ONYX Magazine September/October 2019

C E L E B R AT I NG B L AC K AC H I E V E M E N T T H ROUG H OU T F LO R I DA

Volume 9 – Number 41 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

NO DEGREE, GREAT JOB WHICH ONES PAY OFF?

BLACK MEN HONORS CELEBRATING FLORIDA’S MOST NOTED GENTS

5

APPS YOU NEED IN YOUR HOME

PROSTATE CANCER WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pinder FATHER NELSON

$3.50 onyxmagazine.com

MAN OF THE YEAR

contents 6 – Publisher’s Column and Masthead 7 – Elevate – Don’t deny your greatness 8 – Father Nelson Pinder, Man of the Year 13 – Lester Seays, Visionary Award 14 – Mayor Ernest Page, Orlando’s first black mayor 15 – Good Read – Books about family 16 – Library - Fall is for family 18 – Commissioner Rufus Alexander 19 – Torey Alston 20 – Byron Brooks 21 – Karl Brown 23 – Florida Scope 24 – Bob Burn 25 – Brian Butler 26 – Thomas Chatmon 27 – Horace Dawson 28 – Jonathan Graham 30 – Gary Hartfield 31 – Tony Jenkins 32 – Community – A case for reparations 34 – Cliff Long 35 – Real Estate – Five apps you need in your home 36 – Irving Matthews 37 – Larry Mills, Th.D. 38 – George Morning 39 – Ron Rogers 40 – Mark Shamley

FEATURE

8

Father Nelson Pinder Man of the Year Cover and all photos by Nancy Brown

41 – Leonard Spencer 42 – Education – A journey to better education 43 – Politics – Florida democrats continue 2020 campaign ramp up 44 – Archbishop Allen Wiggins 45 – SAGE – Enjoy the outdoors at any age 46 – Justin Williams 47 – Jean Wilson 49 – ONYX on the Move 52 – Leadership – Five Answers from a Leader: Fredrick McClure 54 – Medically Speaking – Does hormone therapy for prostate cancer raise dementia risks 55 – 411 on male birth control 56 – Money Matters – Oh, the places you can go 57 – Travel – Florida’s civil rights trail 58 – The Quad – HBCU news 61 – Health and Wellness – Demystifying the mammography discussion 62 – Food and Wine – Elevate your taigate

4 ONYX MAGAZINE

FROM THE PUBLISHER PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Richard “Rich” E. Black MANAGING EDITOR D. Shenell Reed, M.B.A. EXECUTIVE STRATEGIST Lena Graham-Morris EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Maria Barnes

RICHARD “RICH” E. BLACK

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Gayle Andrews Laura Dorsey Sharon Fletcher Jones

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 Dear Family, This year marks ONYX Magazine’s 22nd anniversary.

Over the years, we have brought you the most positive and vital news about the black community throughout Florida and beyond. Your support is why we can continue to be that voice, and we are grateful.

Since 2016, we have presented the most influential and impactful women across Florida in our Women on the Move Awards luncheon. Now, we think it is appropriate to introduce you to the men who make significant moves as they lead Florida forward. The inaugural ONYX Magazine’s Black Men Honors is a long-awaited event. Twenty-three of Florida’s finest are on our list this year and they represent only a small sampling of the pacesetters across the state.

Men like Father Nelson Pinder, who is on this issue’s cover. He has long been a champion of the people of Orlando. A Civil Rights icon and leader in the Christian community, Fr. Pinder has rightly earned the honor of Man of the Year. Also, our very own founder, Lester Seays, is receiving the Visionary Award. When he and his wife, Lillian, co-founded ONYX Magazine, they created a legacy that we are proud to continue. Pinder and Seays are joined by outstanding brothers who are being recognized for their integrity, leadership and vision and we are honored to acknowledge them.

In this issue, we also take a look at prostate and breast cancers. These terrible diseases take the lives of black men and women at a disproportionate rate and we have information that could help save your life. This issue is full of information that could be vital to your family and the home. We hope you will take the time to read each article.

DESIGN DIRECTOR Jason Jones INTERN Ruelle Fludd BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Matt deJager CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Special thanks to the BMH honorees and their teams Gayle Andrews Gigi Brooks Jasmine Browley Sara Brown Patricia Brown Denis

Laura Dorsey Fed Ingram Andrew Meacham Debra Monticciolo

Elise Morgan Karly Tully, Ph.D. Zenobia Jeffries Warfield Kevin Washington, Ph.D.

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Nancy Brown Grafi James Brion Price ONYX ADVISORY COMMITTEE Deidre Parker, Chair Michelle Tatom, Immediate Past Chair Dick Batchelor 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 Barbara Hartley 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

As always, we are committed to bringing you stories that entertain, inspire and inform. Thank you for standing with us.

Sincerely

Richard “Rich” E. Black

6 ONYX MAGAZINE

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.

ELEVATE

Don’t Deny Your

GREATNESS

By Kevin Washington, Ph.D.

A

man’s rich uncle had died, and the attorney was holding an inheritance meeting. Since the wealthy uncle had no children of his own, he had willed his estate to many of his family members. The man knew he was one of his uncle’s favorite nephews and thus he was sure he had been left something of value. The meeting was coming to a close and everyone in attendance had received something. As people started to rise from their seats to return to their normal activities the man yelled out, “wait! there must be a mistake. I am sure that my uncle left something for me.” The attorney stated he had helped completed the will. The man said “surely there is something there for me and we are not going to leave here until we examine all documents once more.”

Seeing the conviction of this man’s face the attorney started shuffling through the

papers once again and just then recalled an envelope that read, do not open until the inheritance meeting is about to conclude and my nephew makes a forceful demand to be heard. The letter was opened, and the initial statement read: “To my favorite nephew whom I taught to never be denied what is rightfully his, I leave you that which generated my wealth: my spirit of entitlement. This sprit will help you to run my multi-million-dollar business that I leave for you. It will also help you to run your life that God has given you.”

The nephew was appreciative for the business, but he was most appreciative for lesson of knowing that he was entitled to have greatness.

When you understand you are entitled to have the best that life has to offer and you are an heir to greatness, you will not accept anything less than great. You

know you have been divinely created for this moment called NOW. You know you are one in a million and thus ordained to be here. You have been commissioned for greatness.

Operate with confidence, because all things will work out in your favor to the extent you keep working and living your divine purpose. Pursue all tasks with diligence knowing you will be successful. Do not be denied your greatness—it’s yours to have. If we say we are children of the most High God then aren’t we heirs to greatness?

Aren’t we entitled to all things wonderful?

It is amazing how we can accept negative events occurring in our lives, but we cannot embrace the good—as if we feel entitled to the bad but not the good. Live knowing you are entitled to the good. Don’t deny your greatness!

ONYX MAGAZINE 7

FEATURE

Father Nelson Pinder

MAN OF THE YEAR H

e is known as the “street priest,” the “hoodlum’s priest,” community leader, a caring person, a loving person, and your “priest and friend.”

He is devoted to God, his fellowmen, his wife, Marian, family, his church, community, and organizations, alma maters and Orlando, Orange County, Fla. The Rev. Canon Nelson Wardell Pinder, D.D., is a man of the people.

Canon Pinder was born in Miami (Overtown), Fla., on July 27, 1932. He grew up in the Liberty City Housing Project, commonly called “The Government Condos.”

Following his family’s tradition, Pinder enrolled in Bethune-Cookman College (B-CC) in Daytona Beach, Fla. While at B-CC, he was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War. After being honorably discharged, he returned to B-CC where he became very active in student government and other campus groups. He graduated in 1956 with a degree in philosophy. Pinder then enrolled at Nashotah House Seminary in Nashotah, Wis., to study and prepare himself for priesthood in the Episcopal Church. In

8 ONYX MAGAZINE

1959, he was ordained into the ministry and assigned to The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist in Orlando. He married his college sweetheart, Marian Elizabeth Grant, on August 15.

Pinder never stopped using educational opportunities for advancement. He holds a master’s degree in Education and studied at Simon the Cyrenian Institute in London, England. He completed short courses in Adult Education at Purdue University and the Urban Training Center in Chi-

cago, Illinois. He also studied under one of the world’s greatest community organizers, Dr. Saul Alinsky.

While serving in the United States Army, he met some young clergy in Montgomery and Tuskegee Ala., who were fighting for freedom. These young people gave him great hope and invited him to become a freedom fighter. Pinder’s ministry has been greatly diverse; from a poor mission congregation to the rector of a parish church and a canon in The Central Florida Episcopal Diocese, working with and for the bishop. He has also worked with the Awareness Center, a Downtown

Orlando ministry, and been a missionary to Jamaica, West Indies, Honduras, Central America, London, England. He was honored to be Chaplain of the Day for the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives.

At the national church level, he has been vice chairperson of the Joint Commission on the Church in the small community, vice chairperson of the National Commission on Social and Specialized Ministries, a member of the Joint Commission on Nominations and Selections to National Officers, and has served on interim committees between General Conventions.

He worked his way up from a member of a local chapter of The Union of Black Episcopalians(UBE) to the president of that chapter; he was the Southern Regional director, vice president of the National Board, chairperson of the Finance Committee and is a life member. In 2003, he was elected as the 15th national president of the UBE and served one term. Beginning in 2010, he served five years as Chaplain to The Order of the Daughters of the King in the Central Florida diocese. He currently serves as The Order’s Assistant Chaplain in Province IV. The fraternal life Canon Pinder is a life member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. In his local chapter he has served as chaplain, president, vice president, and as chairperson of many of its committees. He also has memberships in the Kappa Delta Pi and Phi Delta Kappa Fraternities.

Involved in the community He has served as a director of the Pan American Bank in Orlando, The Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida, the American Red Cross, the Orlando Mayor’s Biracial Commission, and was a member of the Ninth Circuit Judicial Nominations Commission. He has also served as president of the Orange County Community Action Program, Orlando Ministerial Alliance, vice chair of the Orange County Public Schools Superintendent’s Search, chair for the Orange County Public Schools Superintendent African American Advisory Com-

mittee, Orlando Chamber of Public Affairs Committee, President of Guardian Care Nursing Home in Orlando, Florida and a member of the American Veterans Post 39.

Awarded for his efforts Pinder has received nearly two hundred awards and honors including: Honorary Doctorate of Divinity, Virginia Theological Seminary; Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Voorhees College; Preachers Hall of Fame, Morehouse College; First Class to the Florida Religious Hall of Fame; First Class P.A.S.T. Hall of Fame; National Association for the Equal Opportunity in Higher Education; Life Time Achiever Award, ONYX Magazine of Florida, and has a street named in his honor. “Pinder’s Kids” a locally written and produced play, told the story of Pinder’s role in leading and mentoring young people during the lunch counter sit-ins in 1960’s Orlando.

In 2009, The City of Orlando with cooperation from the Florida Senate, erected a statue recognizing Pinder for his work in furthering the goal of civil and equal rights for all peoples in this community. In

2015, the Orange County Regional History Center presented him the Donald A. Cheney Award. The History Center annually recognizes individuals in the Central Florida community who have followed Cheney’s mission of historic preservation and community service. Nashotah House Seminary presented its very first Bishop Kemper Award in May 2016 to Pinder for his commitment and service to the broader church. In June 2018, he was named Honorary Lifetime Chaplain for The Order of the Daughters of the King® – Province IV. He has been recognized for his achievements and service by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlando - Knights of Columbus; St. Mark’s A.M. E. Church; Bethune-Cookman College Alumni; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Drum Major; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; Central Florida Y.M.C.A. Lifetime Achievement, Orlando Real Most Influential; United Negro College Fund; City of Orlando and Orange County Commissions; Proclaimed Pinder’s Day, Orange County Classroom Teachers’ Association; Jones High School, Black Community Awards, listed in Who’s Who in Black America; City of Orlando Human Relations Award, National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education; City of Orlando Civil Rights Award. In 2018, he was honored by the Union of Black Episcopalians as a past president during its National Business meeting and

by Guardian Care Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for his service as a past member of the Board.

