Mission and History of CTSC

To promote inclusion, diversity and dignity to ALL people in Stark County.

Coming Together Stark County was founded in 1998 as the Town Hall on Race Relations of Stark County following a call by President Bill Clinton for a national discussion on race. The popular Town Halls were held across the country. The first one was held in Akron, Ohio in 1997.

Several Town Halls were held addressing such issues as Race, Law and Law Enforcement, Employment, and Health.

In 2004, in addition to continuing to offer Town Halls, Coming Together Stark County, CTSC, received federal recognition as a nonprofit agency by obtaining the 501(c)(3) status and affiliated with the national agency, Coming Together, USA. CTSC, which was operated by a fully volunteer Board, hired its first Executive Director, Mr. Vince Watts.

During this period, CTSC convened four annual dinners; sponsored a film series in commemoration of Black History Month; presented two dramatic Players Guild performances, A Raisin in the Sun and A lesson Before Dying; hosted two annual Stark County Winter Walks on Diversity, and participated with The United Way of Greater Stark County and the City of Canton government in discussions on diversity.

A partnership with The Repository led to a series of articles under the headline, Color of Stark, followed by community conversations throughout Stark County facilitated by CTSC. The discussions centered on race relations and were held in Canton, East Canton, Jackson Township, Louisville, North Canton, Massillon and Alliance.

Lois DiGiacomo

Robert Fisher

Barbara Fleischer

Frank Fleischer

Ida Ross-Freeman

Marilyn Thomas-Jones

Martha Lottman

Ron Ponder

Ella Scott

Rabbi John Spitzer