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December 2015

November 2015

Happy Thanksgiving!




Today is the day family and friends gather for Thanksgiving Dinner. For me, today is not about celebrating the pilgrims and Native Americans breaking bread together, we know what eventually happened to the Native Americans.

Today, like everyday, I give thanks for all of God's blessings bestowed upon me. I give thanks for family and friends near and far and on Earth and in Heaven. I give thanks to all of the men, women and children who have sacrificed to make this world a better place. Amen.

‪#‎HappyThanksgiving‬

Smooches...

Va-Va


100 BLACK MEN OF SOUTH FLORIDA AND THE WOMEN PRESIDENTS’ ORGANIZATION UNITE TO HONOR TOP FEMALE BUSINESS LEADERS AT THE 2015 WOMEN OF COLOR ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Awards reception recognizes top female entrepreneurs for their exceptional business acumen and ability to both influence and inspire within their respective industries

Award recipients, 100 Black Men of South Florida representatives, Women President's Organization representatives and event sponsors.

MIAMI, FL -- 100 Black Men of South Florida, Inc. (100BMSF), in partnership with the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), gathered on November 11 at the Law Offices of Bilzin Sumberg to honor 24 of South Florida’s most outstanding women leading successful businesses and nonprofits for the 2015 Women of Color Achievement Awards. Sponsored by UPS, CEO Space International and Xtreme Solutions, Inc., the event included a lively cocktail reception, hors d'oeuvres and gift bag items courtesy of Women in Business and the event’s sponsors.

"The 24 distinguished women honored with the 2015 Women of Color Achievement Award are all inspirational and exemplary role models for women in entrepreneurship and business everywhere. Their tremendous accomplishments are representative of the increasing impact women of color are making in the world of business,” said Stephen Hunter Johnson, President of the 100Black Men of South Florida.

All award recipients were identified by the 100BMSF in conjunction with the Miami chapter of the WPO. The selection criteria included successful operation of a woman-owned or led business that has reached annual revenues of at least $2 million for product-based businesses, or $1 million for service-based businesses. All companies have provided an increase in employment opportunities on a local, regional and national level and have significantly strengthened the economy.

Congratulations to the 2015 award recipients:

Ana Alleguez* - Alleguez Architecture Inc.

Jacqueline Butler* - Greater Miami Caterers, Inc.

Kristin Campbell - 40 Sports & Entertainment

Michelle Delancy - Hamilton Miller & Birthisel

Kathy Eggleston - Avenue of the Arts Executive Suites

Nakeitha Felder - Waist Gang

Adrian Foster - Foster Construction

Ramona Hall - Phillips Consulting Group

Garrie Harris - Alpha 1 Staffing

Gerri Lazarre - TriMerge Financial

Alejandra Leibovich* - How to Manage a Small Law Firm

Traci Lynn - Traci Lynn Fashion Jewelry

Natasha Mayne - Maybe Law Group

Suzan McDowell - Circle of One Marketing

Angela Messam - Messam Construction

Jennifer Miller - Hamilton Miller

Bernadette Morris - Sonshine Communications

Burnadette Norris-Weeks - Austin Pammies Norris Weeks

Ann Pope - Ann Pope Consulting

Ania Rodriguez* - Key Lime Interactive, LLC

Michele Sutton* - Sutton Ferneries Inc.

Carol Ann Taylor - Miami to Go

Evie Weddle - Q-Logistix

Maria Wizel - Wizel Moreno

 

*WPO member

 

 


City of Miami Gardens To Host 5th Annual Science and Engineering Fair

 

The City of Miami Gardens encourages academic excellence from all of its students – hoping that they will broaden their scope for occupations (beginning at the elementary level) in the world of science and engineering. To assist with successfully implementing this process, the City of Miami Gardens will host the 5th Annual Science and Engineering Fair for students with an interest in science. The event, the brain trust of Councilman David Williams Jr., and has become one of the beacon projects in the community. Sponsorship opportunities are currently available for those interested in supporting the initiative.

Councilman David Williams Jr.
Councilman David Williams Jr.

 

The event itself is set for Monday, December 7, 2015 with the Science and Engineering Fair Competition, from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. at St. Thomas University, located at 16401 NW 37th Avenue in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Fair concludes on Tuesday, December 8, 2015, with the Science Fair Awards Presentation to be held from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Betty T. Ferguson RecreationalComplex, located at 3000 NW 199th Street in Miami Gardens, Florida. “We are thrilled to host yet another Science and Engineering Fair,” said Councilman David Williams Jr.This Fair helps expose students to science, engineering, and technology components that will inspire them to seek future endeavors in great, life-changing fields of study.

