ONYX Magazine_July/August_2025

C E L E B R AT I N G B L AC K AC H I E V E M E N T T H RO U G H O U T F L O R I DA A N D B E YON D

Volume 28, Issue 4 July/August 2025

The Choice is Yours Which school is right for your child?

PARIS RICHARDSON MISS FLORIDA'S FAITH REIGNS IN HISTORIC WIN

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CONTENTS 6 From the Publisher 7 Perspective Shift Out of Summer 8 Black History Marvels in Black business 10 Wealth/Finance 13 Travel Barbados: Your Quaint Island Culinary Adventure Awaits 14 Black Business Month Support Black Businesses in August 16 Black Business Month Black Businesses on the Rise 18 Black Business Month Food Trucks Make a Statement 20 The Quad Two New University Presidents and More 22 Music & Entertainment Upcoming Regional Concerts 23 ONYX Reads Sweet Summer Time: Books to read with the littles 24 Art & Culture Fizzy Fun Facts About Soda, Pop, Coke 27 Justice for All How the New Tax Bill Affects You 28 Black Business Month When Life Gives You Lemons, Make a Lemonade Stand

4 ONYX MAGAZINE

30 Florida Scope Florida News 31 Beyond Florida News Around the Nation 32 Community Back in Duvaaal!

ONYX Magazine Visits Home 34 Community Event Jacksonville Health Fair Gets Off to Great Start 37 ONYX on the Move ONYX in the Communities 38 Technology How is AI Affecting Kids?

40 Education The School Choice is Yours 42 SAGE Caring for the Caregiver 43 Smart Tips 5 Tips to Prepare for Hurricane Season 44 Workplace AI In the Workplace 46 Feature Miss Florida Paris Richardson 50 Health/Wellness Making Waves: And Other Health News 52 Medically Speaking Vaping Devices 53 Real Estate Appraisal Bias: Impacts on Black Residents 54 Food & Wine Watermelon Wow!

Honoring the Most Influential and Impactful Men from Florida and Beyond SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE CONTACT: 407-451-2891

DATE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2025

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MAN OF THE YEAR

HONORARY CHAIR

HONORARY CO-CHAIR

HONORARY CO-CHAIR

His Grace, BISHOP NEIL C. ELLIS

JERRY DEMINGS

ALVIN COWANS

MICHAEL LADERMAN

TONY JENKINS

MAYOR ORANGE COUNTY (FLORIDA)

PRESIDENT MCCOY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, AKYLADE

CENTRAL FLORIDA MARKET PRESIDENT, FLORIDA BLUE

FOUNDING VISIONARY GLOBAL UNITED FELLOWSHIP ( 43 COUNTRIES ) MOUNT TABOR CHURCH THE BAHAMAS

www.ONYXMOH.com

HONORARY CO-CHAIR

FROM THE PUBLISHER

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Rich Black MANAGING EDITOR D. Shenell Reed, M.B.A. ASSOCIATE EDITORS Gayle Andrews, Marianne Eggleston SENIOR FEATURES WRITER Penny Dickerson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jamie Cooley, LaToshia Hall, Bryana Holcomb, Ashton A. Johnson, Faith Katunga, Tiffany Munzer, M.D., FAAP, Angela Pittman-Leath, Raina Smith

Dear Family, Please accept immense thanks for selecting this issue of ONYX Magazine for up-to-date information on the strides experienced by the Black community. It is with pride that we celebrate a broaching three decades of bringing you our best, and we couldn’t have reached many milestones without your loyal support. As always, we ask that you solicit five friends to subscribe to ONYX Magazine so that our efforts to keep you informed are both relevant and continuous.

This July/Aug issue is special for its broad content that runs the gamut of Black businesses, back-to-school, and family. We bring you the historical roots of Blacks entering business as tried and true entrepreneurs to the innovative boom of Black businesses in the millennium: from Food Trucks to Black leaders staking claims as millionaires. Please uplift the month of August as one of intense focus on Black Businesses.

ONYX Magazine hosted a successful relaunch of our publication in the city of Jacksonville in May that included invitees from the municipal, business, community, and philanthropy sectors. The celebratory event held at the historical Ritz Theatre & Museum served as an excellent initiative for ONYX Magazine to honor a return to its origins. Summer is among us, and the eponymous lemonade stands, pool parties and barbeques seem to quickly segue to back-to-school and the significance of academic focus.

Two Florida universities will welcome new college presidents; school choice facts and artificial Intelligence can all be perused.

Who are we with without the foundation of family? Caregiver challenges and an inaugural overview of a Jacksonville Health Fair offer a plethora of insights into healthy living, preventive care medicine and more. ONYX Magazine seeks to entertain, inspire and inform, and we look forward to your event attendance.

Again, we appreciate you and wish you a most enjoyable summer.

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Ronnie Garmon MAGAZINE DESIGN TEAM Design2Pro BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Matt deJager ADMINISTRATION PRESIDENT AND CEO Rich Black VICE PRESIDENT, ONYX MAGAZINE BAHAMAS Monique Adderly ONYX FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Cherlynn Williams VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES Nancy Port Schwalb GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Jon Burton, Damonic Robertson EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Sade Cole ONYX ADVISORY COMMITTEE Nancy Port Schwalb, Chair Deidre Parker, Immediate Past Chair Ricky Anderson Dick Batchelor Bob Berryhill Dr. Lavon Bracy Bryon Brooks Sherri Brown Marva Brown Johnson Hon. Mable Butler

Yolanda Cash Jackson Cynthia Chestnut, D.P.A. John Crossman Quibulah Graham Gary Hartfield Barbara Hartley Ann Jenkins Eugene Jones

Connie Kinnard Larry Lee, Jr. Brenda March Gail Thomas-DeWitt Hon. Alan Williams Carla Williams Samuel Wright, Ed.D.

