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Publishers of the Power Broker & Grapevine News magazines Gypsy C. Gallardo PUBLISHER Lonnie Donaldson CO-FOUNDER Deborah Figgs-Sanders CHAIRMAN, The Power Broker Foundation Gwendolyn Reese ASSOCIATE EDITOR Pop Lancaster OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER Misha Wong CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jeremy Farnum GRAPHIC designer Kimberley Webb DIGITAL media manager Robert Gallardo SOCIAL media manager Adrienne Reddick SPECIAL events manager Aleyah Conway PRODUCTION assistant Briana Lake EXECUTIVE assistant Lena Graham BEAUTY editor Pat McGhee FASHION editor Tracy Darity SENIOR writer Dr. Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich GUEST columnist Kurt Donley GUEST columnist Adriahnna Curry GUEST columnist Ersula Odom LEGACY Writer Jeffery Peaten, III TALLAHASSEE reporter Maiya Gitryte MIAMI reporter
CORRESPONDENTS
Kellis Glenn - Clearwater Candy Lowe - Tampa Sandra Butler - Polk County Kimberly Albritton -Manatee & Sarasota Counties Kevin Rose - St. Petersburg
44 | Power Broker magazine
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TheLeadership Files Who’s moving up, who’s moving on
A monthly report by the Power Broker & Grapevine magazines
Captain Allen Thompson Elected Board Chairman at Glazer Allen Thompson, retired U.S. Coast Guard Captain and Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Pilots Association, assumed the Chairmanship of the Board of Directors of the Glazer Children’s Museum in February. Thompson has served on the 25-member board since 2009 and was Vice Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee that lead development of a long-range strategic plan. A release by the museum notes Thompson’s professional experience for the Pilots Association “providing leadership and vision for the association comprised of 23 harbor pilots that service the ports of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Manatee.” In addition to its multi-themed galleries and 170 ‘interactivities’ for children, the 53,000 square foot downtown museum is fast becoming a favorite event spot for bay area organizations as well.
10 | Power Broker magazine
Ray Lewis joins ESPN The ESPN sports network announced in mid-March that Tampa Bay native and two-time Super Bowl winner Ray Lewis has joined the network. He’s slated to appear on several TV and radio shows, as well as covering Monday Night Football live. New Officers for FAMU’s Tampa Alumni Chapter The Florida A&M University National Alumni Association Tampa Chapter has elected a new slate of officers: Wendell Duggins, the new president, returned to the Tampa Bay area with his wife Deborah after 40 years away; Ted Scott as Treasurer; Maryse Dixon as Secretary; Jackie Hearns as Parliamentarian; and Carolyn Collins as point person for Governmental Affairs. Duggins says his top goal is to help create the largest and strongest financial chapter in the FAMU alumni network. Reach him at wlduggins@ gmail.com or visit www. famualumnitampabay.org.
Studio@620 honors community icons On March 30th, the iconic Studio@620 showered four of our own with recognition at its annual Studio Honors Awards event. This year’s honorees: Dr. Bill Heller, Dean, College of Education, USFSP; Cynda Mort, Journalism Specialist, Melrose Elementary; Terri Lipsey Scott, Chair, Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum; and Marquis Floyd, Graduating Senior, PCCA/Gibbs High School, who received the Ola Mae Jones Emerging Artist Award. The occasion was held at the Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, complete with an evening of entertainment that only the Studio could assemble. Masters of Ceremonies Rod Carter, of News Channel 8 and Bonnie Agan, Actor and Writer, spirited guests through musical and dramatic performances directed by Nate Najar and Bob Devin Jones including dance from Dundu Dole Urban African Ballet, legendary bassist John Lamb, and a poetic salute by St. Petersburg Poet Laureate Peter Meinke.
St. Petersburg native returns from state post to focus on community development Gregory Williams moved up the ranks in the Florida Department of Corrections for two decades before returning to his roots in St. Petersburg as a Project Director for Urban Development Solutions, a community-based developer known for projects such as the Manhattan Casino and Tangerine Plaza in St. Petersburg’s Midtown community. Williams, whose most recent post was as Assistant Warden of Operations at Sumter, Baker, Union and Polk Correctional Institutions, will serve as UDS’ point person for the completion of the historic McCollum Hall in the City of Fort Myers. The 10,000 square foot facility will house a restaurant and other retailers on its ground floor, while the second floor will be restored to its role as an entertainment venue. Much like the Manhattan Casino in St. Pete, McCollum Hall was built in the late 1930s and thrived for decades as the only facility of its kind available to African Americans during segregation.
New Faith Free Methodist hosts 1st Annual Community Service Awards New Faith, the 23 year old congregation nestled in St. Petersburg’s Midtown community, made history yet again this year. At the suggestion of Teresena Bryant, whose family was one of two that founded the congregation, Pastor Curtiss Long readily agreed to an enhancement
to the church’s annual women’s day tribute. During the ceremony, the Reverend noted “We’ve been honoring men in the community for years; this was a natural for us to extend that same appreciation to women.” New Faith’s inaugural awardees were Mrs. Mary Murph, founder of the Florida Sickle Cell Association; Busara Furahisha Pitts, principal of Lealman Intermediate School; Brenda Lynette Dunbar, a retired educator of over three decades; and Gypsy Gallardo, publisher of the Power Broker magazine.
Dr. Samuel Wright starts the third leg of his career The man with a resume a mile long and a heart just as grand has retired from the University of South Florida as student ombudsman this past February, but we hear tell that Dr. Samuel Wright is already considering the launch of a national consulting practice. Though we’ve been sworn to confidence for the moment, we should be able to bring readers a proper report before the summer is underway. For those unfamiliar, Dr. Wright spearheaded the nationally renowned Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival nearly two decades into his career at USF, where he is recognized for helping lead over 100% growth in minority student enrollment during the 13 years he spent with the university’s multicultural admissions staff.
Encore for Carl Lavender, Jr. Speaking of encore careers, St. Petersburg’s very own Carl R. Lavender, Jr. (whom you may recall as the driving force behind the revival of the Royal Theater) was recently named statewide Chair of the Strategic Planning process for Alleghany Franciscan Ministries & Foundation. Under his guidance, the Foundation will convene other leaders in Tampa Bay, West Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties, where Alleghany has offices. On behalf of the Foundation Board, Lavender will convene health care industry leaders, non-profit organizations, and community leaders in a comprehensive planning process for the creation of the “Common Good” initiative to frame the Foundation’ giving policy. Carl is the retired CEO of the Suncoast Boys & Girls Clubs and is also credited for his liaison role for the Pinellas Education Foundation, Eckerd Family Foundation, Pinellas Schools, and the Ford Foundation, helping to spearhead the Pinellas District’s multi-year strategic plan for Career Academies. The Ford Motor Company recently recognized the District for being an outstanding leader in the Career Technical Education community. As a result of Lavender’s work on the Ford plan, he is now on staff at the Pinellas Technical Education Center as strategic community and partnership development consultant.
Send us your news: reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com
TheLeadership Files
Who’s moving up, who’s moving on A monthly report by the Power Broker & Grapevine served in leadership roles with the One Church One Child Foundation, The Pinellas County Urban League, and Faith & Action for Strength Together. In 2012, he received the Presidential Award for Community Leadership. Rev Sykes is also serving his second term as President of the St. Petersburg NAACP.
Judge Sanderlin among three inductees to the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame At the tail end of black history month, Governor Rick Scott announced the selection of Judge James B. Sanderlin, Margarita Romo and Harry T. and Harriet Moore to the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame. The three were chosen from a list of 10 nominees selected by the Florida Commission on Human Relations for their contributions to our state’s history. In a release by his staff, Gov. Scott said, “As Florida marks its five hundred year anniversary, we want to honor individuals who have stood for equality in our state’s history, even in the face of adversity.” Pastor Sykes honored for 20 years of service The family of Bethel Community Baptist Church was joined by dozens of community friends to honor the 20th Anniversary of Rev. Dr. Manuel L. Sykes as their Shepherd. A church leader said, “Not only has he been an outstanding leader in the ministry, he has also shown great strength and courage as a pacesetter in the St. Petersburg community.” During Pastor Sykes’ 20 years of service, he’s 12 | Power Broker magazine
Gilzean appointed to FAMU board Glenton Gilzean has landed on his feet after losing the race to retain the Pinellas School Board seat he held for seven months in 2012 after being named by Governor Scott to fill the seat vacated by the passing of Lew Williams. In mid-March, Gov. Scott named Gilzean to the Florida A&M Board of Trustees for a five year term. In so doing, The Tampa Bay Times reported, “Scott declined to reappoint trustee Charles Langston to another term. He also passed over four other applicants. Among them: FAMU alumnus Keith Clickscales, a former ESPN executive who helped launch Vibe magazine, and attorney Daryl Parks, a former FAMU student body president who served as a trustee until Scott replaced him in 2011.” City gets new soul food stop; Atwater, new head chef assignment The Tampa Bay Times reported early this March: not only has Lenzo Atwater, of the regionally famous Atwater clan, signed on as head chef for a new restaurant; St. Petersburg will now have a
soul food restaurant in the City’s downtown. The new restaurant will be located in 4,000 square feet of space on the ground floor of the Kress building at 475 Central Avenue.
Recent Leadership Highlights Veatrice Farrell: Veatrice Farrell has been hired on as the new Director of the Deuces Live business association (formerly the 22nd Street Redevelopment Corporation) to help strengthen the organization as a driving force in the continuing renewal of the historic corridor in St. Pete’s Midtown community. Farrell came to the “Deuces” after two decades in the field of small business development and finance, most recently as a senior lending officer for the Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporation. Darryl Rouson: State Rep. Darryl Rouson, District 70, celebrated 15 years of sobriety on Sunday March 17th with a public reception and testimony at St. Petersburg’s Enoch Davis Center. His press release dubbed it “A Day of Help, Hope and Healing,” and quotes Rouson saying “I’m still holding on.” Dr. Walter Smith: The Dr. Walter Smith Library in Tampa celebrated its 10th Anniversary on Saturday, March 16th with entertainment in the form of a fashion show by Kaotic Von and live R&B by young artists. The event doubled as a fundraiser, selling southern and soul food cuisine by Southern Style Outdoor Cooks (Chefs Don Lee and Jackie Hearns). Sharon Russ: You may recall her from her prior run for Mayor or from one of the many community events where she’s
spoken out as an advocate for change. In early February, Sharon Russ filed to run for the District 6 Council seat, the only Southside seat on the ballot this year, and the subject of a once robust debate about whether it should be considered a “black seat.” District 6 is currently represented by Karl Nurse, who is white, and who’s won widespread support despite early questions about his suitability to represent the largely black district. Expect Russ to take the reformer position in this so far shallow field of candidates, while Nurse draws on the support of a diverse coalition of backers.
News from TheRoot.com Visit and connect to TheRoot. com for national daily news about politics, multimedia, business and more. Here’s some of what TheRoot.com reported recently:
The Amazing Comeback of Susan Rice by Keli Goff There have been plenty of second acts in politics, from former President Bill Clinton surviving a sex-turned-impeachment scandal, to former Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Barry returning to public life from a crack-andprostitute scandal. But rarely do political comebacks happen in the span of a few short months. And yet that appears to be the case for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice (not that anyone is comparing her Benghazi troubles to the very real transgressions of the
aforementioned politicians). After her humiliating withdrawal from contention as a secretary of state nominee, Rice is said to be the Obama administration’s front-runner for national security adviser. For those wondering how a woman who had little chance of being confirmed as secretary of state can be confirmed as national security adviser, the answer is, she doesn’t have to be. National security adviser is not an official cabinet post and therefore does not require Senate confirmation; however, the post is one of the most influential within a presidential administration in terms of shaping high-level foreign policy. Read the whole story at TheRoot.com.
Essence Editor Says She Was Fired by Richard Prince Constance C.R. White has disclosed that her departure as editor-in-chief of Essence magazine was involuntary and the result of repeated clashes with Martha Nelson, the editorin-chief of Time Inc. who White says sought to limit the way black women were portrayed. “I went in there with passion and excitement and high expectations,” White told Journal-isms, referring to her 2011 hiring. “It wasn’t what I expected at all.” Read the whole story at TheRoot.com.
News from TheGrio.com
Dr. Rodney Bennett breaks barrier as first black president of Southern Miss by Monica Land More than 50 years ago, the president of an all-white university in Mississippi went to such great lengths to keep a black man from enrolling as a student, that he had the man arrested on trumped up charges and sent to prison. Treated harshly behind the walls of the historic Parchman penitentiary, that man — a Korean War veteran — was forced to work on their cotton plantation until he collapsed from the pangs of cancer and later died. That man was Clyde Kennard….. On Feb. 7, Dr. Bennett became the first African-American to head the historically white university some 58 years after Kennard’s initial application to Mississippi Southern — as Southern Miss was then known — was rejected by the school’s president William D. McCain….. Like Kennard, Bennett never set out to make a historical statement. He does however, realize what his prodigious feat means to the black community. Read the whole story at thegrio.com.
A hero among us
In case you didn’t hear the news, hats off to Frantz Jean-Claude of Miami, who saved the life of 6-year old Keenan Smith in early March. Jean-Claude was passing by, saw the boy in distress and stopped his car in the middle of the road to run to Smith’s rescue. Jean-Claude, who happens to be a nurse, performed CPR to resuscitate the child whose mother called the man “an angel” in a local TV interview.
Send us your news: reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com
Pomp or
Circumstance?
Rouson, ever the underdog, gunning to take the Florida House back for the Dems (or at least tip
the balance)
-by Jeffery L. Peaten
I
t could happen. In 2014 the Florida House of Representatives could swing to the Democrats. After all, 40% of voters in the state are registered with the Democratic Party. And considering that the Republican “super majority” in years past was reduced to a mere 16-seat advantage in the November 2012 election, with some hard work and grassroots activism, it could actually happen.
