BROOKFIELD — Minority Health Center/E.R.A.S.E. Anti-Drug Coalition will hold its annual banquet, “Building Communities of Peace, Harmony and Respect” at 6 p.m. April 8 in Tiffany’s banquet and conference center, 601 Bedford Road SE, Brookfield, with the Rev. Felecia Pearson Smith, formerly of Sharon, as speaker.
A speaker, instructor and community servant, Rev. Pearson Smith is an instructor for the In Service Training Institute at Anderson (Ind.) University; facilitates women’s conferences; preaches on a local and national level; and is in full-time ministry with her husband, the Rev. Michael A. Smith, serving as the administrative director of Community Church in Atlanta, as well as executive director of the Community Empowerment Development Corporation, a faith based initiative developed by their church.
A native of Atlanta, she graduated cum laude from Wesleyan College, with a bachelor of arts degree in religion and earned notoriety as the first African-American woman to enter and graduate with a master of divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She was licensed in 1977 and in 1985 was ordained by the Georgia Ministerial Assembly of the Church of God, Anderson.
In June of 1995, Rev. Smith was appointed to serve as the President/CEO of the Shenango Valley Urban League Inc. in Farrell, and during her tenure, was able to increase the organization by developing programs, revitalizing the agency’s employment program and strengthening several partnerships with local businesses and educational systems.
She was an adjunct faculty member at Westminster College, New Wilmington, and at the Shenango campus of Penn State University, Sharon; and was a founding member of the Minority Health Advocacy Committee. In 1998, she was appointed director of the Bonner Scholars Program, an endowed scholarship program at Spelman College for students who are involved in community service, and in 2004, was appointed director of the Bonner Office of Community Service and Student Development.
While on Spelman’s campus, she served on several committees. Rev. Smith has earned several honors and awards, including honorary member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and in 2005, was honored for being the first black female graduate from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. In December, Rev. Smith will launch Metamorphosis Ministries Inc., a ministry for senior pastors’ wives, motivating them for growth and development. She is the mother of two adult children, Allan and Allyson Smith.
For ticket information, contact the E.R.A.S.E. office at 211 Federal St., lower level, or call 724-981-3856.
