Pike CEO students learn about their place in history
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By DAVID CAMPHOUSE
David Camphouse/Pike Press
On Monday morning, Pike CEO students (l-r) Austin Orr, Brody Dolbeare, Maddie Sidwell, and Ava Wombles have a discussion with New Philadelphia Association President Gerald McWorter, following McWorter’s presentation on New Philadelphia, and the students’ relationships with history. McWorter is a descendant of Frank McWorter who established Pike County’s New Philadelphia, which is the first municipality in the United States to be platted and founded by an African American.
On Monday, Pike CEO students heard a presentation from New Philadelphia Association (NPA) President Gerald McWorter.
In addition to serving as NPA Board President, McWorter – who is also known as Abdul Alkalimat – is an University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professor emeritus of African American studies and of information sciences.
In his presentation, McWorter discussed the role of Pike County and of Hadley Township’s New Philadelphia in American and African-American history.
McWorter is a descendant of Frank McWorter who established Pike County’s New Philadelphia, which is the first municipality in the United States to be platted and founded by an African American.
McWorter discussed the history of New Philadelphia, but – according to Pike CEO students – the take home message was applicable to their everyday lives.
“He mostly talked about how we can learn from history,” Pike CEO student Brody Dolbeare said.
McWorter, according to the students, talked about history not just existing in books or documentaries about the past. He encouraged them to think in terms of the current events of the students’ lives becoming part of history.
“He talked about history repeating itself and how we, and the things we do, will have a place in history,” Austin Orr said.
Pike County CEO was established in the fall of 2016, with the support of local business community partners and area schools to create experiential learning opportunities for students.
Pike CEO, while rooted in the principles of entrepreneurship and business, strives to be more than a simple business course.
The goal, according to the organization’s website, is for Pike CEO to allow students to learn from local business leaders and develop skills of problem solving, team work, self-motivation, responsibility, communication and professionalism.
The hope is that by learning these skills, students who complete the CEO program will become leaders and strengthen the communities in which they live.
The NPA was founded in 1996 with the goal of preserving, protecting and educating the public about the legacy of Frank McWorter, his family and the remarkable town they established in 1836.