In the improbable event that Democrats do succeed in taking the State House in 2014, Darryl Rouson (D-St. Petersburg), who won a close caucus vote last month over Rep. Mia Jones (D-Jacksonville) to become the Minority Leader-elect, would assume the coveted role of House Speaker. Even if that doesn’t happen, though, Rouson says he’s determined to help the Democrats raise their profile and relevancy under his watch. Rouson, an attorney and former President of the St. Petersburg NAACP, has represented his district since 2008 (his District 55 evolved into District 70 in 2012) and is the ranking Democrat on the State Affairs Committee. But even more important for the Dems, Rouson has several underdog victories to his credit, and it’s that penchant that may tip the balance of power in 2014. “W-M-B-O is my strategy for winning ground in the next election cycle. It’s an acronym for work-my-behind-off.” Rouson will have to do that and more. Consider the last Democrat to take up the gavel as Speaker. As Rouson humbly reminded me, it was 16 | Power Broker magazine
Representative Peter Wallace. For readers who, like me, remember little about Wallace, know this – his tenure as Speaker ended 17 years ago following the 1996 Legislative Session. The late Lawton Chiles was our Governor and Bill Clinton was in the White House! While 17 years may not seem like a long time to some, politically speaking, it’s the equivalent of four presidential election cycles – in other words, it’s ancient history. And speaking of history, if the Democrats were to pick up 17 seats in 2014, Darryl Rouson would be the first African American to preside over the Florida House as Speaker. As he optimistically admitted, Rouson would love to see what he referred to as a “Perfect Storm” scenario in which both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Florida House shift to the Democrats. “In Washington, we need to pick up 17 seats,” he noted with tempered enthusiasm, “and in Florida, we need 17 seats to take the House. In the ‘Perfect Storm’ we pick up enough seats to take both the U.S. and state Houses.” It’s been a test of fortitude for the Dems during the decade plus of GOP dominance in the Florida Legislature. The long list of legislative defeats to years of a Republican vetoproof majority is something Rouson remembers all too well. Since Rouson joined the Legislature in 2008, Democrats have been unable to slow down the Republican agenda. His freshman year, GOP lawmakers rejected any legislation projected to raise taxes and slashed nearly $4 billion from the 2009 budget, impacting education and health care. In 2010 it was mandatory drug testing for
welfare recipients – which easily passed the Republican controlled legislature (only to be halted last month by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals). During the 2011 session, Democrats could do little to stop more Republican cuts to education and state worker pay. Lawmakers sent Governor Scott a budget that slashed $1.3 billion from public schools and effected a veritable pay cut for state employees, forcing them to contribute 3% of their salaries to the Florida Retirement System (a measure recently upheld by the state Supreme Court). The series of legislative defeats continued during last year’s session, as Rouson and Democratic colleagues proved powerless to thwart a Republican budget that reduced Medicaid payments to hospitals by 7.5% and did little to restore education funding. Rouson recognizes that 2013 will undoubtedly prove to be another tough year. In less than two weeks GOP leaders have killed Medicaid expansion in both chambers (despite Governor Scott’s endorsement) as part of an ongoing nationwide effort by conservatives to marginalize the Affordable Care Act. And the current Republican Speaker of the House Will Weatherford made it known that he’s continuing to push a fiscally conservative “thought process in the Florida House for the next two years.” Despite the obvious challenges, Rouson is optimistic and apparently undaunted, saying his top priority is to recruit strong Democratic candidates for the house, while doubling down on fund raising efforts. That, he says, will fuel strong grassroots support for solid challengers to Republican incumbents. He also plans to point out to Floridians just how far right GOP lawmakers have taken our state. “We can’t plan for a perfect storm, but if we shoot for the moon and land
a few stars lower, it increases the relevancy of the Democrats. If we work hard, we can pick up six to eight seats, but we will shoot for 17.” Rouson sees fertile ground in the Democratic coalition that re-elected President Obama. And with former Governor Charlie Crist clearly positioning to challenge Rick Scott in 2014, it is far from naive for Rouson and the Democrats to believe they can counter Republicans over the next two years. Following his slim victory over Jones to become the new Minority Leader, Rouson remarked, “If you think I worked like this just to get your pledge to become leader, guess how hard I’m going to work to put the Democratic Party in position to pick up more seats.” Rouson recently purchased 35 copies of David Colburn’s From Yellow Dog Democrats to Red State Republicans and mailed them out to his Democratic colleagues. The book is a perceptive account which chronicles how the GOP took Florida, perhaps the nation’s most important swing state, away from the Democrats. Why? “It talks about the prescription of what we might have to do to bring back the power,” said Rouson of the book in a Tampa Bay Times piece entitled “What’s Darryl Rouson Reading?” Rouson will take over as the new House Minority Leader in January 2014. He recognizes what his new leadership position means for his district, which includes parts of Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee counties. It has been more than 20 years since a Democrat representing this part of the state held such a significant leadership role in the House. It is a role that he assumes with both excitement and humility. As for what is in store for the 2013 session? In addition to helping freshman colleagues get acclimated and build relationships in the House, Rouson will continue working to
restore early voting hours cut by Governor Scott and the GOP in 2011. He is also in support of proposed legislation for grandparents’ rights in Florida and the “Smart Justice” proposal, a bipartisan bill seeking to place some non-violent drug offenders into re-entry and drug treatment programs rather than high-security prisons. Banning the sale of drug paraphernalia, an effort started in 2010, is also a major priority for Rouson this year. “We passed a bill a few years ago regulating these shops. Now we have a bill seeking to ban them in our state. I’m working with Kelli Stargel in the Senate to move forward with this important legislation.” Expect him to also build on his reputation of working with Republican leaders, such as Speaker Weatherford and Senator Stargel (R-Lakeland). In an era when politicians are often criticized and shun working with the opposition for fear of primary election challenges, his willingness and ability to negotiate with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle is refreshing. “As the leader of House Democrats,” he reminded me, “it is my duty to serve as the loyal opposition to the Speaker.” That is, if he has not assumed the role of the Speaker himself. “Dems are the diverse & big tent party,” Rouson tweeted only a few hours before the start of this year’s legislative session. “Therein lies the strength for all that is beautiful for us, & there lies the weakness of other party.” Clearly, Rouson has a vision of bringing many more Floridians under the “big tent” of the other party. But can he do what it takes in the next two years for the House to shift to the Democrats? It’s improbable, but to a man who relishes the role of the underdog, it is definitely within the realm of possibility. Power Broker magazine | 17
The
Health Buzz
(A new monthly column to keep you in touch with health news)
Dear Readers I am so excited to share with you the launching of a new monthly column in the Power Broker and Grapevine magazines addressing topics related to your health and well-being.
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. There are many things impacting our health today including The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), racial inequities, and sequestration to name a few, and most of us know very little and understand even less about either. Each month a guest columnist will share information about nutrition, health care, insurance, Medicaid expansion, bills before Congress or the Florida Legislature, health disparities, advocacy opportunities, and more.
everyone should be concerned. There are people who will drive across town to save 50 cents on a carton of milk or 10 cents at the gas pump, but when it comes to health care, they don’t want to think about how much it costs. Most people don’t understand how insurance works and feel little personal responsibility for keeping health cost lower. We only think of our out-of-pocket expenses and not the cost to the insurer for various treatment options. The cost to the insurer and not our costs is what leads to the increased premiums and co-pays we seem to face every year when it’s time to renew our policy. I just experienced a monthly increase of $20 ($240 per year) to maintain the plan I currently have and can expect a similar or even larger increase next year.
At times the columns will even suggest small changes in your health and fitness that can have a significant, positive impact on your overall health and wellness. We will also share information about resources you can tap into to screen for disease and learn how to improve your health or manage disease. We’ll bring you month by month news such as free screening locations, health fairs, conferences for health professionals, focus groups and town hall meetings in the community.
The health care bill was signed into law on March 23, 2010, but it will take several years to implement with the major parts rolling out in 2014. In 2013 insurers must reduce paperwork and Medicaid payments will be increased to primary care doctors. In 2014 citizens and legal residents must have insurance and penalties will be phased in for those without coverage. Also in 2014 states must establish “exchanges” to offer health plans, large employers must enroll employees in health plans or face fines, and insurers will not be able to restrict coverage based on health status. These are just a few of the changes underway.
With health care and insurance cost skyrocketing
Take note of the huge impacts to health care that
20 | Power Broker magazine
How does Sequestration Impact our Health & Families stem from sequestration because Congress’ failed to act on March 1st (see the sidebar to this article for a laundry list of the cuts that result and the ways they impact us!). These are just a few of the issues before us. We should be more proactive regarding our health and health care and being proactive requires being knowledgeable. The health column will provide you with information you will need to advocate for yourself and your loved ones. April is National Minority Health Month and what better time to kick off our health column. The guest columnist next month will be Carrie Hepburn, Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Healthcare Collaborative. Until then – stay healthy.
Gwendolyn Reese
Spending cuts triggered on March 1st mean that a series of automatic cuts are already taking place that affect all of us in some way. Vital services for children, the elderly, and people with mental illnesses will be cut. Here are just a few examples of the impact in Florida: • The loss of nearly $54.5 million in funding for primary and secondary schools and another $31.1 million in funds for educating children with disabilities. • The loss of Head Start and Early Head Start services to 2,700 children. • Up to 1,600 children will lose access to child care. • Around $3.8 million in funds to feed seniors will be lost. • About 7,450 fewer children will receive vaccines for measles, mumps, flu, etc. • Around 6,250 fewer low income students will receive assistance with college costs and nearly 1,700 fewer will get work-study jobs. Nationally, law enforcement, small businesses, job search assistance and training, public health emergency responders, aviation safety, food safety, national parks, rental help to low income families, homeless programs, nutrition for women, infants and children (WIC), HIV treatment and prevention and many other services will be affected. Sources: The Impact of March 1st Cuts on Middle Class families, Jobs, and Economic Security: Florida, The White House; Rolling Out the New Health Care Law, NPR, 7/2/2010.
Congressional Record Honoree Now Also Nominated for 2013 Presidential Citizens Medal Dr. Scruggs-Leftwich with U.S. Representative Kathy Castor at the Congresswoman’s annual Black History Month commemoration
Dr. Scruggs-Leftwich graduated with honors from North Carolina Central University and earned a Masters from University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. She was awarded the distinguished Fulbright Fellowship to continue political science and international affairs graduate studies at Berlin’s Free University in Germany, and earned a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in national urban policy from the ivy league University of Pennsylvania.
22 | Power Broker magazine
E
“
ven though Black History month sometimes is considered a convenient opportunity for token tributes to groups and values more appropriately celebrated year round, these occasions nonetheless surface folks who deserve recognition whenever they can get it. Such has been the case for public servant and intellectual griot, Dr. Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich who, in recent years, has made the same rich public service contribution to the St. Petersburg community that “she has dedicated the majority of her life to making” in communities in New York State; Pennsylvania; Washington, DC; and many African nations, according to the Citation presented to her by U.S. Representative Kathy Castor at a recent ceremony.
The Citation was later read into the U.S. Congressional Record from the floor of Congress by the Congresswoman. Dr. Scruggs-Leftwich now has also been nominated by local supporters to receive 2013’s Presidential Citizens Medal because she is considered a “hero in our Florida community.”
A former national Executive Director/CEO and tenured University professor, Dr. ScruggsLeftwich retired in 2010 to join her husband, Rev. Edward Leftwich, in St. Petersburg to volunteer as sponsors of the Quantum Opportunities program run by the decade-old non-profit Center for Community and Economic Justice (CCEJ). CCEJ-Quantum provides after-school enrichment, mentoring, and leadership preparation for 25 “at- risk” high schoolers, from their freshman year through graduation this June.
Eleven Quantum “Associates” have already been inducted into the National Honor Society. She emphasizes “Not one of the 25 is in the criminal justice system and all are on track to receive their 2013 high school diploma on time. ”
“Her commitment to public service has been evident through her service as Deputy Mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; as New York State Housing Commissioner in Governor Mario Cuomo’s Cabinet; as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Executive Director of the President Carter’s Urban and Regional Policy Group which created America’s first formal, Congressionally approved National Urban Policy. The Tampa Bay Community is proud to recognize Dr.Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich for her outstanding career and significant contributions to the fields of education, public policy and civil and community activism. Her dedication to advancing the rights of others through both public and community service makes her an inspirational leader.” – Excerpt from Scruggs-Leftwich’s Congressional Record Citation To her right, Rev. Edward Leftwich enjoys the ceremony with his wife.
Local Author & Mother shocks readers into paying attention to HIV in bay area high schools with her novel,
“
The Red Bear Society “The Red Bear Society is a book filled with jaw dropping, head shaking chain of events. Everyone was one mattress roll away from a life-changing event. If we intend to keep our future generations alive and well, I would hope we do not turn a blind eye to the things going on right in front of our faces, like some of these characters. Denial is sometimes a death sentence in and of itself.” Jennifer C. APOOO Book Club A nationally touted high school
gets a new principal with more than the ABC’s and 123’s on her agenda. Parents receive a huge wake-up call when she charges them with going home and checking their kids’ cellphones and computers. What some discover will be a lesson they will never forget. With heightened awareness on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the black community, St. Petersburg author Tracy Darity has written a timely novel on the subject. The Red Bear Society, released in February of 2012 under Darity’s publishing company, Teganjaz Books Presents, addresses the question, “Are parents talking to their kids about sex?” Set in a fictitious high school in Florida, Darity explores what
24 | Power Broker magazine
Tracy L Darity would happen if a blood drive was held and several students learned they were HIV positive. She says, though shocking, it’s the unfortunate reality facing our teens. Darity, a mother of three daughters, admits writing on such a sensitive subject was difficult. However, after watching an episode of the NBC hit talk show The Doctors, where they were talking to a group of teen girls on promiscuity and unsafe sexual behaviors, she felt it was an issue that had to be addressed. Doing the research was time consuming, but she wanted to provide accurate information. Her toughest challenge, surprisingly, was getting information from the community liaison at Florida Blood Services. “He told me that it was highly improbable that a blood drive at a high school would reveal multiple positive results,” says Darity. “But look at the math: HIV infection rates are highest among teens; researchers estimate than over half of undiagnosed HIV infections are in youth ages 13 to 24; studies show that 46 percent of high school students have had sex at least once, yet only 13 percent report ever having had an HIV test. “That adds up to this: we very likely have more HIV in our schools than we know of.” The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates more than half of all undiagnosed HIV infections are
youth ages 13 – 24. Studies go on to show that: • Of HIV diagnoses among 13 to 19 year olds, almost 70 percent are to black teens, even though they constitute a much smaller proportion of the adolescent population in the U.S. • Almost 80 percent of all adolescent infections are in males. Nine out of 10 adolescent male HIV infections result from maleto-male sexual contact. The same proportion of adolescent females is infected from heterosexual contact. • The highest concentrations of HIV diagnoses among adolescents are in the Southeastern United States and, specifically, Florida, South Carolina, and Louisiana. Getting people to read reports and statistics can be a gruesome task. But Darity feels she has crafted a novel that will get parents to stop and have a serious talk with their teens, and for teens to understand the seriousness and consequences of their actions. Not only does the novel deal with HIV, but the author has also weaved into the plot several situations affecting today’s teens such as, teen pregnancy, predatory teachers, and drug use to name a few. The Red Bear Society by Tracy L. Darity is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers. Autographed copies available at www.racyLDarity. com (ISBN: 978-1466409002).
