ONYX_Magazine_November_December_2018

Volume 9 – Number 36 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018

SPECIAL EDITION

FLORIDA’S HBCUs

FELONS’ VOTING RIGHTS RESTORED!

CELEBRATING MILESTONES, MAKING HISTORY

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9

DAILY GRATITUDE = LONG LIFE

Gillum Andrew

PROFILE OF A TRAILBLAZER

GREAT HEALTHY CHRISTMAS GIFTS

$3.50 onyxmagazine.com

FLORIDA AMENDMENT 4 PASSES! Restoring more than one million felons’ rights to vote Amendment 4 was designed to automatically restore the right to vote for people with prior felony convictions, except those convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense, upon completion of their sentences, including prison, parole, and probation. Until now, people with prior felonies never regained the right to vote in Florida, until and unless a state board restores an individual’s voting rights. A report from The Sentencing Project estimated that, as of 2016, around 6.1 million people (about 2.5 percent of the U.S. voting age population) were disenfranchised due to a felony conviction. Florida was estimated to have 1,686,318 persons—10.43 percent of the voting age population—disenfranchised due to felonies. Ballotpedia

contents 2

Voting Rights Restored

6 Letter from the Publisher 8 Thankful – Showing daily gratitude = longer life 9 Elevate: Living life on with purpose 10 ONYX Magazine kicks off ONYX Business Connect 12 Bethune Cookman University 15 FAMU teams up with Google 16 FAMU’s first female drum major, Cori Bostic 18 Florida Memorial University 23 Good Read: Thought-provoking books to live by 25 Tips to enjoy holiday parties and control diabetes 26 Campus student body presidents 28 College Campus Royalty 30 Why children believe (or not) Santa Claus exists 32 Infinite Scholars – program to help fund college 33 Urban League: Strong Youths, Strong Communities 35 Travel – How to enjoy holidays in Florida 36 Andrew Gillum: Profile of a Winner

36 COVER STORY

ANDREW GILLUM

38 Arts & Entertainment – Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker 40 Five great reasons to stop at the library this holiday season 42 Best healthy holiday gifts 45 Season of giving – help out this holiday 46 Gingerbread cookie recipe 47 Money Matters: Financial Literacy 48 Fashion – Mix up your holiday style for hot holiday parties 49 Sell Your Home During the Holidays with These Styling Tips 51 Florida Scope 54 ONYX Profile – Ernest Coney, Jr. 55 Renee Powell honored with residence hall in Scotland 56 AARP backs millennial voting efforts

PROFILE OF A WINNER

59 ONYX on the Move

Courtesy of City of Tallahassee

62 Wine and Food – Cognac

4 ONYX MAGAZINE

FROM THE PUBLISHER PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Richard “Rich” E. Black MANAGING EDITOR D. Shenell Reed, M.B.A. EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Marianne Eggleston, M.B.A. EXECUTIVE STRATEGIST Lena Graham-Morris ASSOCIATE EDITORS Gayle Andrews Talia Ashley Laura Dorsey Sharon Fletcher Jones

RICHARD “RICH” E. BLACK NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018

DESIGN DIRECTOR Jason Jones

Season’s Greetings!

As we approach the end of another landmark year, I want to take this time to extend my very best wishes to you and your families for a joyous holiday season and welcome you to our November/ December issue.

In keeping with tradition, you will find in this issue all the latest updates on Florida’s historically black colleges and universities. We also will share with you a few tips to help you through the holidays.

ONYX Magazine has launched its newest initiative, ONYX Business Connect (OBC), an innovative business networking and community engagement event. This is the first of a five-city tour and Tampa kicked it off in grand style. LOVE YA, TAMPA! Stay tuned. OBC is coming to a city near you!

On the cover, we are proud to feature a graduate of one of Florida’s HBCUs, Andrew Gillum of Florida Mechanical Agricultural University (FAMU). This young man has defied the odds and is making history as a public servant to the people of the great state of Florida. Also, Kudos to Desmond Mead and his team on the passing of Florida Amendment 4, which will allow more than 1.4 million ex-felons to have their rights restored.

This has been an exciting and historic year and we look forward to 2019 as we continue to entertain, inspire and inform. Enjoy!

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jamaal Whitehead BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Matt deJager MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT Chelsey Rouse CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Gigi Brooks Damani Dickerson Penny Dickerson Laura Dorsey P. Marie Lena Graham-Morris

Mary Anne Hodel Sharon Fletcher Jones Josee Smith Kanya Stewart Erin Sullivan Lanesha Townsend

Visit Florida J. Gabriel Ware Kevin Washington, Ph.D. Jacqueline D. Woolley

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS City of Tallahassee Donald V. Stokely, Jr. Shane Valentine ONYX ADVISORY COMMITTEE Deidre Parker, Chair Michelle Tatom, Immediate Past Chair Bob Berryhill Dr. Lavon Bracy Bryon Brooks Marva Brown Johnson Hon. Mable Butler Yolanda Cash Jackson Dr. Cynthia Chestnut James Clark

John Crossman Gary Hartfield Tony Hill Alma Horne Rodney Hurst Ann Jenkins Connie Kinnard Larry Lee, Jr.

Brenda March Nancy Port Schwalb Margaret J. Thompson Gail Thomas-DeWitt Hon. Alan Williams Carla Williams Dr. Samuel Wright Lady Dhyana Ziegler

FOUNDERS

Rich

Lester and Lillian Seays ONYX Magazine is published by ONYX Communications and Media Group, Inc., Address: P.O. Box 555672, Orlando, Florida 32855-5872. Phone 321-418-7216. Subscription rate is $19.95 for six issues. For subscriptions and notification of address change, contact ONYX Magazine at the above address or e-mail us at info@onyxmagazine.com. Letters to the editor are encouraged. Copyright 2018 by ONYX Magazine.

All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher.

Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the writer or interviewee and not necessarily those of the publisher. Manuscripts, photos and art should be submitted with a self-addressed stamped envelope. The publisher does not assume responsibility for any materials not submitted in manner advised. Unsolicited materials are not subject to payment from ONYX Magazine.

6 ONYX MAGAZINE

h.D.

GRATITUDE

Thankful, Thankful, Thankful

By Josee Smith

E

ach Thanksgiving, many families sit around the dinner table and list the things for which they are grateful. Unfortunately, too many of us do not think about gratitude until the holiday rolls around again. However, science has proven that being grateful leads to a higher quality of life. People who express gratitude regularly live longer, are healthier, and also have a lower incidence rate of overweight, obesity, stress, anxiety and chronic disease.

The following seven benefits are just a few of the many rewards of practicing gratitude every day.

1. Healthy Relationships Being grateful every day means telling the important people in your life that they matter. This improves your relationships on a daily basis.

2. Stress-Relief Worrying about what you don’t have is very stressful. When you experience mental and emotional stress, your body releases stress hormones. These impact your body in a negative way, causing physical and emotional health problems. The stress relief you receive from being thankful leads to a healthier body and mind.

8 ONYX MAGAZINE

3. You Socialize More

Human beings are social animals. We were not intended to live a life of solidarity. People who are not grateful for the gifts in their lives tend to stay away from others.

They huddle away in their homes, fostering a negative view on the world. When you appreciate the people and things in your life, you naturally want to socialize more, to reap more grateful benefits.

4. You Sleep Better The exact scientific and physiological connections between gratitude and better health are not entirely known. That doesn’t mean that positive effects noticed in grateful people can’t be tracked. One benefit scientists and sleep researchers have found in people that express gratitude regularly is healthier sleep patterns. This leads to better mental and physical health in a number of ways.

5. Expressing Gratitude Makes You Happier Several studies show that keeping a gratitude journal daily can increase your long-term well-being. One study shows that simply writing down the things you are grateful for every day can increase

your health and well-being by more than 10 percent. Those studies showed their happiness level was the same as people who double their income!

6. Gratitude Makes People Like You This one is easy to understand. When you tell people they are important to you, that they matter, this makes them feel good. They want to be around you. They will often times repay the gratitude. When you take the time to express how grateful you are for others, rather than leaving it unspoken and assumed, you become a more likable person.

7. Gratefulness Beats Depression The Positive Psychology Progress study wanted to see how daily gratitude would affect depressed individuals. The results were nothing short of astounding. Keeping a gratitude journal “lowered depressive symptoms by 30+ percent for as long as the practice was continued.” When test subjects took the time to make a physical visit to someone and express their gratitude, that single visit “reduced depressive symptoms by 35 percent for several weeks.”

Purpose

ELEVATE

By Kevin Washington, PhD

P

eople often ask the question, “What is the purpose for my life?” The real insight of the question is that we know that we have all been created for a purpose. We would feel less anxious if we only knew what our purpose for being here was. Knowing that we have a purpose for being on earth allows us to remove the question “Is there a purpose for our lives?”

The absence of this question indicates that there is a knowing within us all that says that “I am here for a reason and I am going to ask the question about my purpose for being here until I get an answer.” In order to uncover our purpose for being here on earth we must acknowledge that we are divinely inspired beings and were purposefully created for this moment. By acknowledging this we must also acknowledge that within us all is a spark of the Divine Creator that ushered us into existence.

AFFIRMATION: Since this I am supposed to is so, then we be here; I have have the same great works to powerful capado; I come from bilities as the the source of all Creator but we Greatness just don’t have the same volume. We are like a drop of water to the ocean or a candle to the Sun in that the drop of water and the candle have the same qualities as the ocean and the sun but not in the same quantity. Knowing that we have a portion of the Divine Creator within us helps us to live with purpose because we know that the Creator does not exist in nothingness and for no reason.

Wherever the Creator resides there is purpose and power. Once we ascertain this fact then we are able to say that “I am supposed to be here and I have work to do.”

We will take the position that we can’t fail at anything because the Divine is in us and the Divine cannot fail. We will know that we have so much power within us that we will powerfully manifest our divine great-

ness in whatever we do. The first thing that we must do is 1. Acknowledge that we are Divine. It is imperative that we know that

we all expressions of the Divine Creator.

We come from the mind of a Source that is Greater than ourselves. We must never believe that we are less than we really are.

We are a divine force on earth. This is what it means to be a child of God. The child is like the parent; however the child is growing towards having the full presence of their parent.

2. Step into our divinity. We must know that we are divine and step into our role as being divine. When we think back on to the fact that we started out as an organism smaller than the period at the end of this sentence and we are now several times larger than the period then we know that we are divinely inspired to be here.

This means that failure is not an option and success is inevitable because our lives have been divinely ordained.

3. Embrace our divinity. We must say that divine is my right and thus I am divine. The ancients of Kemet (Egypt) would say regularly “Anuk Asar” which means, “I am divine”. Inside of our mother’s womb the zygote or fertilized egg was implanted within the uterus and there we began to seriously develop from the brain stem or divine intelligence. For most people arms formed and yet there was not anything to do. Legs formed and yet there was nowhere to walk. Ears formed yet there was nothing to seriously listen out for. Eyes

formed and yet there was nothing to really see. The mouth and tongue formed and yet there was nothing to eat in the mouth.

While all of this happened, the placenta formed to protect the fetus from teratogens or that which would seek to destroy the fetus. Knowing that only things with great value and worth are protected then we know that we must be good/divine and valuable because we have been protected in the womb because we were ordained for this moment. We have been protected so that we could do our great works. Expand your mind and live like the Divine. We too can say Anuk Asar – I am Divine.

4. Ascend into your divinity. This means that we rise to astounding heights as we live our divine purpose. We will be propelled along a course where things will seem to line up and there will be a peace that surpasses all understanding. We will still be challenged but we will be able to say “this challenge shall pass.” In order for this to happen, we must do something.

