Caribbean american passport news magazine january 2016

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NEWS MAGAZINE

Martin Luther King, Jr. How Far Have We Come?????

aiti celebrated both the New Year, 2016, and it’s proclamation of Independence on January 1st 2016.

This marks the 212th Year of Independence for Haiti.

President Michel Martelly delivered his speech in Gonaives before a packed crowd. This will mark his last speech as President of the Republic. Haiti is scheduled to go to the polls in 2016 to democratically elect it’s new President.

President Martelly delivered his presidential message to all Haitians across the world. He extended best wishes for a Happy New Year, but especially invited them to immerse themselves in the memory of January 1, 1804.

He noted, “this important date of our illustrious past when our Fathers devoted their final victory over slavery and created to give us as an inheritance, a sovereign State”. He continued “I’m pleased to commemorate this January 1 of 212 years ago because that day, the union among the hearts and minds were wearing our Nation to the baptismal font”.

We Congratulate Haiti on it’s 212th celebration of Independence.

How Many Years and How Many Lives Does It Take for Change?

Continued on page 13

The Legends of Morgan State University

See story & more photos on page 5

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L I F E S T Y L E

Guenet Gittens-Roberts, Publisher/Editor

Own the life you live - Your Health The end of 2015 brought with it an opportunity to spend quality time with Samuel J. Roberts, Publisher/Editor your friends and family, enjoy the and take time for reflection.

2015 was a great year, I think….I really don’t remember the whole year but maybe that’s a sign of age. Let’s see ‘January’ there was Martin Luther King Jr activities…then Zora Neal and the end of February, so let’s call those 2 months “King Zora Black History”. My memories of the month of March are a blur, May and June seemed to combine into one month that I’ll call “Ma/Ju”, July, I slept the first half of that month recovering from “MaJu”, the first half of August flew by (because Aleia was leaving for University….it happened too fast I wasn’t ready), and the last few months from September thru December, let’s call them “SepOctNoDec”……I don’t know.….it just happened!!! If or when you see me, please remind me of all that happened during “SepOctNoDec”. That summarizes 2015. I will accept that 2015 only had 6 months….“King Zora Black History”, April, “MaJu”, July, August and “SepOctNoDec”.

Reflection – In the last quarter we lost 2 Aunts, one was Guenet’s biological Aunt, Aunt Evelyn…..I was known to her as “Cuz”, and the other was Aunt Dor, Marcia Miller and Sandra Fatmi’s biological Aunt, but I was her favorite….nephew/boyfriend/handyman…etc.

Aunt Evelyn was a simple woman who had the biggest heart. I remember the simple things about her, she could make 3 slices into a ½ pound of cheese and it’s done, she always had a smile on her face and she always greeted me as “Cuz”. She welcomed me into the Gittens family with an open heart and great generosity. She may not have had too much but she was always willing to give. She gave us the gold to make our wedding rings….every time I look at my wedding ring I remember her and every time I slice the cheese.

Aunt Dor was a fireball to everyone else but the sweetest of old ladies to me so it didn’t matter what everyone else said.…..I got all the love I needed from her. She was a sports fanatic, every sport, she just loved sports. She had an amazing spirit and was a master domino player. I met her in her golden years here in Orlando and I could only imagine what she was like as a young lady with that fireball Jamaican personality. She had an energy for life and an unconquerable spirit. These two ladies will be greatly missed, their bodies may have failed them but their spirts will live on forever in the hearts and lives of the people they have touched.

Learning Point – Own the Life You Live – ‘Your Health’. The point behind this message about these two amazing old ladies is not really to let you know just how amazing they were and how much they will be missed but the second to last sentence in the above paragraph says it all “their bodies may have failed them”. Their bodies may have been old and therefore failure was inevitable but I ask you this – “Are you taking care of the

body you have today”, I know that I’m not and that I’ve got to change.

2016 – “Own the Life You Live”; I’m 49 years old, turning 50 years old in June of this year and I’m making a personal challenge to you now. I intend to do whatever it takes to get myself into the best shape of my life before my 50th birthday. My body weight is 263 pounds of solid muscle…..below a layer of accumulated padding or as they say back in Guyana – I’m thick-skinned. This is my challenge, I intend to lose 60 pounds before my 50th birthday (or I’ll postpone turning 50 years old until I lose 60 pounds…..just kidding). Join me in this challenge; send me your personal goal, set the date and let us ‘Own the Life We Live’. My email address is sroberts@robertsmgt-group.com – put “Own the Life You Live” in the subject of the email and let us start this journey together.

Remember the world’s greatest journey begins with your first step. I will always remember the words of a gospel song that played every morning while I was growing up in Guyana as my inspiration - “One day at a time sweet Jesus, that’s all I askin of you, give me the strength to do every day what I have to do, yesterday’s gone sweet Jesus and tomorrow may never be mine. Lord, help me today, show me the way, one day at a time”.

1969 Alafaya Trail • Orlando, FL 32828 Office: 407-427-1800 Fax: 407-386-7925 Toll Free: 877-220-8315 For Media Information email: Publisher: sroberts@caribbeanamericanpassport.com Sales: sales@caribbeanamericanpassport.com Info: .Info@caribbeanamericanpassport.com Should you desire to review past copies of the publication go to http://caribbeanamericanpassport.com and click on the

'Print Archive' Tap.

