Florida Sentinel Bulletin

WINE AND SPIRITS EVENT FEATURING BLACK-OWNED BRANDS HELD

         “Wine Down Wednesdays” took a different twist last Wednesday (March 4^th) when an Ybor City venue, Ybor’s 7^th & Grove, partnered with Wine & Spirits Noire. The event featured Black entrepreneurs who are influencing the wine and spirits industry. Among those in attendance were: left to right, Chima Burey, Founder and CEO of Duke and Dame Whiskey; Stephanie Love, Epicurious One, LLC; Anji Degante, Wine Curator; Jerred Carter, Founder and CEO of The Red Lady Rum Punch; and Anthony Price, CEO of Price Enterprises. (Photograph by BRUNSON)

BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM IS A CONVERSATION ON ‘EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN’

                  The Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Carver City, held its Black History Month Program last month. The theme was based on a Conversation: ‘Educating Our Children – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.’ The Reverend Frank Watson, Jr., is the host pastor. Special guests were: Ms. Sheila McCants, District Manager Diversity & Special Programs, Equity & Diversity, Hillsborough Community College; and Professor Joseline Jean-Louis Hardrick, WMU Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Tampa Bay. Professor Hardrick, left, and Ms. McCants, right, are shown with Friendship members, Mr. and Mrs. Ricky (Jeannette) Rogers. (Photograph by Ricky Roberts)

AT&T RECOGNIZES 7 AFRICAN AMERICAN TRAILBLAZERS

            Each year, AT&T recognizes African American Trailblazers from throughout Florida in its Annual African American History Calendar. The tributes take place during Black History Month. This year, seven African American Trailblazers with ties to the Tampa Bay Area were honored at the UNCF Tampa Black History Month Luncheon. The event was held at the Tampa Marriott Westshore. Shown in this photograph from left to right are: NASA Astronaut Captain Winston E. Scott; AT&T African American History Calendar honorees Anthony “Booger” McFarland, Dr. Walter Smith, Ann Porter, Machelle Maner, and Ernest Hooper; AT&T Director Edwin Narain; AT&T African American History Calendar honoree, The Honorable Doretha Edgecomb; and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.

CONGRESSWOMAN CASTOR ISSUES BLACK HISTORY MONTH CONGRESSIONAL RECORDS

                  On Monday, February 24, 2020, U. S. Representative Kathy Castor (14^th Congressional District) issued Congressional Record Statements during her 2020 Black History Month Program. The program was held in the auditorium at Middleton Senior High School. Honorees were: Ross Anderson, the Honorable Marva L. Crenshaw and the Honorable Perry A. Little. Shown from left to right are: Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren, Middleton Principal, Tiatasha Brown; Chloe Coney, Mistress of Ceremonies; Congresswoman Castor, Lauren Matthew, Middleton’s Valedictorian, who sang “Lift Every Voice And Sing;” Judge Perry A. Little, Ross Anderson, Judge Marva L. Crenshaw; and School Board Member Tamara Shamburger. (Photograph by Frederick Harris)

MEN AND WOMEN IN BUSINESS SHOWCASE

                  The Men and Women in Business Showcase hosted an event at the Seminole Heights Branch Library to honor several individuals. Kia Wells founded the organization and Regina Breed is the Executive Director. From left to right are: Kia Wells, Pearl Knapp-Chirenza, Scott Werner, Grand Prize winner; Terrell Manning, winner; Regina Breed, Steve Sapato, 1^st Runner-Up; Arthur Brown, Mariah Peterson and Lamonte Gwynn, winners. (Photograph by BRUNSON)

TAMPA CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES COMMUNITY TRAILBLAZERS

                  During Thursday morning’s (Feb. 20^th) Tampa City Council meeting, the Council members honored four retired Tampa Police Officers. Rufus Lewis, Frank Gray, James Dukes and Clarence Nathan were recognized as “four courageous men who paved the way for eq ual opportunity for Blacks, women and other minority groups in the Tampa P0lice Department,” the Commendation read. The Commendation also referenced 1974 when the group had the courage to see justice done by traveling to Washington, D. C., to fight indifference and discrimination. Shown are: Frank Gray, Sgt. Kimberly Hill, Officer Melanee Gardner, James Dukes, Senior Corporal Sonja Wise, Councilman Orlando Gudes, and Rufus Lewis. In the rear, Major Calvin Johnson, Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan, former St. Petersburg Police Chief, Goliath Davis, and Clarence Nathan. (Photo courtesy City of Tampa)

LEADERSHIP TAMPA ALUMNI HONORS CHLOE CONEY

                  Leadership Tampa Alumni (LTA) honored Dr. Chloe Coney with the Parke Wright, III Award at the group’s 2019 Annual Meeting. The meeting was held on January 29, 2020. The award is presented annually to a member of Leadership Tampa Alumni who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and made a significant difference in the Tampa Bay community. Dr. Coney was in the 2002 Class of Leadership Tampa. Shown from left to right are: Amanda Uliano, Law Office of Amanda M. Uliano, P. A.; Chloe Coney, Founder of Corporation To Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc. (CDC of Tampa, Inc.); Michael Blasco, Chief Eating Officer of Tampa Bay Food Trucks and 2019 LTA Chair; and Parke Wright, IV, President of JO Wright and Company.

7^th ANNUAL SUIT UP & SHOW UP EVENT HELD

Recently, employees and mentors of the Corporation to Develop Communities, of Tampa, Inc., (CDC of Tampa, Inc.,), held their 7^th Annual Suit Up & Show Up Event. It is held annually Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service. It is designed to change the attitude of young men in the community through discussion and culminates with the young men “suiting up and showing up for the roles in their lives.” With the assistance of volunteers, each young man met with a professional tailor, selected his outfit, and took part in the transformation. The mentors who provided assistance to the young men, shown from left to right are: David Jones, CDC of Tampa, Inc.; Freddy Barton, Executive Director of Safe & Sound, who served as the keynote speaker; Albert Lee, of TBBIC; John Flanagan, of Career Source; Steve Cona, Hillsborough County School Board; Ernest Coney,  President & CEO of the CDC of Tampa, Inc.; City Council member Orlando Gudes; Rod Carter, of WFLA, who served as the Master of Ceremonies, and Pastor, Ernest Coney, Sr.