FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
John F. Poole
(614) 728-5177

DATE: December 27, 2007

Rev. Willie Peterson Elected to Serve as Vice Chair
of the Ohio Community Service Council

Congratulations to our newly elected OCSC Officers:
(From L to R:) Chair Susan Rogers (Jackson), Vice Chair Rev. Willie Peterson (Youngstown), and Secretary Margaret Wildi (Columbus)

Columbus, OH: Governor appointee Rev. Willie F. Peterson was elected today to serve a two-year term (ending in December 2009) as Vice Chair of the Ohio Community Service Council (OCSC) – Ohio’s state agency for community service and volunteerism. Currently in his second term, Peterson was first appointed to the Council in August 2004.

Rev. Peterson, from Youngstown, is the Pastor of the New Birth-Kimmelbrook Baptist Church in Youngstown, and the Executive Director of both the Center for Community Empowerment and The Pathway Partner Group.

"I feel both honored and privileged to be elected to this position. I’m looking forward to the great opportunities this new leadership opportunity will provide for strengthening Ohio’s communities through volunteerism,” said Rev. Peterson.

As a pastor, Rev. Peterson’s message is about being a servant, his ministry is to the community he serves. As a community organizer, his mission is to train and educate the faith community about the role in Faith-Based and Community initiatives. Rev. Peterson facilitates and hosts grant-writing workshops, seminars and conferences both nationally and locally. He is a consultant for business, community, government and faith-based organizations. He also serves on the Trumbull Workforce Investment

Board and the Youngstown State University Diversity Council. He is also a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Board.

Rev. Peterson is affiliated with the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprises (NCNE) in Washington D.C., a Son of the Father’s House Ministries (Atlanta GA), a member of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, a member of The Baptist Pastors Council of Youngstown, and several other clergy and community associations. He and his wife Ella are the parents of five adult children and grandparents of nine.

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About the Ohio Community Service Council Members of the Ohio Community Service Council are appointed by Governor Ted Strickland and represent state agencies, businesses, higher education, community agencies, labor, and youth. The Ohio Community Service Council, an office of Ohio government, was established in 1994 and given authority by the state legislature to hire a staff and to administer grants under the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (the largest of these is AmeriCorps). The Council’s mission is to strengthen Ohio’s communities through service and volunteerism.

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For Additional Information:
Ohio Community Service Council’s web site: www.serveohio.org
“Strengthening Ohio’s communities through Service & Volunteerism!”