He is the recipient of several honorary titles. He is an Honorary Canon for The Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida, an Honorary Architect, and an Honorary Deputy Sherriff in Orlando, Orange County. He is Rector Emeritus of The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist which is located in Orlando’s historic Washington Shores neighborhood.

Ministering abroad He has ministered around the world in Finland, Sweden, Russia, England, Honduras, Jamaica, and the West Indies.

ONYX MAGAZINE 9

A CELEBRATION OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL AND INFLUENTIAL MEN IN FLORIDA. Since the beginning of time, men have been charged to guide in their houses of worship, their homes, the business sector, and communities. ONYX Magazine’s Black Men Honors (BMH) is a celebration of those men who do it exceptionally well. BMH aims to ensure a positive portrayal of black men in every medium. ONYX Magazine, along with our sponsors and supporters, takes exceptional pride in presenting 23 of the most dynamic men across the state.

Chair

Deidre “Dee” Parker Co-chair

Nancy Port Schwalb Co-chair

Reginald Riley, Ph.D. Co-chair

Jon D. Brown

Title Sponsor

12 ONYX MAGAZINE

Presenting Sponsor

Reception Sponsor

Event Sponsors

Program Sponsor

LESTER SEAYS Co-Founder, ONYX Magazine VISIONARY AWARD

“When is the last time you did something for the first time?”

Not only is this the motto Lester Seays lives by, but it could also sum up his life, which is full of ‘first time’ events.

Seays was born in a small town in Georgia in 1938. Racial unrest caused his family to move to Florida. The family, including an older brother and younger sister, arrived in Winter Park, where Seays spent his youth and graduated from Hungerford High School in Eatonville. He gained higher education at South Carolina State University, where he studied physical education and biology; Mississippi Vocational in Itta Bena; and Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Even though he played for several years in the National Football League, he says baseball was his first love; he actually entered college on a baseball scholarship. He also ran track.

Active around Orlando, Seays can point out some additional firsts and areas where he was instrumental. He was one of the first directors of the Boys Club, starting an afterschool program that included girls, resulting in the Boys and Girls Club. At the Westside Track Club, he was on the team that was the first to send five

students to the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Track and Field competition. As part of the Parks & Recreation Commission, he worked on securing the fairgrounds site. Seays also takes pride in his involvement with the Washington Shores Cemetery.

Concurrent to his career in recreation, Seays founded a video company, Video Memoirs. The company was a forerunner in videography for African-Americans in Central Florida. In 1993, he and his wife, Lillian, partnered to create LBS Publications, Inc., which became the parent company for Wedding Belles Magazine. In 1997, Wedding Belles closed its doors and ONYX Magazine was created.

Best known as the co-founder of ONYX Magazine, he says the magazine is also one of his ‘firsts.’ ONYX Magazine was named

by Seays’ daughter and he credits Rev. Dr. Randolph Bracy as a major supportive catalyst for the magazine. The magazine started in Jacksonville and served that community for five years before moving to Orlando. Outpouring community support helped take the magazine statewide.

Lester and Lillian Seays have been married for nearly 61 years.

ONYX MAGAZINE 13

ERNEST PAGE

Political Leader and Orlando’s First Black Mayor PUBLISHER’S AWARD Politician, civic leader, entrepreneur, Mayor Ernest Page has been one of Orlando’s most influential leaders over the past three decades. Born in Orlando to the Rev. Edoras Page, an AME minister, and Arizona Page, he graduated from Jones High School. Page earned his bachelor’s degree at Morehouse College and completed post graduate studies at Atlanta University in mathematics and Nova University in business administration. Since then, he has been actively involved in advocating for achievement in education, civil and human rights, and social and economic justice.

Page provided leadership that led to serious structural changes in the social, political and economic life of the African-American community. His leadership led to the implementation of the city’s Anti-Discrimination Ordinance; the Human Relations department; the Minority Business Development Ordinance; Single Member Districts; and the city’s first Affirmative Action program. In addition, his efforts led to the development of Southwest United Communities, Inc. (SWUC), which developed a $2 million 11,000-square-foot office complex, Page Commerce Center, and

14 ONYX MAGAZINE

also developed Magnolia Point, a $13 million senior citizen complex on Mercy Drive. As mayor, Page restructured city government to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of the Performing Arts Center, the Magic Arena and Orlando Citrus Bowl.

Page organized seven homeowners’ associations and developed the following social services programs: SWUC’s Youth Uplift, which provided counseling to young women on social skills and civic responsibility; Annual Christmas Hope, which provided 600 families in need food items and toys during the holidays; Annual Thanksgiving Senior Hope, which provided 550 families food boxes and a gospel concert; and Annual Easter Hope, which provided 450 families Easter baskets, toys and an Easter egg hunt. Page is involved with numerous community and civic affiliations.

Family is everything to Page. His father, mother, and sister, Barbara, were the cornerstones of his life, providing spiritual guidance and temperance to always stay in the eyes of the storm. He is married to Beverly Page, is the father of Dr. Ernest Page, II, Tammy Wise and Siohvan Page, and has 10 beautiful grandchildren.

GOOD READ

Hidden Gems Books About Family Patricia Brown Denis

O

NYX Magazine is all about the family. There are plenty of fiction and non-fiction options for families to choose.

The resources cover a range of topics from the state of holy matrimony to managing finances. This is a great opportunity to keep a fresh eye out for new novels and to give a new audience to some not so new work. As a rule, we should try to uncover hidden gems, by all means search their work, you will not be disappointed.

Photo courtesy of The Toni Morrison Society

The Emperor of Ocean Park

By Stephen L. Carter Stephen L. Carter is the author of “The Emperor of Ocean Park.” The details of the story involve one of my favorite places on Martha’s Vineyard – Oak Bluffs. The story is about the main character, Misha’s, journey for truth. Upon his arrival to claim his inheritance on the island he describes what he finds with a sarcastic hint of suspense, “Vandals.

Of course they were vandals. The kind of vandals who destroy one floor of the house and ignore the other. The kind of vandals who steal neither stereo nor television. The kind of vandals who know how to circumvent my late paranoid father’s state-of-the-art alarm system.” The main character – a stern and introspective character, thoughtfully conveyed in his choice of word and diction. The novel is a cleverly well-written story that seeks to unravel mysteries left behind by his father’s death. The story itself is intriguing and captivating.

Everything In Its Place

By Evelyn Palfrey The author, Evelyn Palfrey’s novel “Everything in Its Place” has at its core the challenges of family. The story details the life of a teacher Barbara Strickland (Bobbie) and gives the reader a look at her daily activities, church politics and single parenthood that are part of her story. The story also very craftily talks about the adult relationships and family quarrels that are a part of everyday life. This is an easy, engaging read and covers subject matter that is highly relate-able. In the novel, the main character was challenged by the prospect of making her own life while helping raise her grandchild, “Bobbie tried to think of what she did for pleasure one of these days…Just when she’d got close to one of these days, Darlene had left Monee with her and hadn’t shown up again for four months. That had been seven years ago.” The balance of the story is how she navigates through the challenges of her life.

Who Does She Think She Is

By Benilde Little Benilde Little, author of “Who Does She Think She Is” covers the family theme opening with the announcement of the wedding of Aisha the granddaughter of a prominent family. The story unfolds from three different generational perspectives gradually exposing the dynamics of the family. The grandmother Geneva who doesn’t appreciate the newness of things and the changing customs around her.

The mother Camille who has difficulty understanding how her privileged daughter has gained such a sense of entitlement, all while planning her daughter Aisha’s lavish wedding. In the book, Camille says, “The problem with being beautiful and educated is that you don’t have to ever really work for anything. Geneva feels that Aisha shouldn’t have to, that that’s why we did, but I don’t agree with her.” There are a lot of details to unravel in this story.

The World Mourns the Death of Toni Morrison Nobel laureate and literary giant Chloe Anthony Wofford Morrison “Toni” died on August 5 at 88. The critically acclaimed author of “The Bluest Eye,” “Beloved,” and “Song of Solomon” inspired writers all over the globe. Her family wrote in a news release “The consummate writer who treasured the written word, whether her own, her students or others, she read voraciously and was most at home when writing.” Morrison won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. She also won the Pulitzer Prize and the American Book Award for “Beloved.”

Patricia Brown Denis is a writer and educator in Tampa.

ONYX MAGAZINE 15

RUFUS ALEXANDER, III Commissioner, City of Fort Pierce

Rufus “Butch” Alexander of Fort Pierce was born on April 19, 1949, in Lawnside, N.J., to Sarah and Rufus Alexander, Jr. His family is a well-known pioneer family in the community dating back to 1902.

Alexander is a third generation funeral director and currently serves as general manager and vice president of Sarah’s Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, a family-owned and operated business that has served the community for more than 85 years. Alexander has been recognized as Mortician of the Year for the 1st Regional District of the Florida Mortician Association, Inc. Alexander was elected in 2002 as City Commissioner District 1 for the City of Fort Pierce and has served since then. He recently retired from the St. Lucie County Fire District where he was recognized for his years of service and as Chairman of the Board. He

18 ONYX MAGAZINE

remains active with numerous organizations, including: Florida League of Cities; St. Lucie County Tourist Development Council; NAACP – life member; Democratic Black Caucus of St. Lucie – founding member; Lincoln Park Business Association; St Lucie County Concerned Citizens – founding member; Boys & Girls Club – board member; and Weed & Seed. He is a past board president of Agape, Inc., and a member of the Fort Pierce Masonic Lodge #155 and Cherokee Lodge #7270.

Alexander is married to Sandra and their union joined their daughter Ayana with her other brothers and sisters, Alisa, Clesha, Tony, and Brian. Alexander is the grandfather of 14 and two great grandchildren. He is a member of Greater New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church and goes fishing in his spare time.

TOREY L. ALSTON

Chief of Staff, Florida Department of Transportation Torey Alston’s commitment to public service started at a young age and continues to be his motivation for helping others in need.

Serving as the student member on the Broward School Board and Gubernatorial Fellow under former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and former Florida Governor Crist, Alston honed his leadership abilities with hard work and dedication.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Alston to serve on the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Board of Trustees, the youngest person appointed to serve on any state university board. Florida Gov. Rick Scott subsequently reappointed him to serve out the full five-year term ending in 2015. Alston was confirmed by the Florida Senate and served with distinction for nearly six years as the Trustees’ Chair of Governance and Student Affairs.

From 2007-2010, Alston served as executive director for Florida’s Office of Supplier Diversity and served as interim executive director for the state’s Council on Efficient Government for nearly

seven months. Under Alston’s leadership in fiscal year 2006-2007, the State of Florida spent more than $3 billion with minority and women-owned business enterprises. Over three years, Alston raised nearly $1 million for the state’s MatchMaker Conference linking business owners statewide thus attracting major corporate partners including AT&T and Walt Disney World.

Today, Alston serves as chief of staff for the Florida Department of Transportation. With more than 6,200 employees and an annual $10 billion budget, Alston is the principal advisor to the secretary of Transportation on administration, policy and overall agency operations.

Alston is a lifelong member of the New Mount Olive Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale. Alston married his college sweetheart, Candice, and is a proud father to their daughter, Elliott Elizabeth and son, Torey Louis. They all reside in Tallahassee.

ONYX MAGAZINE 19

BYRON W. BROOKS, A.I.C.P.

County Administrator, Orange County Administrative Services Byron W. Brooks is the Orange County, Fla., administrator.

Appointed by Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings in January 2019, Brooks assists the mayor in the daily oversight of county operations and services, and successfully executes the policy directives of the Board of County Commissioners. He leads 7,800 employees, manages a budget of more than $4.7 billion and serves a community of nearly 1.4 million residents. Prior to this position, Brooks served as chief administrative officer with the City of Orlando.

