OUCAN will honor longtime consultant Larry Price at its Legislative Reception later this month in Columbus.
The Legislative Reception will include opportunities for OUCAN members, community partners and state officials to learn more about issues impacting urban communities in Ohio. The reception is planned for Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Sheraton Columbus Hotel at Capitol Square.
OUCAN Board Chair Dr. Jacklyn Chisholm will present Price with a Lifetime Champion Award.
A native of Cleveland and graduate of Ohio State University, Price began his long career in public services as a message clerk in the Ohio Senate. He went on to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives where he fought to restore funding for Head Start, daycare, senior services and local governments.
Malcolm Costa, CEO of Akron Summit Community Action and one of the founders of OUCAN’s predecessor Ohio Urban Resources System, recalled Price’s fight against raising taxes on community action constituents.
“You took initiative to provide leadership on the issue at the risk of your reelection,” Costa said. “Our constituents greatly benefited from your leadership and service.”
Price’s leadership in that 1997 battle is what first brought him to the attention of urban Community Action leaders.
“Larry is one of the only leaders in Central Ohio that I know of who is respected and like by everyone,” said Robert “Bo” Chilton, CEO of IMPACT Community Action in Columbus. “You have built long lasting relationships across a broad spectrum of people because you are a person who operates with integrity and values relationships.”
Price founded Larry Price & Associates to provide consultant services to private, public and faith-based organizations in the areas of public relations, governmental affairs, public policy and community relations. He specializes in helping minority business owners acquire state and local contracts.
Price has served on numerous boards including the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, the Columbus Urban League and the NAACP- State of Ohio.