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Blue Ash neighborhood of Hazelwood holds walk-a-thon to honor black roots

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BLUE ASH, Ohio - It might be a small neighborhood, but there's a lot going on in Hazelwood on Saturday.

The historically black neighborhood is educating residents and non-residents alike on its history and raising money for a good cause through two events - a yearly picnic and the first Hazelwood History Walk-A-Thon.

Participants will learn about the culture and heritage of Hazelwood through organized visual aids and site visits. One of those will be the old White Oak School on property now owned by Evercoat – one of several gems in the neighborhood.

"The purpose of the Walk-A-Thon is to keep the memory of the community alive," said Northern Kentucky University professor Michael Washington, who grew up in Hazelwood.

Donations from the walk will fund two $500 scholarships at UC Blue Ash, Washington said.

"Anyone who applies for the scholarship has to write an essay about what community justice means to them,” Washington said.

Hazelwood residents get priority, he said, but it's open to anyone who attends UC Blue Ash.

The scholarship was created two years ago in a collaboration between the Blue Ash Police Department, UC Blue Ash, and community members. Police were eager to participate, said Lt. Roger Puhlman.

"I think the main thing that's important for us is to form good police community relations,” Puhlman said. “We’re here to serve the community. We don't want to feel like an outsider with the community. We want to be one with the community and this helps attain that. We have good dialogue with the community and also it helps with the scholarship."

The 2-mile walk begins at 9 a.m. at the Hazelwood Community Center, 11090 Oak Ave.

Organizers hope you can get here at 8:30 so you can register.

Get more information here.