He is active on several local non-profit and national professional organizations. In 2017, Brooks was inducted into the Clemson University College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities Hall of Fame.

He quotes Martin Luther King as inspiration. “Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and

20 ONYX MAGAZINE

Aristotle to serve. You don’t have to know Einstein’s Theory of Relativity to serve. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermo-dynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace...a soul generated by love.”

Brooks received his master’s degree in City/Regional Planning from Clemson University, and his bachelor’s degree from Furman University. He also completed the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and he completed the Executive Leadership Institute of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators. He is credentialed by the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Brooks and his wife, Sandra, have two children, Jared and Imani, and one grandson, Xavier. He is a proud native of Orlando and is pleased to be in a position to serve his community.

KARL BROWN

CEO, Oley’s Hospitality Group Karl Brown, the CEO of Oley’s Hospitality Group, has always had a passion for the foodservice industry. As a little boy growing up, he would experiment with recipes and create different meals in his parents’ kitchen. His passion for food and the effect it has on people has been a driving force for him to perfect his skills.

Brown attended Lehman College in Bronx, N.Y., where he majored in accounting. While living in N.Y., he was exposed to different cultures and different ways to prepare food. After college he served six years in the Navy abroad, receiving further exposure to different cultures and food. After his stint in the Navy, Brown entered the world of finance as a stockbroker and rose to the rank of regional vice-president for Mantano Securities based out of Atlanta, Ga. Brown opted to return to Orlando to work in

the family business, Paradise Island Café, which was located in downtown Orlando. Combining what he learned in investments with his passion in food service, Paradise has grown from a single concept to restaurant, catering and concessions.

Besides business, Brown has two other passions. His first is his family including his lovely wife, Clover, and beautiful children, Brittney, Karl Jr., Vijay, and Shannon. His other passion is his community. He believes strongly in giving back to those who have not been as fortunate or need help to get to the next level. He has had so many people help him along his journey, it would be a sin not to pay it forward. For relaxation Brown enjoys reading, traveling and sports.

ONYX MAGAZINE 21

Scope FLORIDA

Organize Florida Hosts Community Event Organize Florida, Tampa, hosted the first annual Voices For Freedom event to bring awareness of social and economic issues its members and the organization fight for everyday. Former gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum was the special guest among more than 200 supporters. Voices for Freedom included a cookout, a spades tournament, activities for children, giveaways, health screenings, and a freestyle social justice “Rap Battle,” pitting the artistry and skills of local rappers in an old school versus new school competition. The rap competition, hosted by Tampa’s own Rater R and WTMP’s Howard Word, featured rappers Tom G., Aych, Priceless Scott, Peril Sensi, TuneDaPoet, MikeTheDawn, Rope-Gang-Twan, Krazy, Adorabella and Nini. Organize Florida is a nonprofit, member organization made up of low- and moderate-income people dedicated to the principles of social, racial, and economic justice. The Voices For Freedom cookout was sponsored

by Organize Florida, Impact Global, Serenity Village, Safe & Sound Hillsborough, Vanguard Attorneys, WTMP-AM 1150 & 97.5 FM, and Rebein Brothers Trial Lawyers.

Andrew Gillum and Organize Florida Regional Director Robin Lockett take a selfie with the event’s participants.

John Davis Appointed Valencia College Trustee John Davis, the executive vice president of the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, has been appointed to the Valencia College Board of Trustees. Davis is deeply involved in the Orlando community, where he lends his leadership talents to organizations including CareerSource Central Florida, Heart of Florida United Way, Chronic Homelessness Committee and Youth Advocate Programs. Davis is appointed to a four-year term. This appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate. Florida Governor’s Staff

Gourmet Gents Cooks Up Community Goodness The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Tampa Bay Area Chapter held its 27th annual fundraiser “Gourmet Gents” Men Who Cook at Higgins Hall in July. More than 100 men have consistently supported the event over the years with tempting dishes like, barbeque ribs, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, shrimp salad, delectable desserts, refreshing beverages, and so much more. The community signature event brings out corporate and grassroots leaders, elected officials and others who cook up all-you-can-eat samples for more than 300 guests. The fundraiser provides academic scholarships for five young ladies and builds the chapter’s programs funds.

More than 100 men participated in the 27th annual Gourmet Gents

Gov. DeSantis: Florida Tourism at Record High Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Florida welcomed 69.7 million travelers from January through June of 2019, the highest number of visitors during any six months in Florida’s history. This record number represents a 5.2 percent increase over the same period in 2018 and includes 62.1 million domestic visitors, 5.3 million overseas visitors and 2.4 million Canadian visitors.

“Florida’s economy has grown this year as record amounts of travelers come to Florida to experience everything our beautiful state has to offer,” said Governor DeSantis. “The revenue generated by out-of-state visitation has kept taxes low while allowing us to invest in priorities like environmental protection, transportation and education. We will continue to work to make sure that Florida remains the world’s premier vacation destination.”

– Visit Florida ONYX MAGAZINE 23

BOB BURNS

President, R.L. Burns Construction, LLC Robert L. Burns was born in Philadelphia, Penn., and joined the Air Force at 18. Later, he enrolled at Philadelphia College of Arts majoring in Furniture and Industrial Design. With a background in building, Burns relocated his family to Orlando and began working in residential housing projects as a construction manager for Wade Development.

On March 31, 1994, R.L. Burns, Inc., was founded, specializing in commercial construction and renovation. In 2001, Burns strategically moved his business to the developing Parramore neighborhood, just west of downtown Orlando. The new headquarters reaffirmed Burns’ commitment to stimulate the economy in the developing and historically African-American Parramore neighborhood. Fulfilling their commitment, R.L. Burns has provided construction services on several notable projects including renovations to Camping World Stadium, The City of Orlando Police Depart-

24 ONYX MAGAZINE

ment Headquarters & Crime Scene Lab, renovations of the Historic Wellsbuilt Museum, and 10 affordable housing properties for the City of Orlando. Burns has prioritized giving back to the youth of Orlando by sponsoring the Boy Scouts of America Central Florida Chapter and the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County.

When he does get a moment of free time, Burns enjoys dining at local boutique restaurants, listening to jazz music, and an occasional cigar. R.L. Burns celebrates 25 years in business this year and boasts a team of 42 of the most unique, diverse and skilled team members to carry on the business. “I have been fortunate to be provided the opportunities presented to me. At this time in my career it is about developing others and assisting them in achieving their goals and objectives.

I am committed to challenge those around me and bring out the very best they have to offer and reach their fullest potential.�

BRIAN M. BUTLER

President/CEO, JCB Construction, Inc. Brian Butler is a lifelong resident of Central Florida with a varied business background in sales, marketing, and operations. Butler is the president and CEO of JCB Construction Inc., a 32-year family-owned company that specializes in total site development and construction management. He is responsible for the executive overview of the activities of an organization with 75 employees. JCB has been involved in numerous notable projects in and around Orlando.

Butler received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics from Brown University, Providence, R.I., and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Duke University, Durham, N.C. Prior to joining the family business, he worked in sales, training, and management for Ortho Biotech Oncology, a division of Johnson & Johnson in Tampa and Orlando. Recognized for being the top sales producer in the country, and later as manager, he led his district to top five results in the country.

His professional organizational involvement includes: Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC), past chair; National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC), past chair; Orlando Economic Partnership; and Young Presidents Organization (YPO), past chair.

Over the years, Butler has been actively involved in community service as volunteer or board member for African American Chamber of Commerce, past chair; American Cancer Society; Central Florida Foundation; City of Orlando Mayor’s Parramore Task Force, chair; Leadership Florida; Leadership Orlando; NSSF Scholarship Foundation; Orange County Charter Review Board; O.C. Board of Zoning Adjustment, O.C. Citizen’s Review Board; Parramore Kidz Zone; Ronald McDonald House of Charities past chair; Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity; Trinity Prep School; UCF Foundation and Valencia College Foundation.

He is married to Cathy Brown-Butler and they have two sons in college, Michael James “M.J.” and Andrew. His motto that he lives by is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.

ONYX MAGAZINE 25

THOMAS C. CHATMON, JR.

Executive Director, Orlando Downtown Development Board Since joining the City of Orlando in 2007 as executive director of the Downtown Development Board (DDB) and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), Thomas Chatmon oversees economic development, retail and business recruitment, marketing and special events programming, and housing development within the Downtown CRA area. He has played an integral role in achieving some of downtown Orlando’s premier developments, including Church Street Plaza, Citi Tower, Marriott Orlando Downtown, Amway Center, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Chase Plaza, 55 West, SunRail, and more.

Currently, Chatmon serves on the Homeless Services Network Board as vice chair and the Canvs/FireSpring Fund/Starter Studio Board. He has served as past chair of the International Downtown Association (IDA)

26 ONYX MAGAZINE

and has served on various community boards including past chair of Nap Ford Community School, MyRegion.org, WMFE Community Advisory Board, and the Central Florida Urban League Board.

A native of Albany, Ga., Chatmon has been named in “Georgia Trend” magazine’s annual list of 100 Most Influential Georgians and has received numerous other distinguished awards such as the Martin Luther King Celebration Leadership Award and the Leadership Albany Outstanding Alumni Award.

Thomas has been honored as one of “Orlando Business Journal’s” 10 Businessmen to Watch and Orlando Magazine named him as one of Orlando’s 50 Most Powerful People. A proud graduate of Morehouse College, Chatmon and his wife, Brenetta, live in downtown Orlando.

HORACE G. DAWSON, III

Executive Vice President, External Affairs and General Counsel, Red Lobster Seafood Co. Horace Dawson is executive vice president and general counsel of Red Lobster, the world’s largest seafood restaurant company with more than 700 restaurants in North America and more than 58,000 employees. In this role, Dawson leads legal affairs and is also responsible for international operations and government relations.

Prior to joining Red Lobster, Dawson was vice president and Division General Counsel for Darden Restaurants, Inc. During his 11 years at Darden, his practice areas included litigation, employment, intellectual property, advertising, licensing, mergers and acquisitions, international, commercial, purchasing, distribution and new business development.

Dawson also has experience in private practice, having handled matters in the corporate and securities areas in the Orlando office of Akerman LLP, a national law firm.

From 1996 to 2001, Dawson served as vice president of Business Affairs and general counsel of Hard Rock Cafe International, the restaurant, merchandising, hotel and live music venue chain.

Prior to joining Hard Rock, Dawson practiced in the entertainment, securities, corporate, and communications areas for Telemundo Network, the Spanish language television broadcaster, and for New York City law firms.

Dawson received his undergraduate, law and Master of Business Administration degrees from Harvard University.

Dawson serves on the Boards of Directors of the National Restaurant Association, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, and the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida. He also serves on the Advisory Committee of the Restaurant Law Center.

ONYX MAGAZINE 27

JONATHAN GRAHAM President, Horus Construction Services

Since the age of 12, Jonathan D. Graham, the president of Horus Construction Managers and the founder of Aspire Foundation (NC), began working in the construction industry mentored by his father and uncle.

After working for years in the capacity of a subcontractor during different phases of minor and major projects, Graham aspired to receive mentorship from national and international construction firms. This goal came to fruition when Graham started his venture to team with Skanska USA, Hardin Construction, Weitz, and Turner Construction on projects such as Tampa International Airport Airside “E� ($130 Million), Raymond James Stadium ($200 Million), Channelside ($50 Million), and Tampa Museum of Art ($92 Million). Currently, Graham has entered a strategic alliance with majority firm CORE Construction, whose values mirror the mantra of Horus Construction. This mentorship and partnership allow Graham to sustain his business while creating unique opportunities for other Minority, Women, or Veteran Business Enterprise (MWVBE) companies.