Truth Telling A monthly column dedicated to busting myths, urban legends and outright lies
The Second Worst Thing:
The Racially Offensive Mischaracterization of the Housing Bubble By Dedrick Muhammad, Director NAACP Economic Department, Published by The Admin March 2013
I
n early March, Bloomberg Businessweek magazine released its latest issue to much-deserved outrage. Its cover featured Jim Crow-esque caricatures that portrayed people of color as money hungry and implicitly suggested that they will cause a future housing bubble. Unfortunately, this offensive image is only the second worst thing about this cover. Since the housing bubble burst in 2008, a myth has been perpetuated that minorities, not predatory lenders, are responsible for and profiteers of housing bubbles. The implications of this false narrative are particularly problematic as they can inform the economic and housing policies that will determine the availability of homeownership for most Americans today. During the 1960s and 1970s, the civil rights community helped convince the government to enact policies to break down barriers for African American homeownership. But many of these gains were eroded with the onset of deregulation. During the 2000s housing bubble, minority borrowers were 30% more likely to be sold a subprime highcost loan than a white homeowner. And African-Americans with similar credit profiles and down-payment to white borrowers were more likely to be given subprime loans as well.
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Mortgage lenders and brokers were even incentivized to exploit minority borrowers as lenders were paid more to push them towards riskier products and not underwrite their loans. By 2008, the housing bubble burst due to reckless banking. While foreclosure rates skyrocketed all over the country, communities of color experienced disproportionate foreclosures and wealth loss. White families lost 16% of their net worth on average while black families lost 53%. In fact, the erosion of wealth in minority communities was so severe that the ratio of wealth between black and white families tripled over the past 25 years. However, with all this history, many Americans still believe that racial inequality is related to individual behavior, character, marriage and child bearing. As the Institute on Assets notes, “homeownership has been the biggest cause of racial wealth disparity.” Though Businessweek’s article “The Great American Housing Rebound”, notes how homeowners have yet to recover from the crisis, the corresponding cover only included Blacks and Latinos surrounded by mounds of dollars. Apparently, and to our profound disappointment, the editorial team decided it was an easier sell to have a cover
scapegoating minorities than one that honored the facts in their very own article. Faced with a vocal response, Businessweek issued a classic “non-apology” expressing regret for the strong reactions their cover generated. They then, ironically, attempted to scapegoat their Latino illustrator for the misleading cover art. Businessweek needs to respond to the demands forth by the NAACP, the National Council of La Raza, and others. We are asking Businessweek to take appropriate action for their outrageous cover and to print a story on the importance of home-ownership particularly for communities of color.
More Black Men in Jail than in College? Wrong Show Me the Numbers: A 13-year-old report using questionable data gave rise to an enduring myth.
By Ivory Toldson, Ph.D.,
associate professor, Howard University; and editor-inchief of the Journal of Negro Education (Published by TheRoot.com February 2013)
W
hat does the line “There are more black men in jail than in college” have in common with the Jheri curl? Answer: They were invented by white men and adopted enthusiastically by black people, and they left a nasty stain on the shoulders of millions of black men. It’s been 20 years since the Jheri curl faded away into infamy, and I’m proud to say that I never sported a curl. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about the line “There are more black men in jail than in college.” About six years ago I wrote, “In 2000, the Justice Policy Institute (JPI) found evidence that more black men are in prison than in college,” in my first “Breaking Barriers” report. At the time, I did not question the statement’s veracity. It fit well among other stats I used to establish the need for solution-focused research on black male achievement. I was in good company. The same year, at a 2007 NAACP forum, then-presidential candidate Barack Obama said, “We have more work to do when more young black men languish in prison than attend colleges and universities across America.” We both brought our own unique style to the line. I was academic, while the President was passionate. In contrast, Charles Barkley recently used the line to justify the need for armed defense against black men. He told Bob Costas, “You know, we as black people…we don’t have respect for one another….we’ve got more black men in prison than we do in college, and crime in our neighborhoods is running rampant.”
However, just as a Jheri curl would be wrong no matter how you dressed it up today, the line “There are more black men in jail than in college” is wrong no matter how you qualify it. Today there are roughly 600,000 more black men in college than in jail, and the best research suggests that the line was never true. Below I examine the dubious origins of what is arguably the most frequently quoted statistic about black men in America.
Basis for the Myth More than 10 years ago, the Justice Policy Institute released the report, Cellblocks or Classrooms. While the report should have been a wake-up call to policymakers, one line resonated more than any other: “Nearly a third more AfricanAmerican men are incarcerated than in higher education.” JPI has yet to acknowledge that today the enrollment of black males in college is drastically different from when it published the report. If we replicated JPI’s analysis with data from the National Center for Education Statistics’ Integrated Post
Secondary Education Data System (IPEDS), we would find a 108.5% jump in black male college enrollment from 2001 to 2011 (from 693,044 to 1,445,194). In September 2012, in response to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s screening of the film Hoodwinked, JPI issued a press release titled, “JPI Stands by Data in 2002 on Education and Incarceration.” However, if one examines the data, it is clear that many colleges and universities were not reporting JPI data 10 years ago. In 2011, 4,503 colleges and universities across the U.S. reported having at least one black male student. In 2001, only 2,734 did so, with more than 1,000 not reporting any data at all. When perusing the IPEDS list of colleges with large black male populations today but none reported in 2001, I noticed several historically black schools, including Bowie State, and my own alma mater, Temple University. Ironically, I was enrolled at Temple as a doctoral candidate in 2001. As a researcher who uses large data sets, I understand the inherent margin of error in such analysis. However, I do think that JPI shows arrogance when it “stands by” its original findings today.
C
Where to get the best soul food in Tampa
God’s Kitchen:The Open Café
A church-led business that’s nourishing body and soul! “Chef Reggie” Bell is a humble man with great passion. When we sat down to talk about the highly successful Open Café, a three yearold soul food establishment nestled in east Tampa, he identified himself as the Executive Chef and Manager. As we discussed how the restaurant started with two deep fryers and a George Foreman Grill, and grew into a full-service commercial kitchen, it turns out that Bell is the man behind the vision, but he credits Bishop Eddie Newkirk of St. John Cathedral as a founding force.
The church team employs line cooks, preparation cooks, order takers, dishwashers, and lawn and building maintenance workers, many of them ex-homeless or ex-offender. In addition to The Open Café, Bishop Newkirk and St. John Cathedral also have a Transitional Housing Ministry with 32 people in their program, 15 of them employed by the church. Others have jobs elsewhere or are being trained for jobs. A certified business job trainer in the culinary arts field works with some trainees over a six month timeframe.
“
He explains that St. John is the owner of the building that houses the Open Café. Many from the area remember it as the former Orange Blossom Catering, a neighborhood facility that doubled as the church’s youth outreach building and a rental hall for social functions. Three years ago, Bell felt compelled to approach the church’s leader, Bishop Newkirk, and share an idea to turn the waning facility into a restaurant.
He went on to reveal his vision of helping those recently released from prison, transition back into society, and serving a need in the community. The Bishop fully embraced the concept and the non-profit eatery has been in full gear since its opening in August of 2010. What goes on behind the scenes is just as impressive. The Café provides an opportunity for transitional individuals to have a job, be trained, build a resume, and earn a reference for other jobs as they move up the career ladder.
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By Tracy L. Darity & Ersula Odom
The housing program has been in operation for 15 years working with the community and the State of Florida. Over the years people have come to them by word of mouth, from programs such as Abe Brown Ministries, and even directly off the street.
“By opening the doors to The Open Café, we created a means for the homeless and those transitioning from incarceration to have a job doing what they know and/or being taught new skills. We feed the stomachs with delicious food, but we also feed the soul.” Bishop Eddie Newkirk
A former military man, Bell says he has always had a love for great food. He is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Europe, and worked as a chef while in the military traveling the world, and also for the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. But life hasn’t been a bed of roses. His compassion for ex-felons stems from his own testimony of being a drug-dealer turned drug-user and a five year stint in federal prison on money laundering charges. “It was the darkest period of my life, but God never left my side,” he shares, fighting back the tears. With the love and support of his wife Diane of 35 years, Bell served his time, and kicked his drug habit. Coupled with Bishop Newkirk’s trusting spirit, he knows that God is using his life to be a blessing to others who have fallen by the wayside. In the short time the Café has been operational, it already has a slew of success stories. One in particular is a man who came to them after 37 years in prison. “He would work here from all day, every day. Later he enrolled in school and would leave here at 3 p.m. and attend class from 4 to 7 p.m. He eventually got married, became HVAC certified, and recently relocated to Tallahassee.” The Café’s services extend beyond its four walls. Bell and his team offer catering, and have enjoyed being the backstage caterer for the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival. With such a following, I had to ask if any
famous faces had checked out the joint. To my surprise, it turns out actress Kerry Washington, who portrays Olivia Pope of the hot new drama Scandal is a huge fan. Former Mayor Pam Iorio chose the Café for the signing for her book Straightforward: Ways to Live and Lead, and it is not uncommon to see other who’s who dining in. If you decide to check-out the Open Café you may want to go on a day other than Sunday, because it’s a local favorite among churchgoers. According to Bell it isn’t uncommon for the line to extend out onto the sidewalk. Although the majority are there for the soul food dishes that include smothered pork chops, oxtails, collard greens, macaroni & cheese, and the like, Bell shares that his specialty is Creole cooking. He invites patrons to check-out his world famous “Cajun Burger.”
Florence Gainer, Café manager and church secretary, said the patrons “suck up the smothered pork chops like they are sucking through a straw.” Added to their soul food, the Café serves All-American fare like hamburgers, waffles and chicken wings, subs, and baked or blackened fish. Gainer says “Seniors love that they can get a meal with a meat, vegetables, two sides, and bread for $6 to $7.”
Stop by Monday thru Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for breakfast, lunch or dinner;
on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 12 noon or Sundays from 12:30 to 6 p.m. The Open Café is located at 3222 N. 34th Street in Tampa. Their 150-seat meeting hall is available for rental for wedding receptions, plays, parties, and group meetings.
Bishop Dwight Newkirk (founder’s son) & wife The Café’s founder, Bishop Eddie Newkirk, is a graduate of St. Petersburg’s Gibbs High. He went on to study at Moody Bible Institute; Beacon’s Bible Institute and the Florida Seminary. Newkirk preached his initial message at Friendship Missionary Baptist in St. Petersburg and was ordained in 1965 by Bishop C. J. Long to later become the Pastor of St. John M. B. Church (now St. John Cathedral) in Tampa in 1969. The congregation’s all-inclusive goal is to communicate the love of God through outreach ministries. To this end, St. John has founded Noah Outreach prison ministry, House of Lydia for women, and the Eddie Newkirk Life Community Center.
Men of the church gather to study the Word, then share some soul food.
Da Best Soul Food www.dabestdabest.com
You read it right; that’s the name of this favorite soul food eatery, which symbolizes that there is nothing in the English language to describe how good their steaming plates taste. Da Best Soul Food owner Darryl Anthony, stopped by The Open Café, got quick hugs from staff members, and proceeded to a table for a meeting about expanding his soul food operation to a third location. His two restaurants are located elsewhere in Tampa, but he’s a regular for Bible Study at his friend’s restaurant as well. Da Best Soul Food’s largest location, with a 109 seating capacity, is at 10200 N 30th Street. Famous for its home-style cooking, the restaurant offers a delicious menu featuring favorites like fresh fried chicken, black-eyed peas and collard greens. If you would rather enjoy some barbecue, they offer tangy, smoked ribs layered with a generous helping of sauce. When you visit Da Best, you’ll enjoy freshly prepared authentic home cooking in. Sweet potato pies and cornbread are baked fresh in their own ovens, just like Mom. Anthony’s second location is at 5802 n 40th Street, which they call “DA BEST Breakfast.” This site is more popular with the younger Hip Hop crowd who love the take-out only $1.99 breakfast special. A third location will open soon at 301 and Big Bend Road with a 40 person seating capacity. What accounts for Da Best’s explosive growth since 2009? Anthony says “I’m doing the same thing they are doing”, pointing to The Open Café management. “I came out of prison with a degree in psychology and Christian Education and could not find a job.” Therefore, he created a job for himself and others like himself. Anthony also says the formula for success is combining a casual dining atmosphere with good food, reasonable prices and friendly staff. Da Best Owner Darryl Anthony
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T
he third week of the 2013 Legislative Session saw the release of the Republican alternative to Medicaid Expansion. Senate Proposed Bill 7038 would accept billions in federal dollars, made available under President Obama’s national health care reform, to extend medical care to Florida’s roughly 1 million uninsured residents. But rather than expand traditional Medicaid to cover them, the alternative plan would tap private insurers for the program. Details are still few and while I agreed to allow the bill’s introduction, I am withholding any endorsement of the plan without a guarantee that it provides the same “affordable, quality health care” to the uninsured as traditional Medicaid.