Editor & Publisher ............................................................... Sam Roberts Publisher ........................................................... Guenet Gittens-Roberts Graphic Design & Layout ..................................... Jan Longwell-Smiley Contributing Writers: ............................................................ Tony Dyal .......................................................................................... Sandra Fatmi ...................................................................................... Rosemarie Roth ............................................................................................ Gail Seeram ........................................................................................Sasha Watson ........................................................................................ Kamal Abdool Contributing Photographers ............ .................................Ted Hollins ...................................................................Nancy Jo Brown/106FOTO .......................................................................................... Sandra Fatmi .............................................. ..............................................Brion Price Central Florida Distribution...................................................Roy Benn South Florida Distribution ........................................Norman Williams North Florida Distribution ...................................................Theo Jack Jr. Copyright (C) 2010 GGR Marketing & Public Relations. All rights reserved.

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Letters to My Lawyer™ GREEN CARD PROCESSING TIMES

By Sasha Watson, Esq. Dear Lawyer, I have been living in the US for the last 7 years. I am not yet a citizen but I do have my green card for the last 5 years. I follow the political campaigns very closely and really am excited to vote for the next president. There was a voting drive at my church several years ago and I had filled out and signed the form. I was not aware that was what I was doing at the time but I later received some papers in the mail stating my polling place and other voting information. Someone told me I could get in trouble for signing up to vote without being citizen of the USA and that it could prevent me from being a US citizen, is this true?

Please help, Eager to Vote Dear Eager to Vote: Voting in local or national elections requires you to be a US citizen. Likewise, it is a federal crime to register to vote if you are not a US citizen. This is a particularly serious immigration violation as well that can result in denial of citizenship but also removal from the United States. There are also very limited avenues to avoid these negative results once it is proven that you have violated the immigration or criminal laws by voting.

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It is very common that permanent residents are duped into registering to vote. If you inadvertently registered to vote you should contact your local Supervisor of Election and make a formal complaint or notify them of the error in the records. This will be helpful in documenting the affirmative steps you have taken to show the mistake that occurred with the registration. If you actually voted, this will be more problematic and can likely result in you be placed in deportation and removal proceedings.

If you are eligible to apply to become a naturalized citizen, you may be able to apply, naturalize and register to vote before the deadline for the 2016 general elections.

Once you become a citizen, you will have the right to vote, provided you meet the requirements to register. Currently, the process for naturalization will take anywhere between four and six months to complete.

If you are fearful about the naturalization process, you should contact an attorney to discuss your options.

Regards,

Sasha Watson, Esq..

HAWM, PLLC. Please submit your letters to letters@hawmlaw.com. Each month a reader’s letter will be chosen for response.

Letters to My Lawyer™ is a publication of Karlyn Hylton & Sasha Watson of Hylton, Adamson Watson, PLLC 120 E. Colonial Drive |Orlando, FL 32801 Phone: 407-802-3223 | F: 407-377-1971 Email: letters@hawmlaw.com This column is primarily for educational purposes as well as to give the reader general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide any legal advice whatsoever. By reading this column you understand that there is no attorney-cliet relationship between you and writer/pub-lisher. This column should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney. This column is not published for advertising or solicitation purposes. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements.

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The Legends of Morgan State

aribbean American Passport News Magazine and our team had the 'Once in a Lifetime' opportunity to spend the early part of New Year's eve with some of the 'Legends of Morgan State University' and even greater legends of Blacks in football. During the 2015/16 bowl week, Florida Citrus Sports hosted members of the 1966 Morgan State University football team, paying homage to its historic Tangerine Bowl victory a half-century ago.

Cont. from pg 1.

Writen by Jonathan Blount & Sam Roberts

These achievements showcase not only their true talent, raw grit and determination but it opened the doors for all of the highly paid Black Superstars of today. These legends of Morgan State University cast long shadows into the lives they touched.

Morgan State Team

Morgan State University football team finished the 1965 regular season undefeated, they devastated FAMU, 36-7, in the Orange Blossom Classic, this is a game many considered to be the “Black National Championship Game.” However, despite that victory and going through another undefeated regular season in 1966, college polls around the nation did not recognize or acknowledge Morgan State for their football achievements. The 'so-called' football experts wrote off Morgan State as a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) that simply beat up other weak HBCU opponents.

Morgan State had something to prove.

On December 10, 1966, the Morgan State College Bears defeated the West Chester (Penn.) State College Rams, 14-6, for win number 18 of what would become a 31-game winning streak. Under the leadership of College Football Hall of Fame coach Earl Banks, Morgan State was one of the winningest college football teams – regardless of race – of the 1960s (71-16-1). In addition, 41 players from Banks’ teams went on to play professional football, including 1966 Tangerine Bowl Most Valuable Player and future NFL Hall of Fame middlelinebacker Willie Lanier.

President Obama ...What A Failure!

Dr. David Wilson, current President of Morgan State, put it best, "Morgan State has a long history in Civil Rights and Social Activism, as an example, we just awarded Honorary Doctorates to three of the members of this stellar team.

They were among others at Morgan State who went to jail during the life threatening protests against racial segregation in Baltimore."

Willie Lanier broke the color barWillie Lanier and his wife rier as the first African-American Middle Linebacker in the NFL. In fact 17 year old Kadeem Roberts, son of the owners of the Caribbean American Passport News Magazine is a huge Minnesota Vikings fan, and would not go to meet Willie Lanier because he spoiled a Minnesota Super Bowl win. In response to this Willie laughingly said, "the young man should not be so ill affected by things that happened long before he was born".

