Community Local heroes

Local Heroes

Residents and businesses across Central Florida have stepped up during the COVID-19 health threat to educate communities on the pandemic and help those in need.

Virtual Town Halls and Door Hangers

ONYX Magazine and Orlando Commissioner Regina I. Hill have taken the lead in reaching communities during the coronavirus pandemic. In a four-part virtual town hall meeting on COVID-19 and its impact in the Black community, a nationwide audience heard from experts who discussed how to stay safe and healthy during the pandemic; the importance of being counted in the 2020 Census; where to apply for business loans and jobs; why African-Americans are so hard hit by COVID-19; and how Black people could hit the reset button on our health during these hard times. The panels, moderated by Monica May Communications, included Orlando Commissioner Regina I. Hill; and experts Shani Davis, Ph.D., of your Best You Clinic in Tampa; B. Lee Green, Ph.D. of Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa; Jason Littleton, M.D., America’s Energy Doctor of Littleton Concierge Medicine in Orlando; Cliff Marvin of CareerSource Central Florida; Patty Mason of Mason Accounting and Consulting Services in Orlando; Marilyn Stephens of 2020 Census Atlanta office; Tralonda Triplett, Ph.D., of Institute for Successful Leadership; with words from ONYX Magazine Publisher Rich Black.

ONYX Magazine and Hill also teamed up to distribute posters and door hangers on important COVID-19 health tips throughout Orlando District 5.

Quarterback Jameis Winston Helps Residents and Restaurants

New Orleans Saint Quarterback Jameis Winston (formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) is partnering with the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa to help feed 1,000 people per week over four weeks in May. Wintson has a vision to support small neighborhood restaurants and provide healthy meals to residents during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Winston donated $30,000 to participating restaurants, The Open Café, Konan’s BBQ, 7th and Grove, M&R Café Southern Cuisine, LivyO’s Catering, Eve Catering, and Mama’s Soul Food.

Get Masked

Orlando District 5 Commissioner Regina I. Hill, ONYX Magazine and Florida Rights Restoration Coalition partnered today to distribute 3,000 masks in communities throughout District 5 to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19.

Xernona Clayton, front in red jacket, was the 2020 Woman of the Year.

ONYX MAGAZINE’S WOMEN ON THE MOVE AWARDS LUNCHEON AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS

Twenty-one trailblazing women across Florida received honors for making significant strides in their professions and communities, including Ms. Xernona Clayton of Atlanta, a civil rights activist and founder of the Trumpet Awards.

“I t was the most fabulous afternoon I have ever experienced,” said one guest. “I have never felt so honored,” said an honoree. ONYX Magazine’s fifth annual Women on the Move (WOTM), with Founding Member Orlando Health did not disappoint while 21 of Florida’s most ambitious and creative women received recognition during an awards luncheon on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, at the Alfond Inn, Winter Park, Fla.

Authentic and positive energy flowed through the room of more than 300 guests as each speaker stepped to the podium- -from the introduction by co-chair Nancy Port Schwalb, who reminded the audience of the hard-fought battles women endured in the name of suffrage--to the words of keynote speaker Gayle Andrews, who followed up with the importance of why women should stand together and vote in the upcoming elections. The speakers referenced the afternoon’s theme: Valiant Women of the Vote, the official Women’s History Month theme.

“The event recognized leading black women spanning a range of business and industry,” said Rich Black, ONYX Magazine’s publisher, CEO and editor-in-chief. “In the spirit of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, these 21 women each exhibit boundless faith, servant leadership and play critical roles in the stellar success of their respective organizations in public and private sectors, higher education, healthcare and nonprofits.”

Perhaps the most powerful moment of the two-hour event happened when 89-year-old Xernona Clayton of Atlanta took the stage. Her poignant and unforgettable words wowed the audience. “If you can, you will, if you can’t, you won’t.” The standing audience, enthralled by her presence, took her words to heart and cheered with every piece of advice. The founder, president and CEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc., and creator and executive producer of the Foundation’s Trumpet Awards, was well-received. Clayton began her television career in 1967 and became the South’s first black person to have her own television show. In 1965, she accepted a position with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and worked closely with the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Clayton also traveled extensively with Coretta Scott King on her nationwide concert tours.

The International Woman on the Move is Dame Constance Mitcham, an attorney from St. Kitts and Nevis, who received her title from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Dame Constance is the

Keynote speaker Gayle Adrews

founder and head of Mitcham and Benjamin Attorneys-at-law, and a special adviser to the country’s prime minister. She admired the room and said, if a little girl from a small town could become a lawyer and a Dame, anything is possible for each of them.

New this year was the Community Impact Award, which was presented to a woman-led organization that has made significant strides in moving business and community forward. Black Business Investment Fund Florida is a community development financial institution driven to help Florida businesses thrive by providing loan capital alongside business development training. The president and CEO is Inez Long.

Each of the 21 honorees walked up one-by-one as her name was called to receive her honor. They received a beautiful engraved glass award, a wall certificate, and a swag bag full of decadent gifts from Walt Disney World, and a full set of Tupperware from sponsor Tupperware Brands.

“These powerful and innovative achievers are contributors to a thriving economy every day,” said Dee Parker of Parker Realty in Orlando and ONYX Magazine’s Advisory Committee chair. “Our sponsors and other supporters are pivotal to making Women on the Move one of the most prestigious events to recognize women across Florida.”

Vanessa Echols interviews Xernona Clayton during the kickoff reception.

International Women on the Move honoree Dame Constance Mitcham, center, with from left ONYX Magazine co-founder Lester Seays, WOTM co-chair Nancy Port Schwalb, WOTM chair Dee Parker and ONYX CEO Rich Black

Dignitaries and corporate leaders from across Florida filed into the ballroom, which had been decorated with white and orange accents. Attendees noshed on salmon, herb chicken, vegetables and delectable desserts handcrafted by the Alfond Inn chefs. While they dined, guests swayed to the jazz sounds of Jazmin Ghent, a renowned saxophonist who received an NAACP Image Award. Guests got up on their feet and danced while Jazmin moved through the crowd playing some of her favorites, like “You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman),” which mellowed the mood in the best way possible.

ONYX Magazine’s Women on the Move highlights women who have shattered the glass ceiling in their professions and persevered against all odds. The event was led by Chair Dee Parker and Co-chair Nancy Port Schwalb and the ONYX WOTM committee. ONYX Magazine was excited to collaborate with its sponsors to present these phenomenal women; trailblazers who are leading major businesses to succeed on national and international levels in several professional disciplines. Sponsors of this event were Founding Member Orlando Health, Women’s History Month Kickoff Reception Sponsor Mercedes-Benz of Orlando; Honoree Reception Sponsor Tupperware; and many event sponsors. Visit the WOTM website for a full list of sponsors.