28 ONYX MAGAZINE

Graham and Horus Construction are corporate members of the Minority Contractors Association. They maintain a corporate partnership with the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida. Graham also participates on various boards including Academy Prep of Tampa Florida and has served as Chair for the Ida S. Baker Awards. He has committed to the community through his time and resources to the tune of more than $500,000 to various economic empowerment initiatives and education foundations.

Graham has received numerous awards for his commitment to excellence in the construction field such as Hillsborough County Public Schools Construction Management S/W/MBE Achievement Award (Top Performer). His commitment to education has been recognized by receipt of Hillsborough Education Foundation Most Valuable Person Award.

He believes that aspiration breeds innovation and innovation is the fuel that impacts our economy, our communities, and our lives.

GARY HARTFIELD

President, Serenity Village Insurance and Consulting Gary T. Hartfield is a unique blend of an entrepreneur, educator, leader, and visionary. Utilizing his successful history of building multi-million dollar budgets, overseeing multi-site business locations and managing dozens of personnel, Hartfield is committed to equipping organizations devoted to community improvement with the leadership and business skills needed to fulfill their missions. As a first-generation college student, Hartfield is committed to mentoring youths and young adults and empowering them with the competencies, resources and information to maximize their potential.

Hartfield is the president and CEO of Serenity Village, Inc., and the principal and founder of Serenity Insurance and Consulting, LLC. His success commits him to help other minority businesses

30 ONYX MAGAZINE

succeed. His vision is to establish a small business incubator in Hartfield Plaza to support the development and growth of African-American and Hispanic businesses. Hartfield also is an accomplished author of “Stand,� a personal empowerment memoir.

Hartfield is active with the Greater Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, the Tampa Organization of Black Affairs (TOBA), New Leaders Council (NLC), Tampa Bay Chapter of Leadership Florida, Cornerstone XXXVII, Leadership Alliance Advisory Board, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Hartfield earned a Bachelor of Engineering Technology degree at Florida A&M University, a Master of Business Administration degree at the University of West Florida and he completed a certificate in Executive Leadership at Cornell University.

TONY JENKINS

Market President/Central Florida, Florida Blue Tony Jenkins is Florida Blue’s market president for Central Florida. In this role, he is responsible for business operations, strategic initiatives to increase and retain membership, enhancement of brand visibility and coordination of employee engagement for the state’s Blue Cross Blue Shield plan and its affiliated companies.

Driven by its mission of helping people and communities achieve better health, Florida Blue serves more than five million healthcare members across the state. Jenkins spearheads implementation of that mission in Central Florida including guidance of philanthropic efforts. Under his leadership last year, Florida Blue provided more than $4.3 million in charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations across the eight-county region, and its employees volunteered at the rate of 1,800 locally.

Jenkins also lives out Florida Blue’s mission by giving of his own time to several community organizations. He is the past chair for both United Arts of Central Florida and Leadership Orlando

Class 89, in addition to currently serving on the boards of the Orlando Economic Partnership, Central Florida Foundation and 4Roots Foundation. Jenkins also is dedicated to higher education in Central Florida with positions on Stetson University’s Board of Trustees and the UCF Downtown Executive Advisory Council.

In January 2014, Jenkins was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to serve on the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR). The Commission possesses policy-making responsibilities to identify and eliminate unlawful discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations in the State.

Prior to joining Florida Blue, Jenkins served as director of diversity for CSX Corporation, the largest rail network in the eastern United States, and spent 20 years with the Walt Disney World Company in various management roles.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management from Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Ga.

ONYX MAGAZINE 31

COMMUNITY

On Reparations, the Question Isn’t If, but When and How The House subcommittee hearing held on Juneteenth is the result of centuries of work.

By Zenobia Jeffries Warfield

F

32 ONYX MAGAZINE

Actor and activist Danny Glover, middle, waits to testify about reparations for the descendants of American slavery during a hearing before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on June 19.

”

There is a debt owed to the American Descendants of Slavery.

And it’s time for the U.S. to pay up.

If slavery is the foundation, then Black Codes and Jim Crow laws that followed emancipation are the walls; housing discrimination and redlining the roof, and mass incarceration the windows of the house America built.

A house that is starting to crumble.

This year we observe the 400th anniversary of the first captive Africans brought to what is now the United States of America, and this month we observe Juneteenth, the celebration of freedom for all U.S. enslaved Black people.

But we will also observe another monumental moment in U.S. history.

On June 19, Juneteenth, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties will hold a slavery reparations hearing. It is the first of its kind in decades. And the first time ever the issue has garnered as much attention and support, including a decla-

Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images

or nearly 250 years, enslaved Africans and their descendants toiled on the land and in the homes of White enslavers in the United States.

They planted, fed, weeded, mowed, and harvested crops that were not theirs; cared for and fed children they did not birth; and cleaned homes and tended lands they did not own.

We’re all familiar with this uncomfortable but sanitized image of U.S. slavery.

The harsh reality is that too many of the more than 300,000 African men, women, and children who were brought to this land for the sole purpose of providing free labor—and their children and their children’s children, and so on—were brutalized and terrorized to continue the cycle for centuries to come.

It’s estimated that over 4 million Africans and their descendants free-labored under the legal institution of slavery— and not just in the South, but also in the North, East, and West.

Having no agency over their own bodies or minds—not to mention not owning land or having property—they were property. Many lived in the most inhumane conditions. They were beaten, raped, starved, and in some cases worked to death—literally. They were forced to breed children to increase the numbers of the enslaved. Their children were often stolen from them and sold away. Furthering the torment, many of the women were forced to nurse their enslavers’ children, care for them, tend to them, raise them.

It is that 250 years of “sun-up to sundown” menial free labor that this country was built upon. It is the 200-plus years of free labor that is the foundation of this country’s wealth and the capitalist system that has prospered globally, exploiting us all.

And it didn’t end there.

ration from the United Nations. The purpose of the hearing is “to examine, through open and constructive discourse, the legacy of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, its continuing impact on the community and the path to restorative justice.”

While the topic of reparations has made its way to the forefront of mainstream discourse, this hearing is the result of centuries of work. The push for reparations did not just come into being with current presidential candidates purporting their support of some kind of reparations. It didn’t just come about as a reaction to the divisive leadership of Donald Trump. And it didn’t come into being, as some have reported, with the excellent reporting of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ 2014 piece in “The Atlantic,” “The Case for Reparations.”

In the late 1800s to early 1900s, a formerly enslaved Black woman named Callie House, who was head of the National Ex-Slave Mutual Relief, Bounty and Pension Association, led a movement to secure reparations for formerly enslaved U.S. Blacks—specifically pensions to older freed men and women who’d worked without pay—to no avail.

House was jailed for her efforts.

Other movements for reparations to those enslaved, and later their descendants, would wax and wane with no success for the next 150 years. Although reparations were given to enslavers for loss of their “property.”

In 1989, former Congressman John Conyers introduced the first reparations legislation. Created with the help of N’Cobra (National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America), bill HR 40 would establish the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African American Act, designed to examine the institution of slavery, investigate its impact, and make recommendations for reparations to Congress. Every congressional year for almost 30 years until he was forced to resign in 2017, under allegations of sexual harassment, Conyers introduced this bill.

This year Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee sponsored the bill, and presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker is sponsoring its companion in the Senate, the only reparations bill ever to be introduced in the post-Reconstruction U.S. Senate. Booker along with Coates and actor-activist Danny

Left to right, Burgess Owens, Coleman Hughes, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Reverend Eugene Taylor Sutton wait to testify about reparations for the descendants of American slavery during a hearing before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on June 19. Coates and Taylor Sutton testified in favor of reparations, while Owens and Hughes testified against. Photo

by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images

Glover (honorary board member of YES! Magazine) will testify at the hearing.

It’s important to know that as we listen to the testimonies—and even if some of us choose not to listen—that the purpose of this hearing (or the legislation, period) is not to determine whether reparations are warranted or should be dispersed.

The purpose is to convene a group of accountable specialists who can determine how reparations will be given.

In his article, Coates estimated the cost of reparations to be nearly a trillion dollars, paying out annually for the next 10 to 20 years the $34 billion estimated by researchers in the 1970s. A more recent tally given by University of Connecticut researcher Thomas Craemer puts the cost of reparations between $5.9 trillion and $14.2 trillion.

It’s unlikely that checks will be cut and given to every American Descendant of Slavery. In fact, it’s not practical nor expected, I would imagine.

But there are very practical implementations that could be made. To name a few: funds (or loans forgiven) for housing, education, health care, those institutions

where descendants were systemically and systematically cut off or exploited. Funds (or loans forgiven) for Black farmers and growers. Coates described a “claims system” for Black veterans who were denied the benefits of the GI Bill.

Direct intentional harm was done to those 388,000 Africans who made it to this land and to their millions of descendants.

One hundred-fifty years of so-called freedom where intentional harm continues, contrary to what some like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell say, does not erase that.

McConnell and his ilk—those before him and his contemporaries—have benefited mightily from the free labor and continued oppression of Black people in this country. They all are just as responsible for the harm and wrongdoing as their ancestors.

There is a debt owed to the American Descendants of Slavery.

And it’s time for the U.S. to pay up.

Zenobia Jeffries Warfield wrote this article for YES! Magazine. Zenobia is a senior editor at YES! She covers racial justice. Follow her on Twitter @ZenJWar. ONYX MAGAZINE 33

CLIFF LONG

CEO, Orlando Regional Realtor Association Cliff Long is the chief executive officer of the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association (ORRA). He joined the ORRA in December of 2017.

As principal staff member, Long holds ultimate responsibility for programs and services that ORRA provides to its 15,500 members. He also oversees the association’s internal operations and external functions, such as Government Affairs, RPAC Fund Raising, advocacy and communications. Long comes to ORRA from the Birmingham (Alabama) Association of REALTORS®, where he served dual roles as CEO of both the association and the Greater Alabama Multiple Listing Service. Previously, he was CEO of the Emerald Coast Association of REALTORS® in Northwest Florida.

34 ONYX MAGAZINE

Long is a graduate of Alabama State University and holds the following professional designations: • At Home with Diversity • Certified International Property Specialist • NAR Professional Standards Certification • REALTOR® Certified Executive Long enjoys spending time with his family and participating in his children’s youth sports activities. He is an all-sports enthusiast who is looking forward to Orlando’s mild climate with its yearround outdoor opportunities.

REAL ESTATE

The Five Best Apps For Your Home

By Elise Morgan

O

wning a home is a privilege. When you own a home, you have a place that you can call your own—a place of shelter and safety that you extend to your closest family. However, owning a home is as much a responsibility as it is a privilege. Between the repairs, HOA fees, taxes, and renovations, at times it can feel like a never-ending pit that you are continuously throwing money and time into. Thankfully, advances in technology have sought to address and improve upon many of the negatives that come with homeownership. Check out these five apps that use technology to upgrade your home’s features and improve upon the home owning experience: SmartThings (with SmartHub) Samsung’s SmartThings gives your Android or iPhone complete control over all your smart devices. The SmartHub acts as the brain of your smart home and connects all your various sensors and devices so that they can work together instead of independently.

Belkin’s WeMo app (with WeMo Smart Plug) WeMo is a wi-fi enabled smart plug that transforms anything you plug into the wall into a smart device. After you plug a device into the WeMo Smart Plug, you can use the WeMo app to control it from wherever you are. Forgot to turn off your curling iron?

Simply open the app and turn it off! The WeMo app also gives you insight into your home’s energy usage and allows you to create rules, schedules, and receive notifications.

Color Capture

by Benjamin Moore For those of us done spending hours scrutinizing paint chips, the Color Capture app will come in handy. Anytime you see a color that inspires you in the world, you can take a photo in the app and it will match it to a Benjamin Moore paint color.