Willie Lanier currently sits on many major Corporate Boards and on the NFL Safety Committee. Willie Lanier broke many 'Firsts' in the history of the NFL; besides being the first African American Linebacker, Willie Lanier played in the first Super Bowl, and in the longest NFL game in History; In 1971 on Christmas Day against the Miami Dolphins, a double overtime classic, a game that lasted 82 minutes.

Bob Wade went straight from being a High School Coach at Dunbar to being the first African American Head Coach at the University of Maryland.

Edward Hayes, Steve Hogan & Bob Wade

NBA greats like Sam Casells, Mugsy Bowles, Reggie Lewis and many others came through his platform. He and his wife, Carolyn, met during his Freshman year and will celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary this July. James Phillips and his wife, Rosetta , who also met at Morgan State, just celebrated their 50th Anniversary.

Dear Eric, I understand how you feel .... I'm sympathetic to your concern.

President Obama was also supposed to take away our Christmas, our Religion and our Freedom. He did not keep his word. What a Failure!

Through the historical foresight of Florida Citrus Sports CEO, Steve Hogan, the funds were raised to cover the expenses to host the players. The players all said that they felt special and honored by the attention given to them during the visit. Along with the victory came the national recognition. At the time, the Tangerine Bowl was the East Regional Championship game of the NCAA College Division. Morgan State was not only the best small college in the east, it was the first - and only - HBCU to ever achieve the distinction.

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Farenheit 451451

By Tony Deyal

In 1953, eight years after I was born, the American science

fiction and fantasy writer, Ray Bradbury, wrote Fahrenheit 451 about an America in which books are outlawed and “Firemen” are hired to burn them. The name comes from the autoignition temperature of paper (451 degrees Fahrenheit) at which it would spontaneously ignite. One of my favourite quotes from Fahrenheit 451 is “A book is a loaded gun in the house next door...Who knows who might be the target of the well-read man?” Another quote (as a self-professed, well-read man) that I like is, “I don’t talk things sir, I talk the meaning of things.” But the biggie about the power of books is, “There must be something in books, something we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there."

However, Bradbury’s most powerful statement about his book was, “There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them.”

This is one crime I have never committed and will never ever be guilty of. Texan author, Tiffany Madison, has the best oneliner response to the killer phrase used each time a new technology emerges whether “Kindle” or “ebook” and causes the pronouncement that “The book is dead”. She said, “If the novel is dead, I’m a necrophiliac.” In the tiny sugar-cane village where I grew up, there were not many people with books or who could afford them. I learned to read early and my “Aunt” Hairoun, a member of our extended family and community, taught me to read the comic strips in the Guardian newspaper. I graduated to books early and sometimes this got me into trouble. One day in the shop I saw a centipede and knowing from reactions of people over my few years of life that it could “bite” or sting, raised the alarm, “Look a centipede, look a centipede!”

They did not react the way I expected. Nobody ran. Not one of them took up a broom, stick or cutlass. They looked at me quizzically. I pointed at the beast. Then realization dawned. “The boy mean a ‘santa-pee’,” Miss Julia said and pulled her daughter Nan away from the danger zone. Then everybody laughed. And I learnt an important lesson. Use the local pronunciation of an object. If people call the thing a “santapee” call it a “santapee”. If “croisee” is pronounced “kway-zay” this is what you say. You never say “a tool with a sharp-edged, typically rectangular, metal blade and a long handle, used for digging or cutting earth, sand, turf, etc” when you mean a spade and you never use the word if, as in America, it may mean a negro, a black person, then a person of colour and later an “Afro-American” . Years afterwards, whenafter passing my “A” or Advanced Level exams I started teaching in a Secondary School, I spoke about “pineapples” in a Geography class and the kids were mystified. Eventually, after I explained, one of them told me that she knew it as “pine” but didn’t realise that it was a kind of apple.

In situations like this you are never sure whether you are the one-eyed man in the country of the blind or the blind man in the country of the sighted. Even worse, you are not even close to certain who is really wearing the blinkers or whether, as some people do, blame your predicament, the inability to fit in, the daydreaming and night reading under the covers of darkness or the flashlight under the covers, on the blinking books that you read.

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My immediate family at that time were of East Indian descent but the village was and remains the most integrated community I have ever met anywhere in the world. Later my family was enlarged into a multiracial mix so that when an employee in one of the places I worked complained to the Union Leader (later Government Minister), Errol McLeod, that I had left the World Health Organization and took a job in Trinidad to be part of “ethnic cleansing”, a phrase that has been adopted by Trinis to describe the activities of all newly-elected Governments, I had the perfect response. I asked him if he knew the rotivendor near to one of the company’s offices, a young lady obviously of mixed descent, what we call in Trinidad a “dougla”. He did. I then told him, “Well she is only one of the many people in my family who are like that and the only ethnic cleansing I did is to help their mother wash and bathe them when they were little.”

It is like the day one of my teachers (Teacher Ram who later became a principal) returned from “Training College”. Even though he was absent from school for a year, we used to see him by the Railway Station every morning. We always thought he was learning about trains so we were very surprised when he came back to the school and took over our class once more. In the old days he made us write “compositions” on “How I spent my Easter Holidays” but now we had to write “Essays” about how we spent our Easter “Vacation”. We no longer had “recess” but our brief mid-morning break was “intermission”.

This is something I dredged up from the recesses of my memory and realized that in those days even though “recess” gave way to “intermission” we never had or used “recession”. Now we are experiencing a “recession” in Trinidad but the Government reacted angrily when this was announced by the Governor of the Central Bank and he was fired.

