Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Black Business Bus Tour, Hands Of Hope Sickle Cell Attend March On Washington

             Members of two Tampa organizations traveled to Washington, D. C. for the “Get Your Knee Off Our Necks” Commitment March On Washington, on Friday, August 28, 2020. The March was spearheaded by Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King, III, and was held at the Lincoln Memorial on the 57^thAnniversary of the historic 1963 March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered the famous, “I Have A Dream” speech.

         Tampa’s Black Business Bus Tour is headed by Candy Lowe, and Hands Of Hope Sickle Cell Awareness is headed by Cecelia Mitchell. Juanita Mitchell, Cecilia Mitchell, Candy Lowe, Mona Judge, Kay’Lisse Mitchell, David, Sr. and David Thompson, Jr.; and on top, Michael Daniels, Lynette Tracee Judge and Ativa Anderson, attended the event. (Photograph courtesy of Julia Jackson)

MEN OF VISION MEMBERS GET COMPUTERS

         Just prior to the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, Ross Anderson, founder of Men Of Vision, with the assistance of Tampa’s Mayor Jane Castor, presented computers to its members to prepare them for virtual learning. The presentation was made as a drive-through at the Carter G. Woodson School. Participants were: kneeling, Kyron Wright and Ross Anderson. Standing, Tahj Hunter, Jace Hopkins, James Colston, AJ Boodsingh, Jackson Hopkins, Ty Andrews, David Parrolt, Angel Mendoza, Willie Jackson, Sammie Randle, III, and Michael Walker. In the rear, Corey Conner, Jordan Haywood, Kyler Browning, Khalil Bradley, Anthony Walker, Zackary Walls and Andrew Walker. (Photograph by BRUNSON)

MEN’S WEAR SHOP OPENS IN WESTSHORE MALL

         Ricc Rollins held the Grand Opening of his men’s wear shop in Westshore Mall. The event was held on Saturday, August 22, 2020. Among those who joined him for the special event were, from left: Denise White, former News Anchor, Fox-13, WTVT; fashion designer, Elizabeth Racker; Tampa City Councilman, District 1, Joseph Citro; Rollins, Mayor Jane Castor, Jessica Rollins, Arlene Brooks, Erik Wise and Audrey Pat McGhee. (Photograph by Frederick Harris)

LADIES ORGANIZATION COMPLETES CALENDAR IN SPITE OF PANDEMIC

         The ladies of Top Ladies of Distinction, Tampa Bay/West Central Florida Chapter completed their 2019-2020 Calendar of events, in spite of the Coronavirus pandemic.  The ladies had to make some adjustments, but were able to get it done. The Tampa Bay Chapter members are shown with National Area IV Director, in center, Lady Adrienne Boner. They are: front, left to right, Ladies Luvator Nelson, Von Keese, Beverly Crecy, Janette Spencer-Davis, President, Adrienne Boner, Area IV Director, Christine Frazer, Chapter Organizer, Alma Purify, Carrie Anderson, and Tempress Solomon. In the back, left to right: Avi-Anne Richardson, Sandra Butler, Maria Singfield, Elizabeth Washington, Fontaine Marion, Trivia Cole, and Ollie Green. (See Page 1-B for complete article.)

BUFFALO SOLDIERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB PRESENTS AWARDS DURING ‘RIDE FOR JUSTICE’

           The Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club Tampa Bay presented awards last month during its “Ride For Justice.” The presentation was held at the Downtown Hilton Hotel. Awards were presented to from left, in front: Sherri Brown, Vice President, Multicultural Sales, Visit Tampa Bay; Tampa’s Chief of Police Brian Dugan, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, and Santiago Corrada, President/CEO, Visit Tampa Bay. Members of the Motorcycle Club in attendance were: Cheryl “Teach” Finlay, Alvin “Slim” Finlay; Anthony “K-Smooth” Smith, President; Roy “Seawolf” Nixon, Vice President; Samuel “Primo” Bernard, Marcus “Stealth” Wilson, Nathan “Lone Wolf” Wyatt, Michael “Corp” Corpening, Johnny “Can-Can” Banks, and Karen “Top 6” Chambers. (Photograph by Julia Jackson)

LONGSHOREMEN OF LOCAL 1402 HONOR PAST PRESIDENT

           James Harrell, Sr., Past President of International Longshoremen Association, Local 1402, was honored by the organization for 60 years of dedicated service. Andre Davis, Vice President of Local 1402, organized the surprise event for Mr. Harrell, which was held on Sunday, August 9, 2020, at the Longshoremen’s Hall. Several members of Harrell’s family and Longshoremen were in attendance. From left are: Leon Chandler, Sr., President of Local 1402; honoree James Harrell, Sr., Andre Davis, Vice President, 1402; and Howard Roundtree, Vice President/Business Agent, Local 1402. (Photograph by BRUNSON)

CHILDREN WITH A VISION 21^st BOOK BAG DISTRIBUTION

         Children With A Vision hosted its 21st Annual Back To School Drive-Through Book Bag Giveaway. The event was held on Sunday, August 2, 2020, at Ragan Park Community Center. Mrs. Tonya Lewis, founder of Children With A Vision, stated she almost cancelled the event because of Coronavirus (COVID-19). However, a few days before the event she was able to pull together sponsors and volunteers, to prepare more than 1,000 book bags with school supplies. Those who came out to help her to serve the community in the rain were: front row, Teneca Williams, Buffy Allen, Mayor Jane Castor, Tonya Lewis, Founder, Nikki Taylor, and Sky White. Back row: Teresa Jenkins, Larry Lane, Shelly Frank, Nancy Millan, Irma Millan-Hernandez, Daniel Santizabel, Keren Moaney, Algie Baptist, and Kella McCaskill. (Photograph by BRUNSON)

NAIL TECHS OF TAMPA UNITE

The Black Nail Techs of Tampa Bay United  is a group of 20 Black nail techs who organized to support each other in promotions, client retention, visibility, customer service, and economics. Our model of Cooperative economics has some similarities to Kwanzaa’s principle Ujamaa: to build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.. Shown in the photograph from left to right are: Diamond Robinson, Rhonda Willingham Robinson, Kim Taylor-Mallard, India Alexis Owens, and Portia Davis.

2020 MISS JUNETEENTH CROWNED IN VIRTUAL CEREMONY

         COVID-19 changed so many community activities. They events were either postponed, cancelled, or held virtually. So it was with the “Miss Juneteenth Pageant.” The “2020 Miss Juneteenth Pageant,” sponsored by the Tampa Bay Juneteenth Coalition and partners, was held virtually on June 19, 2020. The winners were: “Miss Juneteenth,” Helena Chambers and “Jr. Miss Juneteenth,” Adaria Norton. The winners and runners-up are shown with the judges: left to right are: judges, Robert Scott, Jr., Barbara Harden, and Pastor Celeste Chiles; 3rd runner-up, Carry Desulme; 2nd runner-up, Ay’rreka Gilchrest; 1st runner-up, Kyla Walden; Miss Juneteenth, Helena Chambers; and Jr. Miss Juneteenth, Adaria Norton.