Color Capture also allows you to experiment with color combinations - so you can finally decide on the perfect palette for your bedroom.

HomeZada HomeZada is the end all be all of digital home management apps. The app offers an extensive number of helpful features and tools for homeowners, such a total home finance manager, a digital home inventory system, and a home maintenance manager.

Letgo Letgo is a digital yard sale app, which allows you to take pictures of any items that you are selling and post them on the app for nearby users to see. If someone is interested in purchasing an item you posted, they can communicate with you through the app. This app will let you earn some extra cash for all of your muchneeded smart home upgrades.

Whether you want to transform your home into an integrated smart home, make homeownership easier and more personal, or simply raise some money for upgrades, these five apps will significant increase any homeowner’s quality of life.

This article by Elise Morgan is endorsed by Deidre “Dee” Parker, Broker-Owner at Parker Realty Group and Chair of the ONYX Magazine Advisory Committee.

ONYX MAGAZINE 35

IRVING MATTHEWS President and CEO, Matthews Automotive

After a 20-year progressive career in manufacturing with Proctor & Gamble and Frito Lay, Irving Matthews did not want to leave Orlando. So, he explored acquiring his own business. In 1991, he purchased his first automobile dealership in the Eustis/Mount Dora, Fla., area. He has grown his customer-focused dealership empire from 25 employees and $25 million in annual sales to 170 employees and more than $135 million in sales. He owns Prestige Ford in Mount Dora, Advantage Ford in Stuart, Fla., and Matthews Kia in Cartersville, Ga. Matthews refuses to be a one-generation African-American business, so he is preparing his two sons, Jonathan and Darren, to lead when he semi-retires.

Matthews recently was recognized by Ford Motor company for 25 years of operation at the Mount Dora location. He is a two-time Presidents Award winner with Ford. His dealership made the “Black Enterprise� Top 100 Black Automobile Dealers list in his first full

36 ONYX MAGAZINE

year of operation. He is currently ranked 17th on the top 100 list.

He is passionate about the success of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and assisting at-risk black men to succeed. He is the former chairman of the Board of Trustees at Bethune-Cookman University and a member of the Southern University Foundation Board.

Matthews was the recipient of the 2018 Northwood University Automobile Dealer Education Award. He is the chairman of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers; a member of the Supervisory Board of BBVA Compass Bank; and a member of the African-American Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from Southern University; completed the Executive Leadership program at Indiana University; and he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Bethune-Cookman University.

LARRY MILLS, TH.D.

Commissioner, Orlando Utilities Commission Whether one is meeting him for the first or fifth time, it is evident that God has truly called Larry G. Mills, Th.D. as His servant.

The husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, pastor, author, prophetic imaginer, and leader of the Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, greets you with a sincere simile, warm hug, strong handshake, discerning look and comforting words. In 2018, Mills celebrated 35 years in ministry and his 30th anniversary as pastor of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Orlando. He retired as corporate vice president of Human Resources and Business Conduct from Lockheed Martin Corporation after 23 years.

Mills is compassionate, confident, and committed to the Mount Sinai family and to serving the broader central Florida community. During his pastorate, the church has grown from 70 attendees to a membership of more than 1,000. His spiritual leadership has empowered the church to achieve tremendous

expansion in domestic and international ministries that includes a 12-acre campus with a development center, state accredited pre-K school, and numerous outreach facilities. He has also authored two books: “The Recovery of God’s Purpose for the 21st Century Church” and “Marriage Matters: It’s God’s Will.”

Being obedient to the great commission, Mills has traveled globally to provide leadership and spiritual development to many churches, organizations, and communities. Currently, he serves on the Orlando Utilities Board of Commissions, anchors the Pine Hills Job Partners of Central Florida, and serves on the mayor’s DTO Identity Project for chronic and family homelessness. He chaired the African American Council of Christian Clergy and also chaired committees serving Valencia College and the University of Central Florida. He and Bernice Mills have been married for 35 years.

ONYX MAGAZINE 37

GEORGE I. MORNING

Director, Small Business Development Department Greater Orlando Aviation Authority George Morning once cited “the power of partnership with small businesses is having the greatest impact on the Orlando Region.”

Currently heading the effort to recruit small business participation in the airport’s projects such as the South Terminal C- Phase 1, Morning has established himself as the certified-diversity small business sponsor at the airport.

Morning arrived at Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) in September 2015 as the Airport People Mover/Intermodal Terminal Facility project began construction. Since then, Morning and the Authority has successfully awarded contracts to approximately 200 small businesses.

Prior to his position at GOAA, Morning worked with the Orange County Corrections Department (OCCD), as a member of the team that established the OCCD as a world leader in correction management and programs.

As a community member, Morning is on the advisory panel for the University of Florida Health Cancer Center Patient Advisory

38 ONYX MAGAZINE

Board. He also is an advisor to Vision of Flight, a Florida based organization dedicated to providing students, especially those with a keen focus toward aviation/aerospace. Additionally, Morning is the vice president of Lake Orlando HOA, part of fostering a safe environment in the community and improving community infrastructure.

Other community activities that Morning is involved are American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, the National Forum for Black Public Administrators and a supporter of the Project Grady-Rayam.

Morning is the ambassador of small business in the Orlando region, facilitating economic and social impacts in the local community through government, quasi government and non-profit organization programs.

Morning holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California and has an extensive background as an organizational consultant, in business development and management, assisting small business owners in enhancing their business operations.

RON ROGERS

President, Ronald O. Rogers & Associates Ronald O. Rogers is a native of Orlando and a graduate of Jones High School. Rogers attended Florida A & M University and the Graduate School of City Planning at Georgia Institute of Technology with advanced post graduate study at Harvard University.

Rogers is president of Ronald O. Rogers & Associates, a business development and management firm specializing in business development, market penetration, community relations, planning, and coordination of community outreach and involvement.

Rogers is a former city administrator with the Town of Eatonville, Fla., the oldest black incorporated municipality in the United States, where during his tenure, the Town of Eatonville experienced unprecedented growth and development.

Rogers has served on boards of several civic and community organizations, including the first Orange County Charter Review Commission, which brought single member Commission Districts to Orange County, allowing elected African-American representation. He remains active in the community serving in several capacities, most notably chairman emeritus of 100 Black

Men of Greater Orlando, Inc., and the Orange County (MMRB) Nominating Board.

Rogers has received numerous awards and honors. He most notably received the coveted “Star Award” from the Orlando/ Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc., for fostering the promotion of African-American tourism in Central Florida; the Jones High School “Legacy Award” for outstanding service to the community; and the Town of Eatonville’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Freedom Award.

The “Orlando Business Journal” also named Rogers as a Businessman to Watch in the 20 Most Up and Coming Influential Businessmen in Central Florida. He is the recipient of the 2008 Orange County Community Action Agency Humanitarian of the year Award; Orange County Chapter–National Alumni Association of Bethune-Cookman University Award of Appreciation; “Legacy Magazine’s” 100 Most Influential African Americans in Central Florida; and he was recently recognized for support of the Bethune-Cookman University Orange County Wildcat Booster Club.

ONYX MAGAZINE 39

MARK SHAMLEY

VP Global Social Impact, Tupperware Brands Corporation Mark W. Shamley rejoined Tupperware Brands as vice president, Global Social Impact in April 2018 and has more than 25 years of experience in corporate and public affairs, corporate social responsibility, business development, and marketing. In addition to overseeing the company’s worldwide citizenship strategy, he serves as the executive director of the Tupperware Brands Foundation.

Prior to joining Tupperware Brands, Shamley was ACCP’s president and CEO from 2007 until 2018. As CEO and president of ACCP, Shamley drove the direction of the organization to help shape the corporate responsibility profession. Shamley is a sought after speaker, frequently called upon to represent the corporate perspective on a wide-range of Corporate Responsibility issues.

Prior to joining ACCP, Shamley oversaw community relations and government affairs functions for the Orlando Magic, including management of the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation. He was instrumental in assisting the NBA franchise win approval for a $480 million public and private partnership to construct a new events center in downtown Orlando.

40 ONYX MAGAZINE

Shamley also served as director of Global Corporate Citizenship at Tupperware Brands Corporation and vice president and executive director of the Tupperware Children’s Foundation for more than five years. He was responsible for the company’s public, environmental and government affairs, while managing Tupperware’s community relations program and initiating sponsorship opportunities to achieve the company’s social investment goals.

Shamley served as director of Business Development for Value America, Inc., and director of Cause-Related Marketing for the national office of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Shamley also serves as chairman of the Board of Wise Giving Alliance. He holds an undergraduate degree in marketing from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and has a Master of Business Administration degree in International Business from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla.

LEONARD K. SPENCER

Senior Manager of Supplier Diversity, Walt Disney Company Leonard Spencer is an experienced global leader with a demonstrated track record of success in the manufacturing, travel, tourism and entertainment industries. He is currently responsible for leading the Supplier Diversity program for The Walt Disney Company. In this role, he sets the vision and business strategy for the identification and utilization of diverse suppliers that help the company drive innovation and enhance economic inclusion reflective of the guests that Disney serves and the communities where Disney operates around the world.

Prior to joining the Supplier Diversity team, Spencer led the Procurement Operations organization for Disney’s Theme Parks and Resorts. His team provided the financial planning, spend analysis and reporting for Strategic Sourcing teams based in Asia, Europe and the United States. His team was also responsible for identifying and implementing best-in-class procurement processes, procedures and tools.

Under his leadership, Disney has significantly increased its spending with Diverse suppliers earning recognition from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) as a

Top Coroporation for Women Owned Businesses in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The company was also recognized in 2019 by the National Business Inclusion Consortium (NBIC) for its outstanding achievement in promoting cross-segment diversity and inclusion. Leonard was recognized as a “He’s for She’s” by WBENC in 2018 and 2019 for his support of women owned businesses. He was also recognized as a Champion for Diversity by “Diversity Plus Magazine” for his responsiveness to diverse suppliers and his passion for Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) in the supply chain and broader organization.

Spencer is passionate about economic development and works diligently in the community to create partnerships that address economic inclusion, youth education and financial literacy. He sits on multiple boards. He was recently named the Chair of Leadership Orlando Class 98. Spencer frequently speaks on topics related to Supplier Diversity, Diversity & Inclusion and Entrepenuership and occasionally guest lectures at Rollins College.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Tuskegee University and an MBA from the University of Alabama.

ONYX MAGAZINE 41

EDUCATION

A Journey to Better Education Strong unions, great schools and a chance for every child. Won’t you join us?

I

was truly blessed to be born into a working-class family in Miami. My parents supported me on my path to adulthood.

I also benefited from a strong and active civil rights movement, a vibrant labor movement, and a quality public education.

As an educator and the president of the Florida Education Association, I see black and brown children with parents similar to my own who struggle every day to ensure their children’s success. But here’s what worries me: Their access to the kind of social, educational and political support that helped transform my life is under siege.

My parents were both bus drivers in Miami and members of the Transport Workers Union of America. With two union jobs in our household, my parents could support a family and provide us with a good quality of life. The labor movement was a ticket to the middle class for my parents and their children.

Quality public education sealed the deal—especially in my case.

When I was in elementary school, I struggled with a severe stutter. I’ll never forget those days when I was afraid to speak in class.

And I’ll always remember

Fed Ingram, Mr. Education

42 ONYX MAGAZINE

By Fed Ingram

the classroom teacher Mrs. Lydia Richardson—a certified, qualified, public school teacher, also a union member—who saw my potential.

She taught me to sing. Through music, I learned to control my stutter. I gained self-confidence, excelled academically, and decided to become a teacher.

I attended Bethune Cookman University, graduated, became a high school music teacher, and was selected as MiamiDade County Teacher of the Year in 2006.