Students from 22 schools throughout Miami Gardens are preparing now for their winning projects. Participants from the innovative Beginnings in Science (iBiS) Programs include: Golden Glades Elementary School, Crestview Elementary School, Scott Lake Elementary School, Rainbow Park Elementary School, Parkview Elementary School, Carol City Elementary School, Hibiscus Elementary School, Barbara Hawkins Elementary School, and Carol City High School.

Over 100 students from these schools are expected to participate for cash prizes ranging from $25 – $750 for the most unique project. Judges from various fields will critique student projects and the top five students will be recognized with cash prizes.

With a population of over 107, 000, the City of Miami Gardens is the third largest city in Miami-Dade County, covering twenty square miles. Its new city hall is the only Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design public facility in America. With over a decade of leadership under its belt, the City is filled with world-class universities, show-stopping entertainment, thriving businesses, exceptional restaurants and shops, and best of all, caring neighborhoods that reflect unity in the community. With stellar events, like Jazz in the Gardens, the City of Miami Gardens offers fine cultural enrichment,planting seeds to meet resident needs and continuously cultivating possibilities.

The City of Miami Gardens is currently seeking sponsors for the Science and Engineering Fair. Sponsorship levels include Gold Sponsors ($2,500), Silver Sponsors ($1,500), and Bronze Sponsors ($500).

For more information on the Science and Engineering Fair and sponsorship opportunities, contact Hilary Marshall at (305) 622-8062.

 

 

 

 


Newest Family Time Episode Becomes Bounce TV's Most-Watched Original Series Telecast Ever Among Key Demos

ATLANTA, Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest episode of the Bounce TV original series Family Timehas become the network's most-watched original series telecast ever among key demographic audiences.

The Family Time season three, episode seven premiere telecast on Tues. Nov. 17 at 9:00 p.m. (ET) delivered 261K Persons 25-54, an increase of +48% over the season premiere, and 225K P18-49, a gain of +42% -- both network records for an original series. The telecast also delivered original series highs in Women 25-54 (161K) and W18-49 (127K).

Season three of Family Time has been bucking television trends by consistently growing in audience and popularity every week, with new episodes premiering on Bounce TV Tuesday nights . The show comedically chronicles the lives of the Stallworths who relocated to the suburbs, headed by the dad Tony Stallworth (Omar Gooding), a struggling general contractor, and his wife Lisa (Angell Conwell), an unfulfilled stay-at-home mom. The half-hour situation comedy was created by Bentley Kyle Evans (The Jamie Foxx Show, Martin) and is produced by Evans and partner Trenton Gumbs (Love That Girl). at 9:00 p.m. (ET)

The new record-setting episode centered around the Stallworths renting out rooms in their house temporarily to make some extra money, only to find themselves in a few tricky situations. GRAMMY Award®-winning artist, songwriter, actress Michelle Williams guest starred in the episode as an undercover FBI agent posing as a renter. The episode encores Nov. 22 (11:00 a.m.) and ) All times Eastern.Nov. 23 (9:00 p.m.

Bounce TV is the fastest-growing African-American (AA) network on television and airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage. The network features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and more. Bounce TV has grown to be available in more than 85 million homes across 90 markets and 90% of African American television homes -- including all of the top AA television markets. Among the founders of Bounce TV are iconic American figures Martin Luther King, III and Ambassador Andrew Young.

Source: Nielsen | Live + Same Day Data | Tuesday, November 17, 2015 vs. Tuesday, October 6, 2015 | 9p-9:30p



Senseless Gun Violence in Miami: Is this the new normal?

by Dr. Steve Gallon III

About 5 days ago I spoke to the entire male student population at Miami Northwestern. I recounted my days as a student there and growing up only blocks away from where 15-year old Johnny Lubin was shot to death in broad daylight. He was shot on 77th street. I grew up on 74th.

Johnny was the fourth student from the school killed since August of this current school year.

I also recounted the different paths that many of my friends and schoolmates took---some that led to success and self sufficiency while others led to prison, poverty, or an early death.

My heart is heavy knowing that 15-year old freshman Johnny Lubin was in the assembly at the time. That he heard my voice and words, and placed some sort of stock in them that his future was bright, possible, and bound with opportunities that would enable him to seek and fulfill his life's goals and dreams. I'm thinking, knowing that when I speak I look into the eyes of my audience---did his eyes meet mine?

Yet, my greatest fear is that some who sat and listened among the crowd of nearly 700 male students know what happened, know who did it, or even worse, are the perpetrators of this act and thieves who, with the pull of a trigger, stole the life and future away from Johnny.

