Dayton Daily News from Dayton, Ohio • D5

1 MEET TOP AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN INSIDE DaytonDaily News LIFED And so, it is Day. The season of love. thinking about you. Yeah, you. You, who are not feeling it this year.

You, who scoff at the whole idea of a made-up holiday. You, who will visit your great love only in your mind and heart today because already passed, patiently waiting for you on the other side. You, who suppress who you really are, who you really love because somehow in this era when so much is accepted, those who are closest to you would never accept you if they knew the real you. Your real heart. You, who are waiting, Waiting, And waiting.

For him to show up. To pick you. To say, think of a greater dream than to build a life with You, think of any- thing else except that baby you long to hold in your arms, Those construction paper Valentines you picture her someday carrying home from preschool in her chubby lit- tle hands. You, who are in the mar- riage that looks so picture perfect from the outside, yet is lonelier than any single life. You, who still grieve your great love, even though he passed so many years ago.

No one would really under- stand how much you miss him, so you keep it to your- self. You, who think you deserve to find your great love until your body looks a certain way, as if thin- ner equals more to love. You, who are putting everything into fighting ill- ness, batting away thoughts of the one you let get away. You, who had to let your dog, your best friend go. Why was it sooner than you had expected? Why was he a better friend to you than any human has ever been? So many broken, hurting hearts.

I get it. This is my simple Valentine to you. I understand. You might not be linger- ing in the Hallmark aisle this year looking for the perfect card to express your love. inside.

It hurts to let it out. I want you to know that celebrating you this year, Dear Reader. Your heart. Your heart that loves. Has loved.

Is holding love for whom is on the way. That is so bold. So magnificent. So everything. Even when hard.

Like this year. You are bold, magnificent and everything, Simply because you have dared to love. This meant to cheer you up. Change your mood. Simply to say, This year, I see you.

Just as you are. you be my Valen- tine? Daryn Kagan is the author of the book "Hope Possible." Email her at For you, who is not feeling Day Daryn Kagan Possible Thursday, February 13, 2020 HISTORY By Lisa Powell Staff Writer HallieQuinnBrown, thedaugh- terof former anelocu- tionist, author and activist, and a revolutionaryfigure for her time. Brownwas born in Pittsburgh in 1845. She grew up in a home that was a station on the Under- ground Railroad and was raised by parents in pursuit of educa- tion and human rights for all. Her family latermoved toOhio, and Brown graduated fromWil- berforce College, which was the foundation for Central State Uni- versity.

She dedicated her early career to teaching those who had no opportunity for an edu- cation, many of them the chil- dren of freed slaves. Brownreturned toWilberforce in 1893 as a professor of elocu- tion, a public speaking art that emphasizes vocal projection, delivery andgestures.While trav- eling the country thrilling audi- ences at lectures and recitals, Brown was known to hold audi- ence attentionwith her dramatic readings and to cause wave of laughter to roll over her according to early reports. Brownpossesses a voice ofwonderfulmagnetismandgreat wrote a reviewer. times she thrills by its intensity; at times it is mellow and sooth- ing. She seems to have perfect control of the muscles of her throat, and can vary her voice as successfully as Often she would interpret the poetry Paul Laurence Dunbar, thefirstnationallyknown African American writer.

Her voice carried her overseas for lectures in Germany, Switzer- land and France. In 1899, she appeared before Queen Victo- ria in Great Britain. oratory skillswerenot only entertaining, but a voice for social change. She lectured about temperanceandadvocated for African American civil rights and suffrage, incorpo- rating equal access to education and political access for all in her oration. She helped found the Colored League inWashington, D.C., which became theNational Association of Colored Women and adopted the motto, as We The organization saw as an opportunity to make life better for women, children and men.

Brownwrotenumerousbooks, including Heroines and other Women of Distinc- chronicled the lives of 60 black women. In the intro- duction to the 1926 book, Brown wrote that it was published a token of regard to the history- makingwomen of our and to secure their history for future generations. Contact this reporter at 937-225- 2229 or email Lisa.Powell@cmg. com. Hallie Brown, daughter of former slaves, pursued education for all Hallie Quinn Brown, educator and activist and graduate of Wilberforce College, poses for a formal portrait at a Xenia photography studio.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE PERSONAL JOURNEY By Beth Anspach Contributing Writer There aremany types of runs and walks that serve as fund- raisers. Often, participants are invited to dress up as iconic characters or in silly costumes to express themselves andmake the events more fun. A rather unique event, espe- cially for the month of Febru- ary, is coming downtown to Lock 27 next week that Cheryl Dillin of Springboro first expe- rienced a few years ago while living in Austin, Texas. husband, Larry, was working on a project at Austin Landing and was flying back and forth from Texas to Dayton all the Dillin said. saw the Undie adver- tised in the paper.

It turned out to be so much Hosted by Cupids Charity, the UndieRun is held in cities across the nation each year, but Day- ton one until last year when Dillin, whomoved to the area in 2016 with her family, decided to bring it here. came to Dayton to create events programming for Austin Dillin said. was in charge of creating a fun envi- ronment and this event seemed The Undie Run is also a fun- draiser, with proceeds going to support a rather rare genetic dis- ease, neurofibromatosis (NF), which causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. The founders of the event con- ceived of the idea after drop- ping their pants and running through Washington, D.C., in the cold to get people to take action and donate. 3-year-old granddaugh- ter, Sarah, who lives outside of this diseasewhen shewas an infant.

took them a little while to figure lin said. had difficulty eat- ing gaining NF is usually not a fatal dis- ease, but it can cause blind- ness, hearing loss, learning dis- abilities, heart problems and severe pain. Treatments toman- age the symptoms are available but more research is needed to find a cure. In 2019, the Undie Run came to Dayton for the first time and attracted 120 participants to Austin Landing. Dillin and her husband ended up raising the most money, for a very special personal reason.

And this year, the event is moving to Lock 27 outside of Day Air Ballpark because Dillin wanted to attract more people. Undie Runs are done in downtown Dillin said. think this is a great way to get more people involved of all Today, Dillin owns her own communications consulting company, andher husband con- tinues to work in real estate development. Thoughno longer quite as involved in the Undie Run since engaging the owners of Lock 27 to take it over, Dil- lin remains very involved and is working on building it into a much larger event. I love themost about it being in Dayton is that you are running in your underwear in the Dillin said.

was a bit anti-climactic in Austin since the weather is about the same And watching freezing peo- ple running around in just their underwear is what Dillin said is the best part. Participants may dressup inunderwear theywear everyday or something they Thongs and nudity are not allowed. get really Dillin said. wear under- wear over other clothing and somepeople have themes. They take it very seriously and really unique and As for Sarah, Dillin said she is growing, and up to the percentile for her age group and doctors are pleased.

She also has a heart condition that may eventually need surgery and continues getting about half of her nutrition through a permanently attached feed- ing tube, but she is otherwise healthy. things could hap- pen, and you know until they Dillin said. are extremely hopeful that we are past the scary moments because she is always suscep- tible to tumors and will be for the rest of her The Dayton Undie Run is for ages 21 and up but anyone with NF of any agemay also attend. It will be held this Saturday, Feb. 15.

For more information, go to my.cupids.org/register. Contact this contributing writer at You can run in your underwear for charity Saturday For Springboro couple, fundraising event is very personal. Cheryl Dillin (left) and her husband, Larry, at the Fun Run in February 2019. They met patient Miki (right) at that event. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS Larry Dillin reads to his granddaughter Sarah..