Action in the Senate Chamber
The Senate convened for session on Tuesday, March 19 when we honored the longest serving member, and first woman ever elected President of a state Senate, Senator Gwen Margolis, as Dean of the Florida Senate. There was also a moving tribute to Senator Larcenia Bullard of Miami, who recently passed away. Senator Bullard was not only my sorority sister, but a dear friend whose greatest passion was our public education system. I was honored to sponsor Senate Resolution 568 recognizing March as Women’s History Month. This year’s theme is “Women Inspiring Innovation through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics.” We also recognized “National Guard Armory Day in the Capitol” and saluted all those who served our great country.
My Bills:
• Senate Bill 628 Driver License provides specific statutory authority for justices, judges, and individuals who support the function of the courts to access driver’s license photographs maintained by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The bill passed favorably in the Rules Committee
• Senate Bill 832 Powers of Attorney , which clarifies the 2011 Florida Power of Attorney Act, passed favorably in Government Oversight Committee
Bills on the Move
Senate Bill 50 Public Meetings by Senator Joe Negron passed unanimously in the Senate Chamber. The bill gives the public a “reasonable opportunity” to be heard before a board or commission. Although under Florida’s Sunshine Laws, public meetings must be open, there is no legal requirement that citizens be given an opportunity for input. This bill would change that by requiring state and local governments to allow the public to speak at public meetings. Senate Bill 600 Elections by Senator Jack Latvala was intended to correct the 2012 election fiasco here in Florida, and reverse or remove a number of onerous provisions from a Republican-backed elections law change passed two years earlier. So far, Senate Democrats including myself have not been willing to vote for the bill because many of the reforms we know are needed – such as expanding early voting and reinstating “Souls to the Polls” Sunday voting - remain excluded from the legislation. We are hopeful that as the Session continues, our concerns are heeded and additional critical components are added. Senate Bill 718 Family Law by Senator Kelli Stargel would end permanent alimony in Florida, and put restrictions on alimony awards following short-term marriages. I voted no against the measure in the Judiciary Committee. Senate Bill 1342 Traffic Control by Senator Abruzzo would have lessened the deterrence factor of red light cameras but was amended in the Senate Transportation Committee to preserve the program in its current form.
Committee Assignments: Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice, Vice Chair; Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight, Chair; Appropriations; Ethics and Elections; Health Policy; Judiciary; Transportation; Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
Senator Joyner’s District Office: 508 W. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Ste C Tampa, FL 336033415 (813) 233-4277 Legislative Assistants: Randi Rosete, Rosalie Smith and Kassandra Timothe 36 | Power Broker magazine
March 28, 2013
SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Speaking with the Firefighters for Pinellas about the Florida Retirement Pension Plan
Rep. Darryl Rouson
House District 70
Greetings again from Tallahassee!
T
he state legislature has begun Session 2013. Several major bills have already passed the House floor, but none have become law as of today. Changes to the election laws and early voting, campaign finance rules, and changes to the state pension plan have all been recently passed. If you have any questions or concerns about pending legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me: Twitter @darrylrouson Darryl.Rouson@myFloridaHouse.gov
Florida Retirement System and House Bill 7011
The House of Representatives, in my view, voted to place the retirement benefits of our public employees (teachers, police, firemen, state employees) at possible risk last week. This bill, HB 7011, will restrict new hires that enroll in the Florida Retirement System after January 1, 2014 from joining the defined benefit plan, normally referred to as the pension plan, and would force them into the defined contribution plan, referred to as the investment plan. I believe this would shift the risk to the employee for managing and navigating their own retirement. The bill passed the House on a party line vote and has been sent to the Senate. Currently, government benefits such as the original
pension plan offset the lower annual salary that many members of the plan receive. With the proposed changes, many quality government employees may seek employment elsewhere, further damaging the overall stability of the pension plan and the quality of our state public workforce.
Campaign Finance Legislation
This week the House passed HB 569, the Republican sponsored campaign finance bill by a vote of 75-39. Most Democrats, including myself, opposed the bill due to concerns about incumbent protection, lack of transparency, and the increase of money that will be allowed in the system. Supporters believe that the bill would increase transparency in campaign finance. HB 569 raises the cap on direct campaign contributions to candidates from $500 to $5,000 for statewide candidates, allows for unlimited contributions to political committees (PCs) and permits a candidate elected to state office to retain up to $20,000 in surplus campaign funds for use in the next election for the same office.
Education: Parent Trigger Bill
A controversial education bill commonly known as Parent Trigger legislation passed the Education Appropriations Subcommittee and the Education Committee
on partyline votes and is now poised for the floor. The bill, HB 867, allows a majority of the parents of children in a low performing public school to petition their school board to convert the school to a charter school or select another “turnaround option” to improve school performance. While the House bill is poised for the floor, the Senate companion bill hasn’t had its first committee hearing yet.
Firearm Safety
The Criminal Justice Subcommittee unanimously passed HB 1355 by Rep. Barbara Watson. The bill closes a loophole to prevent patients who voluntarily accept treatment after being involuntarily treated under the Baker Act from purchasing firearms. Currently, a patient who accepts treatment voluntarily would pass an FDLE background check for a firearm person, while an identical patient who is involuntarily treated would not. The bill will next be seen in the Judiciary Committee.
District Offices:
6501 25th Way South Suite D St. Petersburg, FL 33712-5665 Phone (727) 906-3200 OR 302 Manatee Avenue East Suite 304 Bradenton, FL 34208-1901 Phone (941) 708-8570 Legislative Aide: Barclay Harless District Staff: Tennille Moore Leila Wilson
District 61 E-Update Dear Constituents and Friends:
from State Representative Betty Reed
Dear Constituents and Friends:
G
reetings from Tallahassee and the Florida House of Representatives.
The Florida House was officially called into Session on Tuesday, March 5, 2013. This year we are facing a number of challenges that includes the expansion of health coverage, Parent Trigger bill, and Elections. So far this session I’ve had a number of groups from back home visit with me. Mayor Buckhorn and Men of Vision stopped by on their annual trip to the Capitol. The Men of Vision were recognized on the House floor. I also had the pleasure to visit with the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida where I was made an honorary Girl Scout.
The legislation I am sponsoring this session includes HB 507 State Contracts, HB 93 Homelessness, HB 241 Community Health Workers, HB 615 Statewide K-12 Education Commission, HB 2012 Background Screening and HB 965 Enterprise Zones. HB 93 Homelessness has passed unanimously through several committees and will be heading to the floor of a full House vote. On Opening day the House passed CS/HB 7013 with bipartisan support. It treats the current eight days of early voting as a minimum and allows Supervisors of Elections to designate up to fourteen days of early voting, including the Sunday before Election Day. The number of hours allowed per day increased to eight or twelve hours from the current six to twelve hours.
The minimum amount of hours allowed increased from 48 to 64 hours while the maximum is extended from 96 up to 168 total hours. The bill adds additional locations for voting: Fairgrounds, civic centers, courthouses, county commission buildings, stadiums and convention centers to the enumerated locations at which early voting may be held.
Betty Reed District Offices:
2109 Palm Ave. East Suite 201. Tampa FL 33605 813-241-8024
Tallahassee Office: 402 South Monroe St. Tallahassee FL32399 850-717-5061
It is an HONOR and a PLEASURE to serve you in the 34 Broker magazine 36 | Power Florida House of Representatives EMAIL: Betty@myfloridahouse.org
Change the Story.
He’s 15. He likes to hang out with his friends. He wants to buy a car. And he’s at risk of dropping out.
No one read to Anthony when he was small. Children who are read to are more likely to become good readers. And good readers are more likely to graduate from high school. High school graduates earn more, make better choices, use fewer social services and stay out of trouble. They become better, more reliable employees. United Way Suncoast encourages you to read to a child. Become a ReadingPal. Change the story for young people like Anthony.
Sign up at unitedwaysuncoast.org/readingpals.
In Search of Black Night Life…..
The Latest Up of black-owned entertainment and restaurant establishments By Ersula Odom
W
hether you’re a young professional looking for a nightlife or an over-40 who only occasionally indulges in an evening on the town, you may be hard pressed to find a vibrant “urban” scene in Tampa Bay. And you would be well advised to call first, because some venues don’t last long in this market. Mocha Brown’s Coffee Lounge is one of the gathering places that’s still going strong. Honored by Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay 2012 “Critics Pick” as “The Best Venue with Soul,” Mocha Brown’s i is quickly becoming one of Tampa Bay’s hottest social venues. Opened in 2011 by twin brothers Marvin and Melvin Coleman, the concept is to provide a social atmosphere where people can meet, network, socialize and enjoy the various live entertainment events that take place during the month. They invite you to chill, have a cup of coffee and converse. The Venue offers a unique social experience infused with spoken word, live music and entertainment, food and plenty of fun. Mocha Brown’s is also the national headquarters for Soulchild Entertainment, an organization that is at the forefront of some of the hottest, most innovative stage plays, independent films, documentaries, and music video projects in the country. Created in 2001 as a small performing arts
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troupe, Soulchild Entertainment has grown to 10 full stage projects and four full feature films with the first, “Love In Context” to be released this fall (www. soulchildentertainment.com). The Coleman brothers attribute their success to patience and perseverance. ““The main thing is to have a plan, and don’t quit. Many businesses give up on their dream or concept before it has the opportunity to be successful. Don’t be afraid to ask yourself the tough questions. You must also be realistic about how long it will take to achieve your goals and seek the support of people who can help.” While the Colemans are still going strong, sadly, according to the former owner of Ybor City’s Pure Bliss Clemmon Hodges, they and the Boomerang Club of Brandon have closed. Hodges cites lack of community support as the reason for their short life. Pure Bliss’s best two business days were opening and election night, he says. In fact the house was packed this past Noveber for election night, their second best night over a rocky year in business. After that the volume couldn’t support the dream. Hodges says he and his partners tried everything including having a Rock Night. “I’m a business man and at some point you have to let emotions go and make the hard business decisions,” said Hodges.
ps & Downs N
earby the now shuttered home of Pure Bliss, Linda Wilcox, the owner of Blues Ship Café in Ybor City has continued to thrive but shares Hodge’s perspective. Wilcox says she’s been fighting this syndrome for years: “At first I was disappointed that African Americans would rather take their money to a hotel venue for entertainment, where very little comes back to the community, than to have their functions at a black-owned entertainment spot.” Wilcox has managed to survive,
and even thrive at some points, by catering to a broader audience. Roughly 60 percent of her patrons are white. Tourism is another decent part of their business. Blues Ship Café is opened Thursday through Sunday from 2 p.m. “until” and is located on Ybor’s main drive on Seventh Avenue between 19th & 20th Streets. The Blues Ship kitchen specializes in Southern Cuisine, including their landmark smoked BBQ Ribs, steaks and fried chicken dishes. Utilizing their entire
building, upstairs and down, they have a 500+ capacity facility. The balcony was opened for the St Patrick Day Parade. Meanwhile its stage has hosted the lies of Bobby Blue Bland, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters son (who drew Bennie Lattimore in to see him), Shaun Brown, Bobbie Summers and G. Brown. Wilcox credits her success to perseverance and God’s grace. See the Blues Ship menu and calendar online at: www. bluesshipcafe.com.
Power Broker magazine | 37
“The Rise of the New Woman”
Dr. Ava Muhammad speaks in Tampa Bay this May & her message may contradict your perception about the role of women in Islam By Ersula
S
joined other young attorneys in starting a successful criminal defense practice. Then in 1981, after hearing a lecture by Minister Farrakhan, she accepted Islam as her faith, and relocated to Chicago as a legal adviser to the Nation of Islam. In 1985, she entered the Ministry.
ister Ava Muhammad is the first Muslim woman in modern history to occupy a position of authority over a mosque anywhere in the world, and she brings her message to Tampa Bay this May as a National Spokesperson for the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. A close examination of Dr. Muhammad’s biography and her agenda for the visit will challenge the average person’s understanding of Muslim views toward women. An advanced press release notes that, as keynote speaker for the Rise of the New Woman conference by the Nation of Islam this May, Sister Muhammad will “look at the destruction of the Black home, the Black family and the Black community and address these concerns with truth,” spotlighting the specific role of women as an anchor in the home, family and community. The release cites four major objectives in protecting, elevating and celebrating women and girls: • To expand awareness of the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and The • Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan on the importance of the woman to the solution of these problems • To highlight women of our community that have survived and made a change for the better To help men in our community see the value of woman and her place in helping bring in a New Civilization • To develop partnerships with others working to protect and elevate women and girls and remove the barriers that keep our community divided
Learn more about the conference by calling 727.623.5555
About Dr. Ava Muhammad
Dr. Muhammad proved to be a gifted lecturer and researcher. Her ability to connect with the human spirit placed her in great demand among colleges, universities, churches, conferences and radio programs. She served as the Nation of Islam’s Southern Regional Minister from 1998 until 2000, when she was appointed National Spokesperson for the Nation, a position she continues to hold. Accompanied by her husband, marketing executive Darius Muhammad, she has inspired audiences worldwide.
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She is a native of Columbus, Ohio who began her career in law enforcement with the New York State Office of Child Support Enforcement and served as an Assistant District Attorney in Queens, New York. Later Dr. Muhammad
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Odom
Dr. Muhammad is the author of several books, including: Real Love; A New Way of Life and Weapons of Self-Destruction. Twenty years ago The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan said; “There never was a time
that so many of us have killed and abused one another as we are doing today. There never was a time when Black women were so abused and misused as they are today. There never was a time when Black children have been so abused and misused as we find them today. The violence and abuse in the home is so great that every teacher or leader of any consequence should begin to look at the destruction of the Black home, the Black family and the Black community and address these concerns with truth.” The question is what solutions Dr. Muhammad will offer. Be there May 10th through May 12th at the Hilton in downtown St. Petersburg when Dr. Muhammad presents “Mothers of Civilization Present: The Rise of the New Woman.”
