Title
To honor, recognize and celebrate the life of Charles “Is Said” Lyons, 1935-2023
Body
WHEREAS, Charles Lyons, also known as Is Said, was born on January 26, 1935, in Atlanta, GA; and
WHEREAS, Is Said moved to Columbus at an early age, graduated from East High School, and returned to the city after serving in the United States Air Force; and
WHEREAS, Is Said was a driving force in the Columbus arts community for over 50 years, creating collaborative and independent projects that harnessed the power of the written and spoken word to uplift the community, recognize forgotten histories, and promote self-expression; and
WHEREAS, through his commitment to mentorship and community building, Is Said impacted countless artists of all ages and backgrounds and inspired them to embrace their creativity and find fulfillment through the arts; and
WHEREAS, promoting the African diaspora and African American culture and history was a central theme of Is Said’s vision, with his work and the work of those he inspired giving a voice to a once muted legacy, notably through the formation of the Columbus Advance Party and collaboration with the Uhuru Dancers to bring Afrocentric poetry, music, and dance to Central Ohio; and
WHEREAS, Is Said’s contributions have been recognized with an induction into the Lincoln Theatre Walk of Fame, the creation of a mural on the Near East Side, and a Columbus Legend Award from the King Arts Complex; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus extends its sincere condolences to the friends and family of Charles “Is Said” Lyons and everyone in the community who is mourning his recent passing; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby honor, recognize, and celebrate the life of Charles “Is Said” Lyons.