Please pray for Pastor Annie Wimberly who was wounded in a drive by shooting as she slept in her Brownsville home early Tuesday morning. Wimberly is pastor of Friendly Temple Holiness Church and likely not the intended target. The shooting could be the result of a feud between the shooter and one of the occupants of the home. Meanwhile, Wimberly is in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital. 

Anyone with information about the shooting should call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

I don’t know who Norris Cole is but he saved the Miami Heat from a loss to the Boston Celtics last night. That young man was truly on fi-ya but what was most impressive was the maturity he displayed; one would never know it was only his second professional basketball game. The final score was Heat 115, Celtics 107.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade played well as did other Heat players. There were a few moments of too many missess and too much bobbling the ball. Cole seemed to have an energy that defied the fourth quarter choke the Heat are known for. By the same token, The Boston Celtics are not the Dallas Mavericks who the Heat dominated on Christmas day. The Celtics are a team of veterans that will not go down without a fight. I have the feeling that we'll learn more about Norris Cole as time goes on, whoever thought he would be a good addition to the team was right.

The Heat play tonight at Charlotte. Let’s Go, HEAT!

P.S.  You can follow Norris Cole on Twitter @PG30_MIA. Check out his tweet from December 24. "Hunger drives animals to kill, it drives me to succeed! #Hungry"

Washington, DC – Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) announced today that she plans to introduce a federal anti-hazing bill when Congress reconvenes in January. A staunch fighter of bullying and hazing during her career as a school principal and school board member, Rep. Wilson decided that action is needed at the federal level to combat hazing incidents like the tragedy that claimed drum major Robert Champion’s life at Florida A&M University in November.

“Hazing is demeaning, dangerous, and, sadly, deadly,” said Rep. Wilson. “It’s time that we put an end to this horrible and humiliating ritual once and for all, so that no more students suffer the way that Robert and others have.”

Rep. Wilson fought hazing throughout her four-year reign as the South Atlantic Regional Director for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the first sorority founded by black students on the campus of Howard University in 1908. Rep. Wilson was nicknamed by a Miami Herald reporter as “THE HAZE BUSTER” because of her very public stance to stamp out hazing on college campuses.

“I am having policy discussions now with presidents of historically-black colleges and universities, band members and presidents of Greek-letter organizations so that we will be able to craft a strong bill for introduction next month,” Rep. Wilson said.

Kwanzaa Story Time: Miami Children’s Museum, 980 MacArthur Cswy, Miami. Dec. 26, 1 p.m.  

Sankofa Returns: African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, 6161 NW 22nd Ave., Miami. Dec. 26. 6 p.m.  

AALRC Celebrates Kwanzaa: African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, 6161 NW 22nd Ave., Miami. Dec. 28. 1 p.m. – 7.  

Steel drumming, dance, drama and poetry:African American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Dec. 28; 1 p.m.-7. 

A Kwanzaa Experience: Joseph Caleb Center Auditorium, 5400 NW 22 Ave., Miami. Dec. 29. 6:30 p.m. 

Mary Williams Woodard Legacy Kwanzaa Celebration: African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, 6161 NW 22nd Ave., Miami. Dec 30. 7 p.m. 

Source: Miami Herald

Read more at http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/25/2561787/kwanzaa-kicks-off-tonight.html

On Friday, December 30, 2011 the Miami-Dade Chapter of the FAMU National Alumni Association and Community Builders Holistic Development Corporation will present the 22nd Annual Mary Williams Woodard Legacy Kwanzaa Celebration. This is the Miami-Dade Chapter's signature event as they give back to the South Florida community. They are pleased to continue their longstanding partnership with Community Builders and their Osun’s Village & African Caribbean Cultural Arts Corridor Project in presenting this important event.

Several international and local performing artists are expected to participate. The children’s groups from the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center are always a delight. This year, a parade of African and African-inspired fashions has been added so wear your finest if you are so inclined. A special call is being made to natural hair wearing brothers and sisters. So rock your Locs, Twists, Braids and Afros for the Natural Hair Showcase.

This is an uplifting, family bonding, community building event celebrating: Unity; Self-Determination; Collective Work & Responsibility; Cooperative Economics; Purpose; Creativity; and Faith! This event is FREE and open to the public.

Stay tuned to Blogging Black Miami for photos from the event.

For more information on the Mary Williams Woodard Legacy Kwanzaa Celebration, call the FAMU Alumni Association at (305) 761-8952 or e-mail gofamu@miamidaderattlers.org.

While working through my e-mail backlog, I cam across this wonderful message from Miami Gardens Councilman Oliver Gilbert. I’m sharing with you because it is exactly the kind of information this blog was designed to share.

While this blog was not designed to ignore the unpleasantries that occur in our community, positive news is a rarity. Thank you Councilman Gilbert and congratulations, Suntrell Butler.

Today's Student Spotlight is on: Suntrell Butler  

Suntrell Butler is a senior who attends Miami Carol City Senior High School. While maintaining a 4.8 weighted and 3.5 un-weighted grade point average, she is the President of Student Government Association and National Honors Society at her school, as well as a member of African-American Alliance and Key Club. Not only is Suntrell active in her school, she is very active in the community. She is a member of the Miami Gardens Junior Council and the Dade County Chapter of Delta GEMS. Suntrell was a junior coach at Golden Glades Optimist Club, now known as the Miami Gardens Ravens. She is a Silver Knights Nominee in the athletics category and has started an organization titled “We Fit for Kids” seeking to raise awareness of childhood obesity and to promote health & wellness in the community.  

As you can see, Suntrell is a very well rounded individual. She aspires to go to the University of Florida or the University of Central Florida to major in business administration and then pursue an MBA. She later plans on going to law school to study sports and entertainment law and obtain her Juris Doctorate in hopes of becoming a Certified Sports Agent, licensed to practice law in the State of Florida.   

If you see Suntrell around, take a moment to encourage her.  Tell her to keep up the good work and that we are proud of her.

May you and your family have a joyous Christmas remembering that the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the Reason for the Season. Peace and Abundant Blessings.

Thank you to everyone who has shown the true spirit of Christmas this year. From the high profile give aways of Don King and Big Mama to the organizations that have collected and donated to children locally and  on our neighboring islands. If you’ve done anything to help another person this year, thank you.

Now what about our girl, Ms. Melonie Amaro, winner of that $5 million X Factor recording contract.?! I don’t know her personally but she seems to be such a sweet young lady from a wonderful family. Dreams really do come true. All the Best, Ms. Melonie!

Is it just me or does it seem as though there’s no economic problem in this country? What’s up with all the folks standing in line for a pair of Jordans? I ain’t nothing to say but get your priorities right.

Smooches...

There was a fatal stabbing in the Pork'n Beans this morning. Dorian Hinkson stabbed Phillip Arthur in the chest in the courtyard as Arthur's wife and children looked on. Arthur transitioned after arriving at Jackson Hospital.

Hinkson was angry because Arthur asked him to lower the volume on his music. What a shame. It was 9:30 in the morning for Christ's sake.

One of the commenters on the Miami Herald website wrote, "Two less Obama voters. It's a start. Keep up the good work." Oh yeah, that may appear to be a stretch but it shows you just what some people really think and what they know to be important. Be safe and be Blessed. Hurt people hurt people.

Let's pray for all the families involved in this tragedy.

Source: The Children's Trust