Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Christopher King, Human Rights Activist and Founder of Gentlemen’s Course

By MONIQUE STAMPS

Sentinel Staff Writer

     Christopher King, the grandson of the legendary Blues musician B.B. King, has carved out a space for doing what he was called to do – fight for human rights.

    King, the son of B.B. King Jr., was born in Dallas, but raised in Savannah, GA. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Marines where he was deployed several times around the world, including Afghanistan.

  After leaving the Marines, King spent some time in the private sector before working for his famous grandfather as one of his road managers and his valet.

    King moved to Tampa in 2013, and was here when B.B. King passed away in 2015. Since then, he has made a big impact aiding victims of sexual and labor trafficking.

     While he managed his grandfather’s tour, he was also a fashion stylist and his valet. After his grandfather’s death, King needed to focus his talents in another direction.

    He was putting on fashion shows when he was introduced to the devastating losses brought on by human trafficking.

     King’s special fashion show for Miracles Outreach, an agency that provides foster care and support for girls aged 12 – 17 who have been victimized, opened his eyes.

     “They introduced me to the problem of human trafficking. Through inspiration from Miracles Outreach, I started a mentoring program now called the Gentlemen’s Course,” said King.

     The course is a purposeful program that can be delivered to any young person. It’s usually delivered in classrooms, with King getting contracts for middle schools to prevent human trafficking. Kids are taught etiquette, social skills, and human rights.

    “A lot of kids who are rescued from sexual and/or labor trafficking can’t just go back into the world. We want to provide materials and information for them as they return to their lives,” says King.

   “With incorporating human rights into our curriculum, we are hoping to educate youth with the proper tools to make better decisions as they mature and grow in today’s society.”

     King holds regular Gentlemen’s Courses for youth in schools and libraries. He also holds a Gentlemen’s Ball twice a year in support of humanitarian groups such as the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking and She Helps to Empower.

     King is also the president of the Florida chapter of the United for Human Rights Florida, working with groups like NAACP chapters from the area.

PI IOTA PRESIDENT AL SHERIFF AND OMEGA PSI PHI GRAND MARSHALL

TAMPA MAYOR JANE CASTOR WELCOMES OMEGA PSI PHI

BY MONIQUE STAMPS

Sentinel Staff Writer

       Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, hosted their 84th Conclave in Tampa last week to much fanfare. The city rolled out the purple carpet for the gentlemen of Omega, highlighting hospitality and gratitude for the fraternity’s visit.

   While the city is tallying final figures, it is estimated that over 60,000 Omegas, registered and unregistered, were in Tampa.

    Al Sheriff, Basileus of the Pi Iota graduate chapter, has been enthusiastic about the treatment of the brothers.

   “We’d like to thank the mayor and city for their hospitality. We had a great conclave.”

    Omegas are known for their signature party events and stepping; however, they also displayed a thoughtful approach to community engagement. Several community forums and programs addressed the Omegas’ goals for the Conclave, including voter information, legal issues, and organizing to get things done in the community.

Kaleena McQueen

By MONIQUE STAMPS

Sentinel Staff Writer

     Kaleena McQueen, District Administrator for Non-Traditional Programs at Hillsborough County Public Schools, has written a children’s book about bullying. Titled How To Become Bullyproof, the book explores young Titan as he and his friends deal with bullying.

       McQueen is from Broward County but was raised in Haines City. She graduated from the University of Central Florida for both undergraduate and graduate school.

   McQueen spent over 10 years in Orange County in exceptional education. After reconnecting with her now husband, she moved to Tampa.

     She currently supports all non-traditional schools, including career centers, alternative schools, and schools for children with profound disabilities. Her area also includes the educational aspect of youth detention and Falkenburg Jail.

    McQueen has always loved to write. In high school, she wrote a student column for the Lakeland Ledger.

    “In 2016, my father was being treated for lung cancer. I was teasing him about being so confident. My father was a very dapper and intelligent man. He said that he wasn’t always this way. He had been bullied as a child. It moved me and I kept that memory.”

    McQueen’s father passed away, but she treasured his story of overcoming bullying,

   “I sent the short story to an editor who encouraged me to expand the story to a full book. It took me three years to get back to her, but the editor was still enthusiastic about the project.”

    The book explores the bullying of a middle school student and his father.

    “Titan is afraid of going back to school after the summer because of a bully who has targeted him and his friends.

     “Titan talks to his father about it, who goes to the school. Titan and his father come up with a plan for Big Bully Ben.”

   McQueen lives in Tampa with her husband, DeWitt Jones, and two children, Khalind and Dakota.

      The book is currently on book sites in the United Kingdom, Australia, Demark, and Canada. It can be purchased through Amazon Worldwide in all countries that receive Amazon orders.

