On the Summit’s Horizon: Joe Ayers, Summit City Community Festival
By Rev. Christopher W. Riley
FWIS Contributing Writer
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18
Joe Ayers had a vision to give back to the community. The Summit City Community Festival was launched to bring the churches together via Gospel Music and to share valuable information with the community at-large. Ayers was inspired by his mother, the Late Celester “Ms. Pie” Ayers who raised he and his siblings to care about people and that you have a lot to give. “I am glad my Mom lived to see me change my life and her children doing great things in the community,” said Joe Ayers, CEO and Founder of Ayers Community Outreach, Inc.
“Joe is an amazing community servant! His heart to help others is simply amazing. He is always seeking ways to elevate others. He has single handedly created an event with the purpose of celebrating our community and those who have served in it. His dedication and strong commitment to our community is unwavering. He has consistently demonstrated a willingness to serve mankind over a long period of time. Joe and I have partnered on many ventures in our community. His heart and his ability to get things done has been fun to watch, said Joe Jordan, President and CEO, Boys and Girls Club of Fort Wayne.
“Joe Ayers works tirelessly to bring our city together in love and unity. We appreciate his passion and commitment to keep this festival going. Thank you, Joe, for your hard work and sincere dedication,” said Pastor David Moore of Victory Worship Center.
Ayers credits Moore and Bill Seidel of Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana with helping to launch Men Fighting for Health 10 years ago. The meeting is every third Wednesday at The Impact Center, 3420 East Paulding Road. The ministry will not meet in July but will resume in August. As a two-time cancer survivor, it is important to get the medical information out to the people. God healed my mind, body and soul and I am grateful, said Ayers.
I can not do this work by myself, said Ayers. “I would like to honor the late Pastor Ernest K. Starks of Greater Mt. Ararat Baptist Church who believed in the vision and allowed me to utilize the church’s business entity until I was able to establish my own non-profit which was extremely helpful in acquiring sponsors.”
When asked about current sponsorship, Ayers responded by sharing that he no longer uses the term sponsors, “we have partners, since an ongoing relationship has been developed.” Partners include Chuck Surack and the Surack Foundation, my brother, Michael Ayers and his wife Delania who coordinates our booths/vendor participants, Joe Jordan, Boys and Girls Club of Fort Wayne, Tad Levy of Hoover the Moover, MLK Club Inc., Fort Wayne Rescue Mission, Post 148, The Bowen Center and many others. “George Eldridge and Charles Lopez have served as our musicians for the festival since the beginning.” said, Ayers.
Ayers has taken his outreach services to other parts of the country. In 2021after Hurricane Ida devastated the town of Grad Isle, Louisiana which is located on the Gulf of Mexico and in Jefferson Parish, Pie’s Clothing closet collected over 1,000 pair of shoes and other clothing items to bless the residents of the Bayou State. In addition to the 1,200-mile trip, he is also engaging the community of Lima with a community festival and clothing giveaway. Ayers credits Dr. Derry Glenn and Oneida Cobb for assisting him in the Lima efforts. Ayers Community Outreach, Inc has collected over 100,000 pounds of clothing and blessed close to 10,000 families.
“We have worked with Joe since the beginning. Please come out so we can show out.” said, Larry Gist, current operations manager of the MLK Club Inc. and past president of the Fort Wayne Branch, #3049 of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People).
The Summit City Community Festival is Saturday, August 3, Noon-7 p.m. in McMillen Park, 2900 Oxford Street. For more information and to make clothing donations to Pie’s Closet, please contact Joe Ayers, (260)348-6080; ayersoutreach58@gmail.com.