It is from our doing something that our purpose for being is revealed. The fetus is forced through the birth canal so that it can fill that the void on earth that it was called forward to fill. We are continually forced through certain tight situations so that we can fulfill the void that we were created to fill. In filling this void in the universe, we can put fear behind us and rise to the occasion to live life with purpose and power.

Rise in your divinity and do the work that you were created to do.

Adobe Stock

Living Life with

ONYX MAGAZINE 9

BUSINESS

ONYX Magazine Publisher Rich Black, center in black, is flanked by members of the ONYX Magazine Business Connect Advisory Committee and sponsors. From left, In-kind sponsor Paul Thomasson of Extravaganza Productions, Inc.; Title Sponsor and Tampa OBC chair Gary Hartfield; Ann Jenkins; Event Sponsor Tampa Housing Authority, Lillian Stringer; 25th National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Dr. Paulette Walker; Carla Williams; ONYX Magazine Co-founder Lester Seays; Presenting Sponsor Visit Tampa Bay Sherri T. Brown; Nancy Schwalb; Chole Coney; ONYX Magazine Managing Editor D. Shenell Reed; Dr. Samuel Wright.

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn brought greetings.

The panel was moderated by Michael Clayton. Gary Hartfield, Beth Calzon, Derrick Blue and Dr. Cynthia Johnson.

Representing Title Sponsor Serenity Village was President Gary Hartfield.

Representing Title Sponsor Bank of Tampa was Beth Calzon and Dave Feeman with Lester Seays and ONYX Magazine Advisory Committee Chair Dee Parker.

ONYX Magazine Kicks Off ONYX Business Connect Staff Report

10 ONYX MAGAZINE

ONYX Business Connect also is scheduling events in Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, and the Panhandle.

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn greeted the audience, welcomed ONYX Magazine in Tampa, and encouraged the events to continue. Michael Clayton, formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Great Day Tampa Bay, moderated a panel of experts who focused on small businesses and their future. On the panel were Gary Hartfield, the president and CEO of Serenity Village Insurance and Consulting; Beth Calzon, the vice president and relationship manager at Bank of Tampa; Derrick Blue, the interim CEO of THAP-Group (Tampa-Hillsborough Action Plan); and Dr. Cynthia Johnson, the center director of Pinellas County Economic Development.

“The ONYX Business Connect will help us answer the question: ‘How do we move from a philosophical conversation of just talking about the issues in the community and start

Representing Title Sponsor Taxpro Tampa was Michelle James.

presenting opportunities for solutions,’” said Gary Hartfield, the president and CEO of Serenity Village Insurance and Consulting. “I want to be a part of the answer.”

Attending the event was longtime ONYX Magazine Advisory Committee Member Dr. Samuel L. Wright, Sr., consultant and retiree from the University of South Florida. He said, “ONYX Magazine is a leading institution in this state that will impact diversity and economic development for black and minority businesses for years to come.”

Event sponsors were: Title Sponsor: Serenity Village Insurance and Consulting, Bank of Tampa, TAXPRO Tampa; Presenting Sponsors: Visit Tampa Bay, Clear Channel Outdoor; Event Sponsors: THAPGroup, Tampa Housing Authority.

Photos by Donald D. Stokely, Jr.; Panel photo by Shane Valentine

ONYX Magazine kicked off the first of five statewide ONYX Business Connect (OBC) events in Tampa on Wednesday, Oct. 17. The OBC is a networking event designed to connect businesses, communities, and resources around Florida. Business and community leaders flooded the Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park Boat House to exchange ideas, learn more about ONYX Magazine, and to hear an expert panel on small business success.

“The State of Florida continues to grow at a national leading pace, and the goal is to connect and expose the vast opportunities available throughout the marketplace,” said Rich Black, the publisher and CEO of ONYX Magazine. “ONYX Magazine is expanding its footprint throughout the state. It is through this initiative that ONYX Business Connect brings together businesses, communities and financial organizations to have substantive conversations to further empower black communities.”

Photos by Donald D. Stokely, Jr.; Panel photo by Shane Valentine

About

B

ethune-Cookman University (B-CU), founded in 1904 by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, is a historically black, United Methodist Church-related, private, coeducational, residential university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Located in the Atlantic coast city of Daytona Beach, Florida, the University’s main campus consists of 66 academic, administrative, and student support buildings that spans over 86 acres of land.

B-CU is classified by Carnegie as Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus. The University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the baccalaureate and master’s degrees.

Currently, there are approximately 4,000 enrolled students at B-CU with 77 chartered student organizations, including social fraternities and sororities.

12 ONYX MAGAZINE

Florida students constitute 71% of total enrollment, 26% of students come from out-of-state and 3% represent the Caribbean Islands and more than 39 foreign countries. Female students constitute 62% of the total enrollment, while male students comprise 38%.

B-CU offers 43 majors (36 undergraduate; seven graduate) through six academic Colleges – Business & Entrepreneurship; Education; Liberal Arts; Health Sciences; Science, Engineering & Mathematics; Global Online Learning, and four Schools – Hospitality Management; Performing Arts & Communication; Religion, and Nursing to award Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Top five undergraduate fields of study: Biology, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Mass Communications, Psychology.

Photos courtesy of Bethune-Cookman University

Bethune-Cookman University

Bethune-Cookman University graduates are deeply employed in the sectors such as business, media, medical and healthcare, and government.

B-CU is also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN); the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA); Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP – formerly NCATE) and Florida Department of Education (FLDOE); Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM); Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP); and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Division I. B-CU is authorized by Florida Commission for Independent Education to operate in the State of Florida. The University is approved for listing as United Methodist Church-affiliated University by the University Senate General Board of Higher Education and Minis-

try of the United Methodist Church. The University is a member of the United Negro College Fund.

As a NCAA Division I Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference member, the University provides athletic opportunities in varsity sports: Men – baseball, basketball, football, track/field, cross-country, golf and tennis; Women – basketball, softball, tennis, track/field, cross-country, volleyball, bowling and golf.

Bethune-Cookman University graduates are deeply employed in the sectors such as business, media, medical and healthcare, and government.

ONYX MAGAZINE 13

Photo courtesy of Parker Realty

TECHNOLOGY

FAMU Joins Google’s Groundbreaking Tech Exchange Program in Silicon Valley

Photos courtesy of Florida A&M University

G

oogle recently hosted President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., and other University leaders for its kick-off festivities in Silicon Valley to celebrate Florida A&M University’s selection as a participant in the tech giant’s new and historic Tech Exchange Program.

Five FAMU students and one professor were selected for the prestigious initiative.

Each of the students is pursuing computer science degrees in FAMU’s College of Science and Technology and will spend a year gaining hands-on training and experience at Google. The selected students are Tabia Cannon, Cornelius Cook, Christopher Griffin, Jonathan McKinley and Garrett Tolbert. FAMU Computer and Information Sciences Professor Clement Allen was selected to accompany the students and offer courses to all students enrolled in the program.

The yearlong residency includes 15 course credit hours (with up to three credit hours focused on FAMU’s online courses).

The courses are offered by leading professors and Google engineers. All credits earned will count toward the completion of their degrees. Throughout the year, students will take a selection of applied computer science courses, including machine learning, product management, computational theory and database systems.

FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., joins students (top photo) and students and Google representatives (bottom photo) meet on the new venture.

“A wealth of talent exists within the student population at Florida A&M University. For generations, our faculty has nurtured, refined and developed that talent and prepared our graduates to lead in areas of critical need, including STEM,” said Robinson. “This unique partnership with Google will enable us to jointly prepare the next generation of innovators and bring much-needed diversity into the technology domain. Google and the customers they serve will realize long-term benefits from this partnership.”

Danielle Brown, vice president of Employee Engagement and chief diversity and inclusion officer at Google, said that Tech Exchange is a component of Google’s committed to building a more diverse

Google – one that reflects the people who use its products.

“That’s why, as part of our strategy to do so, we are continuing to hire and invest in young Black and Latino talent,” Brown said in an announcement.

This fall, Google welcomed in total 65 rising juniors and five faculty members from 11 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) as a part of the program.

Tech Exchange was inspired by a successful previous partnership between Howard University and Google, titled “Howard West.” This year, Google has extended its tech community to not only FAMU but also California State University-Dominguez Hills, Morgan State University, New Mexico State University, Prairie View A&M University, North Carolina A&T State University, Dillard University, the University of Texas-El Paso, the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, and Spelman College. Howard will continue its initiative as a member of the Tech Exchange Program as well.

All of the professors teaching courses at Google’s campus come from HBCUs or HSIs. “This unique and exceptional program is invaluable to our students. Exposure to the tech environment not only allows our students to see their curriculum in practice, but it also exposes them to the culture of tech giants such as Google. This will contribute greatly to their success and leadership growth within the tech industry, which is in dire need of diversity,” said Sonya Stephens, Ph.D., associate dean of FAMU’s College of Science and Technology.

ONYX MAGAZINE 15

BLACK HISTORY

Cori Bostic steps on the field as the first woman drum major in the Marching 100 Band. Photo

By Aldernico Brioche/LMichelle Media.

HERSTORY:

Cori Bostic Becomes FAMU’s First-Ever Female Drum Major

By Kanya Stewart

Persistent.

Determined.

Strong-willed.

Unshakeable.

These words not only define what it means to be tenacious, but they also personify what it means to be Cori Renee Bostic.

This fall, Bostic was introduced to the world, as she made national headlines for making 16 ONYX MAGAZINE

history as the first female drum major in the 72-year history of the world-renowned Florida A&M University Marching “100.”

A third-year, broadcast journalism student from Atlanta, Bostic’s story has touched the hearts of thousands of Amer-

icans. And behind the bright smile and resilient spirit that she has become known for is a testimony of the power of never giving up on your dreams.

“After my freshman season in the band, I tried out to be a drum major, and I didn’t make it,” Bostic told CNN producer Damon Peebles and personality Michaela Pereira, during an exclusive HLN September interview, which went viral on social media. “But you can either villainize the situation or learn from the situation, so I made sure that I was the best band member that I could be so that when I tried again, there would be no discrepancies.”

One summer later – after waking up at 5 a.m. every day to train and further develop her skills, while also working as a lifeguard – Bostic’s name quickly became a household name after Twitter, Instagram and Facebook went crazy when she was announced as one of seven students selected to lead the band as drum majors for the 2018-2019 season.

For a band that is known for innovating more than 30 techniques, performing for two U.S. presidents, at the Grammys, the Super Bowl, and the Bastille Day Parade, Bostic’s accomplishment is one for the record books.

“I give her kudos because she had the tenacity, the fortitude

and the commitment to come back the second year and (try out again). She stood the test and did a fantastic job,” said FAMU Director of Bands and Marching “100” alum Shelby Chipman, Ph.D., during the HLN interview.

Her dedication and unwavering faith also echo in the classroom and among the student body. She is an honors student and hosts a weekly gospel show for the campus radio station, while also writing for the student newspaper and serving with two sororities, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., and Tau Beta Sigma (a band sorority), both of which she pledged while also preparing for her second drum major tryout.

Bostic draws her inspiration from Oprah (she wants to inspire the world by hosting her own national talk show), her parents (both of whom played in the Marching “100”), and her siblings, who are all musically gifted. She will once again make history in January 2019, by becoming the first female drum major to help lead the band in an international performance as they march – for the first time – in the prestigious Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif.

The community is asked to support the band’s historic appearance by donating at my. famu.edu/giving/tor.

Photo by Damon Peebles/CNN

Cori Bostic sits down for an interview at CNN.