FOUNDERS

Sincerely, Lester and Lillian Seays

Rich Black

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ONYX Magazine is published by ONYX Communications and Media Group, Inc., Address: P.O. Box 555672, Orlando, Florida 32855-5872. Phone 321-418-7216. Subscription rate is $39.98 for six issues. For subscriptions and notification of address change, contact ONYX Magazine at the above address or e-mail us at connect@onyxmagazine.com. Letters to the editor are encouraged. Copyright 2025 by ONYX Magazine. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the writer or interviewee and not necessarily those of the publisher. Manuscripts, photos and art should be submitted with a self-addressed stamped envelope. The publisher does not assume responsibility for any materials not submitted in manner advised. Unsolicited materials are not subject to payment from ONYX Magazine.

PERSPECTIVE

Making the

End-of-Summer Shift SUMMER’S END IS CLOSING IN, AND NOW IT IS TIME TO PIVOT—WITH A PLAN.

T

he end of summer is upon us—back to school, back to regular work hours! With the end of this season comes a shift.

We recommit to goals and set end-of-year goals. We begin to look at the way the year has unfolded so far as we realize yet another year is more than half-way over. Vacation mode has ended along with long weekends and nights. The time to buckle down has set in as we plan to round out the year. Here are a few things to consider as the shift begins:

Don’t Panic

Remember to remain calm in the change and shift of both seasons and life. It’s best to keep a zen mentality, but drop its counterpart which is the laziness of summer. There is still plenty of time to achieve goals and meet deadlines. Being relaxed with a touch of urgency is the posture we want to take.

Start Slowly

We want to ease in when preparing for the new season by allowing for flexibility and lightness. The goal is not to burn out quickly or race to the finish line, but rather to focus our intentions and to then slowly but surely take action that supports our desires and year end goals.

Recommit But Don’t Overcommit

We must be realistic about how we finish up the year. We can be ambitious without unnecessary stress or being too hard on ourselves. The key is to forge commitments that allow fluid motivation and attainable success.

Miracles Are Brewing with Carly Benson

Follow Your Heart

It’s important not to ignore our intuition and what spirit is trying to tell us. Sometimes this may mean putting ego, pride or procrastination to the side as we dare to love bigger and live more boldly. If you can’t go a day without thinking about it, you need to pursue it no matter what it takes.

Get Serious About What Matters

The end of summer is a time when school starts again, business picks back up and the

fourth quarter clock begins its countdown. Don’t postpone anything. Not your dreams. Not your passions. Not what/who you love.

All we have is now. It’s time to get laser focused and serious about what really matters.

Steer Your Direction Any Way You Choose

Our choices make such an impact on how the rest of the year unfolds. We must be definitive in how we design our plans and the direction we want to navigate ourselves in. Choosing how we spend our time will determine how the future develops. This includes choosing our tribe. Aligning ourselves correctly with people who will motivate us and inspire us to be at our highest vibe is crucial.

There may be some people, places or things we need to steer clear of as we steer in the direction of our goals.

Create a New Routine

New seasons are a great time to get into new habits, practices and daily routines. Invite in guidance on what might be most suitable in this new time of year.

Redefine Yourself

Let us declare who we are and what makes us tick. Maybe what carried us through summer isn’t what will delight us in the fall.

Spend some time alone to reconnect to what your soul is telling you about who you are, now, in this moment. The clarity in this declaration can unlock hidden desires and help point you to what your heart is craving.

Have an Attitude of Gratitude

The summer carried many lessons, experiences and needed occurrences in our lives. Let’s be thankful for what it contained and express gratitude for what was and what is as we leap into the new season.

Be Inspired

Allow the change of the seasons and life to act as motivation. As the future is co-created with the actions of today, remember, life is entirely what we make of it.

July/August 2025 ONYX MAGAZINE 7

BLACK HISTORY

HISTORICAL HAPPENINGS

in July and August

Illinois Race Riot

Jack Johnson Victory

East St. Louis Race Riot headline, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Friday, July 6, 1917.

Credit: Public domain image

July 1, 1917: The East St. Louis, Illinois “Race riot” occurred. This act of white domestic terrorism aimed at Black residents and business owners is estimated to have tortured and killed 200 (though probably more) Black people. Martial law was declared. A congressional investigating committee said, “It is not possible to give accurately the number of dead. At least 39 Negroes and eight white people were killed outright, and hundreds of Negroes were wounded and maimed. ‘The bodies of the dead Negroes,’ testified an eye witness, ‘were thrown into a morgue like so many dead hogs.’ There were 312 buildings and 44 railroad freight cars and their contents destroyed by fire.”

July 4, 1910: The first Black heavyweight champion, Jack Johnson (born in Galveston, TX), successfully defended his heavyweight championship by knocking out Jim “The Great White Hope” Jeffries, who had come out of retirement “to win back the title for the White race.” Jeffries got his assed whupped so bad by Johnson that the police ordered the crew recording the fight to stop, jumped in the ring and ended the fight.