I lead 30,000 educators as president of the United Teachers of Dade. Last year, I became the first African-American elected to lead Florida’s largest union, the 145,000-member—and growing—Florida Education Association.

My success was made possible by my parents, family and great public school teachers.

Another tremendous influence on the success stories for all of us was the civil rights movement. But in today’s world, the civil rights of African Americans— even fundamental voting rights—are threatened. The labor movement has been weakened by the actions of extremist utilizing strategies that deny workers a voice, fair wages, and good working conditions. And public education, the great equalizer, is now being threatened by those extremists now attacking unions across the nation—and especially here in Florida.

This cruel agenda has diverted desperately needed funds from our public schools, that educate around 90 percent of Florida’s children. Researchers project that

a new voucher bill, signed into law this year by Gov. Ron DeSantis, will drain $1 billion from our classrooms. Keep in mind that Florida currently ranks 41 out of 50 states in per capita education spending.

The public-school dollars are paying for private school vouchers. But how will that money be spent? The “Orlando Sentinel” investigation revealed these shocking details on publicly funded private schools: • Students are being taught in unsafe buildings that did not pass essential fire and health inspections.

• Unqualified teachers are on staff— including one who was fired, repeatedly, for having child pornography on his computer—but are rehired in “private” schools.

• The use of second-rate textbooks that contradict established science and history is rampant.

What will happen, I wonder, to a boy or girl with a severe stutter who enters one of those private schools today? A majority of the private operators aren’t interested in students with disabilities. And teachers in our public schools, burdened with state-mandated testing, are often prevented from providing the focused teaching their students deserve.

A 2019 major national study by “Education Week” found that the public, by large margins, supports higher salaries for educators and wants teachers to help craft academic policies.

Reports like this survey, teacher activism and beyond, and my years of work with students and parents, reinforce that hope that significant change is in our future. I’m optimistic that public backing will help us rebuild strong unions, great public schools, and give every child a chance to travel on their own amazing journey. Won’t you join us?

Fed Ingram is president of the Florida Education Association, representing 145,000 teachers and school employees.

POLITICS

Florida Democrats Continue 2020 Campaign Ramp Up

By Gayle Andrews

FDP Chair Terri Rizzo

I

t’s clear the Florida Democratic Party is serious about turning the state blue, judging by the early start of campaign efforts to engage communities of color.

The historic jump-start began in May with the launch of Organizing Corps 2020 that pays and trains students of color in targeted regions on crucial field outreach, and voter registration. Corps members are college students who were trained in Atlanta by national experts, and then returned to Florida to take part in an eight-week program where they were immersed in their communities, learning how to organize.

“This program is crucial to ensuring our nominee is set up for success on day one,” said Juan Penalosa, executive director of the Florida Democratic Party.

Organizing Corps is just one piece of the larger plan for victory in 2020. An aggressive voter registration strategy aims to increase rolls by 200,000 voters and has already surpassed previous efforts during

Governor DeSantis is on a mission to re-elect Donald Trump.

the same period. The Democrats are working with former gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum and partner organizations to increase voter registration by a million voters all total.

High voter turnout delivers victory, and Florida Democrats have been guarding against efforts to suppress that vote or efforts to register voters. According to experts, Amendment 4 would add well over one-million voters to the rolls, the majority of them Democrats. The amendment allows non-violent felons to register to vote.

But, in the spring, the Republicans passed a law dubbed the “poll tax” forcing returning citizens to pay all their fines to register. A recent study shows that 80 percent of those felons who would qualify under Amendment four will not be able to vote because of this Republican backed law.

Meanwhile, the Florida Democratic Party launched a campaign drawing attention to the Republican “poll tax” voter

suppression effort dubbed “They did their time. Why pay twice?” It also encourages voter registration and an end to voter suppression. A week later, Gov. Ron DeSantis took the unusual step of asking the Florida Supreme Court to issue an opinion on whether felons must pay all fines to be eligible to vote.

“There’s something about the restoration of civil rights that just does not sit well with Gov. DeSantis. In five months, he showed himself to us as someone who sees risk in registering people who may not vote Republican,” according to FDP Chair Terri Rizzo.

DeSantis said he has “the responsibility to take care that the constitution and the laws of Florida are faithfully executed.” He added that he will not infringe on the right to vote under the Florida Constitution.

“Ron DeSantis has one priority, and that’s to deliver Florida to Donald Trump at any price. Our job is to end the nightmare in 2020,” Rizzo said.

ONYX MAGAZINE 43

ARCHBISHOP ALLEN WIGGINS Archbishop, The Hope Church

Answering the call of spiritual leadership and community bridge building, Archbishop Allen T.D. Wiggins, the senior pastor of The Hope Church of Orlando, has established a reputation for delivering timeless messages of inspiration, salvation and empowerment.

The Hope Church was founded September 18, 1983, by his parents, Reverend Dr. R.W. and Beulah Wiggins. In October 2001, the late Reverend Dr. R. W. Wiggins officially passed the mantle of leadership to his son, elevating Rev. Allen T. D. Wiggins to the position of senior pastor. In December of 2017 Bishop Allen Wiggins was elevated and installed as Presiding Prelate and Archbishop of the International Bishops Conference, Inc. Wiggins’ prized development is Hope Center West, a live, work, play, learn, and worship community. Hope Center West serves as an economic and community development engine with a focus on the needs of the total man. Wiggins, through Hope Center West,

44 ONYX MAGAZINE

eliminated a long-standing “food desert” by negotiating and securing Walmart as a co-anchor on the Hope Center West campus. In the Fall of 2013, a strategic alliance was established featuring Frontline Outreach Inc., a youth and family center which Wiggins serves as chairman of the board and Legends Academy, a Kindergarten through eighth grade Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM)-focused school.

Wiggins received a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from Florida A & M University and is a graduate of the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative. He also has been awarded both an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Philosophy in Apostolic Ministry degree.

A lifelong resident of Florida, Archbishop Wiggins and his wife, Lady Deborah Wiggins, are proud parents of five children: Michael, Brandy, Julian, Allen II, and Jonathan.

SAGE

Enjoy the Outdoors at Any Age

M

aking time to enjoy the outdoors is a simple way to boost your physical and mental well-being, no matter your age. Whether you venture out to the porch to watch the sunset or lace up your golf shoes for an afternoon on the course, there are plenty of ways you can take in some fresh air.

Going outside generally results in more physical activity than if you were to stay cooped up inside, and it’s an easy way to socialize and interact with others. It also plays an important part in maintaining your vibrancy.

Get inspired to spend some quality time outside with these ideas: Take up a hobby. Planting a garden or tending a flower bed is terrific motivation to spend more time outdoors, and you’ll have the bounty of your work to enjoy, as well. Even a box garden designed for a smaller space requires regular care, so you’ll find yourself outdoors on a consistent basis nurturing plants to grow.

Take in a performance. Outdoor theaters offer numerous forms of entertainment from music concerts to plays. Before shopping for tickets, be sure to consider any discounts you might be able to use.

For example, AARP members can find discounts on tickets for a wide range of events.

Increase your exercise. Even if you have some physical limits, keeping your muscles stretched helps maintain mobility.

That might mean taking a walk or playing a round of golf. You could gather family or neighbors for a game of croquet or just move outdoors to do your daily stretches.

Find a way to blend your daily exercise with the chance to get some fresh air for maximum benefits.

Go on a trip. The sights and sounds that go along with exploring somewhere new make it easy to enjoy spending time outside. Be sure to make plans for entertainment while you’re on the road, and rather than driving home in the dark or when you’re tired, consider making a hotel reservation through the AARP Travel Center. You might even consider organizing a weekend getaway with a partner or friend

who shares your interest in discovering a new destination.

Enjoy a meal out. Dining al fresco is a treat when the weather cooperates, but you can incorporate a delicious meal as a bonus when you’re out and about even when the weather is less than ideal. You could opt to spend your wait time outdoors, or reward yourself after a walk with a special seafood, Italian or steak dinner.

You might even pair the meal with a concert or a show for a truly enjoyable evening away from home.

Get creative when you think about how you’ll make more time to spend outdoors and remember that resources exist to assist with planning and saving money along the way.

Learn more at aarp.org/memberbenefits.

This article originally ran in Family Features

ONYX MAGAZINE 45

JUSTIN WILLIAMS

General Manager, Grand Bohemian Orlando Justin Williams, a hospitality industry veteran with more than 23 years of experience, serves as the general manager for the four-star Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando, The Kessler Collection’s iconic property in the heart of downtown Orlando. He is responsible for 247-guestrooms, 10,000 square feet of event and meeting space, Grand Bohemian Art Gallery, Starbucks and the award-winning Boheme Restaurant and Bösendorfer Lounge. Williams’ success at Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando can be attributed to his dedicated mentality that drives engagement among grand performers to ensure excellent service, flawless operations and memorable guest experiences—while continuing revenue growth.

An active member of his community, Williams serves on the board of directors for several organizations including Downtown Orlando Partnership, Orlando Regional Chamber, Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association and sits on the Central Florida Marriott Business Council. Passionate about giving back, Williams also

46 ONYX MAGAZINE

is on the board of directors and an active member of Man UP Mentoring, an organization geared toward mentoring at-risk youth, and an active member of the Central Florida African American Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to his role with Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando, Williams gained invaluable experience as the general manager of the Wyndham Santa Monica in Southern California. Before joining Wyndham, Williams spent 19 years holding numerous positions from hotel Manager to Director of Operations within the most reputable hospitality brands such as Hilton Hotels, Marriott and Starwood. During his tenure, Williams opened and led the teams of the award-winning Westin Verasa Napa including the Michelin starred, Wine Spectator Grand award-winning La Toque in Napa, CA; the historic Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette Hotel in Peoria, IL; and the Conde Nast award winning Twelve Hotel and Residence in Atlanta, Ga.

JÉAN WILSON

Co-Managing Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, PA It is said that lawyers have a professional and moral duty to represent the underrepresented in our society and to ensure that justice exists for all. This statement truly describes Jéan E. Wilson.

That is not the only statement that describes him. He has been named as 2019 Florida Super Lawyer and Rising Star and Best Lawyer in America 2020.

Jéan E. Wilson is Co-Managing Shareholder of the Orlando Office of GreenbergTrauig and Chairs of the firm’s Orlando and Atlanta Public Finance Practices. Wilson has broad experience as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, underwriters’ counsel, bank counsel, trustee’s counsel, borrower’s counsel and purchasers’ counsel in various types of tax-exempt and taxable financings. In addition, he has the combined skills, experience, and legal and business acumen to assist government and private sector clients seeking advice on the wide variety of activities involved in providing, organizing, operating, managing, financing, acquiring and

privatizing public infrastructure. Wilson is also part of a team which consists of real estate, finance, sports and entertainment, tax, media, construction, litigation, and governmental affairs professionals. This collaborative experience gives us the unique opportunity to address all matters related to sports facilities, entertainment venues, and integrated mixed-use projects.

He is the former managing partner, office of Statewide Municipal Finance Firm, Orlando Florida. He earned a J.D., with honors from University of Florida Levin College of Law and a B.S. in Finance from DePaul University. This collaborative experience gives the unique opportunity to address all matters related to sports facilities, entertainment venues, and integrated mixed-use projects.

Wilson has lectured and served on panels for organizations including: National Association of Bond Lawyers, Florida Government Finance Officers Association, National Forum of Black Public Administrators and Florida Bar - Local Government Law Section.

ONYX MAGAZINE 47

JOIN OUR TEAM ONYX Magazine celebrates 20 years of entertaining, inspiring and informing African Americans throughout Florida. Join our team as we continue to expand. We are seeking experienced and enthusiastic Sales Representatives and Writers. Send your resume’ and writing clips (for writers) to info@onyxmagazine.com or call 407-451-2891.

