Label
Council Members McPherson, Adams and Williams
Title
Recognizing the exemplary community leadership and service of Edwina “Tina” Butts, Founder of “The Movement”, her community activism, and voter outreach events, such as “Souls to the Polls”, aimed at engaging the community to become actively involved in the election process.
Summary
WHEREAS, Edwina “Tina” Butts, appears before the Council of the City of Toledo to be recognized as an exemplary role model for what an individual, regardless of the disadvantaged station born to, and whose adolescence resembled a forced run through a brutal, tragic and unmercifully gauntlet of emotional and mental assaults, can rise to with nothing more than a single minded focus, sheer will, and stubborn self-determination; and
WHEREAS, due to the death of her father and the illness of her mother, her family was divided through the court system where, from the ages of 12-14, she lived with her aunt and uncle and revered them as “Mom” and “Dad”; then, at the age of sixteen, through her determination, united her immediate family under one roof; became the sole provider for her family; and assumed the role matriarch making sure that her sister and brothers had a chance to graduate from high school and go onto to higher learning, if they so choose; and
WHEREAS, today, the character and reputation Ms. Butts has earned throughout the community, is founded on the mountain of accomplishments and success she accumulated using nothing more than a single minded focus, sheer will, intellectual wit, thirst for knowledge and education, and stubborn self-determination; and
WHEREAS, this record of accomplish included, working at Toledo Jeep; attending Toledo Academy Beauty School while working part time at the Northwest Ohio Development Center and acquiring a professional license in Chemical dependency; becoming a sole proprietor by buying and owning her own beauty salon; attending the University of Coldwell Bankers, Stautzenberger College, and Hondros College to become a licensed Realtor®; earning the ranking of third top sales person in the nation for Danberry Realty, and the title of Leading Sales Agent; and finally, for the last five years, is part owner of the bail bond business T-Bonds; and
WHEREAS, known as a “Conqueror”, the life experiences and circumstances of Ms. Butts, in addition to realizing if God had not been on her side she would not have made it, caused her to plunge into a new dimension of self-sacrifice for others, including becoming active in her church’s non-profit organization where she serves as the Housing Consultant and Marketing Specialist for Friendship New Vision, Inc, and through her business, T-Bonds, making donations to many causes that support the needs of children and the business takes an active role in community events; and
WHEREAS, in addition, she recognized that, in order to engage elected officials to prioritize addressing the needs of those caught in a chronic cycle of poverty, it was very important to engage, specifically members of the minority community in the political process by valuing and exercising their right to vote; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Butts expresses this truth through her often repeated mantra “If you don’t vote others will make decisions for YOU! We must save ourselves!”; and
WHEREAS, leading by example, Ms. Butts founded The Movement--a non-profit group of energetic grass-roots advocates, the purpose of which is to:
• Empower our community through voter education and voter registration,
• Increase minority and young adult voter participation in Lucas County,
• To bring political empowerment through social engagement,
• Assist the underprivileged by aligning them with community resources, and
• To create a meaningful fun experience through voting;
NOW, THEREFORE,
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That the Council hereby recognizes Edwina “Tina” Butts for exemplary community leadership and service Founder of “The Movement”, her community activism, and voter outreach events, such as “Souls to the Polls”, aimed at engaging the community to become actively involved in the election process.
SECTION 2. That this Resolution shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.
Adopted: _________________: yeas ______, nays ______.
Attest: _________________________ __________________________________
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: ______________________ _________________________________
Mayor
I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of a Resolution adopted by Council ________________________.
Attest: _________________________
Clerk of Council