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KanikaTomalin rises to Regional VP level as Bayfront enters new era and CEO passes the baton
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he ink is still drying, but the agreement is done! Our very own Bayfront Medical Center, as of April 1st, is now officially owned by Health Management Associates (HMA) after partnership talks spanning two plus years. Now, with expanded services and
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capabilities coming on board, Bayfront’s CEO of more than two decades, Sue Brody, is set to pass the baton to a new chief, while other executives climb even higher inside the new HMA network.
community, Tomalin will join Health Management Associates as Regional Vice President of External Affairs for the Bayfront Health network and Director of Strategy for the Florida group – 23 hospitals throughout the state.
One of those is Kanika Tomalin, the health system’s Vice President of Strategic Planning & Public Affairs, who has held her post since 2011. After more than a decade as Bayfront’s lead liaison to the
The Power Broker sat down with Tomalin to take us behind the scenes of the $200 million deal (with an added $100 million being invested over its first five years), and to paint a picture of Bayfront’s new horizons.
PB: First, give a sense for what it was like to be at the table for such intense planning and negotiations? How long were your days? How many executives and advisors were involved? Tomalin: It was a privileged honor to serve on the team that engineered the plan for Bayfront’s future. Bayfront is distinguished by a century of service. Throughout those 100 years it has always depended on the vision of its leadership to elevate it to the next level and prepare for the constant evolution of healthcare. The task before us was significant and wrought with challenge. But, those challenges were easily eclipsed by the promise and possibility that soon emerged for Bayfront via a strategic partnership with Health Management Associates and Shands. The work was incredibly demanding and full of great opportunities and exposure that will serve me throughout my career. For more than two years I worked at least six days a week, often for 10 hours a day. The Board of Trustees for the Health System was involved with every step of the partnership process, working with Bayfront’s leadership team to identify all of the possible opportunities and strategically define the best of those options. PB: As Bayfront’s top executive for public affairs and strategic planning, what key roles fell to you and your staff? Tomalin: Designing the architecture of the plan and process for partnership was one of the most significant responsibilities for my area.
Communications, to educate and engage the community, was also a key initiative. I’m so grateful to my staff and partners for helping us reach every corner of our community to let people know what this means for them and their families – from Ulmerton Road to the Skyway and Pinellas Point neighborhoods. That was one of our most critical roles in the process. PB: Congratulations on your new role as Regional Vice President of External Affairs for Bayfront Health and Director of Strategy for the Florida Group. Tell us how your territory and duties will change now that you’ll oversee public affairs for seven hospitals instead of one. Tomalin: In my capacity as brand and communications leader for the Bayfront network I will leverage the deep equity that exists in Bayfront’s brand to the benefit of all of the hospitals, clinics and other entities that make up Bayfront Health. Each of the seven hospitals has a marketing lead who works specific to that facility. Together we will integrate messaging and identity to ensure maximum benefits for the patients we serve throughout the West Coast of Florida. PB: Will you be relocating from the Tampa Bay area? Tomalin: I am fortunate and blessed to be based in St. Petersburg in my new role. Bayfront Medical Center is the flagship facility of the seven hospital network. As such, much of the initial planning and work to establish the network will happen out of Bayfront. I will travel much
more in my capacity as Director of Strategy and look forward to having an impactful presence at each of our 23 hospitals. PB: So many in the community are connected to the hospital through people like you and several wellknown doctors and staff. How will Bayfront sustain that “familiarity” with new faces and leaders coming on board? Tomalin: Lots of things are changing at Bayfront, but one thing that will never change is our commitment to our community. We are intimately involved with our community on multiple levels and it stands as one of our most defining points of pride. Health Management shares this commitment and looks forward to establishing even deeper connections in the future. We will remain in close contact with all of the people we serve and the same access that so many have come to count on over the years will continue to be there. It’s also important to note that while a few high profile shifts are happening, Bayfront is home to more than 2,000 real heroes who are all staying right in place, ready to provide great care. As much as things are advancing, relationships will continue to be maintained. PB: Are there other top leaders moving into new positions or leaving the hospital altogether? Tomalin: Bayfront is welcoming a new Chief Operating Officer Lavah Lowe and Chief Financial Officer Eric Smith. Both are veteran healthcare executives who are excited to contribute to Bayfront’s bright future.
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PB: Sue Brody hasn’t announced her future plans to the media as yet, but can you give us a hint about her next career move? She’s such a familiar face. Could politics or consulting be in the cards?
Tomalin: Sue has been at the helm of Bayfront for 25 years. That’s an amazingly long record of leadership, and over that time her impact has created notable transformation that lights Bayfront’s path far into the future. Sue’s connection with her team and the subsequent opportunities for growth that came as a result paved the way for many people’s progress, including my own. Sue has not yet shared her next steps, but we can be certain that whatever it entails it will be delivered with excellence and compassion. Sue is a true servant leader, so I expect that she will always have an aspect of giving to others as a defining aspect of her life. Her method of giving back may not always be as high profile as the past 25 years, but whether it is behind the scenes working quietly, or chairing a local community board, we can count on Sue Brody being a contributing member of our community’s leadership ranks.
About Bayfront’s new CEO “Bayfront’s future is bright and brimming with promise. I am honored to join the terrific team of expert caregivers and professionals who make such a difference for this community.” With close to 30 years of experience in hospital finance and operations, Kathy Gillette has been named the new chief executive officer of Bayfront Health System. She hails most recently from the Osceola Regional Medical Center in Kissimmee, but Gillette isn’t new to Tampa Bay. She worked at the former Community Hospital in New Port Richey for just over a decade, and as chief financial officer at Tampa General Hospital before joining USF Health’s management team. “Kathy Gillette is an experienced executive who brings the vision, compassion
- Kathy Gillette, the new Market President and CEO for Bayfront Health
and commitment to community required to lead Bayfront into its next chapter,” said Alan Levine, Florida Group President for Naples-based Health Management Associates, the new 80 percent owner of Bayfront. Gillette is a Florida native, born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting at the University of West Florida and a Masters in Healthcare Administration at USF in Tampa.
Tomalin’s command post will remain at Bayfront’s home in St. Petersburg but her purview expands to blanket the state 46 | Power Broker magazine
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Tumblr&Thrift Stores driving fashion trends for Millenials
By Adriahnna Curry, Publisher of Tampa Bay’s Mieux Magazine, connecting Millennials to the latest fashion, music & art (www.mieuxmagazine.com) Artist Macklemore is at the top of the charts this month for his song, Thrift Shop; here he is sporting vintage second hand gear.
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’m only 19 years old but even I know that “what’s in style” is a totally different scene than it was for my parents and grandparents. It used to be that a certain “style” stayed “in” for years, or at least for months. Remember the bright color plastic accessories in vogue in the 80’s and the high-top fades that stayed “in style” for at least three years. These days, what’s “in” is a much more colorful proposition; and it doesn’t last for months, let alone years. In fact, what’s hot at any given moment is more a combination of old school and new, sometimes all at once. And notice how much impact social networks have on the latest fashion trends. These high traffic sites where celebrities and everyday people have thousands of followers directly affect the clothes in the closets of people emulating the trends. With all the social media networks, it’s almost impossible to keep up. Instead of changing season-to-season or monthly according to the newest People Magazine, our generation’s most used iPhone apps determine what’s “cool” at the time. Of all the popular social networking sites kids log onto, consider Tumblr.com to be the ultimate
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fashion guide. Amongst hundreds of pictures of your favorite artists wearing clothes and jewelry most of us can’t afford, you have pictures of ordinary people from around the world with just as many fans. They too set the trends. Pictures of snapbacks, Jordan sneakers, and fanny packs, which you would have thought went out of style a decade ago, are just as fashionable as a gold Rolex watch or Louis Vuitton purse. With the latest vintage styles so easy to obtain from local thrift stores, a trend is born in a click. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars to “suit up” in the latest styles for the season, my generation is shopping at places like Sunshine Thrift and The Metro Thrift Store in St. Pete. For those in Tampa, the Big Top Flea Market has an array of fashions that go as far back as the 1950s. There, $20 can easily snag two new outfits. Fashion is a never-ending cycle for us. What’s “in” one week is out the next, simply because once it’s mainstream, it loses its unique appeal. In the end though, looking good and having nice clothes should make you feel better, and sure, it might get you some compliments, but the only person you should be dressing to impress is the one in the mirror. And that will never go out of style.
Thinking about a better City? So are we. Tell us your vision for St. Petersburg! The budget is one of the most important policy decisions in our local government. It is the process through which we prioritize our shared resources for basic services that keep clean water in our homes, police on our streets, and books in our libraries. We believe that nobody better understands the needs of our residents than the residents themselves. That’s why we are going door to door, into public places, and using social media to bring your ideas and priorities directly to elected officials.
Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll
made history two years ago when she was sworn in as the state’s first Black second-in-command. She walked away from the position this week amid another scandal, shocking Floridians and leaving them with a lot of questions. Courtesy of the Florida Courier Newspaper, Florida’s first African-American owned and operated statewide weekly newspaper (www.flcourier.com)
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lorida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll dropped a bombshell in March, announcing that she was resigning her position as the state’s second-incommand immediately. Carroll made history two years ago when she became the state’s highestranking Black elected official. The first Black lieutenant governor’s resignation became public in the wake of a federal probe into a company she represented with ties to Internet cafes. After years as a state representative, Jennifer Carroll became Florida’s lieutenant governor in 2011. “Effective immediately, I hereby resign the Office of Lieutenant Governor of the State of Florida. It has been an honor to have served the State of Florida in this capacity,” Carroll wrote in a brief letter to Gov. Rick Scott. Carroll’s resignation followed the arrest in March on racketeering and money laundering charges of various people affiliated with Allied Veterans of the World, which runs Internet café establishments around the state. The industry says it allows people to partake in sweepstakes, but critics say the es-
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tablishments are basically gaming parlors. Carroll was not among those charged. The resignation letter to Scott offered no details about her reason for leaving. But Scott’s chief of staff, Adam Hollingsworth, said she was interviewed by Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers regarding her work with Allied Veterans of the World. A company Carroll co-owned during her time in the Legislature, 3N & JC Corporation, provided consulting services for Allied Veterans of the World.
What Scott’s office had to say Hollingsworth issued this statement: “Individuals were arrested (Tuesday) for racketeering and money laundering charges in connection with Allied Veterans of the World’s illegal gambling companies. “Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll consulted for Allied Veterans while serving as a member of the Florida House of Representatives in 2009 and 2010. She was interviewed by Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers regarding her work with the company. Lt.
Gov. Carroll resigned in an effort to keep her former affiliation with the company from distracting from the administration’s important work on behalf of Florida families. She made the right decision for the state and her family.” Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant reacted to the announcement with the following statement: “Floridians expected an administration focused on solving the problems facing Florida’s families, but instead got a scandal-plagued governor and a revolving staff door. Rick Scott and his administration have made a mockery of the Governor’s office — embarrassing Floridians while failing to accomplish his legislative priorities.”
More scandal Last year, a dispute over Carroll’s attempt to set up her own website, separate from the governor’s, spilled into the press, as a member of Carroll’s staff emailed one of the audiotaped conversations to the Florida Times-Union newspaper. That staffer, Carletha Cole, was charged with leaking the tapes, after which she leveled scandalous charges of her
own: that Carroll had engaged in a sexual affair with a female staffer, including an encounter in the office, which Cole claims she walked in on. Carroll vigorously denied the allegations, telling the Associated Press that the claims were “totally false and absurd.” In the process, she angered lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) advocates in the state by declaring that Black women who “look like” her don’t engage in lesbian relationships. She ultimately apologized for the comments, after first standing by her statements.
Carroll’s impact on Black Florida Carroll’s historic rise to Florida’s power began back in 2003 when she was elected as the first Black female Republican to the Florida House of Representatives. She became the first African-American elected to the position of lieutenant governor in January 2011. The Trinidad-born Carroll had this to say about Black Florida in a 2011 interview with the Florida Courier: “What I want them to know is that they’ve had an advocate with me … “I go back to the (2011) budget – when we had one historically Black college that was funded (Edward Waters College) that was sent from the budget to the Legislature. “All four (EWC, Bethune-Cookman University, Florida A&M University, Florida Memorial University) received funding because of my involvement in making sure that those colleges and universities were not on the (governor’s) veto list with regards to the monies – $8.77 million went to our HBCUs, and many of the programs across the state of Florida that impact our minority communities were saved from being vetoed.”
Nathaniel “Nat” Glover, president of Edward Waters College and the first elected Black sheriff in Duval County, told the Florida Courier: “Generally, I was proud when she became lieutenant governor and not knowing more than what I know about the current situation, I’m still proud of her.”
voice in a Republican Party whose strongest voices are largely White and frequently male.
He added that Carroll’s election to the No. 2 spot in Florida was “an encouragement for African-Americans no matter what the situation here is. So, I think it will be motivating for others to lead and take the step [to run] for political office.”
On March 13th, Scott stood on a sun-drenched corner of the Capitol grounds and spoke about Carroll’s departure, which was handled quietly the day before and became public the next day.
Florida Rep. Dwayne Taylor, a Democrat from Daytona Beach, told the Courier: “I had the opportunity to work alongside the former lieutenant governor from 20082010 when she was a member of the House of Representatives. In 2011, I again worked with her after she made history as the first African-American elected to statewide office. I wish her well.” Carroll moved to the United States in 1986 and eventually became a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy. She also has a Master of Business Administration (MBA). She spent 2003 to 2010 on Tallahassee’s Capitol Hill as a Republican state legislator representing the Jacksonville area. The mother of three grown children has been married for more than 30 years to Nolan Carroll, Sr. Their son, Nolan Jr., plays for the Miami Dolphins.
A needed voice
The lieutenant governor had been a darling of social conservatives, and her selection as Scott’s running mate was a gesture from the former health-care executive who was known mostly for his economic conservatism. Carroll was often seen as a desperately needed female, minority
In 2012, she was named a member of The Grio’s 100, a list of prominent political, cultural and business figures put together by a website focused on Black issues.