White domestic terrorist attacks broke out across the country, with white mobs attacking and killing Blacks indiscriminately; angry because the “Great White Hope” caught that “Great Black Ass-whuppin’.”

July 5, 1852: Frederick Douglass gave a speech that is now known as the “What To The Slave Is The 4th Of July” speech. Douglass was asked to give a speech on Frederick Douglass July 4th during a commemoration of the Declaration of Independence. However, he chose to give one on July 5th instead. When Douglass gave his speech he acknowledged the signers of the Declaration of Independence, but he made it clear that there was too much work to be done before the 4th of July would be a day of celebration for Blacks.

NAACP in the Making

Jack Johnson soundly beats down Jim “The Great White Hope” Jeffries on July 4, 1910 in Reno.

Credit: Nevada Historical Society

Venus Williams Makes History July 8, 2001: Venus Williams wins her second straight Wimbledon Women’s Singles Championship. In so doing, Venus became the first woman to win consecutive Wimbledon Championships since 1995-96 and (with her 2000 victory) the first Black woman to win Wimbledon since back-to-back winner Althea Gibson, 1957-1958.

Frederick Douglass Famous July 5 Speech

Niagara Movement delegates, Chickerings, E. (Boston, Mass: 1907). W. E. B. Du Bois Papers (MS 312). Credit: Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries

8 Jul 2001: Venus Williams of the USA poses with her Trophy amongst the flowers after winning the Womens Singles Final of The All England Lawn Tennis Championship at Wimbledon, London.

Credit: Alex Livesey/ALLSPORT/Getty Images

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July 11-14, 1905: A group of prominent Black intellectuals led by W.E.B. Du Bois met in Fort Erie, Ontario, near Niagara Falls, to form an organization calling for civil and political rights for African Americans. With its comparatively aggressive approach to combating racial discrimination and segregation, the Niagara Movement served as a forerunner to the NAACP.

BLACK HISTORY

Nat Turner’s Rebellion

Nat Turner, public domain photo

On August 21, 1831, Nat Turner and a group of enslaved followers began their uprising, starting by killing Turner's enslaver and his family. The rebellion was ultimately suppressed by local militias and state troops. However, the rebellion sparked widespread fear and panic among white Southerners, leading to brutal retaliation against African Americans. According to Encyclopedia Virginia, 55-65 white people were killed during the rebellion, and in the aftermath, between 36 and 120 Black people were killed by white mobs. Nat Turner's rebellion is considered one of the most significant and violent slave revolts in American history. It had a lasting impact, intensifying the divide between slaveholders and abolitionists and leading to stricter slave codes and restrictions on Black people. The rebellion also served as an inspiration for future abolitionist movements.

Barbara Ross Lee Leads Medical School

Barbara RossLee, D.O., is an American physician, academic, and the first African-American woman to serve as dean of a U.S. medical school; she is also known as the sister of Diana Ross along with being the aunt of actress Tracee Ellis Ross, and sing-

er-songwriters Rhonda Ross Kendrick and Evan Ross. She majored in biology and chemistry at Wayne State University, graduating in 1965. Then, in 1969, she entered Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine. Ross-Lee then went on to open her own private family practice, teach as a professor, and hold other positions within the medical community. In 1993, she was elected as the first woman dean of a medical school, at Ohio University's Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. She has earned several awards and honors for her work and accomplishments.

Adam Clayton Powell Among Firsts

Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., was an American Baptist pastor and politician who represented the Harlem neighborhood of New York City in the United States House of Representatives from 1945 until 1971.

He was the first African American to be elected to Congress from New York, as well as the first from any state in the Northeast. Re-elected for nearly three decades, Powell became a powerful national politician of the Democratic Party, and served as a national spokesman on civil rights and social issues. He also urged United States presidents to support emerging nations in Africa and Asia as they gained independence after colonialism. In 1961, after 16 years in the House, Powell became chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, the most powerful position held by an African American in Congress to that date. As chairman, he supported the passage of important social and civil rights legislation under presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Photo in public domain.

BLACK AUGUST Black August is a month-long period of commemoration and reflection within the Black community, honoring the legacy of Black freedom fighters and political prisoners, particularly those who have died or suffered at the hands of state violence. It originated in the 1970s within the California prison system, spreading to communities to remember those lost and to continue the fight for Black liberation.

Key aspects of Black August Include:

Remembering Freedom Fighters: It

serves as a time to honor the sacrifices of individuals like George Jackson, who died in prison, and other activists who fought for Black liberation.

Political Education: Black August involves learning about the history of Black resistance, including the struggles against slavery, Jim Crow, and the prison industrial complex.

Fast, Study, Train, Fight: A core principle of Black August is the practice of self-discipline, political education, physical training, and engagement in political struggle.

Community Building: It's a time for Black people to come together, strengthen community bonds, and recharge the revolution.

Advocacy for Political Prisoners: Black August also emphasizes the need to advocate for the release of political prisoners and to challenge the prison industrial complex.

Cultural Expression: Black August is also a time for celebrating Black culture, creativity, and artistic expression.

July/August2025 2025 ONYX ONYXMAGAZINE MAGAZINE 99 July/August

WORKPLACE

AI AT WORK: Momentum Builds, but Gaps Remain

A recent survey shows it’s time for frontline leaders to embrace AI ter of frontline employees say they receive that support.