     To purchase How To Become Bullyproof in the USA, visit one of these sites:

Amazon – https://a.co/d/12d9GJj

 Barnes and Noble

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-become-bully-proof-kaleena-mcqueen/1145643603?ean=9780228843832

Walmart 

https://www.walmart.com/search?q=9780228843832

Aliyah Perez, Owner of Skinmedic Wellness

BY MONIQUE STAMPS

Sentinel Staff Writer

     Aliyah Perez, owner of Skinmedic Wellness, prides herself on the professionalism of her beauty and wellness center.

    Skinmedic specializes in luxurious spa treatments and full body hair removal services. Perez says Skinmedic provides a comprehensive approach to your overall well-being.

   Perez says that by placing the utmost importance on her clients’ comfort, each visit is an indulgent experience.

    Perez was born and raised in Brandon, where she graduated from Newsome High School a year and a half early. She originally thought of being a plastic surgeon, but the length of the educational requirements led her to try another route.

    “The reason I wanted to be a plastic surgeon was that I had terrible acne in high school. It came out of nowhere. My mother sent me to a dermatologist, but the medicines were too strong, and I continued to suffer for months.”

   “After that, my mother sent me to an esthetician, and I received my first chemical peel. My skin started looking better immediately. My mom suggested that I could go to school to be an esthetician.”

   “I knew that I wanted to help people like me, and I enrolled.”

    COVID happened right after her graduation from esthetician school.

   Perez worked in another spa for two years before deciding to branch out on her own.

    She opened Skinmedic Wellness in July 2023, and business increased very quickly. She had to move to a larger location earlier this year to accommodate the number of clients.

   Perez credits the spa’s welcoming atmosphere and common-sense pricing to her high school experience.

   “We aren’t charging as much as some of the other salons. We want skin care and beauty treatments to be affordable for everyone.”

    Skinmedic Wellness is located at 1045 E Brandon Blvd., Brandon, FL 33511. Please call 813-953-9330.

Marvin Knight

By MONIQUE STAMPS

Sentinel Staff Writer

        The 509 Committee, led by Commissioner Gwen Myers, is asking the community to come together once again to celebrate and host a Unity in the Community Event on June 23, 2024.

    The last event was held on December 10, 2023, at Perry Harvey Park and was tremendously successful, with hundreds of attendees.

    This year, the event will be held at Al Barnes Park, 2902 N. 32^nd Street, from 1 PM until 5PM. The event will be alcohol-free to be more welcoming to families.

   “I am urging the community to come together again, and work with us to uplift our families and youth. We value our youth and will provide opportunities for them, while rewarding them with community service hours. The 509 Committee is all in when it comes to our youth and helping them to become future leaders,” says Commissioner Myers.

    “We are focused on our youth so that they have alternative ways to spend their time and have good experiences in school and life. We have to make sure that they are getting their diplomas as well.”

    To help celebrate and encourage young people to attend the event, every middle school or high school student that is 18 or younger will receive 20 community service hours, and a free meal ticket for food at the event, up to a limit of 250.

    Panels on gun violence, diplomas vs. certificates of completion, and mental health will also be held.

    The unity event will have entertainment by Motown Imitators Plus, and there will be games, face-painting, community resources, vendors, and fancy cars and slingshots.

    All children attending will have a chance to win a brand-new bicycle. There will be 20 bicycles available for the giveaway.

     Event coordinator and community leader, Marvin Knight, is getting everybody ready for the huge event, “This will be a 1^st class happening for our community. Great food, entertainment, and clean family fun come together.

   “We will of course, have gun violence education and other things for our kids. Our last gathering was momentous. We want to keep that going. There will be more unity events in the near future.”

    Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister is a huge supporter of the Unity in the Community events.

     “At the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, we believe in empowering our youth.”

    “We also invest in partnerships with local leaders like County Commissioner Gwen Myers to deepen our roots in the community. This event provides a valuable opportunity for our team to connect with families in a safe and fun environment. We’re proud to be a part of building a brighter future for Hillsborough County’s youth. An important part of this effort is the work of our Black Community Relations Committee, who are dedicated to outreach and positive engagement within the Black community.”

      The goal is emphasizing the youth as a group to be uplifted, the 509 Committee has arranged for all middle school and high school students to receive 10 community service hours, and an $8 meal ticket for food at the event.

      “We will also have raffles, food trucks, and of course, Shawn Brown Entertainment. We also have people to advise young people on careers, and mental health specialists to provide guidance in that area,” explained Knight.

     Guidance will also be provided by pastors on an hourly basis. There will be games, face-painting, community resources, vendors, and fancy cars and slingshots.

   Knight says, “Bring the family and bring your friends. Carpool if you have to. Bring your neighbors out too. Bring everybody. You will have a good time and help to build up our community.”

    For more information, please contact Marvin Knight at 813-453-5690.