The functionary who became the new Governor said that the former Governor’s statement represented the position of the Bank and he supports that position. So now I am worried. Will we be able to manage this predicament properly or will the measures the Government takes be based on personalities and principals instead of principles? Will they call a spade *a spade or redefine ethnic cleansing? Will it be a process or a procession? Will the Rapid Rail the Government is spending millions on be our new Training College?

Tony Deyal was last seen saying that because Trinidad is now enmeshed in a political Game of Thrones he should quote from George Martin, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies… The man who never reads lives only one.”

BBlack History Month Events

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StStep-In-School

PProgrammServices

StStep

College RReadiness

HHip HHop

Theater

Make sure you don't miss, the National Step League, 5th Annual North Florida Step Show, Saturday January 30th. - For information and tickets, log on to www.nationalstepleague.org Adam C. Barnes Founder & Executive Director Step-in-School Inc. | www.stepinschool.org Break The Stage | www.breakthestage.org Direct & Fax 888-514-STEP | Mobile 646-319-2831

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Made In Hong KongG

By Tony Deyal

There are more clothing images in Shakespeare’s plays

than T-shirts at election time. For example, Macbeth’s new honors sit ill upon him, like loose and badly fitting garments. While this does not say much for Elizabethan or even Scottish tailoring, it is really a very severe indictment of Macbeth’s limitations in terms of staff and advisors. His wife, who ended up as his sole advisor, was so hung up on crimson that poor Macbeth ended up dressed in borrowed robes and she ended up as an accessory after the fact. All this could have been avoided had Macbeth bravely sought to avoid Banquo’s ghost by making a quick trip to Hong Kong, an island city famous for its surfeit of tailors producing made-to-measure suits.

He would also have learnt an important lesson in life from one of the many English expressions that deal with apparel and accessories. Having ignored the importance of not hanging his hat where his hand couldn’t reach, bursting at the seams to become king, making off the cuff remarks to witches, getting hot under the collar with Macduff and losing his shirt by banking on the supposition that all men are born of women, he could have benefitted from the importance of cutting his suit to fit the cloth.

In fact, had his timing been better and had he not got ants in his pants for the crown, Macbeth would have experienced some really cutting-edge technology in tailoring. Reuter’s reports that a tailoring establishment in Hong Kong has hung up the measuring tape and swapped it for a 3D body scanner – one that they can take more than 120 measurement data points in less than 10 seconds.

The process seems to be simple. Customers are asked to wear a tight-fitting tank top and step inside a changing room equipped with 14 infrared sensors – eight in the front and six at the back. The machine instructs the customer to stand at a certain spot and hold still while it does its work in under 10 seconds. The data, including not just measurements of length and circumference, but also angles, is instantaneously delivered to an app on the tablet.

There seems to be enormous potential in this development and it is reported that tailors in other countries,

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even in Britain’s famous Saville Row, are using the new technology which is very much like what Homeland Security in the US and other security services everywhere else, including Trinidad and Tobago (TNT), are using in airports, government offices and other important places It seems to me that we in TNT can kill two birds with one stone by using the technology to help the Government with its present belt-tightening and costcutting preoccupation.

So you go to the Waterfront or the Office of the Prime Minister and you have to pass through the scanner. First of all, as in the airport, you have to take off your belt. At this point, a specially trained technician from Dr. Ken Julien’s University of Trinidad and Tobago can take your belt and tighten it while you get scanned for a new suit which has between seven and ten percent less cloth than whatever you normally wear. You also get a belt-buckle shaped like a wrench so that in these perilous times you can either bolt from TNT or tighten your nuts. The Prime Minister’s golf companions can review the scan of your socks and take off the seven percent that the Government is demanding while making you feel smugly satisfied about getting a hole in one.

The Housing Development Company (HDC) architects can do away with the concept of the coat and for both women and men convert your present suit of clothing into a tent which you can now wear as well as live in. And to replace the icing on the cake (banned from use as part of the economy drive), the police will be advised that if they catch you in your new combined clothing and living quarters not to charge you for loitering within tent.

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ImmigrationINFO

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Immigration News For Our Community What are My Rights during an Immigration Raid?

By Attorney Gail S. Seeram, Gail@GailLaw.com 1-877-GAIL-LAW

@GailSeeram FREE In-Office Consultation FREE Live Chat www.MyOrlandoImmigrationLawyer.com Last month, U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced they would conduct immigration raids to pick-up Central Americans who entered last year and lost their immigration court cases. This sparked much criticism and fear by many immigrants in the United States. Many fear that this may be the beginning of a new direction or approach by U.S. Department of Homeland Security to expand immigration raids against other illegal immigrants in the U.S. Most immigration raids are conducted in the early morning hours. There is an element of shock or surprise because immigration officers arrive in unmarked cars and quickly announced their presence and swiftly take custody of the targeted individual(s). Sometimes, targeted individuals don’t have time to even pack personal belongings or comb their hair. One of my clients explained she was in her pajamas and when she asked to change her clothes, a female officer stayed in the room with her and watched her change her clothes.

If Immigration Comes to Your Home…

Once you open the door and allow the immigration officer into the house, in some courts this is looked upon as giving the officer consent to enter the home. First, ask the officer for his business card or get his name and his office address before you answer any questions. Stay calm and do not run.