Florida Memorial University Leadership, Character, Service We are Proud

Florida Memorial’s history and traditions reach back to 1879. Our legacy of determination and accomplishment has made us the only historically black university in southern Florida. We are a culturally diverse institution, transforming lives and helping to create a future for people from many races, ethnicities, countries, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds.

Members of the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, students, and alumni take every opportunity possible to express pride in the institution.

We are Dedicated

We are a community of scholars committed to the pursuit of knowledge, truth, and the free exchange of ideas. As educators, we seek to demonstrate the importance of life-long learning, and devote ourselves to the responsibility of passing on the benefits of our own accomplishments.

As students, we share a determination to fully participate and contribute to society as we fulfill our promise. Read the biographies of our faculty and students to get a feel for campus life and the Florida Memorial experience.

We are Success-Minded

Our graduates enjoy the sixth highest starting salaries in the state. You will find at Florida Memorial a special understanding for what it means and what it takes to succeed. Our students flourish with the support and encouragement of a mentoring faculty. Our small, family-like campus community inspires a never give in determination in our students, while providing the resources and opportunities commonly found at larger institutions.

We are Service-Oriented

The University was established by, and remains closely affiliated with, the Baptist 18 ONYX MAGAZINE

Jaffus Hardrick, Ed.D., Interim President

Percy Caldwell, Athletic Director

Church. However, our motto, “Leadership, Character, and Service”, emphasizes Christian values. Strong moral character, mutual respect, freedom of worship, and a commitment to serve are the hallmarks of what it means to be a Florida Memorial Lion.

Florida Memorial Welcomes New Interim President

Jaffus Hardrick, Ed.D., is an award-winning senior academic executive with a proven track record for promoting student success, enhancing student outcomes, optimizing faculty and staff development, and cultivating a culture of excellence.

Hardrick fully understands the promise of education. Through education, Hardrick was fortunate to earn significant roles as a higher education administrator. He served as the vice provost for Access and Success at Florida International University, the nation’s fourth-largest public urban research university; assistant vice provost for Academic Affairs at Baylor University; and now the interim president of Florida Memorial University. As an education executive, he is committed to developing future leaders and closing achievement gaps among underrepresented students, and creating a culture of academic excellence in higher education. He is also the co-author of Making Global Learning Universal: Promoting Inclusion and Success for All Students (Stylus).

Hardrick’s contributions have been highlighted by national and regional orga-

nizations like “Forbes,” “Indulge Magazine,” Colleges and University Professional Association for Human Resources, “Legacy Magazine,” Greater Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, Florida Education Fund, “South Florida Business and Wealth Journal,” Miami Dade Chamber of Commerce, and more. Under his leadership, the “Chronicle of Higher Work” for Higher Education has consistently recognized his previous institution for creating an exceptional environment in its “Great Colleges to Work For.” This distinction honors the largest and most respected workplace-recognition programs in the country.

Hardrick has been recognized as a strategic thinker, thought leader, problem solver, consensus builder, motivator, and fund and friend raiser. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette; a master’s degree from Prairie View A&M University; and his doctorate from Baylor University. He is a proud member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. At Florida Memorial University, Interim President’s five areas of strategic focus areas are: 1. Student Success 2. Academic Quality 3. Operational Excellence 4. Financial Solvency 5. Relationship Development For more information, log on to www. fmuniv.edu

GOOD READ

Thought-Provoking Books to Live By Reviews by P. Marie

Our Black Year: One Family’s Quest to Buy Black in America’s Racially Divided Economy

By Maggie Anderson As we consider our holiday gift lists, perhaps we should conduct an “Empowerment Experiment” along with Maggie Anderson who is founder of a project chronicled in this insightful work she calls “Our Black Year: One Family’s Quest to Buy Black in America’s Racially Divided Economy.” Perhaps after reading this book you will start the 2019 year off with a new practice of your own. In the introduction of the book, she states, “Black kids can go their whole lives without ever encountering a Black business owner.” Exposing a young person to the possibility of their own economic power would certainly be a gift that could keep giving. You can read the book to find out more about the history of these initiatives and how you might take the challenge yourself.

The Hate U Give

By Angie Thomas Starr is a young girl whose interactions and encounters demonstrate the straddling of two worlds. This conundrum drives the story in “The Hate U Give,” by Angie Thomas. We follow the main character through code switching, culture shock and self-examination that builds suspense riddled with recollections of familiar Black cultural norms. The very title of the book may turn some people off simply because of the spelling, but reading the book will help you recognize the significance.

Fortunately, the juvenile antics of youth also explore adult situations and involvement in pressing issues of the day that can resonate with the more sophisticated reader. As we think about the people around us, perhaps having read, “The Hate U Give” will give us pause to reflect before judging others.

Conversate is Not a Word: Getting Away From Ghetto

By Jam Donaldson What does a Black female self-proclaimed “millennial” think about the issues in the Black community? Jam Donaldson, author of “Conversate is Not a Word: Getting Away from Ghetto” begins with the disclaimer that she loves her community, but she’s “always been willing to dole out a big hot, heaping spoonful of hot ghetto tough love.” Donaldson does a good job of jarring the reader by blazing questions that may rattle some and perplex others such as, “If the precarious state of Black America today is a direct and continuing result of a white supremist government, then can someone please explain why my parents’ generation was so damn classy?”

It may be worth the read to see if what she says intrigues, bothers, or perplexes you.

Whatever It Takes

By Paul Tough The book “Whatever it Takes” by Paul Tough is the story of the life of Geoffrey Canada founder of the Harlem Children’s Zone. According to Canada, “the big question in America is are we going to try to make this country a true meritocracy? Or, will we forever have a class of people in America who essentially won’t be able to compete, because the game is fixed against them?” The book is a detailed account of Canada’s life, and work to address quality in education. Canada appears to be a man bent on changing the trajectory of the lives of children for decades to come beginning at infancy. Although published in 2008, a time far removed from today, it outlines what happens in school districts and college admissions each new academic year.

ONYX MAGAZINE 23

MEDICALLY SPEAKING

8

TIPS TO ENJOY HOLIDAY PARTIES & CONTROL DIABETES

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

By Constance Brown-Riggs

T

he holiday season is in full swing.

Baking cookies for family and friends and holiday parties with cocktails and rich hors d’oeuvres can throw even the most faithful healthy eaters off track. And having diabetes can make it feel like an even greater challenge—one that might lead you to say no when it comes to holiday parties. But sticking to a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to mean deprivation—not if you take the right approach.

The following tips will help you manage diabetes and enjoy the holiday season without deprivation or guilt.

Forget the ‘all or nothing’ mindset.

Depriving yourself of special foods or feeling guilty when you enjoy them isn’t part of a healthy eating strategy. If you plan ahead, you can enjoy small portions of the traditional holiday foods you really want— even when you have diabetes.

Mind your carbs. Knowing your daily carbohydrate budget and how much of that budget you plan to spend at each meal is key. Before a holiday get-together, look up the carbohydrate content of your favorite holiday fare to help you more eas-

ily stay within your budget when you’re at the event.

Don’t leave the house hungry. Food activist Tiffany R. Davis, the creator of Feed Your Inner Chef, suggest you eat a healthy salad or green smoothie before you go out. “Try dark greens like spinach, kale, or even chard when making your salad or smoothie,” says Davis. These vegetables are low in carbs and chock full of nutritional value.

Scan the buffet: Before you make your food choices scan the entire buffet. Choose small portions of food you really, really want. Often just a taste will satisfy cravings. “Be mindful of your portions,” says Davis. “You don’t have to ‘taste’ everything just because it’s there.”

Explore new taste and flavors. If you’re hosting the holiday meal, don’t waste calories and carbohydrate on everyday food like mashed potatoes. Davis, a food cottage operator, suggest you try her roasted winter vegetable mix of chickpeas, butternut squash, cabbage, and onions. To keep the mixture moist, Davis adds ½ cup of broth before roasting the vegetables at 425o for

35 – 45 minutes or until fork tender. “I typically use canned chickpeas and add them during the last 15 minutes just to heat thoroughly,” says Davis. You can season this dish with a little salt and pepper as desired. For a more ethnic flavor season with spices such as coriander or curry.

Slow down, you eat too fast! Put your fork down between bites and savor the taste of food and enjoy the companionship during a meal or get-together. Eating slowly can also help you feel full faster and stop eating before you get that bloated and stuffed-up feeling.

Drink to your health. Champagne, wine and alcoholic drinks pack in a lot of calories and can cause unexpected low blood glucose levels. Instead try fruit-infused sparkling water, seltzer or tea. “Some of my favorites are Jamaican Sorrel, Roobios, or ginger tea made with fresh ginger root,” says Davis.

Constance Brown-Riggs, MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN is a registered dietician who writes for BlackDoctor.org, where this story originally published. It has been reprinted with permission.

ONYX MAGAZINE 25

TAKING CHARGE

LEADING THE WAY College campus student leaders make a positive impact on the yard.

David H. Jackson, III President Student Government Association

Robyn C. Seniors Vice President Student Government Association

David H. Jackson, III is the president of the Florida A&M University Student Government Association (SGA) and member of the Board of Trustees. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Upon graduation, he plans to pursue a Master of Business Administration from FAMU. Throughout his life, he has committed himself to public service and scholastic achievement. During his first year at FAMU, he was elected to the 46th Student Senate and served a two-year term. As a senator, he served on the judicial, rules and student relations committees. Jackson also served as a member of the FAMU First-Year Experience Peer Mentor Organization. Additionally, David worked with University Assessment as an associate, where he compiled and analyzed data from various colleges, schools and departments, and helped create student surveys to assess learning outcomes.

Jackson studied abroad at the Beijing University of Chemical Technology in China and interned with General Electric Lighting in Cleveland, Ohio, where his job duties focused on distribution, finance and supply chain management. A second generation Rattler, David is the son of David H. Jackson, Jr., Ph.D., and Sheila M. Jackson, Ph.D., and brother of Daja H. Jackson. He was born and raised in Tallahassee.

Robyn Christina Seniors is a “Presidential Scholar” and second-year business administration student from Tallahassee. During her first year at FAMU, Seniors was elected to the 47th Senate and eventually Student Government Association vice president.

She is the youngest SGA official to hold the position.

Seniors is no stranger to student government. Every year, since starting middle school, Seniors served as the president of her class and SGA president in 8th and 12th grade. She was the first African-American female to hold the position of SGA president at her high school.

Seniors’ passion for service is evident through her involvement in fundraising to address national issues. She served as the official spokesperson for the Clean Water for Flint Youth Committee and, in high school, she created an event that raised $4,000 for the United Way. Seniors also initiated a campaign with the Leon County Chapter of The Charmettes, Inc., that raised more than $30,000 to provide funds for cancer research to the Howard University Cancer Center, which led to her being crowned Miss Debutante 2016-2017.

Her work also includes raising funds for the March of Dimes and the American Cancer Society. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

26 ONYX MAGAZINE

Jovenel Pierre, President, Student Government Association Jovenel Pierre is a full ride scholar, a senior majoring in criminal justice with a 3.86 GPA. He is a resides in the vibrant city of Orlando Florida. His native roots trace back to the beautiful island of Haiti. Growing up discipline and determination was instilled in him early on and helped shape much of who he is today.

From the moment Jovenel began studying at Florida Memorial the infectious Lion Pride helped fuel his ambitious personality. As a freshman he founded his very own organization, Adrenaline Step Team, now 3 years strong. Pierre also joined Faces Modeling Troupe Incorporated, where he held three leadership positions which include secretary, male liaison, and president. Jovenel has served as the elections commissioner for this 2016-2017 academic year.

