The Westside Gazette

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FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33310

PERMIT NO. 1179

NAACP Condemns Latest Injustices Surrounding Fatal Police-Involved Shootings Around Nation PAGE 12 VOL. 47 NO. 9 50¢

THURSDAY, APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2018

A M E S S A GE F ROM OU R PU BL IS H E R

Quinyetta McMillon, the mother of Alton Sterling’s son Cameron, speaks to reporters following the announcement that the officers involved in the shooting death of Alton Sterling would not be charged. (Michele McCalope/The Drum)

By Michele McCalope (NNPA Member/The Drum)

By Rochelle Davis-Cox Chanice Lee of Fort Lauderdale, FL has become the “Change you want to see”, in more ways than one. Many may think that our youth are not watching us or are unaware of what’s really going on around them, but recent events have showed us that is not the case. Think about it: current teenagers have witnessed the first AfricanAmerican president, and the only president they may have recognized for most of their lives (2009-2017). The instant portrayal of police brutality and increased gun violence in schools. A bit much.

However, we have seen our youth stand up at the forefront for the rights of their friends and their culture. At a young age, Chanice has been paying attention to the climate of her surroundings. “I was paying attention to what’s going on in the world. That was when the Black Lives Matter movement became popular, and I began to research ways that I could get involved”, says Lee. Lee plans to attend the Black Lives Matter Alliance of Broward – Youth Power on Monday.

Lee attended the Florida March for Black Women, where she was the youngest guest speaker. Lee says, “one of my greatest moments while attending was to see not only

people that look like me, but people who were my age and interested in creating change too.”

Chanice Lee is the 2017(Cont’d on page 9)

BATON ROUGE — Following a 10-month investigation into the extrajudicial killing of Alton Sterling, Louisiana’s Attorney General Jeff Landry announced that his office would not pursue criminal charges against the officers involved.

Sterling, a 37-year-old Black man, was shot six times by a White Baton Rouge police officer on July 5, 2016, in front of a Triple S convenience store. The officers, Howie Lake II and Blane Salamoni were responding to a call about a man with a gun, who was assaulting someone. Sterling had been selling CDs in front of the store with permission from the owner.

By Veronique George, Alumni News

FENNOY

The next leader of Palm Beach County’s public school system will be Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumnus Donald Fennoy. This is the first time an African-American will hold the position of superintendent for the South Florida county.

A self-described military “brat” who grew up moving from state to state and lived for a time in England, Fennoy graduated in 1999 from Florida A&M University and began his educational career as a third-grade reading teacher in an Orlando public school.

After five years in elementary and

By Byler Henry Greatness can be seen from a mile away.

Dillard has decided to name the track after Coach Robert Green. From a shotgun house in Fort Myers to having a track named after him at Dillard, Coach Robert Green has come a long way. He attended Dunbar High School and was the fastest football player to ever graduate in 1949, leadng his team in scoring for four years.

Not only has he coached track, but he also ran

Officials said Salamoni shot Sterling, while Lake, his partner, looked on.

“After careful thought and review of the evidence, the Louisiana Department of Justice will not proceed with prosecution of Officers Lake or Salamoni,” Landry said.

“This decision was not taken lightly.”

Landry said his office thoroughly investigated the case, even re-interviewing witnesses in the case. He said the evidence just didn’t warrant pursuing criminal charges.

“We must analyze the evidence and draw a conclusion, but we’re always mindful of the family,” Landry said. “I know the Sterling family is hurting.”

The Attorney General’s office received the case in May 2017, after the U.S. (Cont’d on page 5)

middle schools he was promoted to assistant principal, then was tapped in 2006 to be a high school principal in Charlotte, N.C. He spent four years in that role before leaving public schools to lead a Maryland nonprofit that trained school leaders. He returned to public education when the current Palm Beach County superintendent Robert Avossa, Ph.D., tapped him to be an area superintendent in Fulton County’s public school system.

As superintendent, Fennoy will oversee roughly 180 schools, educating more than 172,000 students. The school system is also Palm Beach County’s largest employer.

track at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina. It was there where he won the SIAC Championship in track two of his four years in the 100-yard dash. He was also the first runner from Allen to participate in the Penn relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, finishing second in the 100-meter dash to Art Bragg who was the 100-meter champion. He was also invited to the Olympic Trials in 1952. Unfortunately, due to the lack of sponsors, he was unable to attend.

Coach Green also joined the army and

(Cont’d on page 12)

On the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s death, the only thing that has changed is the time it takes for us to see the abuse God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Numbers 23:19 (KJV)

By Bobby R. Henry, Sr. After 62 years of living on this earth and going to church for 55 of those years, I found a better understanding as to what Resurrection Day means to me; and it could not have come at a better time.

Just a few days before the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assignation, I find myself being re-indoctrinated to the cause of fighting for the rights to live freely with some semblance of equality.

My head is filled with memories of his soul stirring words that find themselves resonating in cavities within my mind, body, soul and spirit, places that I forgot existed.

His melodic tone for presenting an instructional format aimed at addressing malcontent and discord of unrest perpetrated upon a people who were forced to (Cont’d on page 3)

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PAGE 2 • APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2018

www.thewestsidegazette.com

A Proud Paper For A Proud People

h Blac kP olitical S tr uctur e Flor ida Blac k Owned Media Collabor at es W it ates Wit ith Black Political Str tructur ucture Florida Black Collaborat In Central Florida

By Devin Heflin, Orlando Times ORLANDO, FL - Imagine, a disempowered populace, a

disappointed people, who despite their ability, were disabled and debilitated from advancing in an already rigged and rigid system which supported the

Love Equals an Empty Tomb

By Jacqueline Sheppard On the heels of the Easter holiday, the stage play, “Love Equals an Empty Tomb” marked the ninth year of the Hallmark Production by Bible Out Loud Ministries. This was a special treat for an eager crowd that awaited the opening on March 25 at Mt. Hermon AME Church located in Miami Gardens. Many waited with anticipated patience to hear just how the familiar story of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection would be brought to life.

This was truly an awe inspiring event that captivated the au-

dience by not only the heartfelt emotions that came across with each song, but by the narrator's ability to draw you into the story, carring you along for the journey.

Love Equals an Empty Tomb showcases some of the best vocal talent in South Florida, led by Antonia Wilson of Legato Vocal Ensemble, along with worldclass dancers and Mime, led by Genevieve Harris of D.C.L.A.R.E Ministry & Visual and Performing Arts Community. Powerful songs correlated with the narration, making the story come alive in our hearts and minds. The harmonious

preservation of the status quo over the stable questions of legitimacy of the papers authored by the authors who did little to preserve the rights of said people.

Dr. Wade Nobles defined racism as, “the ability to define

gospel choir and soloist, combined with a live band featuring South Florida’s very own Melton Mustafe Jr.'s accompaniment, helped to further make the play a memorable experience.

But what most captured the attention of the audience was the intense, yet soothing narration of Christal Walker, a Master Story Teller who took the audience there and made you feel the presence of the Lord. She made you feel like you were being told the greatest story ever told by an amazing close friend. Alicia Daniels of Greater Faith CCHL stated, "you couldn’t help but to feel like she was having an intimate dialogue with each of the viewers all at once." Her recitation of the scripture was impeccable, making the audience visibly astounded. It made viewers feel proud and left the venue with an new excitement for the Word of God. Educator and Public Speaker Angela Peterson stated that Love Equals an Empty Tomb was an amazing message of hope for all who need to know who Jesus is. Believers and unbelievers were given the opportunity to reflect and appreciate the power of this storytelling that inspired everyone to hear God in another light.

Love Equals an Empty Tomb delivers the word of God in a personal and powerful way.

What a wonderful and unique way to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was an experience I’m sure audience members won’t soon forget. The message in the end was one that encouraged everyone to go forth and boldly proclaim the gospel to every part of the world.

Jimmie Williams, president of Holden Heights NHA; Byler Henry, Accountant Executive/ Reporter for Westside Gazette Newspaper; James Madison, Florida Sun; Deborah Thompson, Metro News; Mr. and Mrs. Commissioner Samuel B. Ings; Kevin Collins, Orlando Times; Jacquelin Cockerham, Commissioner Ings Assistant and Bobby R. Henry, Sr., president of FABOM. someone’s reality and to have them accept the definition of that reality.”

Such was and remains the standard operating procedures of mainstream media which functions as a mental, social and verbal assault against Black survival, Black sustenance, and Black self- determination.

Determined men and women sought and fought to change this obstacle into an opportunity. The derivations of Black owned media can in particular be traced to ancient Kemet and Nubia, with the various inscriptions on the walls of Luxor, Thebes and the Valley of the Kings.

Moreover, during the nonstop onslaught of plantation theology exacted on Black life within the United States, the Caribbean and the Continent, Black men and women stood strong, though they wanted us to sit. We sang hymns of freedom, though they wanted us silent and we created our own media when they wanted to desecrate our very image.

On the plantation, Black owned media such as Frederick Douglas’ North Star Newspaper, the journals of Ida B. Wells, the pre-eminent predecessors of Robert Abbot, found-

er of the Chicago Defender, George Padmore, its most prominent journalist, William Monroe Trotter’s the Boston Guardian and Marcus Garvey’s Negro World newspaper.

Of this proud tradition, the Florida Association of Black Owned Media, abbreviated FABOM, was born.

As Florida’s oldest and largest African American media organization, its most influential Black media outlets reaching over four million Floridians each week.

The core mission of the organization is to tell the story of Black life and display its positivity, its intricacies and to create a dialogue, so says its President and Founder, Bobby R. Henry, Sr.. Henry, Publisher of the Westside Gazette, which circulates its publication out of Fort Lauderdale and aspires to produce fair content and coverage for all.

“Black people are murdered daily and there’s little coverage.

Though our hearts are with those who were affected by the tragedy in Parkland and their families, all tragedies should matter.” Henry said.

Through the organization, Henry has crafted an itinerary which will consist of town hall meetings, designed to create not only dialogue, but action.

“Most importantly, we want to let our community know we are here. We are their voice, they are ours.” Henry said.

While “majority” newspapers are struggling with dwindling subscriptions and readership, Black newspapers have a steady stream of readers who rely on their publications for information important to them.

It’s common knowledge that Black newspapers are read by four to six individuals before thrown away.

African Americans make up 19 percent of Florida’s population. FABOM has been the eyes, ears and voice of Black Floridians in a myriad of manners. The organization has convened forums with Florida gubernatorial, legislative, US Senate, and Cabinet officers to get answers on issues of major im-portance to the community.

The outfit plans to issue a report card on candidates and elected officials.

“The organization hopes to bring about change.” Jim Madison said. Madison is Vice President of FABOM and also serves as Publisher of the Florida Sun Newspaper.