What is happening now in the urban core with the recent killings of four students is unprecedented. I know. I served 25 years as a professional educator in this space.

These acts debunk the notion that such violence only occurs in public housing, in the thick of poverty, and under the veil of darkness---and within a set of rules grounded in an unwritten code on the streets. And that the state of emergency in the urban core with respect to youth violence and homicide only applies to the Windy City of Chicago.

Senseless youth violence and homicide have quietly made their way to Miami---just a stone's throw away from the glitz and glamor of the Design District and the allure of South Beach. The deaths of two young black males on I-95 brought traffic to a grinding halt on Monday. When will our "State of Emergency" arrive?

This new breed of cowardly savages lives and kills with impunity. They have no rules.

And yes, while I pray for France, I also pray for the families, the student body, and the members of my community---in my own backyard--that are continuously affected by these senseless, cowardly acts of violence and forced to live among these terrorists in our home communities we know as the urban core.

I also pray that we as a community have not accepted the violent, snatching of lives as the new normal.

And I pray that the killer or killers were not among us in the auditorium about 5 days ago breathing the same air as Johnny and I only to take his last breath away with the pull of a trigger 5 days later.

‪#‎RealTalk‬

 


Where Do We Go from Here?: Racism and the Palmetto High Lacrosse Team

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Thank you for your feedback on my original commentary on the racist internet chat incident among Palmetto High lacrosse players. Because of that incident, my friend Eric Pettus, who is a lacrosse enthusiast, former collegiate player and coach, shared his experience with a former Palmetto High lacrosse coach. Let me reiterate this was a former Palmetto Lacrosse coach, not anyone on the current coaching staff. Children live what they learn…  

In the late nineties I decided that I'd volunteer to coach Lacrosse at a public high school in Miami and I called Palmetto High. I gave the coach via telephone my Lacrosse Playing Resume (which started at the age of 10 and lasted until age 40). Long story short, the coach invited me to come and meet him at the team’s game that day. They were playing Ransom Everglades Academy in Coconut Grove. My office at the time was in Coral Gables just across US 1. The coach (not the current coach) gave me directions and while doing so advised me not to stop my car in the black neighborhood. Needless to say when I showed up as a black man and announced that I made sure not to stop in the black neighborhood he was quite embarrassed. Open mouth insert foot and crawl under the table embarrassed. I didn't let his ignorance stop me from volunteering I volunteered at Ransom Everglades!!!

I’m sure coach thought he was protecting Pettus who he thought was white. Surely he might have been attacked had he stopped in the black neighborhood. Obviously, Eric Pettus didn’t ‘sound’ black to the coach. Surely no black person would have so much experience in lacrosse, right? Wrong.

Again, though uncomfortable and embarrassing to many, this is a teachable moment. We can allow this to swept under the rug or we can talk openly and honestly about race. The incident at Palmetto High is not likely an isolated one in our schools throughout this country. Once the Palmetto incident became public, the school district should have held a town hall meeting to inform the public on actions it has taken and answered questions of concerned residents. This is a serious matter. Don’t forget that in addition to the racist remarks, threats to kill were made.

There is a passionate exchange of viewpoints regarding this situation on the Facebook page of Around Pinecrest. Some commenters, who know the boys, say the boys are not racist, they were following others, etc. etc. etc. Newsflash, the boys either made racist comments or went along with the racist comments. Did any of them show support for the one black player on the team who spoke up about the offensive chat? If they didn’t, that makes them cowardly racists. Those children knew better. Let’s acknowledge the truth and move on from there. On the other hand, Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner, who I admired even before this incident, is livid and thinks the team should be suspended for a year.

Unfortunately, there are many perfectly innocent Palmetto students who have nothing to do with hate speech, who will be painted with the broad brush of being perceived as racist. I was reminded that only 8 of the 40 players on the Palmetto lacrosse team were involved in this incident. Hopefully the remainder of the team and the student body outraged by the comments of their schoolmates, will learn from this also. All of the students need to understand that this situation is NOT about “dumb actions” or “social media responsibility.” This situation is about racism. Period.

I strongly encourage everyone to join in the community conversation, RACE-STORATION, 6-8:30PM, Thursday, November 12, 2015, Charles Hadley Park Community Center, 1350 NW 50 Street, Miami, FL 33142. We can't fix what we don't face.

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“The Holocaust illustrates the consequences of prejudice, racism and stereotyping on a society. It forces us to examine the responsibilities of citizenship and confront the powerful ramifications of indifference and inaction.” - Tim Holden

 

Va-va sig 75x39

 @vbyers

 

 


[WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE] Why We Can’t Ignore Racism and the Palmetto Lacrosse Team

(There are several pictures on this post that may take a long time to load.)