Currently, Jovenel holds the title of the President of Student Government Association for the 2018-2019 academic year. Upon graduation he intends to pursue a career with the FBI with focuses in national crime scene investigating.

Dyamon Burgess, Vice President Student Government Association Dyamon Burgess is a senior majoring in social work at Florida Memorial University. She hails from the sunny side city of Miami Gardens, Florida.

Since 2016 Ms. Burgess has earned over 200 community service hours, from volunteering with the athletic department, student activities and then in the admissions office as a tour guide leader, where she pushed recruitment and mentoring every freshman she could.

In addition, she also served as Miss Peer Health Educator, where she educated college students about the risk of STD’s. In Fall of 2016, Ms. Burgess became Robinson Hall dorm president and created a program called TIME (Taking Initiatives To Motivate Everyone), a program providing microwaves and refrigerators to incoming freshmen who couldn’t afford it.

Ms. Burgess currently serves as the Vice President of the Student Government Association. She mentors every student she comes across, as well as being a role model to younger female students on campus. A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, Ms. Burgess has held numerous positions including chaplain and even the parliamentarian of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Outside of her social involvement, Ms. Burgess is very diligent and maintains a G.P.A of 3.862.

ONYX MAGAZINE 27

ON THE YARD

ROYALTY 28 ONYX MAGAZINE

Bethune Cookman University

Jacqualyn Townsend Miss Bethune-Cookman University Jacqualyn Townsend is the 65th Miss Bethune-Cookman University. She is a senior Mass Communications major and a native of Meriden, Conn. After graduating B-CU, Townsend plans to attend a graduate school for her Masters degree in Fine Arts with hopes of one day becoming a Director of Theatre for an HBCU. She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Tommy Thompson Mister Bethune-Cookman University Tommy Thompson is a senior Computer Information Systems major hailing from the nation’s Capital of Washington D.C. After college he plans to pursue an MBA with a concentration in Finance. He is a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

Florida A&M University

Florida Memorial University

Imani Hadiya Cooper Miss FAMU Imani Hadiya Cooper is the daughter of David Cooper and Wendolyn Cooper.

Miss Cooper is a senior biological systems engineering student from Charlotte, North Carolina. She is a 2015 graduate of Gaither High School in Tampa. Since arriving at FAMU, Imani has exemplified her commitment to “Excellence With Caring� by serving as founder of the FAMU Women Student Union, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a YMCA Reads mentor, a member of Alpha Epsilon Honor Society, a peer mentor for Student Life Skill Courses, a 2017-2018 White House HBCU All-Star Ambassador, a RAA Middle School Study Buddies mentor, and a 2017 Orientation Leader.

Keyshawn Kinglock Mister Florida Memorial University Keyshawn Kinglock is a senior majoring in Aviation Management and is from the beautiful island of Nassau in the Bahamas. Currently, Keyshawn serves as Mr. Florida Memorial University and is a dedicated member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Upon graduation, Kinglock would like to become an airline pilot and CEO of his own e-travel agency.

Myles A. Millsap Mister FAMU Myles A. Millsap is a fourth-year master of business administration candidate hailing from Columbia, Maryland. He attended Long Reach High School, where he was an active member of the wrestling and lacrosse teams, as well as vice president of the Alpha Achievers Program. Since entering FAMU, Myles has been extremely involved in the Mr. Big Brother Little Brother Mentoring Program and a member of organizations such as the F.Y.E. Peer Mentor Program and Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, Inc. He also serves as the president of the Beta Nu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., a National Sales Network student ambassador, and a FAMU Athletics marketing intern.

Jada McGill Miss Florida Memorial University Jada Alexus McGill was born in Charlotte, North Carolina and presently resides in the beautiful City of Miami, Florida. Jada McGill is a senior majoring in Law and Government. During her time at Florida Memorial University she served as Miss Freshman on the 20152016 royal court. She was also a part of the Student Government Association as Secretary of Cultural Affairs for the 2016-2017 academic school year. Jada loves to model, and is a member of Eclat Modeling Troupe, one of the many modeling troupes here on the campus.

McGill is the 74th Miss Florida Memorial University. After graduation Jada plans to attend law school.

ONYX MAGAZINE 29

Why Children Believe (or Not) Santa Claus Exists

By Jacqueline D. Woolley

T

he holiday season is upon us, and so are its attendant myths, most prominent of which is the Santa Claus story. This is the time that many children are told about a man who lives forever, resides at the North Pole, knows what every child in the world desires, drives a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer and enters one’s house through a chimney, which most children don’t even have.

Given the many absurdities and contradictions in this story, it’s surprising that even young children would believe it. Yet research from studies show that 83 percent of 5-year-olds think that Santa Claus is real.

Why? An evolutionary advantage?

At the root of this paradox is a very basic question regarding the nature of the young child as an inherently credulous being – that is, believing everything he or she is told – versus a rational one.

The noted author and ethologist Richard Dawkins, in a 1995 essay, proposed that children are inherently credulous, and 30 ONYX MAGAZINE

prone to believing in just about anything.

He even suggested that it was an evolutionary advantage for children to believe.

He illustrated that quite convincingly with an example of a young child living near an alligator-infested swamp. His point was that the child who is skeptical, and prone to critically evaluating his parents’ advice not to go swimming in that swamp, has much less chance of surviving than does the child who unthinkingly heeds his parents’ advice.

This view of young children who believe easily is shared by many, including 18th-century philosopher Thomas Reid, and developmental psychologists, who argue that children are strongly biased to trust what people tell them.

Not very different from adults?

Yet research from my lab shows that children actually are rational, thoughtful consumers of information. In fact, they use many of the same tools as adults to decide what to believe.

So, what are some of the tools that adults

use to decide what to believe, and what evidence is there that children possess them?

I’ll focus on three: One is attention to the context in which new information is embedded. A second is the tendency to measure new information against one’s existing knowledge base. And the third is the ability to evaluate the expertise of other people.

Let’s look first at context.

Imagine reading an article about a new species of fish – let’s call them “surnits.”

Then imagine you’re reading this article in two very different contexts – one in which your doctor is late and you’re in the waiting room reading the article in a copy of National Geographic, the official magazine of a scientific society.

Adults usually trust information based on the context. Nicolas Alejandro, CC BY In another context, you encounter a report of this discovery while waiting in line at the grocery store and perusing the National Enquirer, an American supermarket tabloid. My guess is that the context surrounding your introduction to this new information would guide your judgment about the reality status of this new fish.

We essentially did this with children. We told them about animals they’d never heard of, like surnits. Some children heard about them in a fantastical context, in which they were told that dragons or ghosts collect them. Other children learned about surnits in a scientific context, in which they were told that doctors or scientists use them.

Children as young as four were more likely to claim that surnits really existed when they heard about them in the scientific context versus in the fantastical context.

How children use knowledge and expertise One of the primary ways we, as adults, learn about new things is by hearing about them from others. Imagine hearing about a new kind of fish from a marine biologist versus from your next-door neighbor who often regales you with reports of his alien abductions. Your evaluation of the exper-

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FAMILY

SOME PARENTS WONDER WHETHER THEY ARE HARMING THEIR CHILDREN

BY ENGAGING IN THE SANTA MYTH.

Adobe Stock

tise and trustworthiness of these sources presumably will guide your beliefs about the true existence of this fish.

In another research project, we presented young children with novel animals that were either possible (e.g., a fish that lives in the ocean), impossible (e.g., a fish that lives on the moon) or improbable (e.g., a fish as big as a car). Then we gave them the choice to figure out on their own whether the entity really existed or to ask someone. They also heard reports from either a zookeeper (an expert) or a chef (a nonexpert).

We found that children believed in the possible entities and rejected the impossible ones. Children made these decisions by comparing the new information to their existing knowledge. For the improbable animals – ones that could possibly exist but were rare or odd – children were significantly more likely to believe in them when the zookeeper claimed they were real than when the chef did.

In other words, children use expertise, just as adults do.

It’s the adults

If children are so smart, why do they believe in Santa?

The reason is simple: Parents and others go to great lengths to support the Santa myth. In a recent study we found that 84 percent of parents reported taking their child to visit more than two Santa impersonators during the Christmas season.

The Elf on the Shelf, originally a children’s picture book about elves who inform Santa about children’s behavior around Christmastime, is now a multi-million-dollar franchise. And the United States Postal Service now promotes a “Letters from Santa” program in which it provides personal replies to children’s letters to Santa.

Why do children believe the myth? It’s the parents. Steven Falconer, CC BY-SA Why do we feel compelled to go to such great lengths? Why does Uncle Jack insist on climbing onto the roof on Christmas Eve to stomp around and shake jingle bells?

The answer is simply this: Children are not unthinkingly credulous and do

not believe everything we tell them. So, we adults must overwhelm them with evidence – the bells on the roof, the live Santas at the mall, the half-eaten carrot on Christmas morning.

How children evaluate Given this effort, it essentially would be irrational for children not to believe. In believing in Santa Claus, children, in fact, exercise their scientific thinking skills.

First, they evaluate sources of information. As ongoing research in my lab indicates, they’re more likely to believe an adult than a child about what’s real.

Second, they use evidence (e.g., the empty glass of milk and half-eaten cookies on Christmas morning) to come to a conclusion about existence. Other research from my lab shows that children use similar evidence to guide their beliefs about a fantastical being, the Candy Witch, who visits children on Halloween night and leaves new toys in exchange for candy.

Third, research shows that, as children’s understanding becomes more sophisticated, they tend to engage more with the absurdities in the Santa Claus myth, like how a fat man can fit through a small chimney, or how animals could possibly fly.

Wondering what to tell your child?

Some parents wonder whether they are harming their children by engaging in the Santa myth. Philosophers and bloggers alike have mounted arguments against perpetuating the “Santa-lie,” some even claiming that it could lead to permanent distrust of parents and other authorities.

So, what should parents do?

There is no evidence that belief, and eventual disbelief in Santa, affects parental trust in any significant way. Furthermore, not only do children have the tools to ferret out the truth; but engaging with the Santa story may give them a chance to exercise these abilities.

So, if you think it would be fun for you and your family to invite Santa Claus into your home at Christmas time, you should do so. Your children will be fine. And they might even learn something.

This story first ran in TheConversation.com.

ONYX MAGAZINE 31

EDUCATION

Infinite Scholars Program equips students to broaden their educational horizon

T

he impetus was a phone call to Thomas Ousley, a high school history teacher in Jennings Missouri.

Several colleges and universities said they were in search of minority students who were qualified to receive scholarships, but they could not find them. Ousley thought ‘this is crazy. There are plenty of qualified students in my school.’ His response was to host the colleges under one roof and introduce them to these qualified students. That humble beginning for the Infinite Scholars Program (ISP) in 2003 paired 18 colleges with 506 students. Now, the program spans the eastern part of the country and thousands of students are impacted.

The Infinite Scholars Program is a nonprofit organization with two driving purposes: to prove to all deserving students and their families they can afford college and to help them secure the funds they need to attend. ISP accomplishes this through fairs where recruiters present scholarships and Laura Dorsey

32 ONYX MAGAZINE

other funding opportunities to high school students. The mission of ISP is to provide all deserving students, especially financially-disadvantaged students and students of diversity, the guidance and access to financial resources they need to further their education and pursue degrees at institutions of higher education.

Infinite Scholarship Fairs are in 27 cities in the U.S. There is no cost to students or colleges to attend ISP fairs.

• Visiting a college campus can be a great way to determine if a college is the right fit, experts say, but it is often not cheap.

According to U.S. News and World Report, visiting college campuses typically costs at least $2,000 for a single trip.

• The average cost to attend a college fair for the participating college is approximately $600.