(Cont'd on Page 12)

www.thewestsidegazette.com

APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2018 • PAGE 3

A Proud Paper For A Proud People

Jonathan Watkins named new CEO of Broward Health Imperial Point FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Jonathan E. Watkins, MPA, FACHE, has been named chief executive officer of Broward Health Imperial Point (BHIP).

Watkins will be responsible for the overall leadership of the 200-bed acute care hospital, which offers medical-surgical inpatient care, behavioral health services and, a wide variety of outpatient services. He will also direct BHIP’s overall administration and related regional operations to assure quality patient care and service in collaboration with Broward Health’s executive team.

“Jonathan is a dynamic leader and a strategic thinker

who brings years of senior healthcare administration experience to Broward Health Imperial Point,” said Broward Health President/CEO Beverly Capasso. “We are thrilled that he’s joining our leadership team and I’m confident that he will lead BHIP’s continued success.”

With more than 10 years of combined healthcare administration and general management experience, Watkins most recently served as chief operating officer at Kaiser Foundation Hospitals & Health Plan in California’s Central Valley area, where he facilitated, directed, and coordinated operational activities and programs related to the day-to-day operations of

50th anniversary of Dr. King’s death (Cont'd from FP) accept this erroneous act like a scene form a silent movie when dirty mop water was accidentally thrown out the door on an unexpected victim. However, in the case against Black people, the dirty water was a planned maneuver to humiliate and defame the victims.

What is still perplexing to people of color is the fact that the same thing that is done to the least of them will be done to you no matter your economic status.

The resonating aspects of Dr. King’s points of contention are ever so present today. Yes, the scope has broaden and so have the weapons of mass destruction.

Understanding the farreaching tentacles of the oppressive and suppressive tactics to kill the ideology and the movement that Dr. King started appears to be as distant as the GN-z11 galaxy (google it). But, like I said, it appears to be how-

ever it is written that “there is nothing new under the sun”.

Dr. King proposed the question: “Where do we go from here” in one of his most profound, directional, discourses given to address the debilitative methods used to keep a people underfoot.

Even though there are a number of ways to cripple a people, when orchestrated methods are put into place to cause the emotional abilities to disfunction is a sure remedy to wreak havoc on humans.

Feeble reactions are destructive and are problematic emotional states that destabilize effective functioning. When we are at that point, devastation is at the door knocking, waiting to come in. In a society that is ruled by and on the principle of THE almighty dollar, SEPARATELY we are seen as broke, busted and definitely can’t be trusted; open to being used and abused, calculated and tossed aside as refuse.

three hospitals. Prior to that, he served as vice president of clinical operations/chief operating officer of Medical North Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., where he was responsible for leading, developing and executing key business strategies, as well as directing and administering day-to-day operations.

Watkins holds a master’s degree in public administration with a certification in health administration, as well as a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration and planning from Tennessee State University. He is also a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and board certified in healthcare manage-

ment as a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). He was named the 2013 National Association of Health Services Executives Young Healthcare Executive of the Year and is past president of the Memphis chapter of the National Association of Health Service Executives.

New dean for UM’s medical school is a Haitian immigrant success story Jonathan E. Watkins, MPA, FACHE, named CEO of Broward Health Imperial Point (BHIP).

Dr. King recognized that and offered a plan to address those putrid probabilities. He offered that we come together obviously, but how it would be done was deeper. We would have to accept crossing of color lines, political parties, ecclesiastical differences, economic status and anything else that we could use to create a crack in the armor of hope.

Yes, for me, Resurrection Day was a new awakening to understanding that we are all God’s children and Jesus his son is our brother and what He did for one of His children He will do for all.

Now stay tune for more of Dr. King’s plan for, “Where do we go from here” to include how we get there. We will need to understand America’s third reconstruction period.

“Dear God in the name of Jesus. I ask that You give me what I need to present a message to your people that will bring us together in love for each other with understanding of who You are. In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

IN ORDER TO GET TO THE MOUNTAIN TOP WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH SOME VALLEYS

By Daniel Chang From immigrant beginnings, Dr. Henri Ford has reached rarefied heights in American medicine;graduating from Harvard Medical School, training as a pediatric surgeon at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and, over the past 13 years, serving as vice president and chief of surgery for the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.

This week, Ford climbed another step in his professional career. He was named the new dean of the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine.

Born in Haiti, Ford immigrated to Brooklyn with his family at 13, and he has returned often to his native country to help provide medical care, train doctors and plant the seeds for healthcare infrastructure that he hopes will one day provide many on the island a better life.

UM’s dedication to Haiti, particularly its deployment of surgical teams and other resources following the January 2010 earthquake, played a critical role in Ford’s decision to accept the top job at the Miller

DR. FORD School of Medicine.

“This is my dream job,” Ford said on Monday from his office at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, where he is vice dean, professor and vice chair for clinical affairs in the department of surgery. “As I reflect on my journey in American medicine, I truly feel I’ve been preparing all my life to assume a role like this one.”

Ford is driven and ambitious.

His motto, he said, is, “There is no satisfactory substitute for excellence.” And he means it.

“What enticed me,” Ford explained of his decision, “is that I firmly believe UHealth [University of Miami Health System] and the Miller School of Medicine must become the preferred destination of people seeking the latest advances in healthcare and biomedical research, both nationally and internationally. We have to be the destination of choice.”

Ford starts the job June 1.

He said he wants to create a close relationship between UM’s medical school, the university’s healthcare system and the broader community, not just South Florida but the Caribbean, South America and the Western Hemisphere.

“We have to become really a major hub of clinical and biomedical innovation,” he said.

“We have to be able to invest in discovery and then have the wherewithal to translate clinical discovery into clinical intervention that will improve health globally.”

And he understands the need for profit in order to drive the mission. In the last year, UHealth’s main hospital has lost millions of dollars and the facility’s patients have dwindled.

(Read full story at: thewestsidegazette.com)

PAGE 4 • APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2018

A Proud Paper For A Proud People

Local Events In The Community

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Community Events at Jan Moran Collier City Learning Library ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

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Training

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Construction Training Class on Saturday, April 7 at LES Office from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m, at 3220 N. 24 Ave., Hollywood, Fla. Enrolling Now Free . Space is limited and income guidelines apply. Construction Trades Training Program - Classes are held on Saturdays. For more info call (954) 924-3635. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

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Grand Opening of our Premiere Festival The BoxTop Flea Market and Yard Sale on Saturday, April 7 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Corner of Atlanta St., & North 23 Ave., Hollywood, Fla. Every first Saturdays of the month. For vendor space call Pamela at (954) 5627688. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

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Broward County Board of County Commissioner presents Food Choices To Be Healthy Presentation on Saturday, April 7 at 4 p.m., at Lauderhill Towne Centre Library, 6399 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Lauderhill, Fla.

-Broward County Parks and the Urban Farming Institute want you to Fall in Love With Farming Saturday, April 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Jaco Pastorius Park, 4000 N. Dixie Hwy., Oakland Park, Fla. Admission is free, and there will be farm-fresh food, activities and prizes and more.

- Broward County Park and Recreation Division’s Special Populations Section, in partnership with the Supportabilities Foundation, will offer an eightweek program: Self-Defense and Fitness on Thursday, April 12 ; ending on Thursday, May 31, 2018 from 3 to 4 p.m., at Fountain Room at Plantation Heritage Park, 1100 S. Fig Tree Lane, Plantation, Fla. For additional info call (954) 357-5133.

- Youths ages 8 to 13 with developmental disabilities are invited to participate in two free dance programs this spring through the Parks Special Populations Section Take the Stage!

Hip-Hop Intensive from Saturdays from April 14 through May 26, 2018 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., at Central Park MultiPurpose Center, 9151 N.W. Second St., Plantation, Fla., with the second program following immediately after from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m., (no class on April 28.) Space is limited and preregistration is required. Call (954) 357-8170. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Event

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Miami Dade College (MDC), in partnership with MANO Americas and in association with John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Santander Universities and Maker Media, will host Maker Faire Miami on Saturday and Sunday, April 7 -8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at its Wolfson Campus, 300 N.E. Second Ave., Miami, Fla. For more info contact Isabel Artime at (305) 237-3960, iartime@mdc.edu.

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Workshop

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Subcontractor Workshop For: Broward County Schools: Nova & Hollywood Hills High Schools on Thursday, April 14 from 1 to 4 p.m., at Old Davie School Historical Museum, 6650 Griffin Rd., Davie, Fla. Pirtle Construction, MCO Constructions, and Broward County Public Schools are hosting a project specific outreach event to prequalify contractors with Pirtle Construction and to certify contractors with Broward County Schools as M/WBE vendors and contractors. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

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WHERE SHOPPING IS A PLEASURE

Fair

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Fish Fry

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The Children’s Services Council (CSC) of Broward County in partnership with dozens of other organizations, presents the Family Fun and Resource Fair on Saturday, April 14 from 11 a.m. 3 p.m., at Delevoe Memorial Park, 2520 N.W. Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The free event is held in recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, observed each year in April to bring awareness to human trafficking, child abuse and neglect. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Events

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Jan Moran Collier City, 2800 N.W. Ninth Ct., Pompano Beach, Fla. For more info call (954) 357-7670. · Wednesday, April 4, 11, 18, 25, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Closing the Gap Through Health & Fitness: Get Healthy “Inside and Out” with our 12-week fitness and nutritional program.

Guest Speakers and Demonstrations. (Pre-Registration requested.) 6:30 to 8 p.m. · Monday, April 16, 25, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oasis – Introduction to Computers: Learn the basics of Computing with this hands on class. No prior knowledge of computer use is necessary. 6 to 7:30 p.m. · Monday, April 23, 25, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Spoken Word Poetry Corner: Come and Share your poetic talent, All are welcome to this night of mellow moods and good vibes. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Pineapple Jam returns to Stranahan House on Friday, April 13 at 6 p.m., at 335 S.E. Sixth Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Trade in your black-tie attire for “tropical chic” and join us for a Party in Paradise for Preservation the Historic Stranahan House Museum’s annual Pineapple Jam! For tickets cost and additional info call April Kirk at (954) 5244736. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Grand Opening

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The Community is invited to join us for the Grand Opening of our Reading Oasis Room on Tuesday, April 10 at 12 p.m., at Larkdale Elementary School, 3250 N.W. 12 Pl., Lauderhill, Fla. (Designed to promote literacy. Scholastic Books and the Kiwanis Club provided Larkdale Elementary with 1,200 books, furniture, and Interactive Smart Board & much more). For additional info call Avis Purcell at (95) 3226600.

