Daytona
Baptist bishop speaks out about her gay marriage See page 3
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JOSHUA J. WAGNER: Volusia has benefited PRESORTED off STANDARD backs, dimes of Daytona’s Blacks See page 4
U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit #189 Daytona Beach, FL
35 graduate from Citizens Academy in Palm Coast See page 2
East Central Florida’s Black Voice
www.daytonatimes.com www.daytonatimes.com
OCTOBER 24 - OCTOBER 30, 2013
YEAR 38 NO. 43
Taking bold steps to stop domestic violence
PEOPLE SPEAK
Midtown center will be starting point for Oct. 30 Purple Parade to bring awareness about bullying, abuse BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com
National studies indicate that one in four women will experience some form of domestic abuse in her lifetime. While the statewide incidents of domestic violence crime slightly declined in 2012, there was an increase in Volusia County. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement,
there were 3,934 crimes that were classified as domestic violence offenses in 2012 in Volusia. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and for the second consecutive year, the Domestic Abuse Council, Inc. is hosting an awareness walk on Oct. 30. The council provides comprehensive services to families affected by domestic violence in Volusia County.
Hundreds expected Called the Purple Parade, the 5 p.m. walk will start at Daytona Beach’s Midtown Cultural & Educational Center located at 925 George Engram Ave. The entire walk is a loop on the Martin Luther King Jr. walking trail. Registration for the walk begins Oct. 30 onsite at 4:30 p.m. The purpose is to raise awareness and vital funding for domestic violence prevention. Participants are en-
couraged to wear purple to show their support. “Individuals who are bullied, whether they are children or adults, often remain silent. This event gives a voice to those individuals by showing them community support. Last year, we were excit ed to have nearly 300 individuals attend our Purple Parade and this year we are hoping to double or triple that number,” said Cheryl Fuller, CEO of the Domestic Abuse Council.
Bullying starts early Fuller said statistically one in five students in a typical classroom will experience bullying in some fashion. “They might be a bystander, the victim or they might be the bully,” she explained. “These numbers are startling and indicate how pervasive this is in our society. The mission of the Domestic Abuse Council is to end Please see PURPLE, Page 6
Few Black subcontractors at Speedway’s last forum BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com
Daytona International Speedway held its second subcontractor outreach forum on Oct.16 to provide information on construction opportunities related to its $400 million Daytona Rising redevelopment project. The first was held on July 17. More than 230 Florida minority and women-owned businesses as well as local Volusia County construction trades attended both forums, representing cities such as Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Ormond Beach, Orlando, Sanford, Winter Springs, DeLand, Hawthorne, Pinellas Park, St. Johns, New Smyrna, Ocala, Titusville, Fort Lauderdale, Apopka, Odessa and Palm Coast. The project is being designed to create a state-of-the-art racing experience along the Speedway’s nearly mile-long frontstretch. Dr. Glenn Cherry, CEO of the Daytona Times and Florida Courier, was among the approximately 50 people who attended the second outreach last Thursday. Cherry was surprised to see only a few Black subcontractors at the outreach. Cherry admitted getting certified with the state requires a lot of footwork and paperwork. Even after going through the process, there is no guarantee of a job on a major project.
Hiring concern He also said it is important the Speedway hire minority subcontractors, who, in turn, will hire Black laborers. Most importantly, he noted, the hiring of a Black subcontractor sustains the development of that Black
COURTESY OF B-CU
SeaWorld Orlando President Terry Prather; Matthew W. Rearden, Vice President, Business Affairs at SeaWorld; the Rev. Kevin James; SeaWorld CEO Jim Atchison; and Bethune-Cookman Dean of Business Aubrey Long are shown at a forum on B-CU’s campus.
How they made it to the top SeaWorld executives share career advice with business students at B-CU BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com
Bethune-Cookman University business graduates have something other students don’t have – exposure to CEOs who can help them when they enter the real world. That’s what Aubrey Long, Dean of BCU’s School of Business said recently as the university welcomed SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment CEO Jim Atchi-
son to the earlier this month. He spoke during B-CU’s Business Fall Forum. Atchison oversees SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, which operates 10 parks in the United States. Hundreds of students gathered at the Performing Arts Center to hear from Atchison who brought with him Orlando’s SeaWorld President Terry W. Prather, who oversees the operation of all three of the company’s Orlando parks – SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Aquatica. Prather, who is Black, also spoke to the students.
Started at the bottom Atchison, who promoted Prather to his current position, said he first met him while they both beginning their ca-
reers. Atchison was working as a parking attendant while Prather was working in maintenance. Atchison, who was also attending University of South Florida, said he “liked the fit” working at a theme park. He said he took a long view and realized working at a theme park was somewhere he could grow and move up the ladder of success – which is what he and Prather both did starting from the bottom. “I found a place to start that would help me get better,” said Atchison, which is the advice he also gave to the B-CU students. Atchison said he was the youngest of 10 kids, the first in his family to graduate from college. Please see ADVICE, Page 2
Please see DIS, Page 2
Longtime ‘Insurance Man’ and businessman Perman Shepard dies at 79 BY JAMES HARPER DATYONA TIMES harperjames59J@yahoo.com
Perman Shepard, right, is survived by his wife, Edna, whom he married in 1953.
Longtime Daytona Beach resident and business owner Perman Shepard died Oct. 23 after a long illness. Known as the “Insurance Man,’’ Shepard once was a top salesman for Atlanta Life Insurance Company and received numerous plaques, awards and trophies for his work. Shepard and his wife, Edna, were owners of This Bud’s For You Floral Boutique from 1984 to 1996. He also had served as the president of the Florida State Black Florist Association and was a member of the National Florist Association. Shepard was a member of the Second Avenue Merchants Association and was the organiza-
tion’s vice president in 2005. He also was president of the Victoria Park Homeowners Association.
Went to Campbell, B-CC He was born in Boston, Ga., on Dec. 2, 1933 to Elma and Eberneza Shepard. Shepard received his high school diploma in 1952 from Campbell High School. He played football, his favorite sport, at Campbell High and then Bethune-Cookman College. Classmate Arthur Harper remembers Shepard as a very popular football player at Campbell Senior High. “He was easy to get along with - a very religious man and friendly to everyone he met,” said Harper, who also patronized the Shepards when they owned the florist shop.
Said Cynthia Slater, president of the local NAACP, “I was saddened when I learned of the passing of Perman Shepard. Mr. Shepard has a long history of civic engagement in Daytona Beach. His involvement in helping establish the Second Avenue Merchants Association does not go unnoticed as was his fight for fair and equal opportunities for African-Americans in this city. He will truly be missed. He was also known for chartering a bus to the Florida Classic in Orlando yearly and most of the B-CU away games. Shepard was also a driver for Bethune-Cookman University, Gaines USA Charter Services, Travel Lynx, and Riviera Assisted Living. His daughter Kimberly said he had already had a bus scheduled for this year’s classic.
Active in community, church He was a volunteer for the Daytona Beach Citizens on Patrol and active in his community. In addition, Shepard was a longtime member of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church and held many leadership positions there. He married Edna Walker on Sept. 9, 1953. Along with his wife, he is survived by four children: Lenita Shepard Shervington, Michael Shepard, Jeffery Shepard and Kimberly Shepard Williams; 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Funeral services had not been finalized by the Daytona Times’ presstime on Wednesday. Herbert Thompson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.