Helen L. Albert Celebration
On March 30, 2011, Integrity Beauty Women of Excellence celebrated its visionary and Life Time Queen Helen L. Albert's birthday by having Van Wye Street in Warren, Ohio dedicated as the Helen L. Albert Memorial Parkway. The street dedication ceremony was followed by a memorial service in her honor at Grace A.M.E. church in Warren. The Warren City Council recognizes March 30 as the Helen L. Albert Day of Prayer and Paying It Forward. The 2011-2012 National Ambassadors for Integrity Beauty Women of Excellence were recognized at the service.
Tribute Set for Helen Albert
March 28, 2011
By Virginia Shank, Tribune Chronicle
WARREN To Roberta Cykon, the late Helen Albert was more than a mentor.
Cykon said Albert was a heroine who inspired her and other young women to embrace life's challenges with hope and determination and move beyond them.
"She changed my life," Cykon explained. "She inspired me, she moved me and she set an example for my life. I owe so much to her."
Albert was the first African-American registered nurse in Trumbull County. She opened a community center in Alabama. In 1960 she established Albert's Nursing Home in Warren and later opened the Albert's Family Care Center, a group home for mentally challenged individuals and senior citizens.
On Wednesday, Van Wye Street, where that nursing home was located, will be dedicated to Albert. City workers have created a sign to mark the street in her honor. The dedication will begin at 10 a.m. with Cykon and Pastor Raymond E. Allen Sr. offering remarks.
Also, a memorial celebration for Albert will take place at 11 a.m. at Grace A.M.E. Church, 1137 Main Ave. S.W., Warren.
Earlier this month Warren City Council adopted a resolution honoring Albert and proclaiming March 30 the annual "Helen L. Albert Day of Prayer and Paying It Forward Day."
Albert was born March 30, 1921, in Argo, Ala. She died Sept. 7, 2009.
"She was involved in a number of boards and organizations," remarked Warren City Councilwoman Marti Morn, D-4th Ward. "She served her community."
She was involved with several area boards including Hillside Hospital, Rebecca Williams Community Center, Eleventh District Judicial Committee and Northeastern Ohio Alcoholic Association. She garnered various accolades over the years, such as Warren's Woman of the Year in 1965, Warren Area Urban League's Outstanding Community Service Award in 1972 and recognition from the Youngstown-Warren Black Nurses Association.
Jeanne Bryner of Newton Falls met Albert when she was writing a book about nurses. At the recommendation of other area nurses, Bryner interviewed Albert for inclusion in the work. That meeting in 1997 inspired Bryner to write a book about Albert.
"Her life was all about service," Bryner said. "She really was a wonderful woman. She was the American dream. She grew up in very rural deep south, very segregated, very poor. But she overcame so many obstacles and she used her accomplishments to help others."
"I think it's a story that's important to be told on so many levels. As a researcher I see that when it comes to black history so much of it has been lost. But Helen was a very inspiring woman and her story is a very inspiring story. Her life was amazing. She was amazing."
Wednesday's events are being presented by Integrity Beauty, Women of Excellence and A.M.E. Church. Cykon said she started the women's Integrity Beauty program for Albert in 2009 just before she died. She said the program has gone national and several women involved with it will participate in Wednesday's events.
Story provided by the Warren Tribune Chronicle, March 28, 2011.
Video courtesy of WFMJ Television, Inc., Youngstown, Ohio.