Publix is Proud to Support Community News

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Miramar Today events · Together, We Are Miramar on Sunday, April 7 at 1 p.m., at at Miramar Cultural Center/ Art, 2400 Civic Center Place, Miramar, Fla. · April Pool's Day on Saturday, April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Miramar Aquatic Complex, 6920 S.W. 35 St., Miramar,(Donate gently used sneakers during the event & get Free passes to the Miramar Aquatic Center.. · Conversations with Mayor Messam on Tuesday, April 17 at 6 p.m., at 16283 Miramar Pkwy., Miramar, Fla. · Commissioner Yvette Colbourne proudly hosts Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday, April 21 from 9a .m. to 1 p.m., at Lakeshore Park, 8501 Sherman Circle S. Miramar, Fla. Earn community service hours, refreshments served afte the event. For more info call (954) 602-3143. · U.S. Citizenship and Immigrant Services hosted by Commissioner Maxwell B. Chambers on Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Miramar's Multi Services Complex, 6700 Miramar Pkwy. Miramar, Fla. · Mayor Wayne Messam invites you to join My Brother's Keeper- Young Men in High School. For additional info call (954) 602-3198.

Dillard Class of 1968 Scholarship Committee Fish Fry on Saturday, April 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Roosevelt Gardens Park, 2841 N.W. 11 St., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. For additional info call Nute Hawkins at (954) 303-0957. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Conference

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

2018 Broward & Beyond Business Conference on Friday, May 4 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Signature Grand, 6900 State Rd. 84, Davie, Fla. Rory E. Verrett, keynote speaker, Founder and Managing, Partner, Portege Search. Free admission. Register now: visit Broward.org/BizBeyond ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Do you have a special talent or skill? The City of Lauderhill Arts, Culture & Tourism Board is hosting a Lauderhill Talent Show open to residents and business owners in the City of Lauderhill. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to show off your talent! In order to participate in the Talent Show, you must: · Be available to audition at the Lauderhill Sadkin Center (1176 NW 42 Way) for the first two (2) rounds with the Finals being held at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, 3800 NW 11 Pl. ·Second Audition: Wednesday, April 11 at 4 p.m., at Sadkin Center Finals: Wednesday, May 16 at 4 p.m., at LPAC ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Workshop ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale launches new creativity exploration workshop for health and wellness on Saturday. April 14 and Saturday, May 12, and Saturday, June 9, from noon to 1:30 p.m., at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale (One East Olas Blvd.). For cost and additional info about the workshop register visit nsuartmuseum.org or call (954) 262-0258.

Event ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

United Way of Broward County’s Power of U Launch All White Party Affair on Saturday, April 14 at 6 p.m., at Grateful Palate, 3003 N.E. 32 Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Appearance by Breakfast Club’s Angela Yee & DJ Envy. Dress code: All White Attire

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APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2018 • PAGE 5

A journalist is missing in Haiti. His wife wants to know: Where is the outcry?

Vladjimir Legagneur, a freelance photojournalist in Haiti, has been missing since March 14 when he went to do an independent project in the Grand Ravine neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. The community was recently the scene of a deadly police raid.

By Jacqueline Charles The last time Fleurette Guerrier spoke to her husband, Vladjimir Legagneur, the Haitian photojournalist told her he was busy but fine.

Because Legagneur was working on an independent freelance project in Grand Ravine, a gang-ridden Port-auPrince neighborhood that had been the scene of a deadly police raidfour months earlier, the couple agreed to check in on the phone two hours later.

That was about noon on March 14. Legagneur, 30, hasn’t been heard from since.

Guerrier tried to call at the appointed time. “The phone rang without any response until it just stopped ringing,” she said. She filed a missing person’s report with Haiti’s investigative police on March 16 and said she never heard back.

“I want answers,” said Guerrier, 31. “There is a disappearance that has taken place in the country, and they should conduct an investigation and pro-vide answers about that dis-appearance.”

Haiti-based journalists plan to take to the streets at 10 a.m.

Wednesday in a march of solidarity, demanding a serious investigation and denouncing the passivity of government officials in the disappearance.

“Right now, there is no in-

formation to say if he’s alive or if he’s dead, and if he is dead, then under what circumstances did he die?” asked Diego Charles, 30, a journalist with Vision 2000 radio station who is helping the photojournalist organizations Kolektif 2 Dimansyon (K2D) and l’Union des Journalistes Photographes Haitiens (UJPH) organize the march. “No area of the country should be a no-go zone.”

But Grand Ravine may be just that — even for the Haiti National Police. On Nov. 13, hundreds of HNP officers, supported by the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti, raided the neighborhood in an anti-gang operation.

Hours later, two police officers were dead as well as civilians.

The U.N. mission, in a statement issued days later, “strongly” condemned the violence and called for a judiciary inquiry — a call it reiterated last month.

Frantz Lerebours, an HNP spokesman, said police do not yet have any information on Legagneur’s whereabouts.

He added that a report that an unidentified corpse had been found in Grand Ravine is untrue.

Normil Rameau, the head of the Central Bureau of the Judicial Police (DPCJ), did not respond to questions from the Miami Herald.

Last week, Reporters Without Borders urged Haitian authorities to keep investigating the disappearance of Legagneur, who used to work for the newspaper Le Matin, the online news agency Loop Haïti and other Haitian media outlets. He also worked for nongovernmental organizations.

“It is extremely worrying that the police have found no trace of him in the 10 days since he went missing,” said Emmanuel Colombié, the head of the Reporters Without Borders Latin America bureau. Ranking Haiti 53rd out of 180 countries in its World Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders said despite changes in Haiti media law, journalists in Haiti continue to be victims of intimidation or physical violence.

Wednesday, the Committee to Project Journalists urged Haitian authorities to “do everything possible to locate freelance photojournalist Vladjimir Legagneur and conduct a full and transparent investigation into his disappearance.”

A number of human rights organizations have echoed the call for action in Haiti, where April 3 will mark 18 years since one of the country’s most famous journalists and political commentators, Jean Léopold Dominique, was gunned down in the courtyard of his own radio station, Haiti Inter. His murder remains unsolved.

Michel Joseph, a Radio Caraibes journalist who first reported Legagneur’s disappearance on his Facebook page, said the incident impacts all journalists in Haiti and makes reporters question their safety when pursuing controversial stories and stories in certain communities.

“It’s shocking because it can happen to me,” said Joseph, who often crossed paths with Legagneur on stories and initially held off posting the news that he was missing because the family thought it might have been a kidnapping.

“I am thinking back to when I last went into Grand Ravine and thinking about the risks I took. What’s happened is a real threat to all of us. Do we pursue some stories and risk people killing us because they think we

No Charges Filed against Officers in Alton Sterling Shooting (Cont'd from FP) Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana determined during its own investigation that there was not enough evidence to pursue criminal charges or civil rights violations.

Family members, community leaders, and the Sterling family’s attorneys said that they weren’t surprised by the latest findings.

“We didn’t get any justice,’ said Quinyetta McMillon, the mother of Alton Sterling’s son, Cameron. “The system failed us. We’re all out of tears. We all knew what it was going to be.

We may not get justice down on this earth, but when God comes… as a family, we just got to stay strong.”

Community activist Gary Chambers was more direct.

“It was total B.S.,” Chambers said.

Sandra Sterling, Alton Sterling’s aunt, said that, putting “Blane Salamoni back on the street, you’re putting a murderer back on the street.”

Sandra Sterling has suffered two strokes since the incident.

“Shame on you Blane Salamoni,” she said. “You took

an oath to protect and serve, not protect and kill.”

Sterling’s attorneys are filing a civil suit and have called for the firing of both officers, who have remained on paid leave since the incident. Together, the officers have been paid more than $130,000 in salary while on leave.

“We’re putting the city of Baton Rouge, the mayor and the metro council on notice,” said attorney Michael Adams.

“We’re disappointed, but this fight is not over. We have filed a civil suit and justice will be served. The officers will have to talk to us and explain their actions. Baton Rouge will have to hear the truth about what happened. We plan to put it all out there in the light of day.”

Meanwhile, Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul said a disciplinary hearing has been scheduled for the officers, this week, so police can determine if any policies or procedures were violated.

The officers will have a chance to tell their side of the story to the chief and his three deputies. The hearing will not be open to the public.

“We’re asking the community for a little more patience

and to keep our community in your prayers, so we can begin the healing process,” Paul said.

Paul also said all videos, audio, and 911 calls regarding the incident will be released after the disciplinary hearings for the officers conclude.

Mayor Sharon Weston Broome, who has already said publicly that she wants the officers fired, said during the press conference that she still feels that way.

“Our focus for our community, city and parish is to have justice and equity not just for some, but for everyone,” Broome said.

are a traitor?” asked Joseph, who reports on social issues that often take him into some of the country’s poorest and most violent neighborhoods.

By Christina Adeleke “We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.” – Ella Baker The Black community is no stranger to systemic attacks against not only its mere existence but also its human and civil rights, specifically voting rights. Our nation has a long history of discrimination and bias toward people of color, namely Black Americans.

Through the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Black Americans were given their first opportunity to fight against years of inhumane treatment and the denial of basic human and civil rights, but there is still more work to be done. While the Black community saw progress with the de jure, or legally mandated, desegregation of housing, schools and public accommodations, the Jim Crow era prevented our community, especially in the South, from fully exercising our right to hold the government accountable for its harmful actions.

The Black community still faces attacks on its voting rights and well-being. In 2018, Black Americans are still disproportionately living in poverty, in prison, without access to affordable and quality health care, and newly diagnosed with HIV. In addition, some states have enacted voter-ID laws and other requirements that disproportionately deny voting access to lower-income families and neighborhoods less likely to access government-issued credentials. These harmful policies are compounded by state laws preventing recently incarcerated individuals from exercising their right to vote, though they have already paid their debt to society—infringing on the voting rights of communities of color disproportionately impacted by mass incarceration.

If the long-standing attacks on our right to vote, to have affordable and high-quality health care, and to pursue our dreams have shown us anything, it is that Black people who are able to vote must exercise that right on behalf of

Knowledge Is Power Do you know you have a right to free care near the end of life? Do you know hospice services are a benefit of Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance companies?

Minority Health Month is a perfect time to learn more about the decisions your family will face as you all grow older.

SINCE 1980

VITAS.com

off in a desert to fend for yourself, and that anyone can kill a journalist and nothing is said,” Joseph added.

We in the Black community must vote like our lives depend on it … because they just might

Start by downloading the free Family Discussion Guide at HospiceCanHelp.com, or scan the QR code. Then read it, share it, email it to someone you love.

Happy Birthday Wishes Levi Henry Jr. - Tonya Joseph Brielle Henry - Kiara Henry

Like Charles, Joseph finds the lack of outcry from Haitian authorities over the disappearance worrisome.

“It’s as if you’ve been dropped

HospiceCanHelp.com For more information on VITAS services in Broward County, please contact Shirley Thimothee-Paul, community liaison, at 954.486.4085.

the entire community. The 2018 elections will have a long-term effect, since the individuals elected will be deciding policies that affect our country and neighborhoods. So we must participate in the electoral process.