“I will not elaborate on the details of her resignation further, other than to say that she resigned and she did the right thing for the state and for her family,” Scott said.
‘Operation Reveal the Deal’ As of mid-March, 57 people had been arrested and remained held without a bond limit set, each on: 57 charges of racketeering and influence corrupt organizations (RICO); 614 counts of possession of slot machines; and 614 counts of keeping a gambling house; and 1,265 counts of money laundering, FDLE said. Florida Attoney General Pam Bondi said her office will file formal charges next week against those arrested as part of the probe, called “Operation Reveal the Deal.” The investigation began in Seminole County in July 2009 and grew to include law enforcement agencies in South Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas. Scott said he won’t pick a replacement until after the 2013 legislative session ends in early May. Florida Courier writer Penny Dickerson, The Associated Press and News Service of Florida were used in compiling this report.
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i
How to have an “
By Adrienne S. Reddick, CEO Elegant Exquisite Events
Exquisite Event on a Shoestring Budget If you’re planning a special event in the near future and want to make it a once-in-alifetime occasion, you may think that your budget is a limiting factor. But there is a way for you to have an exquisite event, without spending thousands of dollars to do it.
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Follow these steps, and you’ll find that you can treat your guests to a delightful time without breaking the bank.
The first thing you must do is to create a budget. The budget is your guideline for how much you have available to create the desired outcome. Rule of thumb, food and beverages can take up 40 to 50% of your budget, while music (such as a DJ or band) can account for around 10%. If you’re working with limited funds, you can still pull off a spectacular affair, but it will take more leg work and determination on your part, along with some shrewd negotiating, where possible.
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Venue: The next
important item is your venue! The venue you choose will set the stage for the event. Here is the space where you will transport your guests someplace they have not been before. If your venue is an outdoor space, then you will want to have an alternative in case of inclement weather. I found an unexpected treasure at the Hangar restaurant located inside the Albert Whitted Airport where I’ve hosted several events for clients. If you are looking for a beautiful garden space, try the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum. This little jewel is tucked away right here in the Midtown area of St. Petersburg and has the added perk of allowing you to use your own caterer. Café Alma, located at 260 1st Ave. S. in downtown St. Petersburg, is another gem for small-scale parties & special occasions, with a delectable menu that’s also affordable, and built-in décor elements that save at least some of your budget.
Vision:
You will want to create an inspiration board. This is where you gather all of the ideas that you’ve seen and the desired elements for your event in order to visualize the occasion. Personally, I like to create these online, where I can just copy and paste a picture into a Word document or Power Point, but you can also use old fashioned cardboard and magazine cut outs. The point here is to begin to put your vision down on paper. Start your search on Bing or Google for images of parties, receptions, or centerpieces (and include your color scheme in the search), and you are on your way.
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The Encarta dictionary describes “exquisite” as very beautiful and delicate or intricate; perfect and delightful. When most people think of an exquisite event, they imagine something elaborate and expensive. Yet hosting the perfect event really is about taking your vision and making it a reality, and that might not cost as much as you think.
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Budget:
Ambience: Décor
is the next element for making your event stand out. The use of candle light always adds a special touch to any event and has a lower cost than some other forms of lighting. Candle light has the ability to transform a space into an ethereal atmosphere. Piping and drape, along with the use of white lights, adds another dimension, if used tastefully. In addition, your chose of linens can add a touch of elegance. Connie Duglin Linen, located in Oldsmar, is one of my personal favorite linen vendors, and has the most extensive selection of quality linens in the Tampa Bay area.
“Not only exquisite, but divinely affordable. The table arrangement on the prior page– complete with luscious red roses – is doable for less than $30 per table. For itty bitty budgets, try dressing up one central table or space such as this one, and using more modest accents for other tables. This white-top candle arrangement, ideal for entryways or a corner of the room, can be arranged for as little as $22, all inclusive.”
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Food!
Food choices can make or break an event. Gone are the days of just having a plated dinner or the standard hors d’oeuvres. Consider affordable small plate options such as Tapas or Chef Stations, which also allow your guests to watch the food being prepared right before them. Pair that with a signature cocktail, and it makes for an exceptional evening. Dim Sum (the Asian version of Tapas) is another option that is currently trending. A great spot for Tapas is Ceviche, on the corner of Beach Drive and Central Avenue, which offers a private dining experience perfect for live music, games or dancing.
The list above is just a small sampling of the most essential items that need to be considered when planning your event. With a little bit of ingenuity and small touches you can transport you and your guests to the utmost limits of your imagination! Adrienne Reddick is a certified wedding and event planner who specializes in creating unforgettable events. She is the CEO and Owner of Elegant Exquisite Events and the Special Events Manager for the Power Broker Media Group. Reach Adrienne at 727.612.1932 or check out her website (www.eeeventz.com) and feel free to contact her for a personal consultation on your next event. Local Spaces & Resources for your Events To see the event spaces & vendor selections mentioned in this article, visit their websites:
www.connieduglinlinen.com www.cafealma.com woodsonmuseum.org/ ceviche.com/locations/ceviche-stpete/ www.thehangarstpete.com/
Sending your child to substance abuse treatment requires your full emotional support
Nancy Hamilton, MPA, CAP, CCJAP, CEO at Operation PAR Inc.
Every parent or caregiver needs to feel safe and certain when finding the appropriate addiction treatment facility to care for a loved one, particularly their child or adolescent. Here is some expert advice to consider when choosing the appropriate substance abuse program.
Do!
Do consult professionals when selecting substance abuse treatment services Selecting an appropriate treatment agency is a difficult choice for parents. There are many different types of substance abuse treatment. There are residential or inpatient programs that allow your child to live on site while they are participating in treatment. Outpatient services consist of individual and group services that are scheduled regularly. Twelve-step programs like AA or NA are considered recovery support services, not treatment. The first step is for parents to consult experts in the
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field, such as a child and adolescent therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist. Find out what your insurance coverage pays for. It is important to ask about mental health services that also are offered. A great majority of individuals with a substance abuse problem also need treatment for a mental illness. This treatment should occur simultaneously. The appropriate type of treatment and intensity of treatment and whether or not mental health services are scheduled will be determined once your child or adolescent receives a comprehensive assessment Do participate in the treatment to optimize success When your child or adolescent enters treatment, ask about the availability of family treatment sessions and family education. Ask the staff how you can best remain involved in the process. If the treatment services are residential, ask for the orientation manual and the timeframe for family visitation. Meet with the business staff and get an understanding of costs associated with care, including continuing care and relapse prevention groups. Make sure to include other family members who your child or adolescent wants involved, not who you think should be involved. Respect choice. Once your
child and/or adolescent comes home from a residential program, make sure your home is an environment that supports recovery. As a family you can learn healthy ways to resolve conflict without arguing. Do be financially prepared Understand that substance abuse treatment is not free and ensure that you have the means to pay for services through health insurance, a prepaid debit card, personal funds or other financial options. Once you decide to enroll your child in treatment, you should continue services through the end of treatment, based on your child or adolescent’s clinical need. Remember addiction is a medical disease. So, just like treatment for any chronic disease, positive outcomes happen when individuals follow treatment recommendations and family members actively participate until the end of care. Do realize that once treatment is completed, it’s not the end of the journey When your youth or adolescent is discharged from treatment, realize that continuing care is important for the recovery of your child. It is important for him/her to engage in support groups and healthy activities that will keep them involved in nondrug/alcohol related activities. This
will involve your participation to support their healthy decisions without making them feel pressured or not trusted. Do be sympathetic and supportive if there is a relapse People in recovery sometimes relapse. That doesn’t make them bad, or weak or ungrateful. Addiction is a disease, just like a cancer that is no longer in remission. It is important for you to be supportive and go through the process again of getting them into treatment, supporting them while in treatment, helping them make healthy choices and being there to catch them if they fall.
Don’t!
Do not be unrealistic or impatient Remember recovery is a lifelong process. Not a task that individuals can memorize once and repeat daily. It involves constant growth and in certain areas regression prior to growth. To learn how to properly communicate and socialize with yourself and with friends and family takes time, practice and support. Teach your child or adolescent how to build nurturing relationships by nurturing - not preaching or judging. Do not expect huge changes in family relationships in short periods of time Work daily at rebuilding trust and safe ways to communicate. Find out a good time to talk and stick with your “family date night” where you have one night of the week to enjoy a family dinner or meal to share success and celebrate your new lives together. Do not set too many goals too suddenly Before your child or adolescent comes home from residential treatment or completes outpatient
treatment set up an appointment to have a family session to build a reentry plan that includes family goals prior to discharge from treatment. Explore, with the help of professionals, what a healthy goal would be for all family members to build toward a healthier relationship collectively. Do not talk out of both sides of your mouth Support recovery by demonstrating healthy behaviors as a parent and caregiver. Please remember that all of us learn best when we have an example of what we expect demonstrated to us by our daily practice. In other words, be an example to your child or adolescent and practice what you preach. Do not hold on to painful memories Learn how to rebuild healthier relationships by building healthier futures. If you as the parent or caregiver are having a difficult time “letting go” of painful memories, seek your own counseling sessions or Twelve step programs specifically for parents and caregivers. Try not to rewind those emotional tapes with your child or adolescent. This could end up very harmful and could cause relapse. Try to remember that an individual in new recovery has a very difficult time “forgiving self.” Constant reminders of the times your child or adolescent disappointed you does not help build new beginnings and better relationships. Perhaps this article can help parents and caregivers feel a little more comfortable when selecting a substance abuse treatment service for your child or teenager, or young adult. Caring for your loved one and helping them build a life in recovery is a partnership that requires healthy parent involvement. This is a journey, so all the support and encouragement you can get is beneficial to making it successful.
How she made it in business & how her business “made her”
A journey to self-confidence and financial freedom By Dianne Speights I first became an Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics 35 years ago. My reason for joining was simply to supplement my income in order to return to college to complete my Bachelor’s degree. My career goal at the time was to advance up the ladder within the school system, and the degree would give me those opportunities. During the 70’s I worked for the school system during the day and held a part-time job in the evenings to make extra money. Then one day a Mary Kay Sales Director called me and said she would be visiting St. Petersburg and offered to give me a complimentary facial.
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When she finished with the facial she asked me. “If I could show you how to make the same amount of money workings for yourself from home as on your part-time job, would that interest you?
“loves” her people to success. My Mary Kay journey has taught me to prioritize my life. God first, family second and career third. Also to embrace the teaching of the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you will have them do unto you.” And to know that what you send into the lives of others truly returns to your own. Putting the pieces together did not come quickly for me. But I consistently put my training into action. I made appointments; I shared the opportunity with other women and men. My confidence continued to grow into a person of faith, commitment, resiliency, and perseverance in never stopping to dream, set goals and strive. My business mission is to enrich women’s lives… God’s word teaches me “To whom much is given, much is required.” Our founder, Mary Kay simply asked us, if the Mary Kay business has blessed you….PASS IT ON! This charge to keep I have: “to mentor, coach, and love my Unit to success.”
I purchased my starter kit, began training, and held my business Open House. My family and friends were eager to help me with the new venture by inviting their friends over to get facials and each week I held my three to five appointments as instructed. Then my true challenge came. I ran out of family and friends and I was too insecure to meet new people and talk to strangers. However, I knew I was trainable and if I could ever pull the pieces together I would be successful. In prioritizing which part of my journey with Mary Kay has made the greatest impact on my life, it would not be the money, which was the reason I joined. And it wasn’t the free cars I earned. What I value most is my personal growth in helping me develop an unwavering faith in God and confidence in myself as a wonderful person and a talented leader who Power Broker magazine | 57
Why more blacks are arrested for marijuana, even though more whites use it
By Kurt Donley Despite all the “Just Say No” and “Crack Whore” rhetoric of the 1980’s, usually depicting images of inner city Blacks, the stereotypical pot smoker in America is a white male between the ages of 20 and 50. He is likely to be single, college-educated and have a higher than average disposable income. But look who is being arrested:
African Americans marijuana users are 5 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana than white pot smokers. St Petersburg Police officers don’t wake and say “Let’s go arrest us some Black folk.” At least we should presume they don’t. So why is it that, even though there are far more whites in St. Petersburg who smoke reefer, our City police arrest two times more blacks for the drug?
#1 Whites buy their drugs in less risky ways The differences in the way wealthier whites and lowerincome Blacks buy their drugs make Blacks a far easier target. Whites tend to purchase larger quantities (say, one month’s worth at a time), which significantly reduces the number of risky transactions they’re exposed to. By contrast, low income Blacks tend to buy one “nickel” or “dime” bag at a time, greatly multiplying their number of risky transactions. Whites also tend to buy from people who have more to lose, economically speaking; while many blacks buy from someone desperate enough to standout on a street corner or indiscreet enough to sell from high-traffic locations that make easy targets for the police.
It’s a numbers game for the police. Arrests translate into career advancement and overtime for officers, and increased funding to the department, through sources like sales of assets seized from drug dealers and federal funds dispensed through formulas tied to arrests.
#2 The “War on Drugs” is rooted in racism The seeds of the modern day drug war were sown in 1937, when Harry Anslinger, our nation’s first Drug Czar, won marijuana prohibition. In testimony before Congress as head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Anslinger squarely blamed America’s growing marijuana problem on Negroes and other “degenerate[s]:”
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...The primary reason to outlaw Marihuana is its effect on the degenerate races.” “There are 100,000 total Marihuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from Marihuana use. This Marihuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others.”
“Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.” -Harry J. Anslinger 58 | Power Broker magazine
Anslinger held his post for an unprecedented 32 years until 1962. President Kennedy retired him in advance of the Civil Rights Act being drafted, but during Anslinger’s tenure, he enshrined a national tradition of targeting arrests at the black and brown races. No less today. Yes, police target South St. Petersburg more, because there is more visible drug traffic there. But if we truly want to “war” against drugs, police would expand their scope to reach the majority of drug users, who happen to be white. There is nearly three times as much “weed” circulating and being used in St. Petersburg’s majority-white neighborhoods than in South St. Petersburg. Even if the police eliminated marijuana use in South St. Petersburg, they would still be leaving 75% of the City’s pot inventory in play.
