Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past has partnered with the Vindicator, WFMJ, Public Libraries of Youngstown and Mahoning County to form the Simeon Booker Group. On Dec. 15, 2013 the Simeon Booker Group honored well known Civil Rights reporter, Simeon Booker, by hosting a reception and dinner for him in the Chestnut Room at YSU. Sojourn students read excerpts from Booker’s book. At the groups request, he received an honorary degree from YSU on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2013 and was the commencement speaker. Simeon Booker grew up in Youngstown and attended Youngstown College in 1938. He left after one year because African Americans could attend the college but were not able to receive an activities card.
The Simeon Booker Group plans to sponsor events in the future that will further Booker’s goals and vision. Possible activities might include a scholarship at YSU in his name, a visiting journalist at YSU, a yearly Simeon Book Symposium in the fall with a well known speaker plus honoring someone from the community, who has embodied Simeon’s goals and vision. This symposium would be during Nonviolence Week, which is the first full week in October.