The disproportionate representation of Black Americans in HIV statistics is a specific concern that should encourage civic engagement. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black people account for 12 percent of the U.S. population but 41 percent of people living with HIV (PLWH), more than onethird of PLWH and over half of new HIV transmissions. Yet Black Americans are no more sexually active than people of other races; nor are we more likely to engage in behaviors that might lead to contracting HIV at higher rates.

Factors that contribute to these alarming HIV rates include poverty, stigma, racial discrimination, a lack of access to health care and higher rates of incarceration. It is not enough to simply encourage HIV testing. We must address the barriers to care that substantially impact HIV transmission rates.

At all levels, our elected officials must ensure that anyone vulnerable to HIV has access to preventive measures, that Black neighborhoods have access to health care and competent local health-care facilities, and that social barriers like systemic racism and poverty are addressed in a way that provides equity to our community.

Here in metropolitan Charlotte, N.C., following growing community pressure, Mecklenburg County’s Health Department recently announced that it will launch a pilot program to give 320 at-risk people pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a once-a-day pill that one can take to avoid contracting HIV. Mecklenburg County’s rate of 30.4 new HIV transmissions per 100,000 people is more than twice the national average.

There are at least 6,630 PLWH in Mecklenburg County, a more than 30 percent spike since 2012.

There were earlier conversations surrounding the idea of the county providing PrEP to those most at risk, but the program was not implemented

Christina Adeleke, Esq., BTAN Charlotte until the community demanded action. This year we must demand that our elected officials take the necessary steps to end the HIV epidemic disproportionately affecting Black neighborhoods here.

It is up to us to fight for our community’s survival. We must be diligent and question political candidates on their commitment to end the HIV epidemic, expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, provide more affordable housing and address other issues that disproportionately affect our community. We must also hold our current elected officials accountable to their promise to act on behalf of the voters who gave them their position.

We in the Black community must own our position as a sought-after voting bloc that must be listened to and respected. In the past, Black voters have made the difference in elections. We saw this in 2008 with the election of President Barack Obama. Most recently, a record number of Black voters turned out in Alabama to help elect Democrat Doug Jones to the U.S. Senate, making him the first Democrat to represent Alabama in the Senate in over a decade.

We have so much at stake this year. We must not sit out this election season. When we show up to the polls to fight for the survival of our community, we win. We have fought too hard for the right to vote, and now we must put those votes to work!

Christina Adeleke is communications and development coordinator at the North Carolina AIDS Action Network and an attorney.

PAGE 6 • APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2018

Opinion

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A Proud Paper For A Proud People The Westside Gazette, under the Management of BI-ADs, Inc., reserves the right to publish Views and Opinions by Contributing Writers that may not necessarily reflect those of the Staff and Management of The Westside Gazette Newspaper and are solely the product of the responsible individual(s) who submits comments published in this newspaper.

Honor Dr. King by Recommitting to His Goal of Equality

By Germaine Smith Baugh On April 4th, America lost an iconic figure to a bullet.

On that day fifty years ago, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was cut down on the balcony of a Memphis hotel. Since then, we’ve seen his rich legacy reduced to legend and used to support a variety of agendas, particularly how hard work and merit result in upward mobility.

Lost in all of this is a harsh reality that should not be forgotten by anyone who cherishes Dr. King’s life and commemorates the anniversary of his death: fostering true equality between the races is, at best, difficult.

In the upcoming April 9, 2018 issue of Time Magazine, Dr. Eddie S. Glaude Jr. paints a sober picture of the dark days of the civil rights movement, when the “human capacity of evil” often left Dr. King in a deep depression. “Near the end of his life, King confronted the uncertainty of his moral vision,” Glaude writes. “He had underestimated how deeply the belief that white people matter more than others – what I call the value gap – was ingrained in the habits of American life.”

“King did not craft this conclusion from thin air,” Glaude continues. “This was a lesson learned from experience.

The brutality of the South and the hypocrisy of the country led him to conFOUNDED IN 1971

clude that the view of the racial equality as a charitable enterprise distorted the principles of democracy itself and disfigured the moral character of those who believed the lie.”

Today, fifty years after Dr. King’s death, the phrase “the struggle continues” is more than an understatement; it remains a challenge for all men and women of good will and members of every race, ethnic group, religious preference and sexual orientation to pick up King’s mantle and reach for the American ideal.

As a nation, we should be ashamed of our current lack of civil discourse. It is too easy to shout from separate ideological camps rather than come together to address problems that plague us all.

For example, in Broward County, the rate of Black infant mortality is three times that of white infants. We know that by providing better support for programs focusing on the prenatal, labor, and postpartum needs of Black women, we can ensure that our Black babies thrive and survive. Yet, the gap remains.

The same can be said about the racial gap in unemployment. While the national unemployment rate is low, Black unemployment is still almost twice that of white unemployment, an enduring disparity that is rooted in bias, discriminatory hiring practices, and limited access to opportunities.

By Perry E. Thurston Jr.

We should also take no pride in our nation’s enduring income and wealth disparities. In a recent study conducted by the Equality of Opportunity Project, researchers from the U.S. Census Bureau, Harvard, and Stanford show that while white male children from well-off families are likely to remain wealthy, Black male children raised in similar circumstances are more likely to lose their affluence and become poor. In fact, regardless of family income, Black men will fare worse than their white counterparts.

No one said the struggle for equality would be easy. However, giving in

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to despair and declaring defeat is not an option. That would simply be an affront to the life of Dr. King and the legacy he hoped to achieve.

Now is not the time to quit, but to build on each small accomplishment that leads us to a better society. On the anniversary of Dr. King’s death, the need for all Americans to come together and confront the issues that divide is as clear today as it was 50 years ago.

Germaine Smith Baugh is president and CEO of the Urban League of Broward County.

Providing special attention to those with If education is the answer, why do Black Women with Special Needs college degrees have higher maternal and infant mortality rates than white women who dropped out of high school?

By Sheriff Scott Israel

NEWSPAPER STAFF

April is National Autism Awareness Month, a time where we shine an important spotlight on the developmental disability that affects many in this country and around the world. Though the exact causes of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are still uncertain, doctors, experts and activists are feverishly working on raising awareness and aiding in research, diagnosis and treatment of the complex disorder.

At the Broward Sheriff’s Office, we are always working on providing special attention to individuals with ASD and other special needs by instituting proactive programs and initiatives— and undergoing special training aimed at assisting this special population.

One of my personal favorite programs is the Autism in Flight program, which provides a full airport experience in a relaxed setting for individuals about to embark on their first flight.

Children and their families check in, go through security, walk the terminal to their gate, board a JetBlue plane and experience a “take-off.” It truly is a special experience.

BSO is also in the community at other special events. During the annual Autism Awareness Day, people affected with autism are given an opportunity to learn about the resources available to them, meet with our first responders in full uniform and see their emergency vehicles and equipment in a non-threatening environment. We’re also huge supporters and participants in the annual Surfers for Autism event, where hundreds of children with autism and developmental delays receive the chance to surf in a safe and secure environment.

Yet BSO’s support for this community goes even further. I’m thrilled to have supported historic legislation my good friends Ellen Kleinert and husband Jerry Cohn tirelessly worked

to get passed into Florida law: the Wes Kleinert Fair Interview Act. It is named after Kleinert’s autistic son and is the first of its kind in the country. The law requires a mental health expert be present during police interviews of developmentally disabled victims, witnesses or suspects. It also makes it easier for authorities to know who may need such assistance by creating a voluntary new designation on state identification cards.

Finally, I’m excited to share one of BSO’s biggest and most innovative initiatives. In our ongoing efforts to provide better service and help keep individuals with special needs safer, we recently launched the BSO Special Needs Program. It gives parents or caregivers of individuals with special needs an opportunity to opt in to the program by voluntarily providing biographical information, including a description of the individual’s diagnosis and behavior, which will be captured to improve interactions with first responders.

The program will help 911 communications operators convey the critical information to the responding deputy, so they can respond more effectively and efficiently. This information can help dispel any concern should the person seem aloof, uncooperative or even in crisis—leading to more positive outcomes. The program is currently in a pilot phase but will ultimately be rolled out countywide.

If you’d like to learn more about our efforts, please visit us on our community resource page at sheriff.org.

What happened to From Rally to Power: The Civic Obligation Black society?

By Bobby E. Mills, PhD Prior to the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the “systematizedlegalized-dehumanization” of Blacks by “LAW” demanded a collectivisticapproach to life as it related to economic development, educational development, and socio-religious-development. In fact, Blacks were forced into functioning as a nation within a nation. Therefore, they had no choice, but to share resources on a higher level of spirituality and morality. Moreover, the Black church became “Black society” that epitomizes the Black community. Of course, it is better to live together as Americans rather than as “divided, we fall”. By the way, we did declare, constitutionally, that: “We Are One Nation Under God”.

Unfortunately, the greed for money and power, coupled with “racial(Read full story at www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Gov. Scott: Show The Gantt Report leadership and comply with court on Voting Rights

By Oscar H. Blayton Most people of color can point to at least one moment when they realize that popular culture in America distorts the reality of their history and existence.

The most memorable experience for me was when I was in the sixth-grade in my segregated public school in Virginia. One of our courses was Virginia history and the state had provided us with the required history textbook.

Somewhere between the covers of that book was a picture of a group of smiling, dancing enslaved African Americans being observed by a small group of amused white people – presumably the owner and his family. The text explained that most slaves were happy with their condition and prospered under the kindly supervision of their masters.

Fortunately, my sixth-grade teacher was having none of it. He had us open our books to that page and told us that we were being fed lies so that white people could remain in power in the state. He explained that truths were being kept from us because knowledge is power. It is the power to improve your life.

There are so many lies in American popular culture, beginning with the moment we’re born – in the maternity ward. Several studies demonstrate that racism in America kills Black expectant mothers and their newborn (Read full story at www.thewestsidegazette.com)

of Young Black Leaders What a difference a director Tiffany Dena Loftin, makes at CFPB the director of the NAACP Youth and College Division, says that Black students have the solutions and the answers.

(NAACP)

Trump-Appointee Makes Changes to Help Companies, Not Consumers

By Tiffany Dena Loftin (Director, NAACP Youth and College Division)

By Charlene Crowell

Who would have thought that in less than 15 days, I would have to coordinate and manage 1,000 young, Black student leaders from over 24 cities on 17 buses in the name of gun reform and safety?

The reality is, sometimes the work chooses you.

I started my new job one day before

In 1959, the late Dinah Washington (1924-1963) won a Grammy Award for her R&B hit song, “What a Difference a Day Makes”. The song tells the story of how a blossoming romance dramatically changed life – for the better. Its last lyrics conclude that “the difference is you”.

When I consider the steady stream of changes at the Consumer Financial

(Read full story at www.thewestsidegazette.com)

(Read full story at www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet have a chance to right a wrong of their own making. They can – and should – comply with a court order to create a reasonable process to restore voting rights to ex-prisoners.

