As hundreds gathered at Mr. Anthony's in Boardman all eyes were on the Youngstown Warren Black Caucus President, Jaladah Aslam, who would receive recognition for her lasting legacy in the community.

"Our president has been an awesome, fierce, dedicated, faithful, fighter for the rights of our people," New Bethel Baptist Church Pastor and Chairman of teh screening committee for the Youngstown Warren Black Caucus, Ken Simon said. "What she does is not from a pulpit like preachers do but what she does is community ministry which is just as important. She takes her faith outside the walls of the church, and brings the message of love, hope, peace, empowerment to our community the way she has been called," he said.

Simon adds, Aslam has been on the frontlines in Columbus and Washington, standing her ground and making an impact.

"She is on top of all the legislation that's going to be introduced and trying to be passed in the state house and she informs our community, she informs the public on these issues and then we develop a plan of action, how we need to respond," Simon said.

Aslam tells 21 News she didn't really want to be honored but she's touched. More than anything, she wants the legacy of this group to be about it's works and not about her.

"We groom candidates, we try to make sure that we stay on top of issues, we spend a lot of time probably over the last few years doing research, lobbying for and against legislation that is harmful to the Black community and not just the Black community, but the urban community as a whole because you know, if we're hurting then everybody is hurting," she said.

The group endorsed Democrat Tito Brown, Youngstown's mayor and Republican Renee DiSalvo, Youngstown Municipal Court judge saying they push for the candidates who align best with their ideas and values.

"We don't just go strictly by party lines, we go by candidates who have the interest of our community at heart and our people and so we kind of make sure that those interests are served," Simon said.

The group focuses on local issues like public education, criminal justice reform and hiring practices that affect the Black community. They also condemn political violence and are concerned with state of the political climate.

"There's a feeling of, like our voices are being taken away, like our democracy is fleeting. We are no longer staying a democracy, we're becoming a dictatorship and that's not what this country was founded on," Simon said.

Simon said the group is engaged in efforts to make sure the community is educated on the most pressing issues.