ENTERTAINS, INSPIRES AND INFORMS

48 ONYX MAGAZINE

ONYX ON THE MOVE

Conference attendees and supporters Sherri Brown – Visit Tampa Bay; Chloe Coney – HNTP Corporation; and James Ransom – Tampa Organization of Black Affairs (TOBA).

Carla Williams with COMTO National Chair Freddie Fuller.

COMTO Comes to Florida ONYX Magazine served as a media sponsor for the July 2019 COMTO conference in Tampa. Each year, COMTO hosts its annual National Meeting & Training Conference: the nation’s premier gathering of professionals in the transportation industry.

COMTO’s annual conference brings together industry leaders across all modes of transportation for four days of learning, training, and networking. COMTO’s National Meeting &Training Conference is open to transportation professionals at all career

levels, government employees, manufacturers and suppliers, and all interested participants. Conference co-organizer Carla Williams is a member of ONYX Magazine’s Advisory Committee.

Williams is the manager of community engagement for Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART). The informational also featured receptions, networking and it wrapped with a dinner cruise on the Tampa Bay.

Empowerment Luncheon

ONYX Magazine Advisory Committee Chair Dee Parker, ONYX Magazine’s Black Men Honors recipient Brian Butler, and ONYX Magazine Advisory Committee Member Nancy Port-Schwalb.

ONYX Magazine attended the African-American Chamber of Commerce, Central Florida, Empowerment Luncheon. More than 200 community leaders experienced a conversation with Tony McGee, the chief executive officer of HNM GLC, hosted by Monica May of Star 94.5.

Gran Destino Tower: Steven Diaz

ONYX Joins Re-Imagining Celebration of Disney Hotel

A magnificent chandelier framed by sculpted plaster columns shines in the lobby of Gran Destino Tower above Barcelona Lounge.

Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort opens July 9 at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

ONYX Magazine was invited to celebrate the Grand Opening of Walt Disney World’s Gran Destino Tower at the Coronado Springs Hotel. The moment I arrived, I was greeted by valet parking and bell services, who whisked my bags out of my hands and into the hotel. As I entered the most beautiful lobby I have ever seen, several hotel representatives greeted me and checked me in with an iPad as I stood in the lobby without ever getting in a line. My guest credentials, room key, which looked like a watch was placed on my wrist, along with many other necessities were handed to me.

The corridor on my floor was a psychedelic array of colors and designs on both the walls and carpet. When I arrived at my room I simply swiped my Magic Band along the Mickey

The new Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort opening July 9 at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, takes its inspiration from the Disney animated short film “Destino.”

Mouse icon on the door and tada! Disney Magic! My guest room was a beautiful rustic, classic look complete with a beautiful glass shower, raised square sinks, double queen beds and a 65 inch flat screen television which read “Welcome Brooks Family.” The view was exquisite and covered almost all of the hotel property. Disney Magic again! Kudos to the interior designers, who created intricate designs throughout the hotel. Later we dined with cocktails and dessert at the rooftop restaurant, Toledo Tapas Steak & Seafood. The food was delectable. –Gigi Brooks ONYX MAGAZINE 49

LEADERSHIP

Fredrick H. L. McClure

Five Answers From a Leader

1. How do you drive your team members to be on their A game at all times? As a team, we adopt the mantra,

“it’s not about us, it is all about our clients! Everything we do or don’t do should be in furtherance of delivering consistently exceptional client service. We have regular conversations around that mission to reinforce it with our longtime team members and to instill it in new hires.

2. When priorities shift quickly, how do you swerve to make sure everything gets done? While planning is essential

to effective implementation of a work plan, it is equally important, I believe, that you always remain nimble. We plan for the expected, but we must be nimble enough to take advantage of unexpected opportunities, or address hiccups, when they present themselves.

52 ONYX MAGAZINE

3. What steps do you take daily to stay focused and calm in your fast-paced industry? I try to stay committed

to being a lifelong learner. In most industries, and certainly in the legal industry, if you ever believe you have arrived, you are dead! I wake up every morning trying to be better than I was the day before.

4. How do you celebrate successes? The old saying that

failure is an orphan but success has many mothers is meant to be pejorative, but it is at least half-true. No true success has a single parent; it is birthed by many. I like to show every member of the team, from the copy room staff to my legal assistant to the paralegal and to the more junior lawyers working with me how what they did played a role in the success we achieved.

5. What was the impact of the most important decision you have made as a leader in your organization?

In a global law firm like ours, it is difficult for young lawyers to get trial experience. I have made it a priority to provide young lawyers with real world, on their feet opportunities in court. It has paid dividends in that these young lawyers are better prepared to take lead roles in cases as they mature in their careers, often at a rate greater than their peers.

Photos courtesy of Fred McClure

“L

aw and Politics” magazine calls Fredrick H. L. McClure a Florida Super Lawyer. “Florida Trend” magazine recognizes him among Florida’s Legal Elite, a designation extended to only 1.6 percent of Florida attorneys, as voted by their peers. After 32 years, McClure has proven to be a preeminent trial lawyer; but it is his approach to challenges and successes that makes him a true leader. A partner at DLA Piper, LLP (US), McClure lives by sentiments penned by Whitney Young, “It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.”

ONYX MAGAZINE 53

MEDICALLY SPEAKING

Does Hormone Therapy For Prostate Cancer Raise Dementia Risk?

By Karl Tully, M.D.

W

hen men with prostate cancer have to take drugs that block the testosterone fueling their tumors, they can suffer a host of side effects that include impotence, bone loss, heart trouble, and obesity. But new research uncovers yet another possible downside to the treatment: These men may be at greater risk for dementia.

For any type of dementia, that risk increased 17%; for Alzheimer’s disease, it increased 23%, the researchers said.

Common side effects of so-called androgen-deprivation therapy include hot flashes, unstable mood, trouble sleeping, headaches, high blood sugar, allergic reactions, and impotence.

“Androgen-deprivation therapy may not only cause physical changes, such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease or obesity, but may also cause changes in cognition,” said researcher Dr. Karl Tully, a research fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

But Tully cautioned that this study cannot prove that such hormone therapy caused dementia, only that the two are associated.

The investigators also found that men on this type of therapy had a 10% greater risk of seeking psychiatric services.

The risk for dementia increased as the length of therapy increased, the researchers 54 ONYX MAGAZINE

noted. Men on androgen-deprivation therapy for six months had a 25% increased risk for any kind of dementia and a 37% increased risk for Alzheimer’s, the findings showed.

Being on hormone therapy longer than six months increased the risk for dementia and using mental health services even more, Tully said.

For the study, Tully and his colleagues collected data on more than 100,400 men enrolled in Medicare. The men were diagnosed with prostate cancer between January 1992 and December 2009.

Given these findings, “physicians should be telling their patients about that risk and should probably perform regular screening,” Tully said.

One urologist, however, doesn’t think patients need to be told about this tenuous association.

“I don’t think it’s a fair discussion to have,” said Dr. Elizabeth Kavaler, a urology specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

In this population, the increase in dementia may not be from hormone therapy at all, Kavaler said. As people live longer, the odds of developing dementia naturally increase.

Moreover, many of these patients probably had other medical conditions that

might increase their risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s, Kavaler added.

“Earlier generations were all worried about cancer, we’re worried about dementia,” she said.

In addition, patients with prostate cancer may not have a good option whether to start hormone therapy or not, she noted.

“We really don’t have a choice. Androgen-deprivation therapy is what can be offered to men with recurring or advanced prostate cancer. It’s a matter of treating a deadly disease versus the risk of developing a non-life-threatening condition,” Kavaler said.

“How do you ask somebody to choose between losing your mind or not treating their high-risk disease,” she said. “It’s a hard position to put a patient in. I wouldn’t even bring it up.”

The findings were presented at the American Urological Association annual meeting, in Chicago. Research presented at meetings should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Karl Tully, M.D., research fellow, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston; Elizabeth Kavaler, M.D., urology specialist, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City. This article was published in BlackDoctor.org.

MEDICALLY SPEAKING

The 411 on Male Birth Control Pill

By Jasmine Browley

T

here’s a new birth control coming to the market, and there’s a lot to learn about it. The new pill, which works similarly to female birth control, passed initial safety steps and produced hormone responses consistent with effective birth control in 30 men, according to research presented by the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute and the University of Washington at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting.

The drug is truly in its infancy stage and has not yet been submitted for approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but experts say that it could be well on its way to the market.

There have been some promising advances in male birth control recently.

Researchers from LA BioMed and the University of Washington previously developed a separate male birth control pill that has also passed preliminary safety.

There’s also some evidence that similar compounds could act as long-lasting male birth control when injected. A topical contraceptive gel, which men would apply daily to their shoulders and arms, is on the horizon as well.

These birth control methods for men are about a decade away from being commercially available. Currently, the only choices

are condoms, which often fail and are sometimes used incorrectly, and vasectomies, which are permanent. As a result, the heavy burden of birth control falls primarily on the shoulders of women — which makes any step toward male options a win.

In the new study, findings showed that 30 healthy men ranging in age from 18 to 50 took a pill formulated with a mix of testosterone and progestin (a synthetic version of the female hormone progesterone) for up to 30 days.

Unlike the 2016 male birth control trial that was infamously stopped early because so many men complained of the same side effects that women have endured for decades, none of the men experienced serious problems with the newer pill, and no one stopped taking the drug because of side effects.

Some men did report minor symptoms such as exhaustion, migraines, acne and decreased libido — none of which will surprise women who take birth control pills. Two men experienced minor erectile dysfunction.

The study was introductory and it assessed only safety and hormone responses in men, rather than asking couples to test the pill as contraception. Initial blood hormone tests suggested that the pill could suppress both sperm and testosterone production enough to prevent pregnancy in the long run.

Contraception is for healthy, younger couples who are looking to have complete control over their family planning options.

To that end, there will be several more rounds of testing and trials before the pill will be made public.

The wait will be worth it, both from a biological and emotional standpoint. Sexual health will hopefully improve and men will get a better understanding of what women endure from a reproduction perspective.

Jasmine Browley holds an MA in journalism from Columbia College Chicago, and has contributed to Ebony, Jet and MADE Magazine among others. This article was featured in BlackDoctor.org.

ONYX MAGAZINE 55

MONEY MATTERS

Oh, The Places You Can Go

By Laura Dorsey

I

t is that time of year again. Back to school! As Dr. Seuss declares in his acclaimed book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!,” “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” But which direction do you choose? There is a college attainment gap in this country, with a large portion of our high school graduates not able to attend college. Are you a high school student eager to earn a salary? Does an associate degree, technical training, certificate, apprenticeship, or on-the job training fit your family budget better than four years of college tuition? When it comes to higher education, MONEY MATTERS! When it comes to money, the real goal is the return on investment.

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. We all want wealth, but how do you get there? It starts with a successful career which relies on your skills and talents. Just a reminder, there is a difference between a job and a career. A job is going to work to earn a paycheck, while a career involves thinking about long-term goals.

President Obama previously challenged every high school graduate with the goal of committing to at least one year of higher education or post-secondary training. It is important to know there are career opportunities that do not require a bachelor’s degree.

Earning a post-secondary degree or credentials is no longer just a pathway to opportunity for a talented few, but rather it is a prerequisite for the growth of a new economy. In the future, CAREER

employment in careers requiring education beyond a high school diploma will grow rapidly, more than employment in jobs that do not. Of the fastest growing occupations, more than half of them will require postsecondary education. Having said that, higher education of some sort is the clearest pathway into the middle class. The category of middle-class income per year is between $40,500 and $122,000.

