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Historic Dayton cemetery honors Black leaders who shaped the city and the nation. By Kelley King During Black History Month, Woodland Cemetery in Dayton holds tours celebrating the lives of those who’ve made an impact on the city and beyond. “I think when people come here, they don’t realize who all is resting peacefully here and how they impacted the Dayton area.” Misti Spillman, Woodland Cemetery Preservation and Community Outreach In the quiet of Woodland Cemetery, 185 years of history is buried on more than 200 acres. Dayton’s own Paul Laurence Dunbar, the first renowned African American poet, is buried in the cemetery. The famed Dayton poet died in 1906 at 33 years old. “He also was associated with early civil rights leaders such as Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington,” says Spillman. Inside the cemetery’s indoor mausoleum, Dunbar’s poem “A Death Song” is enshrined in the colorful stained glass. “And one of the first lines of it is ‘Lay me beneath the willows,’ which you can see that in the stained-glass window is depiction of a willow tree,” describes Spillman. That poem is also on the marker at his gravesite. “He had a very robust body of work. He did plays, books, and also over 600 poems,” states Spillman. Also making her mark on Dayton history, founder and artistic director of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Jeraldyne Blunden, is also inside the mausoleum. Dayton’s first Black mayor, James H. McGee, and Charity Adams Earley, commanding officer for the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion during World War II, are among the more than 112,000 people buried here. “I think it just brings another part of just the historical aspect of Dayton,” says Spillman. Their history is rooted in the landscaping of the cemetery and the city. Even in death, their legacy lives on, finding peace in their final resting place. The cemetery also holds other events throughout the year and provides private tours.

Written by Brenda Cochran Serving diligently means to put in the effort and go above and beyond and to serve others, by being motivated by a desire to honor God. It involves being persistent, attentive to detail, and striving for excellence in all endeavors. When you use the word diligence rather than diligently, you are referring to the opposite of slothfulness that is often associated with a quality such as faithfulness and perseverance. A person who is described as being diligent is someone who is consistently hard-working, thorough, and dedicated to completely demonstrating perseverance and a strong work ethic to achieve their goals. Diligence means intentionally seeking God’s guidance and following His command, even when faith or difficulties or uncertainty exist. It means constantly striving to grow in our spiritual maturity and wisdom and also being willing to sacrifice for the sake of the gospel. Many people have been called to be diligent at work and at the same time advance their career. Setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals all represent the first step to actually work diligently. The following are a list of necessities in order to work diligently: Get smart goals Make a list of the tasks needed to complete Set a routine Reduce any distractions Manage time in an effective manner Create accountability Become flexible If you are anxious to become not only diligent at work, there are other means of simply becoming a diligent person. Here are six ways to become a very diligent person: Create a burning desire to achieve a goal Gain clarity of purpose Commit to what you do Don’t overburden yourself with work Adopt a thorough approach Surround yourself with task-oriented people Most would agree that we are living in a world of distractions where both focus and attention span can be tossed around whenever you sit down to get a task done. In such a scene as this, those who can work diligently on their goals are the winners. Basically, the ability to work hard, carefully with focus and persistence and beat all the distractions is a virtue that can bring massive success your way and open the flood gates of opportunities and possibilities. A diligent person is being all day or even working long hours. This person puts their heart and soul into their work and takes consistent action for all their goals. The following are quotes on working diligently: “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.” Martin Luther King Jr. “I never could have done what I have done without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence.” Charles Dickens.

Written by Kim M. Williams DAYTON, Ohio — Community leaders, housing advocates, and local residents gathered this week as County Corp hosted the City of Dayton for an open house and ribbon cutting celebrating the completion of four newly constructed homes on North Williams Street and West First Street. The homes, built using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, represent a continued investment in neighborhood revitalization and market rate homeownership opportunities in the Wolf Creek neighborhood. The ribbon cutting event brought together key city officials including Mayor Shenise Turner-Sloss and Commissioner Chris Shaw, along with Steve Naas, President of County Corp, the project’s builder, members of the media, and community supporters. Four newly constructed single-family homes — two located on North Williams Street at 111 & 115 N. Williams St  and two on West First Street at 1240 & 1260 W 1st St  — are now listed for sale. The properties are marketed by local real estate professionals Cora, Fred, Shaun Diggs of the Diggs Team, and Kim M. Williams , all with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, who are working collectively to bring qualified buyers into these move-in-ready homes. “These homes are more than new construction,” said one attendee. “They represent opportunity — for families to build equity, for neighborhoods to grow stronger, and for public funds to be invested back into the community in a meaningful way.” ARPA funds, allocated to support pandemic recovery efforts, have been strategically utilized by the City of Dayton and County Corp to increase housing supply, stabilize neighborhoods, and expand pathways to homeownership. The homes feature modern layouts and updated finishes designed to meet the needs of today’s buyers, while also contributing to the broader revitalization efforts underway in the surrounding community. City leaders emphasized that partnerships between public entities, nonprofit development organizations, and private real estate professionals are essential to addressing housing gaps and increasing access to affordable homeownership. The open house allowed guests to tour the properties, speak with agents, and learn more about financing options and eligibility requirements. With media coverage and strong community interest, organizers expressed optimism that the homes will soon be under contract. As Dayton continues to focus on equitable development and community reinvestment, projects like these demonstrate how federal recovery funds can be leveraged to create lasting local impact. To tour the homes or for more information, contact: Cora Diggs:  937-307-4363 Kim M. Williams:  937-286-0410 Home listings: https://1240w1ststreet.howardhanna.com/ https://1260w1ststreet.howardhanna.com/ https://111nwilliamsstreet.howardhanna.com/ https://115nwilliamsstreet.howardhanna.com/