The Westside Gazette

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THE WESTSIDE GAZETTE POST OFFICE 5304 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33310

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33310

PERMIT NO. 1179

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Baltimore Mayor Rawlings-Blake enhances the legacy of North Broward Links By Audrey Peterman

“I was raised by two scholars with the love for service in their DNA,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake did not expect excuses. They taught me not to be apologetic – that I could be a wife, a mother and have a career. . . my life was built on the expectation of academic success, high moral standards, and civic responsibility.”

In an exquisite demonstration of how faith and principles guide a high caliber life, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake poured out love and affirmation to the North Broward County Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, and their guests at their 20th Annual Luncheon Oct. 10. While she may rightly have been expected to address the violence and oppression of Black Americans revealed in her city over the past year and her recent decision not to run for a second term, the poised and beautiful mayor instead underscored the Links’ theme, “Embracing Our Legacy, Fulfilling Our Promise” with a recounting of her formative experiences. “The way we got here is the way we’re going to get there,” Mayor Rawlings-Blake told the service oriented Links. “We have a strong foundation. We have to continue with tenacity, insist on hard work and keep

our expectations high. Just as we reach back to our ancestors for our fundamental legacy, so we must reach forward to our children and leave them a legacy.” Mayor Rawlings-Blake laid out her own legacy growing up in a family committed to public service. Her father Howard P. Rawlings served in the Maryland House of Delegate from 1979-2003, and chaired the powerful Appropriations Committee from 1992 to 2003. Her mother Nina is a pediatrician. “I was raised by two scholars with the love for service in their DNA,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake in her Keynote address at the Diplomat Golf and Tennis Resort in Hallandale. “They did not expect excuses. They taught me not to be apologetic – that I could be a wife, a mother and have a career. . . my life was built on the expectation of academic success, high moral standards, and civic responsibility.” The Mayor is carrying that legacy forward with a record of accomplishment that is stunning for someone so youthful. (Cont'd on Page 5)

Hospice nurses lead effort to establish National Black Nurses Association Charter for Gr eater Fort Lauderdale Greater Broward Chapter The National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) recently approved the charter of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward Chapter (GFLBC), the first chapter in the history of the organization to be organized and chartered exclusively by hospice nurses. The chapter, which is open to all

The danger of thinking you know everything and not knowing when your cup needs emptying “The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, You who live in the clefts of [a]the rock, In the loftiness of your dwelling place, Who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to earth?’ Obadiah 1:3 (NASB) By Bobby R. Henry, Sr. Have you ever been engaged in what was supposed to be a helpful conversation that you didn’t ask for and it came in the middle of the night? The conversation was supposed to encourage, uplift and give some guided instructions, but what tran-spired was a migraine headache, two swollen eyes, a septic ulcer and a sleepless night for you. I’ve been around a few intoxicated people in my life time and I have in my past been known to consume a few myself. Believe you me that when I say I know when my cup is full. I’ve heard and read of animals that will truly eat themselves to death, all the sense in the world and yet they will consume themselves. (Cont'd on Page 9)

Walter Scott Family rreaches eaches $6.5M settlement with city over cop gunning him down on camera

nursing specialties in Broward County, will voice the perspectives of nurses to the community and government leaders and will provide professional development opportunities such as creating a mentorship program to benefit rising leaders. A long-time supporter of the NBNA, VITAS Healthcare, the Walter Smith parents.

Reflections on HIV and privilege from a conference of people with HIV

WOODS By Ashton P. Woods from TheBody.com The importance of a gathering like the Positive Living Conference, and many others like it, is that a safe space is established for people to be more than their HIV

status. The Positive Living Conference — which happens each year in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and took place from Sept. 18-20 this year — is the largest gathering of people living with HIV in the U.S. When safe spaces are created, the true humanity of participants can be seen. In seeing that humanity, many of the problems in relation to being HIV positive are exposed. Privilege plays a much larger role in relation to HIV services and how people are treated in general. Privilege spans more than race, sex or gender; it touches on socioeconomic status, education level and a host of other factors that can be considered a privilege. In essence, a conference such as Positive Living creates an equal playing field for people on different ends of the HIV spectrum to collaborate. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Pleading Our Own Cause

By April V. Taylor

Hospice nurses lead effort. nation’s leading provider of end of life care, led the effort to establish the GFLBC under the guidance of VITAS Community Liaison Deborah Mizell and VITAS Clinical Educator Lyn Peugeot, both of who will serve as the GFLBC chapter president, and vice president respectively. “At VITAS, we are proud to witness the start of the NBNA Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward Chapter which will provide many opportunities for nurses of all specialties throughout Broward County to further their professional and personal goals,” said Donna Borland, General Manager at VITAS Healthcare of Broward. “I am proud of the leadership Deborah

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and Lyn have shown by starting the Broward Chapter of the NBNA, and know that the organization will flourish under their watch.” Broward County is one of the most diverse counties in Florida, with a population of various races, religions and socio-economic status. The need for a diverse workforce of professional nurses that reflect patients’ and families’ values and cultures result in a more meaningful experience for all. Mizell and Peugeot embraced the value of diversity and inclusion when planning the goals and priorities of the GFLBC chapter. (Cont'd on Page 5)

North Charleston city officials in South Carolina have approved a $6.5 million settlement with the family of Walter Scott, an unarmed Black man who was fatally shot in the back by white police officer Michael Slager while running away from him during a traffic stop. The incident was captured on cell phone video by a bystander, stirring up nationwide controversy as Slager’s version of events, that included Scott trying to take his Taser, were directly disputed by the video, instead showing Slager attempting to plant the Taser on Scott’s body as he lay dying. Slager was indicted on a murder charge in June, and he was refused bond by a judge who stated that Slager’s release would “constitute an unreasonable danger to the community.” Members of Scott’s family were on hand as the North Charleston City Council’s 10-0 decision was announced. In a statement made by Scott’s brother Anthony, he noted that the settlement will help provide

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for Scott’s children, stating, “While nothing can replace having Walter in our lives, the city of North Charleston’s historic action ensures that he did not die in vain.” Anthony Scott reports that some of the money will be donated to disaster relief for victims of recent historic floods in South Carolina. North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey appeared equally pleased with the decision, stating, “The family took steps to keep the community calm, and for that the city is thankful. This is a very difficult period for the Scott family. I know they are glad to have this part behind them so their healing process can continue.” Scott’s family’s actions following the release of cell phone video of Scott’s death is believed by many to have prevented the kind of violence that erupted in places like Ferguson and Baltimore following the deaths of Michael Brown and Freddie Gray, both unarmed Black men who died at the hands of police. (Cont'd on Page 9) MEMBER: National Newspaper Publishers Association ( NNPA), and Southeastern African-American Publishers Association (SAAPA) Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM)


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