U.S. District Judge Mark Warner ordered the state to develop a new method of deciding when and how convicted felons can regain their voting rights. The ruling gives the Florida Cabinet one month to create a new clemency process that consists of standards, not whims. In the words made famous by the governor himself: it’s time to ‘get to work.’

Given our state leaders’ track record, it’s fortunate that Florida voters can go to the polls this November and approve the felony voter-rights restoration amendment. This change to the state constitution should protect a felon’s rights from the fickleness of the Florida Cabinet that seven years ago dismantled what had been the makings of a legitimate clemency process and replace it with an administrative beg-a-thon.

In 2011, Gov. Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and then-Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater changed the procedures by eliminating the automatic restoration of voting rights and replaced it with a minimum fiveyear waiting period before individuals could start the application process.

(Read full story at www.thewestsidegazette.com)

He Said / She Said

Hold Your Fire

Nicole Nutting and Don Valentine She said: Hey Don, I read the other day that a retired Supreme Court justice proposed to end gun violence by repealing the Second Amendment.

Justice Stevens, in a New York Times op-ed, suggested that March for Our Lives organizers add that proposal to their list of demands!

Do you think that idea would ever fly in our gun-crazed society? Early polls showed 39% of Democrats would support repeal. Only 8% of Republicans are on board though, and perhaps that indicates who’s doing the shooting!

He said: Wow, you have outdone yourself on the “Wacky” meter. Gun rights will never be constitutionally removed. To paraphrase Dirty Harry, “You can have my gun when you pry it from my cold dead hand! Punk!”

Sorry, that might have come from a Trump sycophant.

The founders put a lot of things in the constitution that were designed to stand the test of time. That is why the bar to create an amendment is ratification by ¾ of the Union. Convince me that 38 states would agree to abolish gun ownership. Ain’t gonna happen, pal!

She said: Oh, I don’t really expect guns will ever be abolished in America, but I’m considering this from a strategic standpoint: by demanding complete repeal we may be able to force sensible gun legislation as a concession! Otherwise we’ll be fighting tooth and nail for every tiny advancement toward sane gun ownership. I see it as a potential move in a chess game, and possibly a means to an end.

He said: You are on the right track if it resulted in an assault rifle ban and universal background checks. Cool down periods are also sane. We make enough noise and we will reign in this chaos!

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APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2018 • PAGE 7

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Bethel Missionary Baptist Church 2211 N.W. 7th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33061 Church: (954) 583-9368 Email: bethelmbchurchfl@att.net

Honor your loved ones in the Westside Gazette Newspaper Call -- (954) 525-1489 * In Memoriam * Happy Birthday Remembrance * Death Notice * Obituaires * Cards Of Thanks

New Mount Olive Baptist Church 400 N.W. 9th Ave., Ft. Lauderdale 33311 (954) 463-5126 ● Fax: (954) 525-9454 CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday 8:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Dr. Marcus D. Davidson, Senior Pastor WORSHIP SERVICES & BIBLE STUDY Sunday .................................................... 7:15 a.m. 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School ............................................................................ 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday Noonday Service .................................. 12:00-12:30 p.m.

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting ............................................ 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday Night Bible Study ................................................... 7:00 p.m.

Where the kingdom of God is increased through Fellowship.

Leadership, Ownership and Worship F.L.O.W. To Greatness!

Reverend Jimmy L. English PASTOR WORSHIP SERVICES Sunday Worship ............................................................. 8 a.m. & 11 a.m.

Sunday School ........................................................................... 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday (Prayer Service & Bible Study) ............................... 7:30 a.m.

Saturday (Women Bible Study) ............................................................ 8 a.m.

"Baptized Believers working together to do the will of God"

Shaw Temple A.M.E. Zion Church 522 N.W. Ninth Avenue Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Church: (954) 462-1413 or (954) 647-8254 Email: AMEZ522@yahoo.com

Rev. Dr. William Calvin Haralson, Pastor

Harris Chapel United Methodist Church Rev. Stanley Melek, M.Div E-MAIL:stanley.melek@flumc.org 2351 N.W. 26th Street Oakland Park, Florida 33311 Church Telephone: (954) 731-0520

SERVICES Sunday Worship ................................................. 7:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School .............................................................................. 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday (Bible Study) ........................................... 11a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

SERVICES Sunday School .................................................................................. 10:15 a.m.

Sunday Morning Worship ............................................................ 11:00 a.m.

Bible Study (Wednesday) ............................................................... 7:30 p.m.

"Reaching beyond the four walls touching lives, touching communities".

Williams Memorial CME “PRAYER IS THE ANSWER” 644-646 NW 13th Terrace Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 (954) 462-5711(Ministry Office Line) (954) 462-8222(Pastor’s Direct Line) Email: wm_cme@bellsouth.net (Church} pastorCal50@yahoo.com (Pastor)

Rev. Cal Hopkins.

M.Div) Senior Pastor/Teacher

The WITNESS of “The WILL” Sunday Worship Experiences ................................................................ 7:45 and 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School ................................................................................................................. 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday Night Triumph {Prayer, Praise and Power} Prayer Meeting ................................................................................................................ 7:00 p.m.

Bible Study ........................................................................................................................ 7:30 p.m.

We STRIVE to PROVIDE Ministries that matter TODAY to Whole Body of Christ, not only the Believers, but also for those stranded on the “Jericho Road”!

“Celebrating over 85 Years of FAITH and FAVOR! Come to the WILL ... We’ll show You the WAY: Jesus the Christ!”

Victory Baptist Church Independent Pastor Keith Cunningham

Mount Calvary Baptist Church 800 N.W. 8th Avenue Pompano Beach, Florida 33060 Church Telephone: (954) 943-2422 Church Fax: (954) 943-2186 E-mail Address: Mtcalvarypompano@bellsouth.net SCHEDULE OF SERVICES SUNDAY

New Member Orientation ........................... 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School ................................................ 9:30 a.m.

Worship Service ........................................ 11:00 a.m.

WEDNESDAY Prayer Meeting ............................................... 6:00 p.m.

Bible Study ..................................................... 7:00 p.m.

"Doing God's Business God's Way, With a Spirit of Excellence"

Mount Hermon A.M.E. Church Rev Henry E. Green, Jr. PASTOR 401 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 Phone: (954) 463-6309 - FAX 954 522-4113 Office Hours: Tues. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Email: infor@mthermonftl.com

SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICES Worship Service ................................................................................... 10 a.m.

Church School ..................................................................................... 9:15 a.m.

BIBLE STUDY: Wednesday ................................................................... 10 a.m.

Gems & Jewels Ministry Senior Wednesday Wednesday (Bible Study) ............................................... 12 Noon & 7- 8 p.m.

Daily Prayer Line ...................................................................................... 6 a.m.

(712) 432-1500- Access Code296233#

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 1161 NW 29th Terr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33311 (954) 581-0455 ● Fax: (954) 581-4350 www.mtzionmbc1161.com

Dr. James B. Darling, Jr., Pastor/Teacher WORSHIP SERVICES Worship Service ............................................................................................................ 10:15 a.m.

Sunday School ................................................................................................................ 9:00 a.m.

Communion Service (1st Sunday) ........................................................................... 10:15 a.m.

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting ........................................................................... 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday Night Bible Study ................................................................................... 7:00 p.m.

Saturday (2nd & 4th) Christian Growth & Orientation ................................... 8:30 a.m.

But be doers of the Word - James 1:22 nkjv - “A Safe Haven, and you can get to Heaven from here”

New Birth Baptist Church The Cathedral of Faith International Bishop Victor T. Curry, M.Min., D.Div. Senior Pastor/Teacher 2300 N.W. 135th Street Miami, Florida 33167

ORDER OF SERVICES Sunday Worship ........................................................ 7:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Sunday School ....................................................................................................... 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday (Bible Study) ......................................................................................... 6:45 p.m.

Wednesday (Bible Study) ............................................................................... 10:45 a.m.

1-800-254-NBBC * (305) 685-3700 (o) *(305) 685-0705 (f) www.newbirthbaptistmiami.org

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2241 Davie Blvd.

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 Church Telephone: (954) 284-9413 Visit: www.victoryweb.org Sunday School ...................................................................................... 9:45 a.m.

Worship Service Sunday Morning……………………… ................................. 11:00 a.m.

SundayEvenn igServcie………………………………………. ......................................... 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Evening Bible Study & Prayer…………………. ..................... 7:00 p.m.

Saturday Morning Soul Winning/Visitation………………… .................... 10:00 a.m.

Men’s Fellowship (Every 2nd & last Tuesdays)……………………… ............. 6:00 p.m.

Ladies Fellowship (the last Saturday of each month)…………………………. 5:00 p.m.

Youth Fellowship (Every Friday)…………………………. ................................... 6:30 p.m.

Discover GOD Let Us Help You Find The Way To Jesus Christ

'His brother’s keeper'

By Pastor Rasheed Z Baaith “The night racks my bones, and the pain that gnaws me takes no rest” (Job 30:17) Stevante Clark is one of my heroes.

Stevante Clark is the brother of Stephon Clark who was killed by members of the Sacramento Police Department on March 18th of this year. Stephon Clark was fired at 20 times and hit at least eight times in the back. Stavante Clark is determined his brother will not have died in vain.

Not waiting for anyone to lead demonstrations protesting the shooting of his brother or being content with sympathy or soft apologies. Clark is foremost in demanding real and plausible explanations of his brother’s death with a demand that the City of Sacramento Police Department formulate policy changes that insure a similar incident never happens again.

Stevante Clark is no stranger to losing family members to violent death; he lost a younger brother to violence not long ago.

A friend has suggested that because of the violent deaths of his brothers, along with living in a “war zone community,” Clark may be suffering from post-traumatic stress. I don’t doubt it and not only Stevante Clark but the huge number of our young people who live, go to school and work in communities where guns, violence, and early death have become an unnatural norm.

These young people and children are victims without recognition of the causes of their victimhood or the amelioration of those causes. One cause is the expectation they will be victims of violence. A great reason for the national response to the Parkland Massacre is no one expected those children to die as they did. It is both expected and accepted by many that our children live in violent communities and die violent deaths as a result. Hence no parades of protest no mass demonstrations, no confrontations with state legislatures. And no change.

Stevante Clark has decided that even if he has to stand by himself, he is determined to stand. He is resolute that this tragedy to his family and his community benefit their well-being in some way. He is advocating not just for justice for his brother but more community resource centers, more libraries, more dollars for families in need of a hand, not up, but just to stay even.

Not everyone will agree with Stavante Clark and how he is doing what he does. And that’s alright. The question becomes not his methodology but the rightness of his cause. He has taken his pain and converted it to energized involvement. He has recognized that someone has to lead in order to get others to follow; even more importantly, to do what the old gospel song (Read full story at www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Keep Their Memory alive with a Guestbook on www.thewestsidegazette.com share pictures, stories, even videos. The perfect tribute for someone speical.

