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46 2O24–2O2 5 GU I D E to Y E L LOW S P R I NG S By LAUREN 'CHUCK' SHOWS and CHERYL DURGANS IGNITING ACTIVISM IN THE COMMUNITY ▲ Longtime Yellow Springs resident and activist Bomani Moyenda has spent his life fighting for social justice within and beyond the village. For Moyenda, activism can both build and shape community by bringing issues to light and holding institutions accountable for effecting change. In 2020, local resident Bomani Moyenda turned down an attempt by the Yellow Springs Martin Luther King Day Planning Committee to give him a Peacemaker Award — an award he ultimately accepted the following year. Accepting the award in 2021, Moyenda explained to the community that he origi- nally turned down the award because he was “unable to reconcile” himself as a peace- maker. After all, past recipients have been “real sweet people,” like Andrée Bognar, Willa Dallas, Isabel Newman and Phyllis Jackson. “[Those are] the kinda people you just want to run up on and hug on,” Moyenda said. “I mean, people just don’t do that to me. Some people even cross the street when they see me.” But villager Locksley Orr, speaking on behalf of the MLK Day Planning Committee, reminded those gathered for the annual event’s celebration of a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice.” “Make no mistake,” Orr said. “Moyenda’s pursuit of justice and peace does not come easily and has not come with- out opposition, challenges and conflict. And he will readily tell you, ‘no justice, no peace.’” A longtime activist and writer, Moyenda spoke with the News in 2023, reflecting on the role of activism within community — and its ability to both build and shape commu- nity by bringing issues of social justice to light and holding institutions in power account - able for effecting change. “When it comes to commu- nity, I think the idea of values needs to be highlighted — cer- tain ways that people need to wrap themselves around those community values,” Moyenda P H O T O : M A T T M I N D E Ryan P. Carpe Financial Advisor 506 S. High St. Suite C Yellow Springs, OH 45387 937-319-4606 ryan.carpe@edwardjones.com www.edwardjones.com/ryan-carpe Investing is about more than money. At Edward Jones, we stop to ask you the question: “What’s important to you?” Without that insight and a real under- standing of your goals, investing holds little meaning. Contact your Edward Jones financial advisor for a one-on-one appointment to discuss what’s really important: your goals. > edwardjones.com  | Member SIPC Edward ones ® MAKING SENSE OF INVESTING » Estate Planning & Probate & Wills » Real Estate » Conservation Easements » Referrals — PI, Family & Criminal 513-600-7171 lcurliss@curlisslaw.com P.O. Box 463 Yellow Springs, OH 45387 Member of Ohio Bar College