(North Canton, OH – Jan. 27, 2020) – The community is invited to join Stark State College students, faculty and staff in hearing guest speaker State Rep. Thomas West discuss give “A Rendition of Black History in America” at 11 a.m. Feb. 10.

West, serves the 49^th House District including Canton and most of Massillon, will speak in room M101 in the Business and Entrepreneurial Center at Stark State at 6200 Frank Ave. NW, North Canton.

Before serving in local government, West worked as a mental health professional for more than 25 years. His work in the community has garnered both local and national recognition.

As state representative, Rep. West has worked diligently to pass a variety of bipartisan bills, including legislation to create a children’s behavioral healthcare network and legislation. In addition to serving in several legislative committees, he was appointed to the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood, Ohio Advisory on Aging and the Governor’s Executive Workforce Board.

West earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from the University of Akron after earning a degree in business administration from Mount Union College.

He and his wife have two children and live in Canton.