Obituaries James C. Boyd Funeral Home

Roy Mizell & Kurtz Funeral Home

CRAWFORD Funeral services for the late Sherman James Crawford - 63 were held March 30 at James C. Boyd’s Funeral Home with Rev. Joyce Wright officiating.

DOUCE Funeral services for the late Randolph “Bo” Douse - 62 were held March 29 at Roy Mizell and Kurtz Worship Center with Pastor James Polk officiating. Interment: Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens-Central.

HOWELL Funeral services for the late Mrs. Bertha Howell were held March 31 at New Bethel Primitive Baptist Church with Elder John Henry Everett officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

McWhite's Funeral Home CAMPBELL Funeral services for the late Connie Sue Campbell - 60 were held March 31 at McWhite’s Funeral Home Chapel.

NEAL Funeral services for the late Louise Neal 88 were held March 31 at McWhite’s Funeral Home Chapel.

Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

WHITEHEAD Funeral services for the late Pastor Garry M. Whitehead - 57 were held March 31 at Royal Assembly Church Of The Living God, Inc with Rev. Griffin Davis officiating.

Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

WRIGHT Funeral services for the late Roosevelt Vaughn Wright52 were held March 24 at Siloam Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Terry Law officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

GILNER Funeral services for the late Ola P. Gilner 81 were held March 31 at Roy Mizell Worship Center with Rev. Larry Woodward officiating. Interment: Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens – Central.

JOHNSON Funeral services for the late Willie Mae Johnson – 86 were held March 31 at New Mount Olive Baptist Church with Dr. Marcus D. Davidson officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

MITCHELL Funeral services for the late Annie Merita Mitchell - 79 were held March 29 at Greater Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church with Pastor Paul R. Wiggins officiating. Interment: Dania WestLawn and Dania Memorial Park Cemetery.

ROYSTER Funeral services for the late Kenya Leanea Royster - 40 were held March 24 at National Church of God with Bishop Alfred Ferguson officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Winnie Mandela dies. Here are five things to know about the anti-apartheid icon

By Don Sweeney Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the former wife of Nelson Mandela and an anti-apartheid figure in her own right, has died at age 81.

“She died after a long illness, for which she had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year,” said family spokesman Victor Dlamini said in a statement, reported the BBC. “She succumbed peacefully in the early hours of Monday afternoon surrounded by her family and loved ones.”

1. ‘Mother of the Nation’ Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, known in South Africa as the “Mother of the Nation” for her struggle against white minority rule, was married to Nelson Mandela for 38 years, including the 27 years he was

imprisoned on Robben Island near Cape Town, according to CNN. The couple had two daughters together before divorcing in 1996, two years after Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first black president.

“She kept the memory of her imprisoned husband Nelson Mandela alive during his years on Robben Island and helped give the struggle for justice in South Africa one its most recognisable faces,” the Africa National Congress said in a statement, reported National Public Radio.

2. Anti-apartheid crusader While Nelson Mandela served his long prison sentence, Madikizela-Mandela also faced (Read full story at www.thewestsidegazette.com)

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Going after what you want in life with Laila Ali

suffering,” said Ali. The speech concluded with Ali explaining that we progress in life through the mistakes we make. “You

APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2018 • PAGE 9 just have to make the moves or otherwise you’re going to be standing still in life. I have met so many people that have held

things back. I don’t want people to do that. I want them to go after the greatness that is inside of them,” said Ali.

After 23 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, Nevest Coleman is rehired by the White Sox

By Ellyce Ferguson

By Clayton Gutzmore March is Women’s History Month. Throughout South Florida, events have been put together to celebrate womanhood. Broward College decided to conclude their celebration of Women’s History Month by hosting four time boxing champion and daughter of Muhammad Ali, Laila Ali, for the Broward College Speaker Series. “I love giving speeches; it is something that comes natural to me.

I am honored that Broward College invited me to be a part of their series that they have been doing for six years,” said Laila Ali. Ali’s speaking engagement was on March 27th at the Broward Center of Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. Each year, Broward College gathered about four individuals with different ideas and opinions to share with the community, “We wanted to bring the community together to hear different ideas that may challenge us and stimulate new ideas. We try to bring in people who may be on the other side of the political spectrum to make us think of other sides of issues,” said David Armstrong, President of Broward College.

This year, the series has brought Fox News Political Anchor Bret Baier and New York Times Columnist, Thomas Friedman. Previous years, the speaker series has brought broadcast journalists Soledad O Brien, Former U.S. Representative J.C. Watts, and more.

According to Armstrong, Ali

was able to share a story that people can relate to which is what Armstrong and the college look for with the speaker series.

“She was inspirational to all the young people tonight. Hearing her story in an authentic way was relatable to the students and parents that heard it,” said Armstrong.

Earlier that day, Ali participated in a fireside chat at the Broward College South Campus in Pembroke Pines. The conversation started with what got her into boxing. Ali explained that her inspiration to box came from women’s boxing on television, “The moment I thought about boxing is when I saw women boxing on television for the first time. Something in me was sparked. A lot of people assume that my dad is Muhammad Ali and I wanted to be like my dad,” said Ali. The conversation then switched to how was it to be a female athlete in a male dominated sport. “I had extra challenges especially being Muhammad Ali’s daughter. Training hard, taking the beatings, and not being respected for my work because I am a woman was what I dealt with,” said Ali. According to Ali, she had to block out a lot of negativity during her career. She had to remind herself constantly of who she was doing this for. “Because I love Boxing so much and I had a vision for myself, I never lost focus. I was doing this for no one else but myself,” said Ali. Laila Ali started her Boxing career in October 1999 at the age of 21. She earned the Super

Middleweight Championship in the Women’s International Boxing Association in 2002.

In 2004, she earned the international Women’s Boxing Federation’s Light Heavyweight title. Ali retired from boxing in February 2007 with a perfect record of 24-0.

Ali’s speech at the performing arts center was about going after what you want in life. Ali shared her pursuits that succeed and the ones that failed.

This gave her a vulnerable feel that people connected with that night. “People would be surprised by some of the things that I have been through. They assume I grew up a certain way and had a silver spoon in my mouth which wasn’t the case,” said Ali. In her teenage years, Ali ran with the wrong crowd and shoplifted from stores. She was caught and was put in the juvenile detention system which shocked a few people since her father provided a privileged life. Ali also shared how her father tried to talk her out of boxing at the beginning of her career.

Her father was a big influence in her life. He showed her how to be kind to all people. Muhammad Ali’s advocacy made Laila Ali aware of how the world real is.

Muhammad Ali passed away on June 3, 2016, to Parkinson’s disease. She opened up about that in her speech. “Him not being here has not been easy but knowing that he had a progressive disease we were able to prepare for it. We love and miss him but we have comfort knowing that he is no longer

Nevest Coleman worked for the Chicago White Sox when he was charged for a crime he did not commit. The Chicago man was convicted in 1997 for rape and murder and almost faced the death penalty according to the Chicago Tribune. After serving 23 years in prison, he was finally released last year when DNA testing proved his innocence.

Now, the 49-year-old is welcomed back with open arms to his old job as a grounds-keeper.

His first day was Monday!

What’s remarkable about Coleman’s story is that he holds on to no bitterness about the time he spent behind bars. Although he missed out on spending time with his family and living a normal life, he is letting go and choosing to move forward.

“The past is in the past now.

COLEMAN There’s no more anger, upset, frustration, nothing,” The father of two told WGN-TV. “When I was in there I was miserable. But now I have my loved ones behind me, standing by my side; that misery’s gone now.”

Earlier this week, Lawrence McKinney, a Black man who served 31 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, was awarded $1 million dollars for his wrongful conviction. De-

spite the years that were robbed from them, both McKinney and Coleman have kept positive attitudes. Coleman was not awarded for his prison sentence, but is grateful to have his job back.

“Just by coming to work like this here every day is a blessing,” he said to WGN-TV. TELL US: Should Coleman be awarded for his prison sentence? Let us know your thoughts!

or not to march stating, “As a 15-year-old Black teenager, I felt so conflicted when I was trying to decide if I should attend the March or not. I thought to myself: If the shooting happened in my low-income, Black neighborhood, would the residents of predominantly White, wealthy neighborhoods show up for Black Teens? Would they give us millions of dollars and invite us to be on national TV? Would they drive 20 miles like I did to get to Parkland for the pre-March For Our Lives Meeting to show up to a Black Lives Matter meeting? Probably not, unfortunately. That was

enough for me to decide if I would go or not.”

When asked about what her advice would be to her counterparts at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, she offers encouragement. “Follow your passion no matter if everyone may not agree with your message.

As long as you know why you are fighting for justice and fairness, that’s all that matters,” Lee states with confidence.

Lee’s mother, Deidre Mc-Clover, controls her passion about witnessing the growth of her daughter over the past few years as she explains; “I am just in awe of how brave and courageous she is, that she stands in her truth. I’ve always raised her to stand up and fight for what she believes in, I didn’t know it was going to look like this! But I support her, and I am so proud of her.”

Recently, Lee has released her book titled, Young Revolutionary, inspired by the overwhelming response to her knowledge in participating in activism. Originally, she would just write blogs about her experiences with active involvement. Then she soon realized a blog was not enough. She felt the need to go further in explaining what youths need to know when it relates to protesting for change. Her book was then created as a guide to help others learn what tools are needed to consider becoming an activist.

What’s next for Chanice Lee? Guest appearance on NBC 6 Voices with Jawan Strader, discussing future goals and aspirations. MTV’s True Life will soon be filming her for a few days to follow her actions in the community and views on gun violence. Lee is also recognized as the 2018 Young Futurist by The Root, honoring the best and brightest African Americans who are not content with letting adults determine their future. More is yet to come from this young lady. She is definitely living up to a quote that we both love by activist Sister Angela Davis, “I’m no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I’m changing the things I cannot accept”.

Chanice Lee (Cont'd from FP) 2018 Teen Advisor along with 20 other girls from other countries, of the GirlUp campaign of the United Nations Foundation. Lee advocates, serves, and fundraise, for girls in underprivileged countries while positively impacting her local community as well.

Lee’s community involvement also includes: L.E.A.D. (Leaders by Empowerment, Activists by Development)Nation by State Rep. Shevrin Jones, and Broward Youth Coalition which advocates prevention of substance abuse among youths.

Lee hopes that more teens will take a stand for what they believe in and inspire others to get involved. Her favorite quote is by Huey P. Newton, “The revolution is in the hands of the young. The young always inherit the revolution.” Children are the future, they have the power to impact change, and the power to demand to be heard, is what gave her the belief in that quote.