Provide the right tools. When employees don’t have the AI tools they need, more than half said they will find alternatives and use them anyway. This is a recipe for frustration, security risks, and fragmentation of efforts.

Provide proper training. When companies train their employees in AI, they are more likely to be regular users and to express confidence in the technology. Regular usage is sharply higher for employees that receive at least five hours of training and have access to in-person training and coaching. Only one-third of employees say that they have been properly trained.

A

I is no longer a distant promise.

Leaders and managers have woven it into the fabric of their daily work lives. However, frontline employees have not fully embraced the technology.

While more than three-quarters of leaders and managers say they use generative AI (GenAI) several times a week, regular use among frontline employees has stalled at 51%.

This gap comes at a critical time in the development of AI. Companies are realizing that merely introducing AI tools into existing ways of working isn’t enough to unlock their full potential. The real magic happens—and value generated —when businesses go further and reshape their workflows end-to-end.

One-half of companies, led by those in financial services and technology, are moving beyond productivity plays (what we call Deploy) to redesign workflows (Reshape).

10 ONYX 44 ONYX MAGAZINE MAGAZINE July/August 2025

These findings emerge from BCG’s annual AI at Work global survey of employees. (This year’s survey covers 11 countries and regions and more than 10,600 leaders, managers, and frontline white-collar employees.

Solving the Frontline Adoption Gap

The ability of companies to reshape workflows depends heavily on the engagement of frontline employees. The survey suggests ways for companies to help these employees break through the AI “silicon ceiling.”

Provide leadership support. When leaders demonstrate strong support for AI, frontline employees are more likely to use it regularly, enjoy their jobs, and feel good about their careers. For example, the share of employees who feel positive about GenAI rises from 15% to 55% with strong leadership support. Only about one-quar-

Companies actively reshaping their workflows with AI benefit in many ways that generate value for the organization. Their employees save significantly more time than those in companies where the technology is less integrated into the workday. In addition, employees’ decision making sharpens and they work on more strategic tasks.

These results don’t just happen. Companies in Reshape mode do a better job of tracking value created by AI. They spend more time training their employees, and employees are more likely to say their leaders support them.

Yet this transformation isn’t without its challenges. Employees at organizations undergoing comprehensive AI-driven redesign are more worried about job security (46%) than those at less-advanced companies (34%). And leaders and managers (43%) are far more likely to worry about losing their job in the next ten years than frontline employees (36%). In other words, the work of allaying employee fears is ongo-

BCG’s third annual global AI at Work survey

The Upside in Reshaping Workflows

WORKPLACE

ing. Appropriate training and upskilling can help reduce employees’ concerns.

AI Agents: Implementation Lags Potential

AI agents —smart digital assistants capable of learning, reasoning, and handling complex tasks independently—have been receiving a lot of buzz. But the survey reveals they are still in their infancy. Just 13% of employees see them deeply integrated into their daily workflows. Only one-third of employees understand how these sophisticated tools function.

Interestingly, when workers are well-informed and familiar with AI agents, apprehension turns into enthusiasm. Employees begin viewing AI agents less as threats and more as collaborative partners that enhance their work.

What’s Next for AI in the Workplace?

The survey reveals progress by companies in introducing and integrating AI. But it also exposes concerns, primarily about job security. As with last year, the survey reveals that the more employees use AI, the more their concerns grow. This represents a familiar challenge seen in other technological transitions—notably, from steam to electrical power.

The journey from AI adoption to impact is fundamentally about reshaping how people and machines collaborate. Companies committed to this transformation understand that AI’s true power lies in smarter ways of working. When done right, employees don’t just adapt—they thrive. Here’s how to start:

•

•

•

•

Stop underestimating the importance of training. Commit appropriate levels of investment, time, and leadership support.

Track the value you are generating with AI through improvements in productivity, quality, and employee satisfaction.

Invest in your people to reshape workflows and unlock AI’s value.

Anticipate the technology’s impact on work, workers, and the workforce. Build upskilling and reskilling capabilities to support workforce deployment.

Experiment rigorously with agents to accelerate the experience curve. Track impact and potential risks via A/B testing.

Getting Back in the Groove After Summer Vacation THIS AI-GENERATED ARTICLE BREAKS DOWN WAYS TO SETTLE IN AT WORK AFTER TIME AWAY

E

asing back into work mode after a vacation involves a gradual transition and prioritizing tasks. Start by organizing your workspace, reviewing your to-do list, and tackling urgent tasks first.

Break down larger projects into smaller, manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Prioritize your health by getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and eating balanced meals. Consider taking breaks, and if possible, schedule an extra day off at the end of your vacation to catch up.

Here's a more detailed breakdown: 1. Prioritize and Organize—Create aTo-Do List:

3. Preparation and Planning—Delegate Tasks:

 Make a list of everything that needs your

 Before leaving for vacation, delegate

attention, categorizing tasks by urgency and importance.  Break Down Large Projects: Divide complex tasks into smaller, more manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed.  Tackle Urgent Tasks First: Address urgent and critical tasks immediately to reduce pressure and create a sense of accomplishment.  Review and Prioritize: Review your to-do list and prioritize tasks based on their urgency and deadlines.