Dozens of high paying jobs are available for high school graduates without a four-year college degree. Based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are many careers that do not require a college degree and there is an increasing need for those positions. Here are a few of them that come with middle class income salaries:

SALARY

HIGHER EDUCATION

Dental Hygienists

$74,070

Associates Degree

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

$75, 660

Associates Degree

Power-plant Operators

$77,180

None (on the job training)

Transportation, storage and distribution Manager

$92,460

None (five years’ experience)

Brick masons

$51,700

None (on the job training)

Telecommunications line installers

$54,200

None (on the job training)

Air Traffic Controllers

$124,500

Associates Degree

Computer Programmer

$82,240

Certifications or Associates Degree

Transit and Railroad Police

$70,280

None (Internal training)

Casino Gaming Manager

$72,930

None (Internal training)

Construction Manager

$95,956

None (experience/certifications)

Funeral Directors

$54,830

Associates Degree

So how do you find these careers that do not require a four-year degree? As with any career, you must do your research. First consider taking a career aptitude test to help you better understand which career is best for you. Once you have narrowed your field, look into the requirements. Whereas a degree is not required, some employers might look for certifications. Many community colleges offer certifications as well as some online options also offer them. Networking is important. Talk to people who are doing what you want to do. Sometimes it is not what you know, but who 56 ONYX MAGAZINE

you know that can make a difference in your career search.

Warren Buffet started with $100 and turned it into $30 billion.

That means it is not about the money you have; it is about the knowledge you have. One of his favorite quotes is, “The most important investment you can make is in yourself.” Your career is the engine of your wealth. Identify your talents and find a way to turn them into an income-generating vehicle. When it comes to your career, MONEY MATTERS!

TRAVEL

TRACING HISTORY ALONG FLORIDA’S CIVIL RIGHTS TRAIL

Historical re-enactors at Fort Mose, the first free African settlement in North American and a premier site on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail and the Florida Black Heritage Trail.

By Andrew Meacham

T

he struggle for equal rights defies calendar dates, even Black History Month. Some of its wounds still lie fresh, and some of the biggest victories remain incomplete.

Five Florida landmarks got a major boost in 2018, however, by being listed on the United States Civil Rights Trail, which connects more than 100 sites in 15 Southeastern states. Stories of heroism live on in each city, as does the change these stories have created in the world.

The trail project, which launched in January 2018 on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, covers historically significant schools, churches, courthouses and museums, including some of the best known flashpoints -- the school desegregation in Little Rock, Ark; a segregated lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C. ; and the voting rights protests in Selma, Ala. Some Florida landmarks are famous, too, at least indirectly.

Out-of-state visitors might know little about Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach. But they’ve heard of Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball’s color barrier there in 1948.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 made discrimination illegal when President Lyndon Johnson signed it on July 2, 1964. Just as important were months of protests and nightly marches in St. Augustine, culminating at the Monson Motor Lodge two weeks earlier.

Students can often get through high school with “two names (Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks) and four words (‘I have a dream;’ ‘back of the bus’). That’s the extent of their knowledge,” said Julie Buckner Armstrong, whose books include Mary Turner and the Memory of Lynching. and editing the Cambridge Companion to American Civil Rights Literature. That’s why the idea of a civil rights trail is so important, including the Florida sites, Armstrong said.

“When I put these together,” she said, “I see a longer and more complex kind of civil rights narrative than what one typically gets.”

Civil Rights martyrs: Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Memorial Park and Museum

2180 Freedom Ave., Mims.

(321) 264-6595

Curators have recreated the wood frame home of the two civil rights leaders the way it was on Christmas Day 1951 before the dynamite underneath it exploded.

A right to counsel: Bay County Courthouse 300 E 4th St., Panama City.

(850) 763-9061

Gideon v. Wainwright began here as a penny-ante burglary trial. It wound up in the Supreme Court on the strength of a hand-written appeal by a drifter with an eighth-grade education.

The house that Jackie built: Historic Dodgertown 3901 26th St., Vero Beach.

(772) 569-4900

The only sports property on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail earned its cachet with the 1947 signing of Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers, a move that changed American sports.

Wade in the water: Newtown Alive Of all of Florida’s natural resources, nothing compares to its beaches. Yet for decades, African-Americans were not permitted to visit them. Through the 1950s and early 1960s, residents of Newtown on the west coast tested those waters in droves, bringing black residents to lily-white Sarasota beaches one caravan at a time.

Dr. King was jailed here: National Historic Preservation District, St. Augustine On June 11, 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was charged with violating Florida’s “unwanted guest law” after trying to dine at a pricey St. Augustine restaurant, ratcheting racial tensions higher.

Story and photo were featured in Visit Florida and have been republished with permission. For more information, visit www.visitflorida.com.

ONYX MAGAZINE 57

ON THE

QUAD FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Receive National Diversity/Inclusion Honors

Adobe.com

The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering earned a Bronze award and Exemplar status from the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) in the inaugural year of the ASEE Diversity Recognition Program. The college is one of only two engineering programs in Florida to earn the distinctions.

“This is a fantastic achievement for the FAMUFSU College of Engineering,” said Maurice Edington, Ph.D., provost and VP for academic affairs for Florida A&M University. “This award speaks to the critical roles that the joint college and FAMU play in helping to address the nation’s diversity needs in high-demand fields such as engineering. I am also pleased that the commitment and work on the part of both universities to foster inclusion have been acknowledged by this prestigious award.”

Added Florida State University Provost Sally McRorie: “We are so proud of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering’s commitment to creating a more diverse and inclusive engineering workforce. Diversity and inclusion are core values of Florida State University as an institution. This recognition is a testament to both universities’ commitment to creating an excellent educational experience that we hope will ultimately be reflected in the workplace.”

The Bronze award is the highest level ASEE bestowed in the program’s first year and it signifies the college is “among the nation’s leaders in inclusive excellence,” according to ASEE Engineering Deans Council Chair Gregory Washington. In its award letter, ASEE identified several key diversity and inclusion elements to which FAMU-FSU Engineering is clearly committed, including an action plan, support, policies, culture and programs that strengthen the K-12 or community college pipeline related to increased diversity in engineering.

58 ONYX MAGAZINE

B-CU Receives National Science Foundation Awards To Improve Minority Women STEM Success The National Science Foundation issued B-CU $187,651 of a $456,261 grant for support of a project titled “The AGEP Florida Alliance Model: Improving Minority Women Success in STEM Faculty Careers,” under the direction of Dr. Helena Mariella Walrond, University Provost and Dr. Herbert W. Thompson, Associate Provost and CSEM Dean.

“We are thrilled to receive this grant and to be part of an alliance with Florida Memorial University, the University of South Florida and Florida International University focused on increasing and advancing minority women faculty in STEM,” said Walrond.

“Specifically, our work will focus on the retention and success of underrepresented women in the professoriate, placement as postdoctoral scholars and promotion in the professoriate.

Through our work we will also advance data that hinder and promote the success of underrepresented women in STEM through a model that incorporates structured mentoring and professional development. Ultimately, our alliance significantly influences our collective ability to shape graduate education in STEM,” she added.

This is a continuing grant which has been approved on scientific/technical merit. Contingent on the availability of funds and the scientific progress of the project, the National Science Foundation expects to continue to support the project totaling $456,261 by its closure. The award extends from September 1, 2019 and ends August 31, 2023.

Adobe.com

EWC Inks Multi-Year Deal With Nike & BSN Sports Nike’s trademark Swoosh is coming to Tiger Nation beginning this upcoming fall at Edward Waters College (EWC). EWC has signed a multi-year agreement with Nike through BSN Sports to become the official supplier of apparel and athletic equipment for all EWC sports. Under the agreement, Nike will become the exclusive provider of all Tiger uniforms, apparel and accessories.

“In our continual pursuit of eminence and high achievement both on and off the field, this partnership further demonstrates our prominence as a nationally competitive athletic department,” said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Mr. Paul Bryant, “Nike and BSN SPORTS help us enhance the scope of our branding nationwide.”

The agreement with Nike/BSN SPORTS officially started on July 1, 2019 and comes with an impressive array of perks and benefits. Most notably, pursuant to the Nike partnership, EWC will also be provided with a range of rewards, discounts and complimentary marketing/promotional materials.

Before coming to an agreement with Nike and BSN, all EWC athletic programs purchased apparel through various vendors, utilizing a number of different brands. The Nike partnership will allow the Tigers to display a consistent look and leverage the dynamic EWC brand with uniformity and pride.

“We are excited about this new partnership with Nike and BSN as this agreement will operate to heighten the position of the Edward Waters College brand not only through athletics but will equally function to advance our overall institutional footprint into new markets and spaces for the benefit of our students and stake holding partners”, said EWC President/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. A. Zachary Faison Jr.

ONYX MAGAZINE 59

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Demystifying the Mammography Discussion

By Dr. Debra Monticciolo

W

omen have been told to get a mammogram every year starting at age 40. Why? What are the downsides to getting checked—or not—each year for breast cancer?

The American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Society of Breast Imaging recommend that women get a mammogram each year starting at 40.

This will save the most lives. The ACR says women should have a risk assessment by age 30 to see if screening earlier than age 40 is needed.

According to National Cancer Institute records, since mammography became widespread in the 1980s, breast cancer deaths in women are down more than 40 percent. Some say that’s due to improved treatment. Yet the breast cancer death rate in men—who are not screened but receive the same treatments as women—has not improved. So better treatment alone is not enough.

Some organizations say to wait until age 45 or 50 to start mammograms and then do them every other year.

One reason given is “false positives.”

When doctors see something on a mammogram that doesn’t look right, they ask the woman to have another mammogram or ultrasound exam to take a closer look. If that test finds nothing wrong, some call the result of the first test a “false positive.”

This happens in about 10 percent of women who get a mammogram.

For about two percent of women tested, the second scan can’t rule out a problem, and they may get a needle biopsy. Less than half of the women who get a biopsy will have cancer (see graphic).

Others say that mammograms find cancers that won’t ultimately kill you. They call this “overdiagnosis.”

Studies based on actual women who get tested show that this is rare—perhaps a tiny percentage of cancer are found. Doctors can’t tell which cancers will quickly kill and which won’t. The only

way to know is to not treat your cancer and see what happens - a serious risk. Starting mammograms later, or doing them less often, won’t reduce “overdiagnosis.”

A truly over-diagnosed cancer would just be found on the next test. Doctors and patients would still have to decide how to treat it. And because nearly all cancers can kill, a delay will give invasive cancer time to get worse. Most experts agree that more women would die from breast cancer by moving away from routine annual screening starting at age 40.

One published study says that that number could be as high as 13,000 more breast cancer deaths each year.

Ultimately, women 40 and older should discuss with their doctors the benefits and risks of getting - and not getting - a yearly mammogram.

For more information, go to your local cancer facilities like Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa or Orlando Health.

The original source of this article is NewsUSA and it has been reprinted with permission.

ONYX MAGAZINE 61

FOOD AND WINE

ELEVATE YOUR TAILGATE Burgers and hotdogs are the quick go-to football tailgate party menu. But if you throw these grilled favorites in the mix, you’re sure to have a hit!

Grilled Sausages 16 sausage links (pork or chicken, sweet or spicy, or a mix) Crusty bread or rolls (optional)

Spicy Grilled Shrimp 1 large clove garlic 1 teaspoon coarse salt 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon paprika 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoons lemon juice 2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined 8 wedges lemon, for garnish Preheat grill for medium heat.

Prick each sausage in several places with a fork. Place the sausages directly on the grate and grill, turning occasionally, until cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. (The sausages can be cooked on any part of the grill, wherever space allows.

If they’re not over direct heat, cook a few minutes longer.)

If desired, serve on the crusty bread or rolls.

62 ONYX MAGAZINE

In a small bowl, crush the garlic with the salt. Mix in cayenne pepper and paprika, and then stir in olive oil and lemon juice to form a paste. In a large bowl, toss shrimp with garlic paste until evenly coated.

Lightly oil grill grate. Cook shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until opaque. Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with lemon wedges, and serve.

Adobe Stock

Heat grill.