Chanice Lee is the Founder/ Editor-In-Chief of The Melanin Diary, her online blog site that encourages Black teens to creatively write their views on social justice, politics, and history. Her most recent blog related to the march held simultaneously worldwide in major cities to the recent tragedies of gun violence. In her blog she explains her decision whether

PAGE 10 • APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2018

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The Legacy of H. W ayne Huizenga Wayne

By Kathy Eggleston Part 2 of a 2 Part Series Taylor says Huizenga’s impact on him personally was twofold. “He was such a supporter of my career. Those early decisions, those promotions — the pay that comes with it — if people get on you early you have a head start,” Taylor said. And while highlighting Huizenga’s business record, his philanthropy is not lost at all on Taylor.

“It really informed the leader I came to be,” he stated. “Wayne was a capitalist who realized that God had blessed him in very significant ways. He taught me that you can do well and do good.”

While Huizenga retired from his most prominent business role as Chairman of AutoNation more than a decade ago, he and his late wife Marti, who died in 2017, never ceased their active community leadership. Supporting educational opportunities for young people was a major focus of their giving, with Nova Southeastern University (NSU) being a centerpiece.

NSU consistently places among the top 20 national universities for student diversity in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges rankings.

“Mr. H. Wayne Huizenga chose Fort Lauderdale/Broward County as his Home. He chose Nova Southeastern University

as his Home-Town University and created the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business & Entrepreneurship in his image.

He lived by his values and invested in the people in his communities. And so, should we all. We are and forever will be Grateful,” said Dr. J. Preston Jones, dean of the Huizenga College.

Miami native Jeremy Mathis, who earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from NSU in 2013, was the first in his family to graduate from college. He described choosing NSU Business with little to no guidance about higher education.

“I thought the name Huizenga College meant Mr. Huizenga was going to be one of the teachers,” said Mathis, who took a student work study job in the deans’ office to help pay for school. While there, he in fact met Wayne Huizenga and even visited his offices several times.

“Every time, he always knew who I was, always cracked jokes, really a nice humble guy,” Mathis remarked. “For me his impact is dreaming big and believing anything is possible,” he added. An entrepreneur, Mathis started a marketing specialties business while still in school, then partnered with a fellow entrepreneur he met at the Huizenga College to found Dr. Clean, successfully selling that company in 18 months.

NNPA Torch Awards honor icons during Black Press Week 2018 Rep. Barbara Lee, General Motors’ James Far mer d Baptist Chur ch Pastor Amos Farmer mer,, and Thir Third Church C. Br own Receive 2018 NNP A TTor or ch A war ds Brown NNPA orch Awar wards

Mathis and his identical twin brother Josh now invest in real estate and are stepping into development on a small scale.

“I hope that as we continue to hire more people they can feel about working with us the way Mr. Huizenga’s people felt about working with him,” Mathis volunteered.

It was the Mathis brothers who flanked Wayne Huizenga when he announced seed funding for a new NSU program to support more high-potential but under-resourced students like them. Launched in 2012, the Huizenga College Pathway Scholars program provides enrichment, mentoring and muchneeded scholarships to diverse first-time-in-college students from the tri-county area. In other words, the next generation of South Florida job creators.

Pompano Beach resident Roovens Dorvil, now a client care representative for BankUnited, was one of the first recipients of the Pathway Scholarship. Dorvil became the first in his family to graduate from college when he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 2017.

He plans to obtain his master’s degree.

“When I heard the news it really hit me hard, because he has done so much for me that I didn’t know how to process it initially,” Dorvil said of Huizenga’s passing. “I wouldn’t be where I am right now if it was not for Mr. Huizenga. I owe a huge credit to him for my college education, for the things I have learned about business and myself over these four years of Nova. My journey, the experiences, the friends, the lessons – it’s all been because of him. He provided the way for me and

Standing, l-r: NSU Pathway Scholars Roovens Dorvil and Jamie Baboolal, H. Wayne Huizenga, Anne Orvieto, Mike Jackson. Seated, l-r: NSU Pathway Scholars Camila Apolito and Paola Barrera attend Take Stock in Children event honoring Huizenga.

Bowen built with Huizenga undergirded the successful growth of the relationship between her and AutoNation’s current Chairman and CEO Mike Jackson as they assumed top leadership of their respective organizations. The relationship between the successor CEO’s led to AutoNation’s $500,000 investment in the Urban League’s Community Empowerment Center, opened in 2012.

“It is truly a time of transition in our community, as many titans of business, community, and philanthropy move off the scene,” said Smith-Baugh. “It is evident that their example lives on in their companies and families as well as encouraging more leaders to take up the mantle,” Smith-Baugh declared.

neglected children, children in foster care, and high potential K-12 students whose families simply had no ability to pay for enrichment in STEM, entrepreneurship and the arts. Through the Foundation he supported many smaller not-for-profits in addition to his more high-profile investments in NSU, Boys & Girls Clubs, Junior Achievement and the Urban League.

Current Urban League of Broward CEO Dr. Germaine Smith-Baugh personally called her predecessor Don Bowen, now president and CEO of the National Urban League’s Urban Empowerment Fund, to give him the news of Wayne Huizenga’s passing. “It really struck him from a very personal point of view,” she said. SmithBaugh says the relationship

I’ve been grateful to him since then,” Dorvil explained.

“My biggest hope regarding Mr. Huizenga is that I can continue to do my best, excel and continue to fulfill my dreams as a way of saying thank you for what he has done for me and my family. He is a huge blessing on Earth; the walking spirit of entrepreneurism. That’s why I was nervous meeting him, because of his presence,” Dorvil said. “Despite that, he welcomed me, and he made it known to me that he really cared about my success. I will truly miss Mr. Huizenga and I will forever be grateful,” said Dorvil.

Sheri Brown, vice president of the Community Foundation of Broward, noted that the Huizengas’ education fund at the Foundation has contributed to programs serving abused and

AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOLLARS AVAILABLE STATE HOUSING INITIATIVES PARTNERSHIP (SHIP) PROGRAM For Broward County and The City of Weston SHIP Program Funds The State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP) has awarded SHIP funds to the Broward County Local Housing Partnership, consisting of Broward County and the City of Weston to implement the FY 2017/2018 Local Housing Assistance Plan. This Plan is administered by the Broward County Housing Finance and Community Redevelopment Division. The funds listed is an estimate only and is subject to change.

L to r: Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown, a student of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and pastor of the Third Baptist Church of San Francisco; Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.); and James Farmer of General Motors received Torch Awards during a Black Press Week ceremony in Washington, D.C. (Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA)

By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) Three icons of their respective industries were honored at the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s annual Torch Awards dinner at The Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington, D.C. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), James Farmer of General Motors, and Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown, a student of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and pastor of the Third Baptist Church of San Francisco, took home the coveted trophies which are bestowed upon those who demonstrate excellence in their chosen profession or endeavor.

This year’s honorees join a legacy of high-achieving, community-serving African Americans.

“The San Francisco Sun Reporter gave me a voice,” said Lee, as she accepted her award from NNPA National Chair Dorothy Leavell, NNPA President Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., and NNPA Foundation Chair Amelia Ashley-Ward, the publisher of the Sun Reporter.

Lee called Ashley-Ward, the publisher of the Sun Reporter, “truly a treasure,” before tearing into a recent secret FBI report that identified some activists in the Black community as “Black Identity Extremists.”

Farmer, whom Chavis praised as one of the most active advocates of the Black Press, completed more than 50 years

of dedicated service to “not only his profession, but to the many organizations he served,” Chavis said.

A 1967 graduate of Central State University in Ohio, Farmer entered the automotive industry that year at Airtemp Division, Chrysler Corporation, as an advertising clerk, according to his biography.

There, he began a relationship with the only Black newspaper in Dayton, Ohio, the Dayton Black Express newspaper. After 10 years with Chrysler, Farmer took a position at General Motors where he continued to advocate and support the Black Press—a relationship that continues today.

Farmer said he appreciated the honor and will cherish it.

“This is a group that’s really in my heart,” he said of the Black Press. “If I gave up on the NNPA, I know corporate America could too.”

Brown, who also serves as president of the San Francisco branch of the NAACP and was only one of eight students who took the only college class ever taught by King, said the Black Press has and remains vital in America.

“Again, and again, you have heard from this ‘Dream Team’…this five-star [leadership team],” Brown said of Chavis, Leavell, Ashley-Ward and the leadership of the Black Press.

(Read full story at: thewestsidegazette.com)

Purchase Assistance Program approximately $324,000.00 available Broward County funds $274,000.00 and the City of Weston funds $50,000.00. All interested applicants call the Broward County Housing Finance and Community Redevelopment Division, M. Delacruz on (954) 357-4900.

Provides closing costs and mortgage reduction assistance to first time homebuyers for the purchase of homes in the following cities in Broward County, Florida: Cooper City, Dania Beach, Hallandale Beach, Hillsboro Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Lauderdale Lakes, Lazy Lake Village, Lighthouse Point, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Parkland, Pembroke Park, Sea Ranch Lakes, Southwest Ranches, West Park and Wilton Manors and the Broward Municipal Services District [formally known as Unincorporated Broward]. Maximum sales price limit is $317,647.00 for new housing and existing housing.

Application Period Fully documented loan files from lenders, who have used the Broward County Housing Finance and &RPPXQLW\ 5HGHYHORSPHQW 'LYLVLRQ¶V Lender Guidelines, may be submitted after Monday, May 14th, 2018 for Purchase Assistance.

Selection Criteria Individual applicants [household income] cannot have income which exceeds the following: Household Size Maximum* Gross Annual Income

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

$42,700

$48,800

$54,900

$60,950

$65.850

$70,750

$75,600

$80,500

$85,344

$90,221

Preference will be given to applicants with a recent mortgage commitment who require closing costs assistance. Funds will be provided on a first come, first qualified basis. County staff shall income qualify applicants to assure that income eligible households within the limits stated above are served.

Funds may not be used to repair, rehabilitate or purchase mobile homes. Other restrictions may apply.

* Income Chart Issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Effective April 4, 2017, and subject to change.

APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2018 • PAGE 11

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Being Serena’ Documentar Documentaryy coming to HBO in May

By Cherie Saunders HBO Sports and IMG’s original content group are teaming for “Being Serena,” a five-part documentary about tennis star Serena Williams, reports Variety.

Cameras followed Williams’ pregnancy, the birth of her child, her new marriage, and her return to the court for the docuseries, which is scheduled to premiere on May 2.

“HBO is honored to work with Serena Williams on such a personal project,” said Peter Nelson, executive vice president, HBO Sports. “Even though she has been in the spotlight since her teenage years, Serena continues to capture the imagination.

With our partners at IMG, we look forward to giving viewers a revealing, behind-the-scenes portrait of her life on and off the court.”

Williams won her 7th Australian Open in January 2017.

Four months later, Williams revealed that she and fiancé Alexis Ohanian were expecting their first child and that she had been eight weeks pregnant at the time of the Australian Open. Williams gave birth to daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. in September, and she and Ohanian were married in November.