2. Gradual Re-entry—Ease Back In:

 Don't try to tackle everything at once.

Take a slower approach, dividing your first day into time blocks with regular breaks.  Prioritize Health: Ensure you're getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and eating nutritious meals to support your body and mind.  Take Breaks: Incorporate short breaks throughout the day to stay focused and energized.  Be Kind to Yourself: It's okay to not be at full speed immediately. Lower your expectations for productivity and mindset as you readjust.

tasks and inform colleagues about your workload to ensure a smoother transition upon your return.  Schedule an Extra Day: If possible, schedule an extra day off after your vacation to catch up on chores and emails.  Plan a Fun First Week Activity: Schedule something enjoyable for the end of your first week back to boost morale and motivation.  Reassess Your Role: Returning from vacation is a good time to reflect on your work and goals, identifying what you enjoy and what could be improved.

4. Mental Adjustment—Embrace the Transition:

 It's normal to feel sluggish or tired after

vacation. Allow yourself time to readjust.

 Focus on the Present: Don't dwell on

what you missed while away. Focus on the tasks at hand and prioritize them.  Positive Mindset: Try to maintain a positive attitude and remind yourself of the benefits of your time off.  Engage in Relaxing Activities: Incorporate relaxing activities like yoga, walking, or reading to help you unwind and reconnect with yourself.

July/August 2025 ONYX ONYXMAGAZINE MAGAZINE 45 11

Studio Art Classes

Explore classes open for enrollment!

Drawing and Painting Ceramics Print-Making Teen Classes Kids & Families Studio 55 TampaMuseum.org/Studio Contact: Studio@TampaMuseum.org TampaMuseum.org Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10am – 5pm Thursday: 10am – 8pm

Exhibitions supported in part by:

SNAP Benefit Recipients get free admission to the Tampa Museum of Art! Funded By:

TR AVE L

Trudiann Branker, the first woman master blender in the Birthplace of Rum

BARBADOS

Your quaint island culinary adventure awaits!

B

arbados is a very special place, and Barbadians are very special people who have many stories to tell. A few you might have already heard, like the one about our hometown sweetheart and mega-star Rihanna, or about cricketing legend, our very own Sir Garfield Sobers. But we have so much more to share with the world!

Exquisite Cuisine

Memories are made as we gather our loved ones and friends around the table to share a meal. Your Barbados travel experience will include some truly special meal-time moments to treasure forever. You're on holiday so try everything—locally caught fish, homegrown grass-fed meats, sweet plantains, rice and peas, tasty West Indian curries and rotis. Explore our delicious Caribbean cuisine.

Wake up to a Barbados menu of freshly prepared tropic fruits and juices, omelets with your choice of filling, delicious homemade breads and pastries. Lunch and dinner can be as formal or as laidback as you like. On this small island, we have amazing restaurants and cafés to suit every need, serving familiar international dishes and Caribbean food. Staggeringly beautiful top-notch restaurants perched on clifftops above the sea include The Cliff, Cin Cin and The Animal Flower Cave Restaurant. Beachfront shacks where the dress code is swimsuits and bare feet include Bombas, Bo's Plaice and JuJus. Great food in Barbados is also served in fine hotel dining rooms and waterside restaurants, bijou cafés tucked away in shaded shopping malls, and of course our famous rum shops and outdoor pop-up caterers—pick the one with the longest lines—the locals know who cooks the best! Also, for those 'need-it-now' moments, kids and snackers will find food served island-wide 24-hours a day. Bon appetite!

The Birthplace of Rum

Barbados is considered the birthplace of rum, and Mount Gay distillery, founded in 1703, is believed to produce the oldest rum found anywhere in the world. Today's connoisseurs always appreciate a gift bottle of Mount Gay Rum Extra Old. Rum is the essence of this Caribbean nation's culture. It ignites the gossip in our bars and sometimes even binds our business deals. It is celebrated by every sector of our society, from farm workers to property tycoons. Barbados rum is the best rum in the world and it's the spirit of our island culture and history. So just say yes to that first rum punch, and you'll soon ease into the spirit of island life. As the saying goes, time flies when you're having rum.

Barbados rum is famed as being the smoothest, finest and most delicious in the Caribbean and the wider world. We’ve been doing it for 350 years and in that time, we’ve created absolute perfection. When you arrive, be sure to scope out the distilleries on the island for a sip and savor tour: Mount Gay Rum Distillery, West Indies Rum Distillery, Foursquare Rum Factory, St. Nicholas Abbey.

See You Soon

Each place in Barbados has a story, every meal is a celebration, and each day promises new experiences, discoveries and memories to last a lifetime. Many expect Barbados to be a once-in-alifetime type of trip, but quickly discover that it is the kind of place you want to return to, time and time again. With so much to do, it is probably pretty obvious now why travelers keep coming back!

See you soon!

For more information - Visitbarbados.org July/August 2025 ONYX MAGAZINE 13

Presented by: Rick Schell & Scott Joseph

August 2 & 3, 2025

Scan to to learn learn more more

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National Black Business cal ways consumers can getMonth involved:is celebrated ShopAugust. at Black-Owned The every During these Businesses: 31 days, everyone next time you to consider making a purchase, is encouraged spotlight and support Blackowned businesses in various ways, recognizing their contributions and fostering a more inclusive economy.

