Tai Andre Cornute Receives Color Me Excellent Award
COLUMBUS, OH—Color Me Excellent award winner Tai A. Cornute serves as Program Coordinator for the Todd Anthony Bell National Resource Center on the African American Male at The Ohio State University. There, some of his responsibilities include: managing the annual and nationally renowned Black Male Retreat for collegiate males, planning an annual fund-raiser Lecture Series Luncheon, coordinating a local Middle School Mentoring Program at Columbus City Preparatory School for Boys, and advising students committed to leadership through service.
Tai is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the chair of the Diversity Leadership Council at the American Red Cross, and a board member of Central Ohio Men Against Prostate Cancer.
He graduated proudly from Columbus’ Independence High School as Valedictorian in 2004, and Ohio State’s College of Social Work, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 2008.
Tai and his wife Marti are proud parents of daughter Amaia and son Machai. They keep a philanthropic focus in their lives, enjoy ‘rediscovering’ Columbus together, and are members of First Church of God.
Black History Month recognizes and celebrates the many ways that African American leaders have improved and transformed our communities. Central Ohio has a rich history of accomplishment by black leaders. Our community also has a strong group of young African American leaders who are making history every day.
The Color Me Excellent awards are designed to recognize these leaders for their community service and lift them up as role models for everyone, but most especially for young people of color who may not fully understand their potential for leadership.
United Way of Central Ohio’s Key Club launched the Color Me Excellent awards as part of its long history of community service that includes supporting programs such as The African American Leadership Academy. The academy offers training and development to young professionals who demonstrate potential for top leadership, and has become one of the most successful programs of its kind in the nation.
Key Club members also serve as mentors for young people of color and organize service projects throughout the year.
Key Club will use a digital publication of profiles of Color Me Excellent award winners to reach out to local youth of color and reinforce the message that everyone has the ability and responsibility to lead.
Tai is the 3rd great grandson of Clark Cornute (1845).
