March_April_2023

Page 14

Vivian Bryant, Esq. V

PRESIDENT & CEO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF ORLANDO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF SANFORD

ivian Bryant is a nationally recognized leader and advocate for affordable housing and community development throughout Florida and the United States. For more than 30 years, she has dedicated her career to elevating living conditions and quality of life for low- to moderate-income families. It is an issue close to her heart given her experience also growing up in public housing. As president & CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Orlando (OHA) and the Sanford Housing Authority (SHA), Bryant oversees 7,000 public and non-public housing units, the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and Veterans Administration Special Housing Program. During her tenure, she has secured and implemented two successful United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOPE VI Revitalization Grant Awards totaling $25 million. The grants leveraged $65 million of public and private investments and replaced dilapidated public housing in Orlando with vibrant, mixed-income communities that give residents better housing options including renting or home ownership. Bryant’s expertise has brought her attention on a national level. Her knowledge and perspective are highly sought after, as she is a frequent presenter at industry conferences. She is a current trustee and former Housing vice president for the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA), president of the Housing and Development Law Institute (HDLI) Board of Directors and member of the Moving to Work (MTW) Collaborative Executive Committee. In 2019, the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) awarded Bryant its highest honor, the prestigious M. Justin Herman Memorial Award. A Florida native, Bryant received a bachelor’s degree from Howard University, a master’s degree in Social Work from Florida State University and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Florida. She is a Florida-licensed attorney and a member of The Florida Bar. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and The Links, Incorporated, and she attends Macedonia Baptist Church. Bryant’s pride and joy are her daughter and three grandchildren.

“The ultimate expression of generosity is not in giving of what you have, but in giving who you are.” JOHNETTA B. COLE, PH.D.

24 ONYX MAGAZINE

P atrice M . Cates–Lonberger, M .D. PHYSICIAN ORLANDO HEALTH PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATES

P

atrice M. Cates-Lonberger, M.D. was born in Gary, Ind., and completed her high school education at the Emerson School for Visual and Performing Arts in Gary along with her identical twin sister, Pamela Cates-Smith, M.D. She knew at the tender age of five that she wanted to be a doctor. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Howard University in Washington, D.C., Dr. Cates-Lonberger continued her education at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis where she earned her master’s degree in Medical Science, medical doctorate degree, and completed her residency training. Dr. Cates-Lonberger is a primary care physician with Orlando Health Physician Associates. She specializes in internal medicine and is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and a member of the American College of Physicians. As an internist, Dr. Cates-Lonberger provides comprehensive medical care and counsels patients on a range of lifestyle choices and changes to promote health and prevent disease. In addition to well patient visits, she combines her experience and clinical expertise with the latest scientific research and medical advancements to diagnose and treat patients with a wide range of conditions from common illnesses to complex diseases. Before joining Orlando Health, Dr. Cates-Lonberger worked at Eskenazi Health serving the needs of the Indianapolis and Central Indiana community for 10 years while also serving as assistant professor of Clinical Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Cates-Lonberger is the co-founder of Grace Girls Empowerment Foundation, Inc., alongside her twin sister. Their mission is to promote and empower girls in their hometown through mentorship to develop self-esteem, self-worth, and self-awareness through character development, community service, leadership, and scholarship. Dr. Cates-Lonberger is married and has a son and daughter. She enjoys spending time with family and being a basketball and volleyball mom.

“F or I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” JEREMIAH 29:11

ONYX MAGAZINE 25


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook

Articles inside

COSMOPOLITAN: THE FLIRTY GIRL DRINK

0
page 37

ern-inspired self, speaking in your own rhythm and cadence, loudly should do it. And unwilling anymore to adopt insecure based speech patterns, “does that make sense,” embrace stereotypes of the angry Black woman, and stand with the crowd that is willing to ignore your differences, ignore you, you emerge “self-accepted” and therefore demanding to be recognized. Some WOC’s approach has been to find a comfy, hiding spot away from the spotlight, others have grown into themselves, toward the sun finding community. Potentially more common in STEM spaces, WOC also balance warming to other communities. Working from home freed many from lunch table topics they find it a stretch to even relate to. It also meant missing some conversations about strategy, that you might not otherwise be privy to. And as a layer cake, there is the dynamic among brethren where there are unspoken adoptions or rejection, labels as ally or opponent placing you on a tightrope. It might surprise some entering the space to know promotions, advancement and introductions aren’t compulsory. So, navigating all of this is, well, part of it. Recognizing allies when you’re in spaces of low representation is key. And those allies might or might not look like you. This is knowledge we all swallow as the era of favors-owed leaves a

2min
page 36

A KUFI, A KIMONO AND A COFFEE:

2min
page 36

KEEP YOUR CAR SAFER ON THE ROAD LONGER and

4min
page 35

WHY AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES?

4min
page 34

Ethel Isaacs Williams, J.D.

1min
page 33

Tempress (Tee) Solomon

1min
page 33

ENTERTAIN IN STYLE

4min
page 32

CENTER BRINGS WELLNESS TO WEST LAKES COMMUNITY

1min
page 32

Sharon Y. Riley

1min
page 31

Paramore

1min
page 31

JoJo O’Neal

1min
pages 30-31

DawnOfodile

1min
page 30

WELCOMING WEALTH in 2023

5min
page 29

SIXTH ANNUAL COLLARD GREEN FESTIVAL

0
page 28

TAMPA LAUNCHES THE SOUL WALK

0
page 28

Gwen Myers

1min
pages 27-28

Lynn Mims

1min
page 27

Sytia Necole Messer

1min
page 26

Daralene Jones

1min
page 26

SISTER GIRL

2min
page 25

Kim M. Johnson

1min
page 24

Terri Ann Verschell Graham,Ph.D.

1min
page 24

Olive Gaye

1min
page 23

Tammie Fields

1min
page 23

THE LONG SEARCH

1min
page 22

THE QUAD EDWARD WATERS UNIVERSITY ADDS EIGHT NEW DEGREE PROGRAMS

3min
page 21

LAW SCHOOL ANNOUNCES CENTER FOR JUSTICE

1min
page 21

Sandra Fatmi-Hall

1min
page 20

Ohme Entin

1min
page 20

Gail Thomas DeWitt

2min
page 19

THE LYES THAT CAN KILL YOU

2min
page 18

NEED MORE BLACK REPRESENTATION IN ALZHEIMER’S STUDY

1min
pages 17-18

HITTING YOUR PEAK

2min
page 17

CLOSE YOUR PORES

1min
page 17

INCREASING BLACK WOMEN’S ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC POWER

2min
page 16

Iranetta J. Dennis

1min
pages 15-16

Pamela C. Cates-Smith, M.D.

1min
page 15

Patrice M. Cates–Lonberger, M.D.

1min
page 14

Vivian Bryant, Esq.

1min
page 14

M I S S I O N ONE MAN'S to build the Florida Democratic Party

1min
page 13

BLACK WOMEN OUTPACE ALL ENTREPRENEURS

2min
page 12

BLACK BEAUTY: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BLACK BEAUTY INDUSTRY

3min
page 11

BLACK WOMEN AND STUDENT DEBT

5min
pages 10-11

FIVE ESSENTIALS FOR A GIRL’S ROAD TRIP

2min
pages 9-10

Mercy Gilbert

1min
page 8

WRITING HER OWN RULES ON GENERATIONAL WEALTH

8min
pages 7-8

SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD

2min
pages 6-7

AGE INTO THE SOFTER SIDE OF LIFE

3min
page 5

HONORING DIVINE FEMININITY: NURTURE WARRIOR HEALERS RISE

2min
page 4
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.