History of National Black Business Month National Black Business Month was founded in 2004 by Frederick E. Jordan, an engineering entrepreneur, and John William Templeton, a historian and journalist. They aimed to highlight the achievements of the then 2.6 million Blackowned businesses and advocate for policies that support their growth and sustainability.

Over the years, this observance has gained traction, with increasing participation from individuals, communities, and organizations committed to economic equality and empowering Black entrepreneurs.

The history of Black business in America is rich and varied, dating back to the nation’s early days. Despite systemic challenges and discrimination, Black entrepreneurs have made remarkable strides, contributing significantly to various industries.

According to the Pew Research Center, about 3% of American businesses are Black-owned, and most Black adults believe supporting Black businesses is highly effective in advancing equality for Black individuals in the United States.

Black women reportedly start businesses faster than any other demographic, primarily out of necessity. According to ProjectDiane, Black English Bookstore opened a biennial by leading nonthe doors to demographic the communitystudy in profit digitalundivided, women represent 35% December 2023 in Historic Tampa Heights!

Black English Bookstorecompared to 27% of Black-owned businesses, continues to amplify voices and payof tribute of female-owned businesses other racial to the ancestors who were unable to read and identities. write English.

Because entrepreneurs often Founded by the Black late Gwen Henderson, anare educator underrepresented, National(above) Black Business and Tampa City Councilwoman.

14 ONYX MAGAZINE July/August 2025

make a conscious to purchase and Month honors effort their legacy and goods encourages services Black-owned businesses.

This can ongoingfrom support and advocacy for Black busirange from dining at Black-owned restaurants ness owners. to buying from Black-owned online stores to NationaltoBlack Month subscribing ONYX Business Magazine. Visit www.

Participationfor Ideas onyxmagazine.com more information.

Supporting PromoteBlack-owned on Social Media: businesses If you’re can be interboth ested rewarding in (orand already impactful. use) aHere product are some or service practifrom cal ways a Black-owned consumers can business, get involved: use your social Shop at Black-Owned The media platforms to highlightBusinesses: and promote next time you consider Use making a purchase, Black-owned businesses. hashtag #BuyBlack in your social media posts.

Leave Positive Reviews Online: Consumers use the internet to broadcast bad encounters, but why not do that for Blackowned businesses you want to succeed? Help Black-owned businesses gain more visibility by leaving positive reviews on Yelp, Google, and TripAdvisor platforms. Your feedback can make a significant difference.

Attend Events and Workshops: Participate in Black business networks’ events, workshops, and webinars. These events often offer valuable insights and networking opportunities.

Recommend to Friends and Family: Word of mouth is powerful. Recommend your favorite Black-owned businesses to friends, family, and colleagues. By sharing information within your social circles and among colleagues, you can help amplify the message of Black-owned businesses, extend their reach, and introduce them to new customers.

Acknowledge & Support Black Creators & Artists: Buy art, books, music, and other creations from Black artists and creators not only during Black Business Month but year-round.

This not only supports their livelihoods but also enriches their cultural experience.

Educate Yourself: Take time to learn about the history and contributions of Black entrepreneurs. Understanding the context can deepen your appreciation and commitment to supporting Black English Bookstore opened Black businesses. the doors to the community in Black Business DecemberNational 2023 in Historic Tampa Month celeHeights!

Black Bookstore brates theEnglish resilience, creativity, and contricontinues amplify voices and pay tribute black butions of to historically underrepresented to the ancestors who were unable to read and entrepreneurs. By supporting Black-owned write English. businesses, can help foster more Founded byconsumers the late Gwen Henderson, an aeducator equitable and inclusive economy. and Tampa City Councilwoman. (above)

make a conscious effort to purchase goods and services from Black-owned businesses. This can range from dining at Black-owned restaurants to buying from Black-owned online stores to subscribing to ONYX Magazine. Visit www. onyxmagazine.com for more information.

Promote on Social Media: If you’re interested in (or already use) a product or service from a Black-owned business, use your social media platforms to highlight and promote Black-owned businesses. Use hashtag #BuyBlack in your social media posts.

Leave Positive Reviews Online: Consumers use the internet to broadcast bad encounters, but why not do that for Blackowned businesses you want to succeed? Help Black-owned businesses gain more visibility by leaving positive reviews on Yelp, Google, and TripAdvisor platforms. Your feedback can make a significant difference.

Attend Events and Workshops: Participate in Black business networks’ events, workshops, and webinars. These events often offer valuable insights and networking opportunities.

Recommend to Friends and Family: Word of mouth is powerful. Recommend your favorite Black-owned businesses to friends, family, and colleagues. By sharing information within your social circles and among colleagues, you can help amplify the message of Black-owned businesses, extend their reach, and introduce them to new customers.

Acknowledge & Support Black Creators & Artists: Buy art, books, music, and other creations from Black artists and creators not only during Black Business Month but year-round.

This not only supports their livelihoods but also enriches their cultural experience.

Educate Yourself: Take time to learn about the history and contributions of Black entrepreneurs. Understanding the context can deepen your appreciation and commitment to supporting Black businesses.

National Black Business Month celebrates the resilience, creativity, and contributions of historically underrepresented black entrepreneurs. By supporting Black-owned businesses, consumers can help foster a more equitable and inclusive economy.