Do the math: nearly 300 colleges and universities annually participate in the

scholarship fairs. ISP has access to more than 450 colleges. During the past decade, ISP has served more than 100,000 students and has facilitated more than $1 billion in scholarships and financial aid.

There will be five ISP fairs in Florida in 2019. In 2018, ISP awarded more than $24 million in scholarships in Florida alone.

• Ft. Lauderdale – Tuesday, January 15, 2019 (AM) • Jacksonville – Saturday, January 19, 2019 • Orlando – Wednesday, January 16, 2019 • Rockledge – Tuesday, January 15, 2019 (PM) • Sanford – Thursday, January 17, 2019 INFINITE SCHOLARS PROGRAM is here to help. Check out InfiniteScholar. org for additional information. For more information on the local ISP Florida fairs, contact Laura Dorsey (321) 765-3393.

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By Laura Dorsey

Generation

STUDENTS

NEXT

By Damani Dickerson

Photos by Central Florida Urban League

T

oday’s youth frequently encounter roadblocks preventing them from succeeding scholastically and socially, more than ever in this digital age.

Without the appropriate guidance, direction and resources many will suffer.

Recently the Central Florida Urban League (CFUL), the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Centene Corporation organized the Strong Youth Strong Communities (SYSC) VIP breakfast and summit in downtown Orlando to bring support to local leaders and stakeholders in schools, government, and other social supports to help facilitate success among youth and strengthen the community.

The stakeholder breakfast, held at the Citrus Club, gave thanks to community partners for their support and other ongoing initiatives. During the breakfast, partners had the opportunity to hear from and spend time with Pro Football Hall of Famers Darrel Green, Anthony Muñoz, Aeneas Williams.

Following the breakfast, attendees trekked to Jones High School where they were met by Pensacola native and Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend Derrick Brooks for the teen summit. There, the Hall of Famers shared real-life experiences that led to their triumphs on and off the field. Later, participants divided into smaller breakout sessions intended to create a forum for dialogue amongst the students on matters like bullying and self-esteem and what they encounter in school, their neighborhoods and at home.

According to CFUL President Glen Gilzean, the program allows teens to share their perspective to build a stronger community and also provide hope.

“These players have overcome some odds and adversity. For our student at the Jones High School to hear it directly from them, helps them believe they can overcome too,” Gilzean said. “When you look at major statistics, sadly we’re the ones

Students received positive tips from Hall of Fame athletes.

at the bottom. It takes a village to raise a child and the Urban League is that village.

In order to meet that cliché saying, we have to step up.”

The summit kicked off a year-round schedule of events organized by the CFUL were kids learn anger management, youth gang resistance education and get provide with tools to make better choices and become better citizens.

Programs such as these are key in inspiring at-risk youth to break free from bad influences and pursue post-secondary educational or vocational programs. With strong community partners throughout Central Florida as well as national partner Centene Corporation, they hope to ensure the next generation has the push they need to develop into strong, independent and successful citizens.

“It’s an honor for Centene to be able to be the owner of Strong Youth, Strong Community,” Joyce Larkin Vice President, Corporate Community Relations for Centene Corporation said. “If we can change, transform and encourage today’s youth, there’s no telling what they can become or do.”

The partnership builds on Centene Corporation’s SYSC initiative established by Green in 2015. Locally driven, SYSC is an ongoing, nationwide program designed to prepare and aid youth and youth-serving associations across the United States. The initiative educates, empowers and inspires teens to positively impact current and future communities.

Hall of Famers Anthony Munoz, Darrell Green, Derrick Brooks, and Iman McFarland spoke to the hundreds of students attending the event.

As a youth, Green faced adversities growing up with divorced parents, in a disadvantaged community, around many who suffered from drug abuse and alcoholism.

He used his situation as a source of motivation to stay on the right track and persevere, despite having odds stacked against him. Football became his outlet and later he went on to become a first-round draft pick for the Washington Redskins.

Coming from the struggle, Green embraces the opportunity to use his platform to be a difference maker.

“It’s important that we’re here. We have to be out here,” Green said of him and the other Pro Football Hall of Famers in attendance. “It’s essential we model our message. I don’t work here for Strong Youth, Strong Community, I am Strong Youth, Strong Community. It’s represented in my husband ship, my father ship, my faithfulness to my church and my community outreach. Everything I do is presented in a way that a young man or young woman can gain benefit from me.”

ONYX MAGAZINE 33

TRAVEL HOLIDAY

FLORIDA’S HOLIDAY FORECAST:

Sunny and Bright St. Augustine Nights of Lights

In St. Augustine, take a carriage ride or after-dinner stroll during the Nights of Lights celebration, which runs from November 17 through February 3, 2019. You’ll see two million white lights twinkling around the historic district and reflecting off of Matanzas Bay.

Lights and Holiday Sights

T

he Sunshine State’s mild weather and diverse holiday activities make for a festive winter on all fronts. In a state where palm trees and sunny beaches are part of the winter landscape, our holidays may not be “white,” as the famous Christmas song says. But they can still be merry and bright. This time of year, you’ll find Florida aglow with holiday fanfare and winter fun for all ages.

There’s much to celebrate here in our diverse state – like a snowflake, each city is unique. If you’re craving a winter getaway or want to get in the holiday spirit, take a look around Florida and uncover the season’s best and brightest close to home.

Photo by Visit St. Augustine

A Water Wonderland Don’t miss the colorful nighttime boat parades that light up waterways around the state – several towns have their own, and they’re usually free to watch. One of the state’s largest boat parades is part of the Annual Winterfest in Fort Lauderdale. Each December, more than a million people gather to watch deckedout boats cruise the 14-mile route – it’s the seventh largest oneday spectator event in the country. As “Reader’s Digest” said in a 2004 write-up, this parade has “floats that really float.” The parade gets underway December 15.

Another boat parade to check out is the Treasure Island Annual Lighted Boat Parade, which wraps up near John’s

Pass Village & Boardwalk in Madeira Beach, in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area. John’s Pass is a waterfront complex featuring shopping, dining and sightseeing options perfect for couples and families. Parade takes place December 14.

On the water or inland, many Florida cities put on their own holiday celebrations and winter festivals. In Northwest Florida, Destin’s Norman Rockwell Holidays shows it’s possible to find nostalgia and classic holiday fun in Florida.

The Rockwell-themed event features a 50-foot Christmas tree, an illuminated Main Street, holiday street lamp banners and lifesize, interactive Norman Rockwell vignettes. It’s all staged around Destin Commons, a lively shopping, dining and entertainment area on Florida’s Emerald Coast.

In Kissimmee, the Gaylord Palms ICE! attraction features two million pounds of ice shaped into beautiful, holiday-themed carvings, including a Candy Land and a life-sized walk-through igloo. There are even four ice slides that both kids and adults can try out. If you really want a taste of winter, this spectacle will deliver – it’s kept at a chilly 9 degrees. It will be open from November 16 through January 6, 2019.

In South Florida’s Delray Beach, holiday festivities include the lighting of a 100-foot Christmas tree (step inside to see animated elf scenes, model train layouts and more), ice skating, a holiday carousel and Friday Night Flicks, where you can watch movies under the stars (bring your own lawn chair or rent one for a nominal fee). Catch it on a cool night and it’s a good chance to tap into that seldom-used winter wardrobe and bundle up. This year, the tree will be lit on November 29.

Report from VisitFlorida.com

ONYX MAGAZINE 35

FEATURE

ANDREW

GILLUM PROFILE OF A WINNER

By Penny Dickerson

A

36 ONYX MAGAZINE

good-paying jobs so they can support their families; 3. Promote a desire to protect and expand Floridians’ access to quality, affordable healthcare, especially for people with pre-existing conditions; and 4. Strengthen our public schools and end the culture of highstakes testing.

One month prior to the November 6 election, Gillum addressed a captive audience at the Palm Beach County Dems 2018 16th Annual Truman Kennedy Johnson Gala Dinner. With confidence and poise, he balanced candid politics with southern vernacular ease: “If we turn to each other, not against each other, we can offer a better life for every person who calls this state home. That’s what I believe in y’all, that’s what I believe in,” stated Gillum.

“And I believe it not because I’ve been told it, but because I lived it. You’ve heard me along this campaign trail talk about the fact that as a part of my campaign theme song: I walk it like I talk it. Alright? And it’s important that we have people who walk it like we talk it.”

Catch phrases and hashtags often defined campaign talk. “Vote it Forward” and #VotingWhileBlackForGillum became universal along with Miami’s #UnidosPorGillum. Ten days prior to the election, ONYX Magazine received an exclusive media invite to join Tampa elected-officials and faith-based leaders rally the thematic, “Bring Souls to the Polls.”

According to Gillum, across the state of Florida, an economy looms that delivers for the wealthy but leaves too many working

Photos courtesy of City of Tallahassee

Andrew Gillum is a winner. He proved his leadership savvy prior to launching a remarkable campaign to become the state of Florida’s next governor and the first democrat in two decades. In a razor-thin race towards victory, Gillum fell less than 80,000 votes short and ultimately conceded defeat by his opponent. But his winning spirit, his tenacity and grassroots approach, altered the political landscape of the southern peninsula and ignited an inspirational movement to both “Bring it Home” and turn Florida blue.

Gillum was a winner when he garnered votes to win mayor of Tallahassee in the state’s capital and before that, an eager pioneer who became the youngest person in history elected to the Tallahassee City Commission. Public service is a life Gillum knows well. It is an existence he’s remained dedicated to for 15 years and one that ultimately designated him the architect of his own gubernatorial triumph.

But the building of an enormous campaign beast wasn’t tackled

by Gillum alone. A tour de force of political consultants, enthusiastic volunteers, and the deployment of homegrown prayer all contributed to his historical bid. Billionaire Tom Steyer donated millions and an endorsement from President Barack Obama led many more. A formidable debater, Gillum galvanized voters in nearly every Florida county with both sleeves rolled demonstrating he was in it for the fight and a candidate ready to win, ready to serve, and ready to be a Statesmen who would make good on campaign promises including: 1. Rebuild Florida into a state that works for all of us; 2. Maintain awareness that he knows everyone deserves

On the campaign trail, Gillum stopped in Tampa for a round table discussion with clergy and elected officials. Back row, from left: Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch; Fla. State Rep. Darryl Rouson; Rev. Dr. James Favorite, Beulah Baptist Church; Henry “Shake” Washington,” former candidate for Hillsborough County School Board; Pastor Gregory Gay, Mt. Olive AME Church; Fla. State Rep. Wengay Newton. Front Row, from left: Pastor W.D. Sims, St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church; Bishop Tom Scott, 34th Street Church of God; Renee Flowers, Pinellas County School Board member; Fla. State Rep. Diane Hart; Pastor Glenn Dames, Allen Temple AME Church; Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, candidate for Fla. governor; Tampa City Councilman Frank Reddick; Hillsborough County School Board Member Tammy Shimburger; Plant City City Councilwoman Mary Thomas Mathis.

people behind. A legion of Floridians can’t access healthcare, not only because of rising premiums but because healthcare is out of reach: “Governor, Rick Scott — who now has the audacity to run for the U.S. Senate against our outstanding United States senator, Bill Nelson—has blocked Medicaid expansion to serve petty politics instead of serving the public,” Gillum lamented.

Gillum vowed to fight against special interests that stand in the way of taking real action on climate change. He challenged the NRA two times and rose twice the victor. He further plans to ensure Florida is a welcoming and safe place for everyone, no matter where they come from, who they love, or how they identify.