These immigration officers are armed and will defend themselves if needed. You do have the right to remain silent during an immigration raid. If you choose to remain silent, then tell the immigration officer you want to speak to your lawyer and give them your lawyer’s phone number. If you choose to answer the officer’s questions, then do not lie, do not give false documents, and do not provide any documentation regarding your immigration status (such as a passport, green card or birth certificate).

consulate of your arrest. The consulate may assist you in finding a lawyer or contacting your family. Lastly, ask the officer for a bond hearing. Once you are in custody, you are eligible for a bond hearing. Do not sign any documents without first discussing it with a lawyer – especially if it is expediting your removal/deportation and you will forgo your right to see an immigration judge.

Develop a Safety Plan…

If you have children, make advance arrangements for a family member or friend to care for them if you are detained. If you do not have legal status in the U.S., this is an important decision you must make in advance because your U.S. citizen children cannot go with you to the detention facility. Make sure you designate individuals to gain access to your bank account and handle your finances for any deportation expenses that may arise (such as attorney fees). Lastly, make sure you sign a power of attorney in advance that gives power or legal rights to a family member or friend to handle your bank account, home, bills, property interests, etc.

Each year, the President of the United States, after consulting with Congress and the appropriate agencies, determines the designated nationalities and processing priorities for refugee resettlement for the upcoming year.

The President also sets annual ceilings on the total number of refugees who may enter the U.S. from each region of the world.

This can be a scary experience but it is a harsh reality for anyone who is in the United States without legal status.

The U.S. immigration laws and policies are getting tougher so it is important that illegal immigrants are pro-active about their status in the U.S. and consult with an immigration lawyer to discuss options available.

For more information, contact Gail Law Firm: Email: Gail@GailLaw.com Phone: 1-877-GAIL-LAW or 407-292-7730 www.MyOrlandoImmigrationLawyer.com FREE in-office consultation – FREE Live Chat

Copyright © Law Offices of Gail S. Seeram, 2015. All Rights Reserved.

If you are Arrested or Detained…

You have the right to make a telephone call after you are arrested. Memorize the phone number of an immigration lawyer, such as our office 1-877-GAIL-LAW, and your family members. You may not be allowed to use your cell phone to look-up phone numbers. Call your family member and let them know you are okay and tell them to call an immigration lawyer. Next, you have the right to call your consulate or to have the immigration officer inform the

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STATE OF DIVERSITY in College & Beyond CHRISTIE GARTON - Founder of the 1,000 Dreams Fund: Q: Please explain your connection to the 1,000 Dreams Fund.

A: I founded the 1,000 Dreams Fund in 2015 after hearing from so many young women we've worked with over the years on UChic (a best-selling guidebook to college for and by girls) how difficult it is to find funding for those extracur- Christie Garton/Founder ricular experiences and activities that take money to access in school. We wanted to help level playing field so more young women can access these opportunities so they, too, can reach their dreams. "1,000" is our first goal to fund 1,000 real girls through our efforts, and we've already started working towards it, and once we reach it, we'll announce our next big goal.

Q: How is the issue of diversity relevant to you and to the Fund?

A: We know that funding is critical to our girls when it comes to helping them reach their career goals and dreams. But advice is important too. We want to bring to light ALL of the challenges young women are facing today, like the state of diversity and inclusion on campus, so that together, through through this dialogue, we can work towards solutions.

FARRAH KRENEK - Spokesperson: 1,000 Dreams Fund Q: Please explain your connection to the 1,000 Dreams Fund.

A: I was approached by the founder of this project, Christie Garton a few months ago and she shared with me her vision. I was very taken by her idea as I've always been very supportive of all women continuing their education and pursing their dream. She not only wanted me to know about the plan she had to help fund continuing education for girls, but she wanted me to be her official ambassador for this project. She said that the girls would have assistance in funding, but they also needed to have a positive influence and example of someone that had gone through hardships and managed to overcome it all and still become the person they wanted to be. She wanted me to represent them, give motivational speaking and share my story. It's been a privilege, a genuine privilege.

Q: How is the issue of diversity relevant to you and to the Fund?

A: I've spoken to and met with so many young women applying to the program and every story is different. Each girl does share one thing in common, the desire to succeed, the desire to become something great.... But every girl has her own story. This motivates me even more to meet with them all, because God knows he broke the mold when he made me. I'm not your girl next door type of woman and for many years this was something that caused me much suffering... suffering because it wasn't ok to be different. I embrace diversity because I am a part of that.

Q: What are some of the most important findings of the diversity survey, in your opinion?

A: Personally, the statistic that 71% feel their gender has hindered them from achieving their professional and/or career goals is particularly eye-opening as millennial Q: What are some of the most important findings of women (our target survey respondents) are the most the diversity survey, in your opinion? educated generation of women. We have to ask "Why? " do A: The more and more I listen to people and read about they feel this way. What can we do to help women people, I've found one thing to always be certain...As overcome those age-old barriers to their advancement? much as people would like to see a Q: Can you provide a personal change, they are equally afraid of experience you've encountered that's change. It's very easy to be unhappy relevant to the survey? in your comfort zone, but never A: I don't want to name names or point want to leave it for fear of what fingers, but I have personally faced MIGHT happen. I think this is why sexism in the workplace. It is why I'm representing these girls has not only personally committed to the mission become a privilege, but my mission. driving the 1,000 Dreams Fund and my I view these girls and this goal of creating a comany that empowers generation as my legacy.

I want to Farraah Krenek/Orange is the New Black young women. leave them with my courage and faith that there is Q: What do you hope people will take away from these nothing that they can't overcome. Feel free to call it findings; what changes do you want to see made? inspirational boot camp. The gift I give to them is me.