July/August 2025 ONYX MAGAZINE 15

Lerner & Associates

ds eng ng

Lerner & Associates

Businesses BlackinBusinesses August in August

Coke Florida, led by President & CEO Troy Taylor, center, celebrated 10 years in business and marked this milestone with the opening of the Tampa Distribution Center in June! This stateof-the-art facility represents an ongoing investment in the Tampa Bay region— bringing enhanced service capabilities, job opportunities, and a stronger presence in a community that has supported us since the beginning. Here’s to a decade of growth, and the exciting road ahead.

The Rise and Impact

of Black-Owned Businesses in 2025

B

lack Business Month takes place each year in August. Let’s explore the value such businesses bring to diverse communities nationwide.

In 2025, Black-owned businesses continue to shape the global economic landscape, thriving as symbols of resilience, cultural pride, and innovation.

These enterprises are more than just economic entities; they represent stories of perseverance against systemic barriers, the preservation of cultural heritage, and a profound commitment to community upliftment. As the world embraces greater diversity and inclusivity, Black-owned businesses are increasingly celebrated for their contributions to local economies and beyond. This article explores the significant role they play in 2025, the challenges they face, and the paths paved toward sustainable growth.

THE ECONOMIC POWER OF BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES Black-owned businesses are now recognized as pivotal players in the economy. In 2025, they are estimated to contribute billions of dollars annually, creating jobs and fostering innovation across various industries, including technology, fashion, health care, and entertainment.

With platforms like Buy Black and similar initiatives, consumers worldwide are increasingly prioritizing support for these enterprises, understanding their broader impact on equity and wealth redistribution.

THE GROWTH OF KEY INDUSTRIES In recent years, Black entrepreneurs have made notable strides in industries that were once under-

16 ONYX MAGAZINE July/August 2025

represented. In 2025, technology startups founded

by Black innovators are reshaping the digital landscape. For example, software platforms addressing racial bias in AI or creating opportunities in underserved communities have gained significant traction. Similarly, Black-owned health care companies are addressing disparities in medical care, providing culturally sensitive solutions and resources tailored to their communities.

Fashion and entertainment sectors also continue to flourish under Black leadership. Designers and creatives are redefining global aesthetics, drawing inspiration from African and diasporic cultures. The world of beauty and wellness has seen an explosion of Black-owned brands focusing on inclusivity, catering to diverse skin tones, hair textures, and wellness needs.

CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS Despite their remarkable achievements, Black entrepreneurs in 2025 face persistent challenges.

Access to capital remains a critical issue, as many report difficulties securing funding or fair investment opportunities. Although diversity initiatives have expanded, systemic biases in financial institutions still present barriers.

Moreover, Black-owned businesses must often navigate societal stereotypes and undervaluation.

Marketing and visibility also remain hurdles, as mainstream platforms sometimes fail to highlight their contributions adequately. However, collaborations with influencers, campaigns focused on equity, and grassroots movements are helping address these gaps.

COMMUNITY IMPACT AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Black-owned businesses in 2025 are deeply rooted in their communities. They are not only generating economic opportunities but also investing in educational programs, mentorship initiatives, and social causes. For instance, many entrepreneurs have launched scholarships to support Black students pursuing higher education, particularly in fields where representation remains scarce.

Many Black-owned businesses adopt circular economy principles, ensuring sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and their communities. This approach fosters a sense of responsibility and pride, further cementing their role as agents of positive change.

SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND COLLABORATIONS To counter these challenges, Black-owned businesses in 2025 benefit from an array of support systems. Organizations such as the National Black Chamber of Commerce and global advocacy groups provide resources, mentoring, and networking opportunities. Technology has also played a crucial role, with crowdfunding platforms offering alternative financial avenues and global reach.

Collaborations between Black entrepreneurs and allies across industries have fostered innovation and solidarity. Cross-cultural partnerships have not only amplified visibility for Black-owned businesses but also created synergies that drive mutual growth.

Pew Research has been updated from survey conducted in 2023

A BEACON OF INNOVATION, RESILIENCE, AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT

BLACK BUSINESS MONTH

LOOKING AHEAD: SUSTAINABILITY AND FUTURE GROWTH The future of Black-owned businesses is bright. In 2025, many are prioritizing sustainability, integrating eco-friendly practices and ensuring ethical sourcing within their operations. This not only strengthens their businesses but also aligns with the growing consumer demand for environmentally conscious choices.

Technology is expected to continue being a transformative tool, enabling Black entrepreneurs to scale their businesses globally. Virtual platforms and AI-driven solutions provide opportunities for efficient operations, enhanced customer experiences, and innovative product offerings.

HOW MANY WORKERS DO BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES EMPLOY? Black or African American majority-owned firms employed roughly 1.6 million workers in 2022. The firms’ annual payrolls were estimated at $61.2 billion.

About seven-in-ten Black-owned firms (71%) had between one and nine employees in 2022. Much smaller shares had 10 to 49 (13%) or 50 or more (3%) workers that year. Another 13% had paid employees at some time during the year but reported having none at the time the survey was conducted. (The ABS determines employment size by the number of paid workers during the March 12 pay period.)

CELEBRATING CULTURAL HERITAGE At the heart of many Black-owned businesses is the celebration of identity and heritage. By weaving cultural narratives into their products and services, these enterprises offer consumers a chance to engage with and appreciate the richness of Black culture. Whether through culinary experiences, art, or storytelling, Black entrepreneurs continue to transform cultural pride into global recognition.