The overwhelming drive to initiate an inclusive and equitable environment across Florida may stem from Gillum’s own unpretentious roots. His endearing background became a biographical refrain that was common knowledge on the campaign trail: “I’m not coming to you today from a penthouse apartment. I didn’t ride down a golden escalator, and I certainly wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth,” Gillum shared with the same audience of Palm County democrats.

“I was born in Miami-Dade, grew up in an area called Richmond Heights — an area five hundred miles from Tallahassee

Gillum received support from former Florida State Rep. Dr. Cynthia Chestnut of Gainesville.

and the state’s Governor’s Mansion. My mother, Frances, was a school bus driver and my daddy, Charles, a construction worker. They would get up early in the morning, loaded me and my siblings into the car, and drove us to my late grandmother’s house who anointed our heads with oil before we left for school.”

Gillum further shared that his parents’ influence and grandmother’s words drove him to be the first in his family to graduate from college — Florida A&M University, a stellar HBCU that catapulted his civic duty involvement.

But the charismatic politician with the trusting smile doesn’t believe he is an anomaly who simply emerged from the ranks like a well-calculated chess move: “I know that there is no other country in the world where my story would be possible. But I also know that my story is not unique,” stated Gillum.

“There are millions of Floridians around this state – from Orlando to Arcadia – who are trying to make ends meet, just like my mother did. There are millions of Floridians – from Pensacola to St. Pete– getting up every day and hustling for opportunities, just as my daddy did.”

For Gillum, home is where the heart is. He shares a Tallahassee residence with his wife R. Jai and their three kids. Not-

withstanding his own comfort as mayor, he remains abundantly aware that not all grandkids, like him, will have an opportunity to get into good schools and out of bad economic situations. Additionally, there are millions of Floridians and “kids with big dreams in the shadow of big challenges.”

Over and again, Gillum stated: “The underlying theme of my campaign is—that we bring it home.” On November 6, Gillum delivered a dignified concession speech: “Even though I won’t have the blessing of serving as the next governor of the state of Florida, I still plan to be on the front lines with every one of you when it comes to standing up for what we believe in,” stated Gillum.

Voters turned out in record numbers to support Gillum’s gubernatorial run and made it clear: Florida believes in him, and he will always be our winner.

Gillum was supported by Georgia Congressman John Lewis and Florida Congresswoman Frederica Wilson.

*When this issue of ONYX Magazine went to print, the election votes were being recounted.

Penny Dickerson

ONYX MAGAZINE 37

CLARE AND THE CHOCOLATE NUTCRACKER — THE ADAPTATION OF A CLASSIC

BY GIGI BROOKS

O

ne of the first things I think about at Christmas time since childhood is going to see Alexander Dumas’ adapted story, “The Nutcracker” ballet performance, otherwise known as the “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King”, by E.T.A. Hoffmann. It first premiered at the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1892. However, it was not until the late 1960s that it gained widespread popularity in the United States during the Christmas season.

The beautiful stage sets, backdrops, ballet dancers, and costumes continue to bedazzle millions of children and adults, young and old, year after year, including myself.

Not to mention the classic score written by Gigi Brooks

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Tchaikovsky, with its most famous number performed in the third movement, “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”, which gives me thrills every time I hear it. I suppose it’s because deep down inside, we all want to feel like a kid again…at least at Christmas time.

For over 10 plus years Beverly Ann Paige, President and CEO of Orlando Community Arts, Inc. and author of the children’s book, “Clare and The Chocolate Nutcracker — No Ordinary Nutcracker”, a sweetened rendition of “The Nutcracker”, with a sprinkle of chocolate, along with her choreographers, production staff and the like, have successfully put on one of Orlando’s original best dance presentations at Dr. Phillips High School.

I spoke briefly with the one of the show’s choreographers, Carol Cujoe. “We are so happy to have Jordan Little, who will play The Nutcracker King. He’s currently a dancer with the Orlando Magic and Universal. It is a community holiday show, produced by Orlando Community Arts, Inc. My daughter Carmen Cujoe and I are choreographers.”

The story begins with a young girl has who has a dream where she is escorted by The Chocolate Nutcracker King and the Sugar Plum Fairy, on a journey to different lands - Africa, India, Spain, China and New Orleans to the Kingdom of Toys. The stage is laden with dancers of all ages and the colorful, dazzling costumes are ingenious.

The set design, by Beverly Paige is full of rich colors, with beautiful backdrops. The dance scenes range from performances in ballet, modern jazz, stepping, swing, gospel and hip-hop. The music originates from the music scores of Tchaikovsky and Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite. It’s a sight to see and hear!

“We audition dancers every year, which opens up opportunities for new dancers.” she continues. “They come from Nulook Dance Theater and even the community at large. Anyone can audition, there’s no dance experience necessary, just positive attitude. We start with ages 6 and up.”

The annual performance will be held on December 8-9, 2018 at Dr. Phillips High School or call 407-274-5523.

The book can be purchased on Amazon, and will be on sale at the performances. In addition, there will be rare Chocolate Nutcrackers on sale. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. It’s a wonderful holiday treat for the whole family!

Photo courtesy of Dr. Philips High School

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

HEALTH & WELLNESS

9

Best Healthy Christmas Gift Ideas

By Lanesha Townsend

Here are some great holiday treats with great health benefits…

Healthy Food. Typical food gifts encourage unhealthy eating during the holidays. Instead of giving a box of rich chocolate, try something more nutritious, like a box of fresh fruit. You can also bring gift boxes of almonds, walnuts and other unsalted nuts. Or how about a collection of gourmet teas? You can generally find such healthy food gifts in stores, or search for them online. Many come in reusable metal boxes that can serve as a reminder of your thoughtfulness for years to come.

Healthy Home Cooking. Another option is to prepare something yourself.

You might put together a soup mix in a nice mason jar. Or you can simply get a gift card to a health food store or a quality grocery store to encourage them to pick out what they like themselves.

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Healthy Lunch Box. Other gifts can promote nutritious eating. Reusable bento boxes, which have several small compartments for food, can encourage people to take healthier, homemade lunches to work.

Traditionally, these boxes have been used in Japan to pack small portions of rice, vegetables and fish or meat. Or, simply give someone a standard lunch box depicting their favorite movie, TV show or character, filled with some healthy treats.

Healthy Sports Equipment. Physical activity, of course, is the other part of staying healthy. For kids, sports equipment can be a great gift. Even something small like a flying disc, boomerang, football or soccer ball can provide hours of healthy and fun family activity. Other pricier fit gift ideas include a bicycle, push scooter, ping-pong table or indoor exercise equipment like a treadmill. Some video game systems have special accessories that encourage physical activity as well.

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Trying to choose the best gift to give to someone? Sometimes it can be very difficult to figure out exactly what your loved ones want and need, something that they’ll actually be happy and excited to see once they peel off that wrapping paper.

But, there’s one present that everyone can appreciate – great health!

So, as you head to the store, remember that health is a gift that can be used over and over again.

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Healthy Clothes. Who couldn’t use

an extra pair of workout pants (or shorts, or shirt, or socks)? Exercise clothing, or a gift certificate to a fitness store, can make a much-appreciated holiday gift.

Healthy Gadgets. Exercise accessories, like a pedometer, can be another great idea. Maybe give someone a watch with a heart rate monitor. For runners, a watch with a GPS (global positioning system) can help them track not only how far they’re running, but also their average pace. Hik-

ers might also appreciate a GPS device or other accessories, like a walking stick.

Healthy Relaxation. Chronic stress has been linked to high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular problems. So why not give something to help with relaxation? It could be soothing music, candles or soaps. Also consider a gift certificate for a massage or relaxation spa.

Healthy Exercise. We’ll bet you know someone who says, “I really need to start working out/I really need to work out more,” but has yet to do so. Why not buy

them a few sessions of exercise or yoga classes at a local health club—or schedule a visit with a fitness trainer for them. Either of these ideas just might encourage them to get into the exercise habit.

One other great idea: If you’re not sure exactly what someone would like, consider giving a gift card for a health-focused store, spa or fitness center, and let your loved ones pick something out themselves.

This story originally ran in Black Doctor.org and has been reprinted with permission.

ONYX MAGAZINE 43

GIVING BACK

Season of Giving The holiday season is always bustling with many things to do, so it is nice to slow down and give someone else a helping hand.

Here are a few ways you, your family and your co-workers can celebrate the life of others in your community.

By D. Shenell Reed

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1. Serve Up Food – Volunteering in a homeless shelter during the holidays is very popular for office staffs and families looking to spread holiday cheer. This activity usually is limited to about 15-20 people, but it varies, so be sure to check with local missions on restrictions. Churches also provide opportunities to reach out to their neighbors and may be in need of volunteers. People need meals during Thanksgiving and Christmas, so there are many chances to give.

2. Collect Special Items – Most local food pantries, shelters and churches accept canned food donations. If you don’t have time to plan a volunteer event, hosting a collection for toys, books or food is a very simple way to contribute to a cause.

3. Clean Up – Many of us live in Flor-

ida, so we can do outdoorsy things during the fall and winter breaks. So, consider

helping your elderly neighbors clean up their yards, hang Christmas lights, or repair something around the house…spruce up the church steps with a little paint. This is a great group activity and an easy way to get the kids involved, too.

4. Write to the Troops – Many of our military sons and daughters would enjoy getting letters and cards while they’re serving far from home. Check with your local military offices to see how you can write to the troops. Kids can make cards, draw pictures and send well-wishes to someone they never met—and brighten their day. This is a great activity for a book club, small office or Girl/Boy Scout troop.

5. Adopt a Family – The one in need just might be next door. Check with different nonprofit organizations about how they help families during the holidays then get on board. One example is the Salva-

tion Army Angel Tree branch. It provides the names, ages, clothing sizes and more of family members. Grab a handful of names and pass them out to your family and coworkers. Not only is this a great way to help an underprivileged family around the holidays but it also brings your co-workers together.

6. Host a Fundraiser – Throw a party at your house and invite your friends for a small fee…a check to your favorite local charity. This also is a great way to gather up some toys to take to the local mission. Request that friends bring an unwrapped toy to the party then get friends together to deliver toys to kids and watch their faces light up with joy!

No matter how you celebrate the holidays, always remember someone else!

ONYX MAGAZINE 45

SEASON’S GREETINGS, GINGERBREAD! A Christmas favorite, gingerbread cookies are a must!

Curl up with your favorite book and a cup of hot cocoa, and let the flavor of these spicy treats put you in the holiday mood. Cheers!

INGREDIENTS 6 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 tablespoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon ground cloves 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 cup shortening, melted and cooled slightly 1 cup molasses 1 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup water 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

In a medium bowl, mix together the shortening, molasses, brown sugar, water, egg, and vanilla until smooth.

Gradually stir in the dry ingredients, until they are completely absorbed. Divide dough into 3 pieces, pat down to 1 1/2 inch thickness, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters.

Place cookies 1 inch apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. When the cookies are done, they will look dry, but still be soft to the touch. Remove from the baking sheet to cool on wire racks. When cool, the cookies can be frosted with the icing of your choice.

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Sift together the flour, baking powder, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon; set aside.

MONEY MATTERS

FINANCIAL LITERACY:

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

By Laura Dorsey

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T

he lyrics to Whitney Houston’s Greatest Love of All resonate in this special HBCU edition. The words are “I believe the children are our future/ Teach them well and let them lead the way.” Even with all the advances in education, we are failing our college students when it comes to Financial Literacy.

Financial literacy is defined as the understanding of money such as taxes, savings, bills, retirement, budgeting and paying for school and investing. Financial literacy helps individuals become self-sufficient so that they can achieve financial stability.