A: At the very least we hope to start a conversation. We want Q: Can you provide a personal experience more young women to be heard, their ideas and solutions you've encountered that's relevant to the survey? heard and then, hopefully, action by organizations and A: People are inspired and have the desire to go on institutions that makes a real and lasting impact on the lives when they have something to look forward to. Some of young women. people find it in travel, others find it in meeting new people... To me, my highest form of motivation is Q: Is there anything else you'd like readers to know? when someone comes up to me and says "your words A: We are taking our "State of the Girl" series driving this helped me... I understood what your message was..." survey and others on the road to campuses across the or, if a parent reaches out to me and says their child is country. If anyone is interested in hosting a State of the Girl doing better and feels that there is hope..." That to me Meetup at their school, please contact us at: is the greatest reward. If I can help at least one staff@1000dreamsfund.org. ....Continued on Page 14

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Martin Luther King Jr 2016 - 30th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Luncheon

"Today more than ever, it's crucial to strive for King's vision of the world" Jamyl Soloman, President, Orlando Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha

"Whenever there is a decay in goodwill and humanity, the creator sends a messenger to restore, Dr. King was such a messenger" Rick Singh, Orange County Property Appraiser

30th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Luncheon

"The measure of a man is the legacy he leaves" Sam Roberts, Publisher, Caribbean American Passport Newspaper.

30th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Luncheon

"Thank you Dr. King; I am a living testimony of your Dream" - Orange County Sheriff, Sheriff Demings

"It's my belief that once we accept the premise...the greatest opportunity coincides with the greatest need, we can rebuild our communities" - Patrick Barnes, CEO, BFA Environmental Consultants, 2016 Eagle Award Winner

"We need to continue to work together to redeem the dream." Allie Braswell, Past President, Central Florida Urban League.

African American Chamber of Commerce 2016 Eagle Awards

African American Chamber of Commerce 2016 Eagle Awards

African American Chamber of Commerce - Eagle Awards

Photos by 106 Foto

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Photos by Brion Price Photography & Florida National News

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STATE OF DIVERSITY Continued from page 1111 person...its a good day. If you touch one life, you've touched an entire generation.

Q: What do you hope people will take away from these findings; what changes do you want to see made?

A: Although it is important to focus on yourself. I honestly would like to see more people listening to each other instead of talking over each other. I want to see less selfishness and people of all ages taking time to help one another. The reason why we go through so many complications is because when you face problems feeling all alone, thing can get overwhelming and you don't feel that there is a solution. Only death has no solution. When people are alive, they can accomplish anything.

Actress Farraah Krenek/Orange is the New Black

Q: Is there anything else you'd like our readers to know?

A: Never underestimate the difference you can make in this world. The definition of a celebrity is a person that did something so powerful that they impacted your life in a positive way and you praise them for that... making them famous in return. This is not something that is only done as a character on TV or film. You can be a celebrity amongst your friends, your family, even in a group of strangers. People will never forget how you made them feel. Always remember that. And do good... do good always. No matter how people treat you.. no matter if you've been hurt.. Do good anyway.

.......Diversity...it comes in many colors, shapes,

sexual orientations, cultures, religions and more.

Respect each other and respect yourself......it starts with the person in the mirror!!

Celebrate the New Year with our Family of Rums

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by Kamal Abdool Driving around to meet clients the car radio is locked in to conservative talk radio. Oh Boy! The Talk Show hosts are on the warpath. President Obama scored a home run with his final State of the Union Address which left the Republicans in disarray. Sean Hannity went as far as playing tapes of Reverend Jeremiah Wright in a lost effort to discredit the President. The Far Right has thrown every derogatory remark they can muster against the President and Obama continues to emerge unscathed.

Remember President Obama's first State of the Union Address when the GOP Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina shouted out - You Lie. Then there's Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona sticking her fingers in the President's face as he deplaned Air Force One. Republicans have called President Obama the Food Stamp President, Monkey, Kenyan, Illegitimate President, Muslim, worst American President who wants to destroy America. This is how Republicans refer to the President publicly. Can you imagine what they say privately? You know the N word is flying around. No need to go into President Obama's accomplishments here. Listen to a replay of his last SOU Address.

As we enter a Presidential election year, let's look at the last GOP Administration and you decide if you want another Republican Administration. After 911 the world was with America. Many nations declared "We're All Americans Today" and we had their support to go after the perpetrators of 911. Even Iran sent troops to help America.

Clarifying a misconception, Democrats are not Pro Abortion, we are Pro Choice. Big difference. We wish there was never a need for an abortion. However, that's none of our business and decisions taken must be made by the woman and her doctor. Instead of shooting doctors and destroying clinics, Democrats educate men and women on birth control in the hope that abortion is never an issue.

2. It is impossible to have a rational discussion on gun control with Republicans. They echo the sentiments of their leaders and the NRA and do not think for themselves. Obama is going to take their guns away and they keep singing the 2nd Amendment song like a parrot in heat. Simple concepts to enhance gun safety like background checks for all gun sales, limits to the number of bullets in the clip and preventing Americans with mental disease from owning guns are foreign to the Republican thought process.

Last week a client told me her stepson bought a pink colored rifle for his four year old daughter and took her to the shooting range in Delray Beach Florida to practice shooting. I related this story to my GOP friends and they all said they saw nothing wrong with the father's action. A four year old with her own gun!

I leave you with a question. The Republicans have been in charge of the House of Representatives since January 2011. What have they done for you?

