovoltaic technology to real-world applications that benefit the people in our community that need it most.”

Find more information about the competition at solarinyourcommunity.org.