Florida Sentinel Bulletin

People of all ages all around the country have been participating in marches in support of justice for the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. On Saturday, March 24, 2012, thousands converged on Tampa’s Al Lopez Park and peacefully walked to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and N. Dale Mabry to protest the killing of Martin in Sanford, FL. Many of those who joined the march wore hoodies and carried a package of Skittles and a can of Arizona Tea. Among those who participated were: Krystal Bowens, Domenique Green, Fly Boy, Anquil Smith and Jessica Palmer. (Photography by BRUNSON)

Last month, Paula Stevens Jones and Jabessa (Beth) Major Smith hosted an evening All-White Jazz Event at a local business. The two plan to host the event monthly and from time-to-time will be bringing in well-known jazz artists. One of last month’s performers was Trumaine Lamar (Burrell), his band and group of backup singers. Shown with Trumaine, second from left, are Jennifer Everett, Shannon LeGrand, Nadia Darius and Stance Mason. (Photo by Frederick Harris)

The Faith Church held its grand opening of the Faith Mart Food Pantry recently to celebrate moving into a larger building. Faith Church has operated the Food Pantry for about 2 years. The pantry is open Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a. m.-3 p. m.  Every 3rd Wednesday of the month, the food pantry gives out bags of grocery. The ministry took on a new name earlier in the year and moved its Sunday worship services to King High School. Those who took part in the recent grand opening are from left: Veronica Bostick, Una Brown, Pastor Darrick Fullwood, Sr., his wife, Lady Angela Fullwood, and Sharon Poitier. (Photography by BRUNSON)

The Belmont Heights Little League held its Opening Day Ceremony on Friday, March 9, 2012. Teams, coaches, managers and players were introduced. The league dedicated the Gary Sheffield Major League Field to its former player, Gary Sheffield, who went on to play baseball for 21 years in the Major League. Several members of his family were there to share in the celebration. Joining Sheffield, center, are his parents, Betty and Harold, wife, DeLeon, daughter, Ebony, uncle, Dwight (Doc) Gooden, also a former major league player; his children and other family members. (Photography by BRUNSON)

The Center For Equal Health (CEH) held a ‘Community Talk” session at Allen Temple AME Church on February 16, 2012. The topic for discussion for the evening was “What the Community in Community-Based Research Means.” The speaker was Gwendolyn D. Reese, Community Leader/Advocate, and President & CEO, InFinite Solutions of Tampa Bay, Inc. Among those in attendance who are affiliated with the Center For Equal Health were: in front, Dr. Desiree Rivers, CEH Coordinator; Claudia Hardy, CEH External Advisory Board (EAB) member; and Dr. Chanita Hughes-Halbert, CEH EAB Member. In the rear, Dr. B. Lee Green, CEH Co-Director and Moffitt Diversity VP; Dr. Richard Roetzheim, CEH Co-Director and Family Medicine Professor, USF College of Medicine; Dr. John Telfair, CEH EAB Member and Dr. John Carpten, CEH EAB Member. (Photo by Lomax McIntyre)

The Women’s Council at First Baptist Church of College Hill held a Criminal Justice Forum last month at the church. The event was planned to give the youth an insight of how the system works.  Those in attendance were Maggie Pines, Theda James, Public Defender’s Office; Pam Stokes, Court Counselor, Juvenile Division; Robert Blount of Abe Brown Ministries; Euri Barton-Jones, Public Defender’s Office and Kimberly Ingram  of the First Baptist Church Women’s Council.  Kim Johnson is president of the Women’s Council and Rev. Evan Burrows is the Senior Pastor. (Photography by BRUNSON)

Recently, members of the community gathered at the Wilbert Davis Boys and Girls Club for their Annual Black History Celebration. The youngsters participating in the program thrilled the audience with a skit, step show demonstrations, and solos of popular songs. During the program, several businesses from the African American community were also recognized and presented awards. Shown from left to right are: Jason Jenkins, Unit Manager of the Wilbert Davis Boys and Girls Club; William Knowles, Derrick Brooks Charities; Sol Davis, Sol Davis Printing, Leon Crews, Florida Sentinel Bulletin; Daryl House, Classic Gentlemen; James Lee, House of Hitz; and Cornelius Hamilton, Big Bru Barbecue. Other award recipients known shown are: Big John’s Alabama Barbecue, WMNF 88.5 FM Soul Party, Oriental Fish Company, Wilson’s Funeral Home, Aikens Funeral Home, and Barbecue King. (Photography by BRUNSON).

Mrs. Frances Alexander, President of the Tampa Bay Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), and its members held their annual Black History Celebration at Sligh Middle Magnet School on February 22, 2012. This year, the organization paid tribute to Dr. William Bernard Robertson, a local educator who has continuously given his time and energy for the betterment of his students.
Each year, Dr. Robertson sponsors members of the Men of Vision to visit the Camp Virginia Jaycees, an organization he founded.  Attending the program from left to right were: Ms. Manuschka Michaud, Assistant Principal of Curriculum at Sligh Middle Magnet School; Mrs. Doretha Edgecomb, member of the Hillsborough County School Board; the honoree, Dr. Robertson, Mrs. Ruth Robertson, who introduced the speaker; Sligh Principal, Barbara Fillhart; and Tom King, Immediate Past Chairman of the Board, Camp Virginia Jaycee. (Photography by BRUNSON).

The Temple Terrace Police Department paid tribute to a Tampa Bay Tech High School student for doing the right thing. Destinee’ Spruell, second from left, is credited with saving the life of an instructor who was having a stroke during class. Destinee’, a junior honor student, noticed the teacher seemed to be having problems when she ran for help. Shown with her at the Temple Terrace Police Department on Tuesday are from left: her mother, Marilyn Spruell, Destinee’, Helen Brown, her grandmother; Wesley Speights and Carolyn Nelson, her aunt. (Photograph by BRUNSON)