#3 Racism is now fully institutionalized
so abstract now [that] you’re talking about cutting taxes, and all these things you’re talking about are totally economic things and a by-product of them is [that] Blacks get hurt worse than whites. ‘’And subconsciously maybe that is part of it. I’m not saying that. But I’m saying that if it is getting that abstract, and that coded, that we are doing away with the racial problem one way or the other. You follow me -- because obviously sitting around saying, ‘We want to cut this,’ is much more abstract than even the busing thing, and a hell of a lot more abstract than ‘Nigger, nigger.’’ While the Republican Party stoked racism as a matter of strategy, Ronald Reagan took Nixon’s “War on Drugs” and ran with it. Since then every president has stepped up the war.
I’m not talking about individual racism, the kind displayed by the many who make offensive public comments or who irrationally blame their problems on a Black president. That’s par for the course, and research shows that it’s faded significantly over recent decades. What I’m referring to is institutional racism, the kind that’s reinforced through social and public policies that create and perpetuate socioeconomic disparities for people of color in America. Polling done in September 2012 shows that the majority of whites in St. Petersburg (56%) and over two-thirds of African Americans (69%) believe that the war on drugs does disproportionately impact Blacks, but our public policy community – especially in criminal justice, health care and education – have not, apparently, awakened to this reality. Michelle Alexander in her groundbreaking book “The New Jim Crow” expertly illustrates how racism morphed in the years following the Civil Rights Act. But it’s crystal clear in a recently uncovered audio clip of the late Lee Atwater, Republican strategist for Ronald Reagan and a one-time Chair of the Republican National Committee in an “off the record” interview in 1981. In it, Atwater calls for the GOP to evolve its Southern Strategy to win the blue collar white votes needed to take the election. In essence: ‘We’ve got to be more sophisticated about how we incite racial resentment by whites.’ Here’s what Atwater said:
“
You start out in 1954 by saying, ‘Nigger, nigger, nigger.’ By 1968 you can’t say ‘nigger’ -- that hurts you. Backfires. So you say stuff liked forced bussing [and] states’ rights. You’re getting
SOURCES: Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration and ONDCP
Although drug addiction rates haven’t changed over the past four decades, these things have: 1. More Blacks are under the control of the criminal justice system today – in prison or jail, on probation or parole – than were enslaved in 1850 2. A Black boy born in 2001 has a 1 in 3 chance of going to prison in his lifetime and a Latino boy a 1 in 6 chance, according to the Children’s Defense Fund 3. Black males have an imprisonment rate nearly 7 times higher than white males, and the rate for Hispanic males is over 2 times higher 4. In 2011, our state and federal prison population exceeded that of the top 35 European nations combined If we stand by and silently allow the misguided “war on drugs” to continue, then we are responsible. Kurt Donley is the President of the South Pinellas Council of Neighborhood Associations and Chairman Elect of St Pete Together.■
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LOCAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WORKS HARD TO PRESERVE THE LEGACYOF By Keisha Pickett
FAMU
The Plant City Chapter of the FAMU National Alumni Association is known as the Small Chapter with Big Giving
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he Plant City Chapter of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) National Alumni Association (NAA) is known as the small chapter that contributes a lot to its beloved university. Over the past decade, the chapter has increased its giving and exposed countless young teens to the university located on the highest of seven hills in Tallahassee. The chapter Presidents Maurice Pickett and Bea Crowell, along with the chapter members, have worked hard to create an environment of positivity about FAMU. The Plant City chapter is one of the most active chapters nationwide; and the university recognizes it with honors such as the chapter’s being the only one in America with a hanging banner in the new Lawson Multi-Purpose Center on the main campus. The banner represents the alumni groups that have donated over $10,000 to the university’s athletic and booster programs. “We are happy to be able to send money back to FAMU each year. We are a fairly small chapter but that hasn’t stopped us from raising funds and awareness about the great things at FAMU,” says Maurice Pickett, past chapter president. In addition to contributing to the athletics department, the Plant City chapter also purchased the current basketball shooting machines for the men’s and women’s basketball teams. The group prides itself on its fundraising and outreach efforts through events like the recent 10th Annual Orange & Green Golf Tournament. For the
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past 10 years, hundreds of golfers come out to “dig up dirt” with good company. The golfers aren’t necessarily FAMU graduates, but they support the chapter’s efforts. Money raised from the tournament helps with annual scholarships, student activities and recruiting efforts. The golf tournament is always played at Tampa’s historic Rogers Park Golf Course. Not only do the golfers enjoy 18 holes, they also receive door prizes, raffles and a home-cooked Southern lunch. For the past three years, Yvonne’s Catering has refueled the golfers on chicken wings, potato salad, fresh salad, rolls and sweet tea. In addition to the tournament, the chapter recently hosted the 125th Legacy Torch Tour in celebration of FAMU’s 125 years of existence and sponsors two Junior Rattler Clubs at Durant High School and Plant City High School. The students in the club participate in college trips, programs and local FAMU events. The chapter gives away close to $4,000 a year in scholarship funds for local, graduating seniors who attend FAMU. The Plant City Chapter wants you to join them in doing even more for FAMU’s students. Get involved by joining us, paying your dues and donating your time and resources. Please visit www.plantcityrattlers.com for further details and info. The Plant City Chapter of the FAMU National Alumni Association meets every 4th. Monday of the month at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church (911 E Warren St. Plant City, FL) at 6:30pm. For additional info, please feel free to contact Keisha Pickett at (813) 903-9247.
Golfers & Friends at the 10th Annual Orange & Green Golf Tournament
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Twenty-nine young women make debut at Essence of Ebony Pearls 2013 Debutante Scholarship Cotillion
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t. Petersburg-On Saturday, March 16th, more than 800 supporters of the Essence of Ebony Pearls attended the debutante scholarship cotillion presented by the ladies of Zeta Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
In partnership with the Youth Development Foundation of Pinellas County, the sorority featured 29 lovely and multi-talented young ladies including their escorts at the St. Petersburg Coliseum. The formal evening included a debutante waltz with their escorts and presenters, a presentation of their mothers and the awarding of scholarships. Four of the twenty-nine participants received a total of $12,000 in scholarship awards seven young ladies were honored:
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Miss Debutante 2013 - Miss Hydeia Thomas Miss First Attendant 2013 - Miss Caprece Thomas Miss Second Attendant 2013 - Miss Syndee Peterman Miss Third Attendant 2013 - Miss Monique Griffin Miss Community Service 2013 - Miss Courtney Furse Miss Congeniality 2013 - Miss Syndee Peterman Miss Supreme Spirit 2013 - Miss Monique Harris The social affair is also the culmination of a sixmonth debutante experience where junior and senior girls engage in leadership development workshops, etiquette sessions, community service and social activities. Some of the program highlights included mentorship for the escorts from the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Theta Eta Lambda Chapter, and a Debutante Tea where the young lady and her mother or special guest experienced the memorable ambiance of the tea’s rich, social history. The cotillion is held biennially as a fundraiser for the chapter. Deborah Figgs-Sanders chaired the event along with Sakira Hadley, Lena Wilfalk and Lisa Brody serving as co-chairs.
The debutantes, their parents and their schools are: Courtney Furse, daughter of Chief Corey and Mishella Furse; Boca Ciega High Jasmyne Green, daughter of Dontell and Nakia Green; Boca Ciega High Monique Griffin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Aldric Griffin Sr.; Boca Ciega High Porcelain Griffin, daughter of Tommie and Cynthia Godwin; Pinellas Park High Monique Harris, daughter of Bernard and Morresia Johnson Harris; Northeast High Sydney-Taylor Heyward, daughter of Marlin and Tamaira Heyward; Lakewood High Kelsey Hill, daughter of David and Rosalyn Hill; Canterbury School of Florida Brea Hollingsworth, daughter of Dennis and Sandra Hollingsworth; Osceola Fundamental High Jada Jackson, daughter of James and Phyllis Jackson; Lakewood High Kamara Jackson, daughter of Willie and Kangelia Baxter; Boca Ciega Khristian Jackson, daughter of Willie and Kangelia Baxter; Boca Ciega Taylor Johnson, daughter of Tim and Nicole Johnson; Gibbs High D’Ananetia Jones, daughter of Tameka Jones; Pinellas Park Criminal Justice Academy Angelina Kincy, daughter of Alex and Alfredia Kincy; Osceola Fundamental High Jade Lang, daughter of Pete and Jackie Lang; Boca Ciega High Parris Lockley, daughter of Ryan and Ottesha Williams; Gibbs High Lauren Lord, daughter of George Lord and Loretha Dortch-Lord; Gibbs High Desha Lovett, daughter of Carlos and Tameko Lovett; Shorecrest Preparatory Barbara Neal, daughter of Marilyn Bell; Lakewood High Marilyn Parker, daughter of Wayne and Carolyn Parker; Lakewood High Chyanna Passley, daughter of Leo and Joan Passley; Lakewood High Amber Perry-Rentz, daughter of Andre and Yolanda Rentz; Palmetto High Sydnee Peterman, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Frank Peterman Jr.; Osceola Fundamental High McKenzie Rock, daughter of David and Candace Rock; Osceola Fundamental High Caprece Thomas, daughter of Minister Lannis and Doretha Thomas; Gibbs High Hydeia Thomas, daughter of Leon and Yushondia Thomas; Canterbury School of Florida Destiny Waiters, daughter of Hendri and Cheryl Robinson; Boca Ciega High Lauren Williams, daughter of Luke and Paula Williams; Gibbs High Kayla Wyatt, daughter of Klevin and Yvette Wyatt; Tarpon Springs High
Miss Debutante 2013 Hydeia Thomas
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What the new tax law means for you, especially if you’re in the top 1% of income earners
If you’re in the 99% of us who do not earn mid six figures, not much will change for your family as a result of recent tax legislation. But if you’re among the growing number of African Americans who fall in the top 1% of income earners (or, if you’re on your way to those upper-most income brackets), you’ll see major changes this year, and for a long time to come.
Published by William Blair & Company, a global investment banking and asset management firm based in Chicago
O
n January 1, 2013, President Obama and Congress came to an agreement on legislation to address the “fiscal cliff ”—the combination of higher taxes and forced spending cuts scheduled to go into effect at the beginning of 2013. The American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) prevents income tax rate increases for all but about the top 1% of taxpayers, so if you earn less than $250,000 (as a single) or $300,000 (married couples), not much will change for you. ATRA also extends other income tax breaks for individuals and businesses. The act does not, however, extend payroll tax cuts that were in place for 2011 and 2012, so payroll taxes will increase by two percentage points in 2013. Here is an overview of important tax law changes.
Individual income taxes • Ordinary income tax rates: ATRA makes permanent the 2012 ordinary-income tax rates for individual taxpayers earning less than $400,000 (or $450,000 if married filing jointly). For taxpayers above these thresholds, the top marginal tax rate increases from 35% to 39.6% in 2013.
• Limits on itemized deductions: ATRA brings back the limits on certain itemized deductions and the personal exemptions. The act sets thresholds of $250,000 (single) and $300,000 (married filing jointly). It reduces the total amount of itemized deductions by 3% of the amount of adjusted gross income over the threshold amounts. The reduction in itemized deductions will not exceed 80% of otherwise allowable deductions. Personal exemptions are reduced by 2% for each $2,500 (or portion thereof ) by which the adjusted gross income
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exceeds the threshold amounts above. • Alternative Minimum Tax: ATRA makes the AMT “patch” permanent and retroactive to January 1, 2012. For 2012, the AMT exemption amounts will be $50,600 for individuals and $78,750 for married couples filing jointly. These amounts are indexed for inflation for years after 2012.
About the AMT, according to the IRS: The AMT
applies to taxpayers who have certain types of income that receive favorable treatment, or who qualify for certain deductions, under the tax law. These tax benefits can significantly reduce the regular tax of some taxpayers with higher incomes. The AMT sets a limit on the amount these benefits can be used to reduce one’s total tax.
• Long-term capital gains and dividends: ATRA makes permanent the 2012 capital gains tax rates or taxpayers earning less than $400,000 (single) or $450,000 (married filing jointly). For taxpayers above these thresholds, the long-term capital gains rate increases to 20%. The act also makes permanent the long-term capital gains treatment for qualified dividends, which means taxpayers making more than the thresholds face a rate increase from 15% to 20% on qualified dividends. • Charitable IRA rollovers: Under certain circumstances, ATRA allows taxpayers age 701⁄2 or older to make a direct tax-free rollover from an IRA to a qualified charity. Distributions taken in December 2012 or January 2013 may be retroactively applied to 2012. • Other income tax items: ATRA extends through 2013 (and in some cases retroactively to Jan 1, 2012) other tax
breaks for individuals, including: the deduction for state and local sales tax in lieu of state and local income tax; various child- and education-related credits and deductions; contributions of capital gain real property made for conversion easements, which had expired at the end of 2011, are now applicable for 2012 and continued through 2013.
Estate taxes Under ATRA, the top estate tax rate increases to 40%. This is a 5% increase over the 2012 rate, but significantly less than the 55% rate that was scheduled to return for 2013. The estate and gift tax exemption amount will continue to be $5 million adjusted annually for inflation. For 2013 the exemption amount will likely increase slightly from the $5.12 million 2012 exemption. This will provide significant tax savings and wealthtransfer opportunities relative to the $1 million exemption that had been scheduled to return for 2013. ATRA also makes permanent a portability provision that allows for the transfer of one spouse’s unused estate exemption to the surviving spouse.
New Medicare Taxes It is also important to keep in mind that high-income taxpayers face two new taxes, which were not part of ATRA starting in 2013. Taxpayers making more than $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly) face an additional 0.9% Medicare tax on earned income above those amounts and a 3.8% Medicare surtax on investment income. For more details about the impact to you, see our recent Financial Planning Update, “Two New Medicare Taxes in 2013”, in the Private Investors Resources section of www.williamblair.com.