Even though financial literacy is crucial, Forbes Magazine reports that only 17 states require high school students to take a course on financial literacy. In addition, in the United States, there are only five states that require a personal finance class for high school graduation: Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia. These courses have proven to have a direct impact on a student’s ability to make wise financial decisions.

College graduates spend years gaining skills that will help them command a higher salary; yet little or no time is spent helping them save, invest and grow their money. Here are five key concepts, as listed

by Forbes, for college students to work on in order to improve their financial literacy

1. Budgeting Basics

Creating and maintaining a budget is one of the most basic aspects of staying on top of your finances. In this modern day, it is easier than ever to create a budget with the help of websites and apps.

2. The Impact of Interest

While students may have touched upon the concepts within a mathematics course, it is important to understand different aspects, like compound interest. Not only can it help you save even more, but it can make the difference between borrowing a small amount and paying back much more than you need to for years to come.

3. Staying Savvy by Saving

Obviously, saving is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy financial situation. But, most students don’t prioritize this aspect as much as they should. It’s easy to ignore things like retirement since it seems so far off in the future. Learning to save early on can help you gain the knowledge, practice and set of skills you’ll utilize throughout your entire life.

4. The Credit-Debt Roller-Coaster

Maybe roller-coaster isn’t the right term – perhaps, downward spiral is more accurate. Meaning: it’s much easier to lose

credit than gain it and many students don’t realize how easy it is to ruin their credit – and how difficult it can be to regain credit – before it’s too late. That’s why it’s crucial to provide knowledge on debt earlier than later. Credit can be an extremely useful tool – if it’s managed correctly. It’s important to grasp the concepts and tools behind responsible credit practices as early on as possible.

5. Identity Theft Issues & Safety

In this modern day and age, identity theft is more prevalent than ever. Since everything is digital and just about everyone has shopped online at one point or another, your financial information is more vulnerable to fraud. Understanding this concept, along with preventative measures, like password protection and limiting the amount of information shared online can be the key to maintaining safe accounts or, inversely, can lead to financial ruin.

Houston also said learning to love yourself is the greatest gift of all, but a close second is being financially literate. It will pay dividends in the long run. The greatest gift that we can give to our future HBCU graduates is financial literacy and financial security.

ONYX MAGAZINE 47

FASHION

Mix Up Your Style For

Hot Holiday Parties

By Lena Graham-Morris

Blacklisted: Memoirs of an LBD

Tired of your LBD (little black dress); time to mix it up. Here are four tips to REMIX the LBD Blues.

1. Belt It – Add a belt or two or three. A belt will add dimension and a little flair. Depending on the occasion you can add metallic, chain, pop of color or a belt with texture. Depending on the dress type and your body shape you can choose the width belt from skinny to wide. The options are endless and the price points give you flexibility.

Lena Graham-Morris, The Entreprenista©

48 ONYX MAGAZINE

2. My Jacket, Please – Jazz up your LBD by adding a jacket. From a blazer to a soft trench coat, pastels to print, the choice is yours. Add a jacket and give a little life to any LBD. 3. Layer Time – Layering your LBD gives you flexibility.

When you layer—think out of the box. Don’t be afraid to add color or texture to revitalize your look.

4. Accessorize – You can never go wrong with accessories. Use the season’s must-haves to rekindle your love affair with your LBD!

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The M&M’s have it...muted mauve and matte texture.

Time to mix it up, ladies! Mauve can grace you from head to toe. Trade out your gloss for a matte texture on your lips. Extend the mauve madness to the tips of your toes, and try a new nail polish for your pedicure.

Be a BOSS! Grab the berries, incorporate brown and try something new with a pale blue. Berry colors are rich and will blend with browns, bronzes, and browns. You can increase the intensity with a crimson red lip.

Structured brows, statement liner, and smoky eyes are strong trends this season. Don’t forget the sparkle! Glitz and glitter are in, illuminate your skin and break out the silver glitter to make a memorable statement for those holiday parties.

Soft hair, buns, and waves have made a splash and don’t forget your animal print, pinstripes, and leather dresses.

REAL ESTATE

Sell Your Home During the Holidays with These Styling Tips

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T

he holiday season is often considered the worst time to put a home on the market. While the thought of selling your home during the fall/winter months may dampen your holiday spirit, the season does have its advantages—holiday buyers tend to be more serious and competition is less fierce with fewer homes being actively marketed. Once you have committed to sell, follow these eight home styling tips for attracting buyers during the holidays!

Deck the Halls, But Don’t Go Overboard Homes often look their best during the holiday but be careful not to overdo it. Silver and blue ornaments would seem out of place in a home with earth tones as a color palette. Adornments that are too large or too many can crowd the home and distract buyers.

Choose to Be Neutral You may love displaying your nativity scene, but it can seem too much for someone else who don’t share your faith. Avoid offending buyers by opting for general fall and winter decorations rather than items with religious themes.

You Can’t Go Wrong With a Cozy Vibe Welcome potential home buyers with a hot beverage, some seasonal treats, and a welcoming evergreen wreath on your door.

Have a fire lighted in the fireplace on cooler days and add light holiday music.

Accentuate Your Selling Points A beautiful front door will get more attention with a wreath, an arched doorway is perfect for hanging some mistletoes, and a spacious ledge would look nice displaying something seasonal. It’s the details that help sell a home.

Be Tree Smart The last thing you want is for your tree to dwarf the rest of the room it is in by taking too much space. A tall tree can show off high ceilings, but you have to be sure to balance things out. If this is the case, choose one that is skinnier and taller than a traditional tree and don’t go overboard with the ornaments.

Mind Your Lights Stay away from inflatable light up figures and choose basic string lights that you can use to light up shrubs, trees, and your home’s outline.

Stay Classy When it comes to staging a home for selling during the holidays, less is oftentimes more. Remember that your cherished decorating pieces mean nothing to potential buyers and may be seen as clutter or ‘tacky décor’ by some. Keep it light so potential buyers can envision their own things in your space.

Relax—the New Year Is Just Around the Corner The holidays are stressful enough with gifts to buy, dinners to prepare and relatives to entertain. Take a moment to remind yourself that if you don’t sell now, there’s always next year.

Happy Holidays!

The information in this article was compiled by Dee Parker, Parker Realty Group.

ONYX MAGAZINE 49

Scope FLORIDA

Red Tide Levels Stay Elevated Hurricane Michael did not wipe out red tide, as some had hoped. It continues to move north along Florida’s beautiful coast and now a new bloom has arrived in the Keys, scientists say. For more than a year, the toxic algae have plagued the state—Indian River is the latest Florida county to have to close its beaches because of the marine life-killing condition. Other counties now under states of emergency are Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough, Pinellas, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Brevard, according to reports.

Gov. Rick Scott, the state has committed more than $13 million in grants to local governments facing red tide and more is available to the new counties that are affected, the governor’s spokesperson McKinley Lewis told CNN. So, what is red tide and what does it mean for you? Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota offers some information: • A red tide, or harmful algal bloom, is a higher-than-normal concentration of a microscopic alga (plant-like organism).

• Swimming is safe for most people. However, the Florida red tide can cause some people to suffer skin irritation and burning eyes. People with respiratory illness may also

experience respiratory irritation in the water. Use common sense. If you experience irritation, get out of the water and thoroughly wash off.

• Do not swim among dead fish because they can be associated with harmful bacteria.

• Store-bought and restaurant-served shellfish are safe to eat during a bloom because the shellfish industry is closely monitored by state agencies for shellfish safety.

• Commercially available shellfish are often not locally harvested and, if harvested locally, are tested for red tide toxins before they are sold.

• Just like people, pets may be affected by the Florida red tide. If you live close to the beach, consider bringing outdoor pets inside during a bloom to prevent respiratory irritation.

For more health information concerning red tide, visit websites for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Florida Department of Health; and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Health-related information/reporting of illnesses from exposure to red tide: call toll-free 24/7 Florida Poison Control Information Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Eric Deggans Tapped for Peabody Awards Board of Jurors Longtime journalist Eric Deggans has been tapped to sit on the Peabody Awards Board of Jurors in 2019, becoming the first African-American in the role. Deggans tweeted, “Honored to share that the Peabody Awards announced I will chair its board of jurors next year - I’ll be the first African American to serve in that capacity….” Eric Deggans is NPR’s first fulltime TV critic. Deggans came to NPR in 2013 from the Tampa Bay Times, where he served a TV/Media Critic and in other roles for nearly 20 years. A journalist for more than 20 years, he is also the author of “Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation,” a look at how prejudice, racism and sexism fuels some elements of modern media, published in October 2012, by Palgrave Macmillan. The Peabody Awards recognize stories notable for their excellence as well as their resonance—whether it’s a warning to heed, injustice to address, or tragedy to observe with clear eyes and open hearts. After the awards are bestowed, the Peabody Media Center continues the conversation with a commitment to changing the narrative of how we think, talk, and react to today’s most pressing issues.

ONYX MAGAZINE 51

ONYX PROFILE

Ernest Coney, Jr. President of Tampa Corporation to Develop Communities

I

n the spring of 1992, Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc. (CDC of Tampa) was founded and led

by Chloe Coney, a graduate of Florida A&M University. Her vision was to alleviate poverty and physical deterioration within a ‘community of neighborhoods’ four miles northeast of downtown Tampa, Fla., known as East Tampa. Coney led the organization for 15 years. The leadership then transitioned to Toni Watts and later to Ernest Coney Jr. Ernest Coney, Jr., serves as the chief executive officer of CDC of Tampa. He brought over 15 years of executive management-level experience in providing health, social and economic programs to benefit low to moderate income persons and the elderly. With an undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and a master’s degree from the University of South Florida, he developed strong business acumen in the areas of management, finance, and performance improvement.

Prior to CDC, Coney held positions such as senior actuarial analyst, director of operations, and finance administrator for several national healthcare companies.

In 2006, Coney became the chief operations officer for the CDC of Tampa; expanding the legacy of the Nehemiah Project – Community Building “Brick by Brick and Block by Block.” This is accomplished by creating jobs, providing job training, building community pride, promoting entrepreneurship, providing financial literacy, developing youth leadership, revitalizing commercial areas, and building affordable housing. The non-profit corporation has also enhanced its reach, by helping more than 1,000 individuals systematically break the cycle of poverty on an annual basis.

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Within the first few years of his tenure as CEO, Coney leveraged more than $50 million dollars in joint venture projects, to include real estate and program service projects. Most notably was the development of Fort King Colony, a 120-unit affordable apartment complex and Haley Park, an 80-unit senior housing complex.

He helped to create two prominent county-wide, cross sector collaborations: Economic Prosperity Center and Safe & Sound Hillsborough; and designed a national award-winning CityWide Façade Program.

Most recently, under his leadership the CDC has created Tampa Vocational Institute (TVI), to address the disproportionate rates of unemployment and underemployment in urban neighborhoods. TVI has increased CDC’s ability to address the growing “skills gap” and corporate training needs for local area businesses and individuals.

Over its 26 years, CDC of Tampa has generated more than $445.25 million in economic impact to the Tampa Bay Region, providing comprehensive community development strategies that connect workforce development, housing and real estate with education, community safety and resident leadership to drive economic prosperity.

COMMUNITY

Women of Color Golf Journey to Scotland for Historic Honor of PGA Hall of Famer Golf Legend Dr. Renee Powell

By Colette Glover-Hannah

“Here I am – a black American female golfer that is coming over to Scotland receiving this huge honor in the Home of Golf. That sends very powerful messages.”