PLAX
 

Children live what they learn. Even in the exclusive, wealthy area of exquisitely gorgeous homes and perfectly manicured lawns of Pinecrest and Palmetto Bay, Florida, racism and lives and is perpetuated. We know this because of screenshots of excerpts of a GroupMe chat between some Miami Palmetto Senior High School lacrosse players that has been shared on social media.

PLAX-1 PLAX-2 PLAX-3 PLAX-4
PLAX-5

Throughout the chat, the students cavalierly and hatefully drop the ‘n-bomb’ many times. Please take note of the attempt to distinguish between black people and niggers. The conversation is vile yet eye-opening. Some of the students have claimed to be friends with black students yet their hearts feel otherwise. Reality check. That’s the way the world is and it’s not likely to change. When children make reference to ghetto monkeys taking their tax dollars, you know they are regurgitating comments they’ve heard from adults.

After high school, these same young men that engaged in the conversation --- all white, except one black student --- are more likely to become doctors, lawyers, politicians and business owners than black children. Their decisions could affect the daily lives of many people that they think should be in cages or go back to their monkey habitats. And some folks take issue with the #BlackLivesMatter movement? If you are black, you feel the frustration of the black team member who tries to put the others in check for racists comments that have obviously been made before.

Some people, even black people, prefer to ignore race and racism. “After reviewing what has taken place at Palmetto High, I think it is time to have a conversation,” said Andre Joyce, whose team “the hope dealers” will discuss the issue tomorrow at 11 a.m. on 880 AM THE BIZ . “We will spend a portion of our time on the show talking about how the school and school system can address this matter. Additionally, we will spend some time talking with experts about the race and its effect on teenagers.” This incident is also on the radar of the local branch of the NAACP and branch president, Dr. Shirley B. Johnson has already notified Miami-Dade County Public Schools accordingly. The school district administration met with students on Monday to deal with the incident. The principal, Victoria Dobbs, posted a message about the incident on the school's website.

While I despise the racist rhetoric of the lacrosse players, the hateful, terroristic threats regarding killing blacks are the most egregious and deserving of consequences more severe than ‘counseling’ provided to the eight young men identified as conversation participants. The school district’s new emphasis on reducing the number of suspensions will likely preclude that as an option for punishment, especially for these students. If suspension is not an option, the young men should be required to do community service and the district should provide them mandatory racial sensitivity training.

While this article is about a private internet group chat among Miami Palmetto Senior High School students, rest assured, it is likely not an isolated incident in our schools throughout this nation. Schools are microcosms of our society. When our nation’s first black president is openly disrespected and blacks are subjected to police brutality with alarming frequency, why should we really expect anything different than the conversation of the Palmetto lacrosse players. Children live what they learn.

 

 

Va-va sig 75x39

 @vbyers

 

 


UPDATE: A'Miya Renee Feagin has been found!



Thank you Blogging Black Miami readers! A'Miya Renee Feagin has been found and is with her family. Thank you for sharing her picture and canvassing the community with her family and friends. Thank you for your prayers.

Please share this fantastic news with your networks. Thank you.

- vb





UPDATE on A’MIYA RENEE FEAGIN

A'Miya

Family and friends are hopeful for the safe return of A’Miya Renee Feagin as there have been two sightings of her. She was no longer wearing the black & white dress. She was last seen yesterday wearing green shorts and a beige top. Please look at his latest photo as her hair is in this style but she could be wearing different attire today. Please continue to be on the lookout for her and contact the police at (305) 995-COPS if you see her.
 
Thank you to everyone who showed up at Miami Edison today to help in canvassing the area. A special thank you to Miami-Dade County School Board Member, District 2, Dr. Dorothy Bendross Mindingall, Miami-Dade Schools Police, Miami Edison Senior High Principal Trynegwa Diggs, Leroy Jones, Natacha Payen and the ladies of Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
 
A’Miya’s family and friends love her dearly and are praying ...for her to call and to return home soon.

 
- vb
 
#Miami #missing #blackandmissing #MissingAMiya

Trick or Treat 2015 in Liberty City




There was definitely cuteness overload on deck as this wonderful family with their two and a half young kids (Mommy has a bun in the oven.) celebrated Halloween in Liberty City.

It was such a pleasure meeting Sharonna, José, and their adorable sons Jaden (Superman) and Johnathan (Sharknado). Abundant blessings and love to them and their son on the way.

Thank you to the businesses that participated and shared treats with the kiddies. Hopefully everyone had a safe and Happy Halloween.