Instead President G.W. Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq, dismantled the balance of power in the Arab world and created an environment that led to the creation of ISIS. In the process, this unnecessary war cost the American Taxpayer over One Trillion Dollars and counting and saddest of all, the lives of 4500 American Soldiers. Folks, do you really want to elect another Republican Commander in Chief, at least in the near future?

Let's look at just two reasons why you must go out and vote in November for a Democratic President, Senate and House of Representatives. Please don't get distracted by nonentities like State ID to vote. Listen, if you're eligible to vote and don't have a State or Federal Photo ID, something is wrong with you and not the system.

1. Dr Ben Carson stated in a GOP Debate that he is against abortions even in the case of Rape, Incest AND if the woman's health is in danger. None of his fellow Conservatives on the stage challenged his position.

Therefore, it must be the position of the GOP. I'll never understand why a woman would vote Republican. OK, I get it, your religious beliefs prevents you from having an abortion. Fine, then don't do it. However, you can't impose your religious beliefs on the entire population of the United States. www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

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Will Black America make Major Strides toward Unity in 201616?

Bby Roger Caldwell

2016 has started with a bang, and Black America is in a position to build political organizations and alliances across generational and economical demographics.

“Black Lives Matter” has energized a younger segment of Black America, which older Black political organizations thought were not engaged or strategically involved. With the killing of hundreds of unarmed Blacks in 2015 by law enforcement agencies, the struggle for justice has been the major focus in the Black community.

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has mobilized the Black community in 2015, by holding the second Million Man March. This march is significant, because it proved that there is an infrastructure of committed Black men ready to implement change and unity in their community. In order to bring this initiative to fruition, our community must organize and mobilize around a Black Agenda. There was very limited media coverage on this momentous occasion, and local Black political organizations must sit down together and develop a plan based on the need for more Black political power.

Presently, there is a limited amount of communication in the Black media, in major markets across the country. As a result of our limited resources, the Black Media organizations and wire services are not able to tell our story that connects from a Black perspective. In 2016, there is a need for more positive stories from Black reporters, and journalist that highlight being Black in America.

In local Black communities, there is a need for more Black programming and Black images on major networks. In 2015, Black sitcoms made major advances in getting diversity on television, but the system is set up for more Blacks to fail. On television, it appears that mainstream media would prefer to find things that focus on the criminal elements in the Black community. Crime and Black on Black violence is a reality in our community, and the Black community collectively must attack this problem.

must become a hub for education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology. Partnerships and collaborations must be the goal in the Black community, and we need coalitions to change the reality in the Black community.

This year is a presidential election and the Black vote can help determine the outcome of many elections around the country. Black Women in 2012 were the largest segment of voters, and in 2015 they have already started to organize for the 2016 election. Black men must also be more engaged and make sure they vote in all the local, state and federal elections.

In order for the Black community to realize their political power, the different Black political organizations must collaborate across generational, ideological, and financial lines. Everyone knows that 85% to 90% of Blacks in 2016 will vote Democratic, therefore we must challenge the Democratic Party to spend more money with Black media groups and organizations.

All across the country, Blacks must practice group economics and group politics, and present a united Black front in 2016. There are millions of dollars available in the 2016 campaign from candidates and the Democratic Party.

Black unity is the key to political power in the New Year, and a Black Agenda will point our community to victory.

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Black on Black crime has become a focal point in Black communities throughout America. Elected Black officials must make a commitment to safe communities, and they must be held accountable to their promises and platforms.

There is no reason as to why in certain inner city neighborhoods, that drugs and criminals control the streets. Collaborating with police departments and neighborhood watch groups is the beginning of change. It is time to change these conditions and everyone must be engaged to make a difference. Black communities must

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CARIBBEAN TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY

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Mango’s Tropical Cafe - Orlando Experience Floribbean Culture

Orlando has welcomed its latest attraction with open armsMango's. Mango's is a showcase of International talent, cuisine and entertainment. Mango’s slogan is , "Come Fall in Love", as over the years hundreds of people have visited and fallen in love with both Mango’s and also found true love within the walls of Mango’s. We have fallen in love with Mangos.

Mango's performances have even been compared to some of the worlds renowned Caribbean and South American Carnivals the pageantry and energy is captured and replicated with family friendly performances planned for day and night with a full line up of entertainment that ranges from Salsa to Bachata and Reggae to Pop and much more.

Mango’s is a perfect blend of Florida, the Caribbean and Latin America, the blending of the music, the food, the cultural vibrations the entire atmosphere creates a Floribbean experience. There’s a café out front with live steel drum music planned to transform it into an Island oasis.

In partnership with Mango’s fan, Pitbull, the restaurant has its own vodka. Voli Vodkas, is a special Mango’s branded mango and coconut flavored vodka.

The traffic on I-Drive has always been an obstacle for local Central Floridians to visit the area. However, I-Drive entrepreneurs and local government leaders are hoping to lure locals to the area more often. “We are looking to bring the locals back to International Drive,” said owner Joshua Wallack, "with the largest nightclub on the East Coast of the United States on I-Drive and Skyplex, which will be the world’s tallest roller coaster by 2018." Wallack has run Mango’s Tropical Cafe on Miami’s South Beach for years, and believes the 55,000 square foot Orlando location will be “a game changing facility” for I-Drive.

“I’ve watched I-Drive transform into something I’ve never imagined,” said Harris Rosen, who opened up a hotel back when the entire drive had about 3,000 hotel rooms. “Today, we have about 40,000.”

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs is helping to lead efforts to make I-Drive appeal more to locals. She has a committee at the county working on ways to develop special I-Drive districts for entertainment, and even residential areas.

