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Local author and civil rights leader Ophelia Averitt will be recognized by the Akron Municipal Court for over forty years of service to the community on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Members of the public and members of the media are welcome to attend.

Weather permitting, the event will take place outside of the courthouse by the Little Free Library at the corner of S. High St. and University Ave.

This event will also help celebrate the Court’s Little Free Library’s installation anniversary. The Little Free Library was installed in 2020 and was fully funded by the Akron Host Lions Club.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Ms. Averitt will have copies of her recently published book entitled Shadows of the Past and Hope for the Future available for purchase.

“Ms. Averett has been a pillar of our community,” said Akron Municipal Court Judge Ron Cable. “I always enjoy talking with her and visiting with her. She is a generous person who is always looking out for the betterment of Greater Akron.”

“We would like to recognize Ms. Averett for her advocacy in the community. Her efforts for justice are commendable and I appreciate having previously served as a legal chair under her leadership as President of the Akron NAACP,” added Akron Municipal Court Administrative/Presiding Judge David Hamilton.

Ms. Averett has served as the President of the Akron, Ohio Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She has also served as the 1st Vice Chair of the Ohio State Conference of the NAACP for 10 years. She is a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors where she serves as the National Life Membership Chairperson. Ms. Averitt almost single handedly established five new NAACP college chapters: the University of Akron; Kent State University; Rice University; The College of Wooster and Youngstown State University.

Over the last five years, she was also instrumental in procuring 70 college scholarships from the Carrie Simon NAACP Scholarship Fund.

If inclement weather is present, the event will be held inside the courthouse which is located at 217 S. High St. in Downtown Akron.

Ophelia Averitt