The socially distanced event is free and everyone is invited. Masks are required to attend and attendees should bring lawn chairs.
Activities will include a march through downtown Springfield at 9:30 followed by speakers, DJ music, scholarship presentations, food trucks and more.
Married couples Jamel and Nettie (Carter) Smith and Vernon and Sunna Bass have had successful careers and wanted to give back to Black students by forming their 501C3 with the motto 4 Friends, 3 Careers, 2 Sow Seeds for 1 Goal and 1 Purpose.
They began a series of fundraisers including Party with a Purpose and other social events that have proven popular and raised money for the scholarships. The coronavirus pandemic compromised plans, so this public event seemed like a good alternative.
“This is to celebrate, support and encourage Black lives and to celebrate our scholarship recipients,” said Nettie Carter-Smith.
The death of George Floyd while in custody of Minneapolis Police in May has brought attention to issues facing Black Americans. Saturday’s event will focus on the positives of making changes.
Jamel Carter and Vern Bass have a unique perspective, being Black and police officers – Carter with the Cincinnati Police Department and Bass with the Springfield Police Division, both with around 30 years of service each.
The men will share their professional and personal experiences as speakers on Saturday.
“It’s a profession we chose to do,” said Jamel Smith, whose family members were also policemen.
Vern Bass is from Tennessee and saw the tail end of segregation and wanted to help people of color.
“I’m a police officer for eight hours, then I take off my uniform and I understand how people feel,” he said. “This is a great time for (Bass-Smith Connection) and we want to show people what we’re doing.”
Vern Bass joked that Nettie and Sunna will make sure things are done right and professional for the event.
Other speakers will include former Ohio State and NFL player and Springfielder Dee Miller, Clark State president Dr. Jo Alice Blondin and others.
Eight people, all from Clark County, will receive scholarships, ranging from first-generation college students to those pursuing graduate degrees.
Sunna Bass said Bass-Smith Connection stays in contact with each of the scholarship recipients and is proud that 95 percent of them have graduated or stayed in school and give back to these events and can someday continue the Connection’s work.
“They’re blessings for us, they fill our lives,” she said.
The Connection couples hope this event will also draw attention to what they do. They’d like to have a designated space to offer other things for students and the community, but until then will keep pressing on.
“Who’d have thought four friends could have parties and raise $40,500 for kids. It’s not just the money we give, we stay connected with them and hope to connect with other like-minded people,” Nettie Carter-Smith said.
For more information, go to the Bass-Smith Connection page on Facebook.
About the Author