Charity Martin-Via, President, has a background in community service, education, non-profit management, and advocacy which spans over 18 years. Ms. Martin-Via is a SOCIAL JUSTICE leader among her peers. Her passion for service and commitment to community is apparent in her business practices. She is the first and ONLY African-American Female coffeehouse proprietor in the state of Ohio. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a dual degree in Political Science and African-American-African Studies. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies at Ohio Dominican University.
Recognitions include: 1st recipient awarded the Ohio State University's People's Choice Award in the 2004-2005 Annual Staff Exhibit, Project Alpha 2005, Programming Excellence; co-chair OSU Dept of Ed. & OMA 2004, Eastmoor Academy H.S. Basketball Coaching Staff 2002-2007 (3x District Champs, 2x Regional Champs, State Runner Up'05), Sigma Gamma Rho Arts Gala '04-'07, Delta Sigma Theta Annual Arts Exhibit '04, Ohio Dominican University Program of the Year 2006, Statewide recipient of the Governor's Award for Excellence in Community Education 2007, the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority; Gamma Zeta Zeta Chapter Service Award 2008, Who's Who "Cambridge" Among American Businesswomen, Who's Who in Black Columbus' Interesting Personalities 2008, Columbus Landmarks Association Preservation Award, 2008, and more!
Her professional affiliations include the Ohio Art League, Nommo Art Society, National Progressive Leadership Caucus, The Ohio State University Alumni Association, Martin W. Essex School for the Gifted; Talent Coordinator, Olde Towne East Neighborhood Association, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc (www.zphibgzz.org).
Urban Spirit has been recognized by the Ohio House of Representatives, Columbus City Council, The Ohio Senate, The Ohio Supreme Court, The Long Street Businessmen's Association, The Columbus Dispatch, Urban Trendsetter Newsmagazine, The Other Paper, and BusinessFIRST. Ms. Martin-Via was also recognized nationally by the Tom Joyner Morning Show as the "Hardest Working Entreprenuer" (August 2008).
She is mother to one son, and Godmother to two sons.
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