"We need to continue to celebrate those who sacrificed it all for the sake of creating change" Andrae Bailey, Commission on Homelessness "We underestimate the extraordinary sacrifice he made and how his work and vision transformed our Nation" - Linda Landman Gonzalez, Orlando Magic

Community Speaks

We asked Local Business & Community Leaders to send us their thoughts on MLK's Birthday

"Love will conquer hate any day and hope trounce anger at every turn as well" - Marlon Hill, Attorney One of this quotes that I live by is the persistent and urgent question " What are you doing for others." Sandra Fatmi, CACCF President

"All men Dream; how many wake to see their Dreams become reality "Martin put his life, his family, and we supporters at peril daily for "Silver Rights".

Words to Live By" - Cecil 'Skip' ECONOMIC RECIPROCITY!" Jonathan Sebastian Blount, Conceptual Founder, Roberts, Former Crime Chief, Guyana Essence Magazine "As we celebrate the Anniversary of Martin Luther King's life, one must remember him as a great visionary who worked tirelessly to bring dignity and respect to blacks in america and minorities. His I have a dream speech still inspires oppressed societies throughout the world. " Laurent Prosper , Ministre Conseiller.

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"Eat right, and you can't go wrong." ~ Jack LaLanne FRESH START

Happy New Year. Make a fresh start in 2016 and take some small steps to add more fruit and veggies to your daily meal and enjoy all the health benefits. Fresh fruit and veggies are loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

You health is your true wealth!

Six Simple Ways to Add More Fruit and Veggies to your Meals.

1. Add slice apples and grapes to your salad.

2. Add strawberries, blueberries and raspberries to your cereal or yogurt.

3. Add kale, spinach and banana to your smoothie.

4. Make your salad the color of the rainbow by adding red, yellow, green peppers and shredded carrots to your green salad.

5. Add cucumber, tomato, zucchini and swiss chard to your sandwich.

6. Saute broccoli green beans and cauliflower and add to your green salad.

Jamaican-Born Sandi Morais has a BA degree from Florida International Uni-versity. She is the author of Recipe for Life vegan/vegetarian cook book. Sandi has been featured in local and national magazines. Sandi teaches a vegan cooking class at La Vie Wellness Spa www.lavieexperience.com To order Recipe for Life vegan/vegetarian cook book visit www.sandimorais.net

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Fit Like A Ras

By Jeremy Roberts - NASM

GT Dread is an NASM-CPT, who competes in Masters Track, Field Hockey and Weightlifting. He can be contacted at fitlikearas@gmail.com

2015 2014 NNew Year's Resolutions 2009 2013 2015 2011

Well, is dat time a year: HAPPY NEW YEAR! Time fuh party, or rather, since it it gone be well into de year by de time unna/wunna/allyuh/ahyuh read dis, is more like time fuh refleck pon de pas’ year and see whuh yuh wan do different in de current one. In odda words, time fuh resolutions.

Nuff people does mek fun of resolutions, and wid good reason. As most regular gym goers can attest, January is de mos’ crowded month in de gym. As a regular, me and de oddas does used to mek fun of the phenomenon, and it’s a standing joke. However, dese days, ah does tek a different view of tings.

People genuinely wan’ mek some changes, and health and weight management is always de #1 resolution people does mek. And dey invariably don’ achieve what dey were tryin’ to. I feel dat now dat ise a “fitness puffessional”, I should be lookin’ more into WHY dis does happen, and see how I and I could help.

Fus ting is, why even mek a resolution? Nowadays, it seem like everybody doin’ everything BUT mekkin’ resolutions.

Some people mekkin’ “plans”, some settin “goals”, some deh pon a “mission”. Whatever. To I, is all de same.

To be more clear, have a real solid understanding of the path you done trod, where yuh at now, an’ where yuh really wan’ be by the end of the year.Yuh should also know how you react to something like not achieving the goal. Do you consider yuhself a natural optimist or pessimist? Tek one of the many online quizzes to find out fuh sure. Optimists will likely tek failure to achieve the goal as simply a meaagethat they need to try harder, or do something different. Pessimists are likely to read failure as a sign that the goal is something that’s impossible for them.

The usual goal settin’ strategies apply: mek dem realistic, make sure you could measure de goal, follow up the goal wid a WRITTEN plan. Since it gon tek wuk, yuh need to really limit how many resolutions/goals/plans/missions you set. If yuh doin’ more than one, prioritise them.

I think the two biggest, most important things you can do are (1) share the goals with someone or some others and (2) have those folks hold you accountable. Checking in with these people should be part of your plan. If you and someone else or some other people travelling the same road, all the better. As far as fitness goes, I suggest getting a personal trainer to help. Aside from the knowledge, the PT will definitely be holding you accountable, and should be aware of all the reasons why people fail to meet their health and fitness goal year after year. A good one will be able to figure out how to get you past those barriers.

Good luck for 2015 2016.

(Update fuh 2016: ah did see dis at Chris Kresser’s website (www.chriskresser.com) and ah liked it enough to steal it. Basically, he don’ do resolutions. He does jus’ aks: what did I like about las’ year? What didn’t I like about las’ year? And deal with dem answers accordingly.

It could wuk wid fitness too. Try it.)

There are lots of articles on the web that “explain” why resolutions don’t “work”. I have my own opinions, naturally. I feel de fus ting people need to do is …. know yuhself.

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GT Dread is an NASM-CPT, who competes in Masters Track, Field Hockey and Weightlifting. He can be contacted at fitlikearas@gmail.comtinued from pg 15

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