—Dr. Renee Powell

Left to Right 1st row: Vasti Amaro; Nina-Dawne Williams; University of St. Andrews President Sally Mapstone; PGA Hall of Fame-Renee Powell; WOCG Founder, Clemmie Perry; Sandra Braham; Colette Glover-Hannah; Marcelle Jackson. 2nd Row: Gary Hartfield

Representatives of the Tampa-based Women of Color Golf (WOCG) organization recently journeyed to St. Andrews, Scotland, the ‘home’ of golf, to participate in a historic celebration to honor golf legend Dr. Renee Powell.

“This pilgrimage to St. Andrews, the ‘birthplace’ of golf to honor Dr. Renee Powell, who is golf royalty, was an exciting honor and pleasure for all of us,” says Clemmie Perry, founder of WOCG, a non-profit program that introduces education, leadership, health and networking opportunities via recreational golf to women of color.

Powell, a member of the PGA Hall of Fame and the second Black woman on the LPGA tour, was honored with a residence hall by the University of St. Andrews. Powell Hall, a five-story building, has 205 rooms and was unveiled by the institution’s principal (president) Sally Mapstone. She is also the first American to have a residence hall named in one’s honor at the University.

This recognition is not the first bestowed upon Powell by the prestigious 600-year-old institution where Prince William and Kate Middleton attended. In 2008, Powell became the first woman golfer to receive an honorary doctoral degree from the University

of St. Andrews and in 2015 she was one of seven women to be nominated for honorary membership of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

During a VIP dinner celebration to commemorate her honor, Powell recognized the significance of accepting this recognition on foreign soil.

“Here I am – a black American female golfer that is coming over to Scotland receiving this huge honor in the Home of Golf.

That sends very powerful messages.”

Powell, now 72, began her professional career in 1967, playing in more than 250 tournaments around the world. She and her father, William “Bill” Powell, are the only father/daughter duo in the PGA Hall of Fame.

Since 1980, she has taught golf in the United States, Africa and Europe and is currently the head professional at Clearview Golf Course in Ohio, which was built and developed by her father after he was unable to play other golf courses due to racism. Powell is also the founder of Clearview HOPE, a year-round rehabilitation program that teaches golf to female veterans.

ONYX MAGAZINE 55

ONYX ON THE MOVE

Why AARP Backs A Lobbying Group For Millennials

By J. Gabriel Ware

A

lthough voting-age millennials outnumbered baby boomers for the first time in the 2016 election, fewer voted then than in 2012. And because millennials have the potential to sway elections for the next several decades, there’s incessant pressure on the younger generation to become more politically engaged.

“We care about the world we’ll leave behind for our kids and grandkids.”

A year ago, 28-year-old Ben Brown set out to ease that pressure when he launched the Association of Young Americans (AYA), an organization that develops political engagement tools to boost younger Americans’ interaction with elected officials. Brown, whose background is in renewable energy, wants young Americans to turn to AYA the same way older Americans turn to AARP—which has about 38 mil-

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lion members and remains one of the nation’s most influential special interest groups.

Now Brown has found an ally to help him carry AYA to new heights—AARP. The organization, previously known as the American Association for Retired Persons, awarded AYA a $35,000 grant in August 2016 and both organizations say that was just the beginning of their relationship. The connection started with a tweet from AARP Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff Kevin Donnellan, who read about the then-two-month-old AYA in a “YES! Magazine” article. Donnellan, fascinated by the potential of an AARPlike organization for young people, tagged Brown in his tweet of the article and concluded his message with “Let’s talk!”

The interaction swiftly evolved into a series of phone conversations between Brown and Donnellan. Brown elaborated on his goals, and Donnellan saw an opportunity to help pass on knowledge about political engagement.

“AARP is not an organization just for older people,” Donnellan says. “Our members care about their legacy—we care about the world we’ll leave behind for our kids and grandkids.”

Donnellan anticipates increasing collaboration between the two organizations, as they tackle issues that affect all generations.

“Making sure that we have a strong and vibrant Social Security program is as critical for younger generations as it is for today’s older generation,” he says.

“I always wanted to get involved with the issues I care about, but I didn’t really know how.”

Then there’s the student debt crisis.

“There are people in the 50-plus age group who are either still paying off their student loans, helping their children and grandchildren pay off their loans, or in some cases, taking out loans because they’re

“WE CARE ABOUT THE WORLD WE’LL LEAVE BEHIND FOR OUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS.”

going back to school to upgrade their skills and education.”

In February 2017, AYA used a portion of the grant from AARP to work with Phone2Action, a nonpartisan technology company, to build a dashboard on AYA’s website that allows members to email, call, and/or tweet any legislator—local, state, or federal.

Because climate change and criminal justice reform are important to AYA members, Brown says the current administration’s hardline positions on these issues makes utilizing the dashboard even more critical.

“Most times, people would wait for a friend to send them an email or see something on social media asking them to sign a petition or click a button to email a legislator,” Brown says. “That’s very powerful, but we also want people to be able to do that whenever they want. Now, when they read something in the news that gets them excited or upset, they can just go to the dashboard and easily contact their mayors, senators, and legislators.”

Melody Benjamin, 17, joined the association in January and is already putting the dashboard to use, despite being too young to vote. The San Diego resident sent an email to California Senator Kamala Harris, expressing her concerns about the future of women’s reproductive rights after Neil Gorsuch’s appointment to the Supreme Court. Although Benjamin hasn’t received a direct response from Harris, she is now on Harris’ email list and receives regular updates.

“I always wanted to get involved with the issues I care about, but I didn’t really know how until I joined AYA,” Benjamin says.

Brown is also making organizational changes. Originally, he had set out to hire lobbyists to work in Washington, D.C., on AYA’s behalf, as AARP does. But now he says he wants to see membership, which is currently in the “low thousands,” reach the “tens of thousands” before doing that.

Also, Brown eliminated a mandatory $20 membership fee as he now asserts that people should have easier access to their legislators free of charge. However, members wanting to take advantage of special perks, such as discounts on Lyft rides, still pay the $20 fee.

Brown says it will be a long process before AYA fully develops an identity and brand for itself. But he can count on one thing—support from AARP. “We’re very impressed with what we’re seeing from [AYA] and Ben’s a smart guy with a good vision,” Donnellan says. “Seventy-five percent of AARP members vote in every single election and it would be great to see him get 75 percent of millennials to vote in every single election, too.”

This story was first published in Yes! Magazine

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ONYX ON THE MOVE

Tanisha Nunn Gary Tapped to Lead Chamber

Tanisha Nunn Gary has been named the new president and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce Central Florida (AACCCF). Gary was chosen after an extensive search and she started her new position on October 9, 2018.

AACCCF’s Board of Directors’ executive committee established a team that conducted an exhaustive process to locate and screen the most qualified applicants. Not only were Gary’s qualifications outstanding, the committee agreed she was the best fit for AACCCF and the Central Florida community.

“As an experienced entrepreneur, she brings a wealth of expertise that will provide added value to our small business members,” said Joyce Odongo, the board chair of the AACCCF. “We are confident that she is the right leader for our chamber to help accomplish our ambitious strategic plan over the next several years.”

Prior to forming her own Central Florida area law practice, The Law Office of Tanisha Gary, PLLC, she served as senior associate with Gary, Williams, Parenti, Watson & Gary, PLLC. Gary is involved in several professional and civic organizations and is a past recipient of the National Bar Association’s (NBA) “Presidential Award.” She earned her law degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law and undergraduate degree in Political Science from Spelman College.

“It’s such an honor and privilege to be selected as the next Chamber President,” said Gary. “I look forward to working closely with the AACCCF Board, trustees, staff, volunteers, and its members to continue to grow the Chamber’s mission and advocacy efforts.” – Laura Dorsey

Tanisha Nunn Gary

CDC of Tampa Hosts Champion Luncheon

ONYX Magazine joined the Corporation to Develop Communities (CDC) of Tampa, Inc., for its Community Development Champions Luncheon. Founder Chole Coney and President Ernest Coney hosted more than 300 guests at the luncheon, which honored those who are pioneers of change and proponents of stronger communities. The event in October was an afternoon of networking with corporate and community partners to raise awareness and support for CDC. The keynote speaker was Stephen “Steve” Glaude , the president & CEO of the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development in the District of Columbia. The CDC creates opportunities by deploying comprehensive community development strategies that connect workforce development, housing and real estate with education, resident leadership and community safety to drive economic prosperity. ONYX Magazine Luncheon attendees are State Senator Darryl Rouson; CDC President Ernest Coney, Jr.; U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor; keynote speaker Steve Glaude; CDC Founder Chloe Coney; ONYX Magazine Publisher Rich Black; ONYX Magazine Advisory Committee Members Carla Williams and Samuel Wright, Ed.D.

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ONYX ON THE MOVE

Bernard, Shirley and Khalil Kinsey

Kinsey Collection Donated to FAMU’s Black Archives

Generosity and gratitude were dual themes at the Florida A&M University (FAMU) “Plaque Unveiling Ceremony” held October 4 at the campus Eternal Flame. Kicking off the weekend homecoming festivities, a relevant show of generosity was exampled by African-American philanthropists Bernard, Shirley, and Khalil Kinsey who donated 53 documents and photos from their personal fine art enclave — the Kinsey African American Art and History Collection. The Meek-Eaton Black Archives, Research Center & Museum at FAMU is the recipient whose collection is aptly titled: Flourishing Roots of Our Past.

The Kinsey Collection is presidential award-winning and chronicles African-American achievement from 1595 to present.

It has been viewed by over six million visitors, in more than 25 cities, and includes the Smithsonian Institute and an international debut at the University of Hong Kong Museum and Gallery. – Penny Dickerson Orlando Museum of Art Opens New Exhibit

ONYX Magazine attended the opening of Orlando Museum of Art’s latest exhibition “Nick Cave: Feat.” On one level, Cave’s creations, bursting with color and texture, are optical delights that can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages and backgrounds. On another, they speak to issues of identity and social justice—specifically race, gun violence, and civic responsibility. Cave’s practice largely developed in response to Rodney King’s beating by members of the Los Angeles Police Department more than twenty-five years ago. As acts of hate continue to threaten dreams of true and sustainable change, society perhaps more than ever needs opportunities for healing from the wounds of racism. Nick Cave: Feat., will view from September 14 – December 31, 2018.

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ONYX Visits Toy Story Land

ONYX Magazine was among the first guests to the new Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. It’s a joy-filled, toy-filled world as only Disney can create that opened in June. In the new Toy Story Land at Walt Disney World Resort, guests can hop on Slinky Dog Dash for a family-friendly roller coaster ride, take a spin aboard Alien Swirling Saucers and go for the high score in Toy Story Mania!

Beginning November 8, guests visiting Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., can expect to see Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear in festive holiday attire.

In addition to holiday character greetings, guests can also enjoy the Toy Story Land’s new holiday decor, including oversized cranberry-and-popcorn garland, a holiday card “selfie” of “Toy Story” pals, an oversized Hamm sugar cookie, Green Alien ornaments and more.

WINE AND FOOD

COGNAC

By Randolf Summit The cognac vineyards which bring the village name Cognac its fame hold the history of generations within the grapevines. The families who produce grapes there do so ever mindful of their distinctive cultural responsibility. The celebrated cognacs developed there have reputations to uphold. Once these delightful liquors have been tasted, it is completely understandable that people cherish their elegance.

Drinking cognac is a very specialized pursuit. Learning about it is an ongoing passion. Discovering what this intriguing culture has to offer has been facilitated by excellent books and Internet sites devoted to all aspects of this hobby.

Delving deep into the history of this fascinating area of France is worthy of the time it involves. Enjoying the famous French spirits is certainly more meaningful when tied to the vast anecdotes and facts about this elegant product.

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