Businesses The act also extends several tax breaks for businesses, including: • Bonus depreciation • Enhanced Section 179 expensing • Accelerated depreciation for qualified leasehold, retail, and restaurant improvements • Work Opportunity credit • Research and development credit Owners of pass-through entities, such as sole-proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, and S corporations, should also be aware of how ATRA’s individual income tax changes affect the taxation of business income.
Summary of Tax Changes for 2013 All taxpayers - 2% increase in payroll taxes for social security on the first $113,700 of earned income - AMT exemption “patch” now permanent and indexed for inflation - Option to deduct state and local sales taxes instead of state income taxes restored for 2012 and 2013 - Distributions from IRAs directly to charities are restored for 2013 and, under certain circumstances, are made retroactive for 2012 - Estate tax exemption of $5 million (indexed for inflation) for wealthtransfer taxes now permanent; top estate tax rate increases from 35% to 40% Individuals earning > $200,000 (or $250,000 per couple) - 3.8% Medicare surtax on investment income - 0.9% Medicare tax on wages greater than these thresholds - Limitations on itemized deductions and personal exemptions for those earning $250,000 (or $300,000 per couple)
Individuals earning > $400,000 (or $450,000 per couple) - Top marginal tax rate increases from 35% to 39.6% - Tax rate for long-term capital gains and qualified dividends increases from 15% to 20% (plus 3.8% Medicare surtax) • In addition to the changes highlighted above, ATRA includes other provisions that may affect you or your business.
How will you be affected? If you would like to learn more about estate and tax planning, please reach out to us at pwm@williamblair. com. We can help determine whether there are portfolio strategy adjustments to consider implementing based on your specific situation and goals as well as tax law developments as they occur. Our website – at www.williamblair. com/PWM-resources - provides investors access to publications, webinars, and events on an array of private wealth management topics. You can sign up to receive William Blair & Company’s “Financial Planning Updates” by visiting www. williamblair.com/FP-updates. William Blair & Company is a global investment banking and asset management firm. An independent and employee-owned firm, William Blair is based in Chicago, with offices in 10 cities including London, New York, Shanghai, and Zurich. For more information, please visit williamblair. com. This information has been prepared solely for informational purposes and is not intended to provide or should not be relied upon for legal, tax, accounting, or investment advice. We recommend that you consult your attorney, tax advisor, investment or other professional advisor about your particular situation. Factual information has been taken from sources we believe to be reliable, but its accuracy, completeness, or interpretation cannot be guaranteed. Opinions expressed are current as of the date appearing in this material only and are subject to change.
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Meet your County Commissioners Face-to-Face
Wednesday, April 10, 2013 from 5:30PM to 8:00PM SPC Seminole Campus Digitorium, 9200 113th St. No. in Seminole Contact: 727-464-4600 | www.pinellascounty.org/ eTownHall Meet your County Commissioners and County Administrator at the 2014 Budget Community Forum. Participate Live at the Open house from 5:30 - 7PM or online at the eTownHall from 7-8PM.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013 – May 12, 2013 Westcoast Black Theater Troupe, 1646 10th Way in Sarasota Contact: http://wbttroupe. org/it-aint-nothin-but-theblues Take a journey through time as this rich and rousing musical revue depicts the evolution of the blues from African chants through the Southern spirituals to the electrifying songs of postwar Chicago nightclubs. Nominated for four Tony Awards, this show captures the heart of American music and leaves the audience clamoring for more!
Smokey Robinson
Thursday, April 11, 2013 from 8:00PM to 11:00PM Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota Contact: www.vanwezel.org Smokey Robinson is one of the most beloved and influential figures in the history of popular music. Logging career hits like “Being With You,” “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “Just to See Her,” “Tracks of My Tears,” and “Cruisin’,” and so many more,
Smokey Robinson is sure to be one of the most soul-rockin’ concerts of the season!
will be provided. Guests will also enjoy prizes and give-aways.
7th Annual Gulf Coast Rhythm & Ribfest
From: Friday, April 12, 2013 Sunday, April 14, 2013 Manatee County Fairgrounds in Palmetto Contact: www. gulfcoastribfest.com/ Make plans to join us for the 7th Annual Gulf Coast Rhythm & Ribfest. In only its seventh year, Rhythm & Ribfest is fast becoming one of the most exciting, diverse, and anticipated events on Florida’s Gulf Coast. We feature a mix of great music, fantastic food from across the U.S., and lots of fun for the entire family. Smoke will fill the air as the top Rib Teams from across the Nation return to serve up their award winning recipes and to compete for this year’s top honors.
2013 NAACP Health Summit
Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 8:30AM to 2:30PM Bethel Community Baptist Church, 2901 54th Ave. So. in St. Pete Contact: rubyh2001@yahoo.com The NAACP Health Summit will include a “Health Village” with free testing & screenings for HIV, Diabetes, Glaucoma, BP, BMI, Cholesterol and etc. There will be workshops on cooking, stress, exercise and more. Free continental breakfast & lunch
Side Effects: Hurting People, Hurt People
Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 6:00PM to 9:00PM Center for Manifestation, 3102 E Lake Ave. in Tampa Contact: www.thestageplaysideeffects.eventbrite.com Tampa Grown Folks come see the Highly Acclaimed Stage Play, Side Effects: Hurting People, Hurt People. This play is filled with high emotion, laughter and great singing that will minister deeply to your soul.
“How to do business with Pinellas County Schools” workshop Monday, April 15, 2013 at 5:30PM Lakewood High School, 1400 54th Ave. So. in St. Pete Contact: www.pcul.org
Sunscreen Film Fest at NOVA Opening Night Party
Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 9:00PM
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NOVA 535, 535 Dr. M. L. King Jr St. No. in St. Pete Contact: http://www. nova535.com/ The Sunscreen Film Festival is a worldwide acclaimed film festival for the independent film genre. If you are a new artist and would like to make a name for yourself, or learn from those who have made impressive and spectacular names for themselves in the entertainment industry, join us for our annual Opening Night Party at NOVA 535.
Stuffed and Unstrung: Uncensored, A Live Puppet Show for Adults Only
Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 7:30PM The Mahaffey Theater, 400 1st St. So. in St. Pete Contact: www.themahaffey. com This one-of-a-kind comedy show made for adults is produced by WestBeth Entertainment and Henson Alternative and created by award-winning director, producer and writer Brian Henson. Co-creator and host of Stuffed and Unstrung: Uncensored Patrick Bristow is best known for numerous television appearances, most notably as Peter on the groundbreaking ABC series, Ellen. Musical director is Willie Etra.
Black Business Bus Tours 2013 Saturday,
April 20, 2013 at 9:00AM Departure from Fran-El Soul Food, 1141 E. Fletcher Ave. in Tampa
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Contact: Candy Lowe 813394-6363 This tour is designed to showcase our best and brightest and to encourage the investment of black dollars back into the community by supporting our local Black-Owned Businesses. Seating is limited. Please RSVP.
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church Centennial Banquet
their way of carrying on the social vision of Martin Luther King (meanwhile gathering international acclaim for the company’s superior artistry), Dance Theatre of Harlem is touring again after an absence of eight years! Expect an eclectic evening of ballet featuring both classic and newly commissioned repertoire that will thrill, delight and leave you speechless.
Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 6:00PM Marriott, 12600 Roosevelt Blvd. No. in St. Pete Price: $50.00 adults and $20.00 children Contact: Joyce Williams, 727-656-2979, howsjoy007@hotmail.com. 100 Years and Building - New Hope Missionary Baptist Church celebrates 100 years of service, and cordially invites you to celebrate with us in our upcoming Centennial Banquet. Dr. Henry J. Lyons, Guest Speaker
Dance Theatre of Harlem presents Gloria, Black Swan, Return and Agon Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 4:00PM
Straz Center, 1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Pl. in Tampa Contact: www.strazcenter. org Founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook as
Jack Hartmann Concert
Monday, April 22, 2013 at 10:30AM Mt. Zion Progressive MB Church, 95 20th St. So. In St. Pete Price: $5.00 Children and $7.00 Adults Contact: Mount Zion Human Services, Inc. | 727822-0443 | tking@mzhs.org | www.mzhs.org Teachers all across our country & around the world choose Jack Hartmann’s Hop 2 It Music to get their classes rockin’, rappin’ & learning! Jack will get all the children and grownups singing, clapping, wiggling, twisting and just having fun. He will sing lots of his most popular songs that are sung in the classrooms all across the country.
fathers and fatherhood offer to our present and future generations. Fathers are often devalued and portrayed in a negative light; however, a number of fathers are fathering the right way.
The Stand Against Racism 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013 6:30-8:30 p.m. Presented by YWCA Tampa Bay, featuring Tim Wise, renowned race expert, bestselling author and national lecturer Wireman Chapel | Eckerd College 4200 54th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33711 www.ywcaoftampabay.org/ stand2013 or 727-896-4629
Daughters of the King Gospel Fest and Fashion Show Extravaganza
Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 9:00AM to 12:00PM Hilton Bayfront, 333 1st St. S. in St. Pete Price: $35 Contact: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. & St. Petersburg Alumnae Chapter | 727-7551913 Ticket price includes breakfast. Proceeds benefit scholarships & programming.
Bold & Beautiful Masquerade & Dinner Cruise
Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 6:30PM 603 Channelside Dr. in Tampa Price: $60/person or $100/ couple Contact: www. evisionentertainment.com/ Come and enjoy an evening aboard Tampa’s beautiful Yacht StarShip Dining Cruise with Grammy award Winner & Jazz Sensation, Norman Connors. The Masquerade dinner cruise sets sail sharply at 6:30PM. Evening includes a delicious meal, live entertainment, dancing, giveaways, and more, aboard the 3 level Starship yacht with amazing views. This is an After 5 Attire event.
Affirming Fatherhood Conference 2013 “Game On”
From: Wednesday, May 1, 2013 - Friday, May 3, 2013 Tampa Garden Inn, 5312 Avion Park Dr. in Tampa Contact: http://afc2013. eventbrite.com/ This conference is designed to provide a different look at fatherhood and the value
Funk Fest 2013
From: Friday, May 3, 2013 Saturday, May 4, 2013 Curtis Hixon Park in Tampa Contact: funkfestconcerts. com/tampa/ Performing Live - Friday: Jagged Edge, Doug E Fresh, Keyshia Cole Performing Live Saturday: Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, SOS Band, Salt & Pepper, Anthony Hamilton
Visit us 24/7 for more events, uploaded six days a week with hundreds of events each year
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Leandria Johnson 5th Annual Dr. Dorinda Clark Cole Regional Singers & Musicians Conference and Health Fair
From: Friday, May 3, 2013 - Sunday, May 5, 2013 Bible-Based Fellowship Church, 4811 Ehrlich Rd. in Tampa Contact: 727-244-8119 | www.omjeventplanning.com This conference is designed to provide delegates with mind renewing instruction, time for spiritual-inventory and reflection and opportunities to meet and network with other minstrels from across the country. Registration is necessary for the workshop sessions. There is no charge to attend the evening worship service.
Annual Black and White Spring Ball “Dwelling Together in Unity”
Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 6:00PM Doubletree Hotel Tampa Westshore Airport, 4500 West Cypress St. in Tampa Price: $45.00 per person Contact: Brother Alejandero Kelly, Jr. Warden | 931-2371810 | alex.kelly1201@gmail. com Guest Speaker: Right Worshipful Gus Harris, Jr. 33º. Music will be provided for your dancing and listening pleasure. Your purchased ticket entitles you to a sit down dinner with a choice of Chicken Portabella or Grilled Salmon.
Business Plans for Every Situation
Thursday, May 9, 2013 from 12:00PM to 2:00PM 13805 58th Street North, Suite 1-200 Clearwater Price: $25 Contact: Small Business Development Center at Pinellas County, www.pced.org/ Whether you just want to stay on task, develop a solid plan for success, or satisfy lenders and investors, we can help you write a great business plan. We will show you how to choose the best format for your purpose, the relevant sections you will need to complete, how to find research and answers that help, and give you plenty of examples to make it as straight-forward and useful as possible. The registration fee includes course materials.
Mother’s Day Gospel Celebration featuring Yolanda Adams, Deitrick Haddon and 78 | Power Broker magazine
Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 7:30PM Straz Center, 1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Pl. in Tampa Price: $32.75 Contact: http://www. strazcenter.org The message and ministry of Grammy Award-winning gospel artist, Yolanda Adams returns to Tampa on Mother’s Day weekend with a joyful, uplifting, inspiring and exuberant performance. She is one of the most persuasive and popular voices in contemporary Gospel today. She will be joined by one of the most exciting Gospel performers on the scene today, Deitrick Haddon. Deitrick Haddon is a two-time Stellar and Gospel Music Workshop of America Excellence Award winner. A portion of the proceeds will benefit local Breast Cancer Foundations for Women.
Kings on the Mic Tour Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 7:30PM The Mahaffey Theater, 400 1st St. So. in St. Pete Contact: www.themahaffey. com This tour underscores what true authentic Hip-Hop music is based on, with these groundbreaking artists bringing their music to fans across generations. Don’t forget that there are No Added Charges at the Mahaffey Theatre. The Mahaffey Theater is the first performing arts center of its size in West-Central Florida to adopt the “No Ticketing Surcharge” policy. Tickets on sale 3/22 at Noon.
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Sheriff Bob Gualtieri
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is a progressive, technologically advanced agency geared to professionally meet the law enforcement needs of our community’s diverse population.
We Are Hiring – Join Our Team The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office offers these career opportunities: • Corrections and Law Enforcement • Civilian Support • Medical Professionals • Teamwork and job satisfaction • Career development and promotions • Excellent salary and benefits
For more information – visit our website at: pcsoweb.com Contact Human Resources at: 727-582-6208 The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is an equal opportunity employer and requires “no tobacco use” by applicants for a six-month period prior to application.
"Leading The Way For A Safer Pinellas" Sheriff Bob Gualtieri with Patrol Deputies.