LEGAL NOTICES PUBLICATION OF BID SOLICITATIONS Broward County Board of County Commissioners is soliciting bids for a variety of goods and services, construction and architectural/engineering services. Interested bidders are requested to view and download the notifications of bid documents via the Broward County Purchasing website at: www.broward.org/purchasing.

April 5, 12, 19, 26, 2018

This spring, Williams will appear in her first Grand Slam event , the French Open in May, since her Austrailan Open victory.

“Serena Williams is a force unlike any other,” said Mark Shapiro, co-president of WME and IMG. “Her entire life is one of the hero’s journey, and it has been a privilege to work with her as she enters this next phase. HBO was an incredible partner in developing a unique look into Serena’s world, and we look forward to sharing this all-access story with the world in May.” Shapiro, Will Staeger, and Michael Antinoro will serve as executive producers of “Being Serena,” with Nelson and Rick Bernstein exec producing for HBO. Bentley Weiner will serve as supervising producers.

ON PREMISES 545 N.W. 7th Terrace Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Monday -- Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more info call (954) 525-1489

www.thewestsidegazette.com

Florida Technical College continues its growth plan

By Jeannette Rivera-Lyles Florida Technical College, which has campuses in central and southern Florida, recently reorganized its operational structure to increase its resources and academic offerings.

Founded 35 years ago in Florida, the educational institution merged with National University College (NUC), which until recently had been a sister institution. NUC also took under its tutelage The Digital Animation & Visual Effects (DAVE) School and Lasalle Computer Learning Center.

The Instituto de Banca y Comercio and Ponce Paramedical College, two Puerto Rican institutions, complete the new conglomerate under NUC. “By uniting these institutions to work toward a common goal of delivering high-quality education, we have taken an extraordinary step to create a broader and more efficient educational platform,” declared Dr. James Burkett, president of Florida Technical College. “This will give us access to an excellent bank of talent and resources in Florida and Puerto Rico that we would not have otherwise.”

NUC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U. S. Secretary of Education. This accreditation extends to every academic unit of the organization.

Technically, the credits from one entity with regional accreditation can be accepted by a greater number of entities, including those with national accreditation, thus improving the possibility of transferring credits, especially to other academic units accredited by MSCHE or

APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2018 • PAGE 13

A Proud Paper For A Proud People

colleges within the NUC conglomerate.

Gloria E. Baquero, president of NUC, will continue as leader of the institution. The university now has a combined total of 28 campuses in Puerto Rico and Florida, 3,000 employees, and 20,000 students.

“With this merger, our schools reach a milestone in the field of higher education by creating a platform of educational services with diverse of-

ferings,” stated Baquero. “Over the years, we have constantly expanded our academic offerings and dedicated time and resources to the accreditation of our programs. Today, we can say that we have positioned ourselves to have a greater impact on the progress and wellbeing of our communities by uniting as a common front.”

With campuses in Orlando, Lakeland, DeLand, Kissimmee, Cutler Bay, and Pembroke

Pines, as well as online programs, FTC offers associate and bachelor’s degrees, and diplomas in a wide range of academic areas and industries.

These include health, business, construction, information technology, criminal justice, hospitality, and beauty.

The merger of education centers coincides with a massive migration of Puerto Ricans to the continental United States.

FTC is offering programs to help

newcomers join the workforce.

To this end, the institution began offering Spanish versions of its Electrical and Culinary Arts diplomas.

“The migration of Puerto Ricans to Florida has increased exponentially in the last decade and Hurricane María has only accelerated the phenomenon,” declared Robert Cruz, who oversees the Electrical Diploma program and is the main instructor.

“The fact is that they arrive at a time when the economy is healthy and there are many

companies searching for qualified personnel. With the right training, they can start contributing to the economy in a short amount of time.”

For additional information about FTC programs, call (855) 976-6481 or visit www.ftccollege.edu. *National University College (NUC) is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19104 (267) 284-5000.

Florida Panthers Hockey Club Launches Mentoring Program with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County Fifteen Piper High School teenagers will learn all about Florida Panthers hockey and what it takes to run a large-scale arena while graspng workplace skills and understanding career opportunities as part of a new partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County and the Florida Panthers. The School-to-Work program is designed to inspire the 10th and 11th graders to chase their dreams and understand their potential.

“We’re simply delighted to partner with the Florida Panthers in support of the kids we serve,” said Ana Cedeno, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County.

“The Panthers have created a remarkable dynamic that makes the program super fun for the kids. They’re engaged on every level, thanks to their Panther employee mentors.”

Panther mentors will show

teenagers what it takes to put on a hockey game – from ticketing to ice maintenance – and give them a behind-the-scenes look at production of concerts and other large-scale events.

They’ll also be exposed to the business of a major league franchise and have the opportunity to attend a hockey game each month.

The Panthers’ School-toWork program came to life thanks to Panthers Director of Corporate Partnerships, Anthony Hill, who has mentored Hezekiah, 12, for the past two years as part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.

He saw the opportunity to connect the two organizations for the benefit of all involved, particularly the youth.

Big Brothers Big Sisters’ School-to-Work partnership with the Panthers runs through May and will continue through

the 20182019 academic year.

The proven mentoring program pairs corporate partners with high schools and middle schools to offer students career mentoring for four hours a month.

In addition to School-toWork, the Florida Panthers partnership recently awarded a Community Champions Grant of $25,000 to revive Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Little Buddies program, focused on providing quarterly activities for youth on Big Brothers Big Sisters waitlist to promote youth development and community involvement. Last year’s statewide Big of the Year Chad Van Horn and his Little Brother Desmond accepted the award on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters or Broward at halftime during a Panthers game. In addition to being featured on the jumbotron, Desmond was thrilled to ride the Zamboni.

WHAT A JOYOUS DAY THIS WAS : MARCH 15, 2018 — I had the honor of witnessing my baby girl, Destané Henry, a junior at Fort Lauderdale High School, receive her 2019 Class Ring. Upon ordering the ring in August 2017, each student was given a symbolic necklace with a mini version of their class ring as a keepsake until receiving their actual rings. Traditionally, once you’ve received your ring, you are to place the Class Ring Necklace around the neck of someone who is very special to you... Destane chose to place the necklace around the neck of the person who purchased her Class Ring, her big sister N’cyontia Saintil, their bond, to be six years apart, is extraordinary.

Destane’s family is very proud of her.

Florida Technical College becomes part of

National University College which is accredited by MSCHE* We are pleased to announce that Florida Technical College is now an academic unit of National University College (NUC), an academic institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)*, a regional accrediting agency.

We believe this change will allow us to serve students’ needs as an educational institution even better than before.

Orlando

Kissimmee

Lakeland

407.315.1702 12900 Challenger Parkway Orlando, FL 32826

407.634.2725 Plaza del Sol Mall 3831 West Vine St., Kissimmee, FL 34741

863.209.7221 4715 South Florida Ave., Suite 4 Lakeland, FL 33813

DeLand

Pembroke Pines

Cutler Bay

386.232.5845 1199 S. Woodland Blvd.

DeLand, FL 32720

754.229.2581 12520 Pines Blvd.

Pembroke Pines, FL 33027

786.322.2595 Southland Mall 20505 South Dixie Highway Cutler Bay, FL 33189

FTCcollege.edu *National University College (NUC) is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267) 284-5000. NUC’s National University ŅĬĬåčå ô F FĹŸƋĜƋƚƋå Šc ěF šØ c±ƋĜŅűĬ ĹĜƴåųŸĜƋƼ ŅĬĬåčå ô {k{e FĹŸƋĜƋƚƋå Šc ě{k{e šØ 8ĬŅųĜÚ± åÏĘĹĜϱĬ ŅĬĬåčå Š8 šØ Ęå %ĜčĜƋ±Ĭ eĹĜĵ±ƋĜŅĹ ¼ ĜŸƚ±Ĭ )ýåÏƋŸ ÏĘŅŅĬ Š Ęå %e ) ÏĘŅŅĬšØ and LaSalle Computer Learning Center (LCLC) are included in this accreditation. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. April 2018.

PAGE 14 • APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2018

On the Scene with Crystal Chanel

When Black Women Go High, So Do their Men

Can you believe we used “On the Scene” to celebrate Women’s History for the entire month of March? From female entrepreneurs to female influencers, I was pleasantly surprised by the women making moves here in South Florida and around the country despite gender inequality, racial bias, and wide spread negative connotations associat-

ed with female behavior.

Despite being silenced by laws and the cultural norms associated with living in a male driven society, we ladies are finding ways to rise above the stigma. In this season, female leaders are dispelling the myth that women, especially Black women are catty, envious, or difficult to work with. The facts are, “When women get together, we educate and empower each other,” said Roxanne Shante during her Breakfast Club interview. Once a hidden figure, Shante, in her Netflix biopic, Roxanne Roxanne, we see the young battle rapper opening doors for beat-boxer Biz Markie and encouraging young rapper Nas; that's all he needed was one mic (and education). Her humility to wait while opening doors for others is a secret sauce that most female leaders have mastered out of necessity.

Which brings me to our spotlight, Laquisha Williams. Over the weekend, I attended Laquisha’s event World Class Conversations where I was honor-

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ed as her 2018 “Woman on the Move.” Laquisha Williams, a host, entrepreneur and author, is an empowerhouse powerhouse who is able to put two hundred plus women in the room and make them all feel like they can conquer the world.

However on Sunday, she gathered an intimate group of female leaders and gave insight for future growth. When she called me to the stage as a “Woman on the Move,” I recalled being a woman on the bottom, a woman harboring fear and a woman with insecurities. I recalled when Press Release Marketing was a no name idea, clients were a just hope, and the ability to make money was a strong desire. Yet, I rose because other ladies poured into me. They spoke life, they referred business and they mentored me by being an example of excellence. So, I accepted my award on behalf of women everywhere and encouraged other women to not just celebrate me but to celebrate each other.

Yet, as we rise and embrace the shift, truth be told, we cannot forget our men. Black women have a huge responsibility in this gender renaissance to nurture this movement and to give birth to unity. This is an our chance to restore our communities, rebuild our homes, and inspire the next generation.

So, in my final ode to Wo-

men’s History Month, I continue to salute my cultured sisters who are making strides in education and entrepreneurship. According to cnbc.com, “The Golden Age for women entrepreneurs has finally begun. The stars have aligned [...], and enterprising females [are] equipped with inspiration, know-how and funding.” Additionally, the National Association of Education Statistics states that “Black women are the most educated segment within the U.S. population. But ladies, what good would it be for us to conquer the entire

world and lose our men?

With that being asked, fellas, do not let this gender renaissance intimate you. Our tough exterior may not show it, but we are scared too, and we need you like never before. We need your love, your protection; and your input. We want our history to tell this story: When Black Women Go High, So Do Their Men. Crystal Chanel Press Release Marketing, LLC Event Hosting - Marketing Public Relations www.justpressrelease.com @PressReleaseLLC on Instagram