DEFINING FINANCIAL SUCCESS More than one-in-five Black adults in the United States say owning a business is essential to their personal definition of financial success, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey. While Black-owned businesses have grown significantly in the U.S. in recent years, they still make up a small share of overall firms and revenue, according to our analysis of federal data.

In 2022, there were 194,585 U.S. firms with majority Black or African American ownership. That’s up from 124,004 in 2017, according to the latest estimates from the Annual Business Survey (ABS), conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Science Foundation. Black-owned firms’ gross revenue soared by 66% during this time span, from an estimated $127.9 billion in 2017 to $211.8 billion in 2022.

Despite this growth, majority Black-owned businesses made up only about 3% of all U.S. firms in 2022 that were classifiable by the race and ethnicity of their owners. And they accounted for just 1% of gross revenue from all classifiable companies that year. By comparison, in 2022, roughly 14% of all Americans were Black.

As has long been the case, White majority-owned businesses made up the greatest share of classifiable firms (84%) and their revenue (92%) in 2022.

About one-in-ten classifiable firms (12%) had Asian American majority owners, and no more than 8% had majority owners from another racial or ethnic group.

What’s the most common sector for Blackowned businesses?

By far, health care and social assistance. Nearly 50,000 of the roughly 195,000 U.S. companies with majority Black or African American ownership, or 26% of the total, were part of this sector in 2022.

Looked at a different way, 8% of all classifiable U.S. businesses in the health care and social assistance sector were majority Black-owned that year.

Other common sectors included: • Professional, scientific and technical services (comprising about 14% of all Blackowned businesses) • Transportation and warehousing (9%) • Administrative, support, and waste management and remediation services (8%) • Retail trade (7%) • Accommodation and food services (7%) WHERE BLACK BUSINESSES ARE Most Black or African American majority-owned businesses (90%) are located in urban areas. Just 5% are in rural areas—that is, places with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, under the Census Bureau’s definition. The remaining 5% could not be classified by community type.

Some of the most populous states also have the greatest number of Black majority-owned busi-

nesses. Florida had 21,064 such businesses in 2022, Georgia had 16,973, Texas had 16,849 and California had 16,826.

Black majority-owned businesses made up the greatest share of all classifiable firms in the District of Columbia (16%), Maryland (10%) and Georgia (10%).

WHO BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS ARE They’re more likely to be men than women. Some 54% of Black-owned firms in 2022 had men as their majority owners, while 39% had women as their majority owners. Another 7% had equal male-female ownership.

They tend to be middle-aged. Half of Black or African American business owners who reported their age group were ages 35 t0 54 in 2022. Another 26% were 55 to 64, 16% were 65 and older, and just 7% were younger than 35.

A majority have a four-year college degree.

Among owners who reported their highest level of education completed, 27% had a bachelor’s degree and 34% had a graduate or professional degree beyond a bachelor’s in 2022.

MOTIVATION FOR BLACK ENTREPRENEURS The ABS also asked Black or African American majority owners about nearly a dozen potential reasons why they own a business.

About nine-in-ten of those who responded said a very or somewhat important reason was the opportunity for greater income; a desire to be their own boss; or wanting to balance work and family life. Seeing business ownership as the best avenue for their ideas, goods and services (88%) and having flexible hours (87%) were also commonly cited reasons.

For most Black or African American majority owners, their business is their primary source of income. Of those who reported primary income information in 2022, 71% said this was the case.

IN SUMMARY In 2025, Black-owned businesses stand as pillars of innovation, resilience, and empowerment. Their contributions extend far beyond profit, touching lives and reshaping communities. By supporting these businesses, consumers, investors, and policymakers alike are championing a more equitable and inclusive future. As the world continues to evolve, Black-owned enterprises offer not only economic growth but also inspiration—a testament to the power of vision, determination, and the enduring strength of community.

July/August 2025 ONYX MAGAZINE 17

BLACK BUSINESS MONTH

Sippin Lemon, owned by Lee and David Bryan, offers lemonade chillers made to order, with a mix of fresh fruit and a citrus base served over ice.

Photo by Food Truck Festivals of America.

FOOD TRUCKS MORE THAN A MEAL: THE STORY BEHIND THE WINDOW

By Raina Smith

T

here’s something about a cup of lemonade from Sippin' Lemon that just hits different.

Whether it’s classic, tropical or their top-selling strawberry flavor, their drinks aren't just refreshing—they're the result of long hours, weekends spent hustling and a whole lot of heart.

Lee and David Bryan, my aunt and uncle, are the owners of Sippin’ Lemon. They have spent the past eight years traveling to small towns and setting up at festivals across different cities. What started as a side hustle eventually blossomed into a full-time business that allows them to work for themselves and keep their business moving wherever the crowds go.

18 ONYX MAGAZINE July/August 2025

My aunt and uncle started Sippin' Lemon with a vision: to bring something fresh, flavorful and fun to local festivals and community events. And from their very first cup, it worked.

They run the truck as a team. “It’s awesome,” my aunt said, explaining the experience of being co-entrepreneurs. “He gets the lemons ready, and I make the drinks and put them in the cup,” she shared, breaking down their process for crafting the perfect cup of Sippin' Lemonade.

I always get excited when they call to ask if I want to help for the weekend. Whenever they need me, I show up and enjoy every second—stacking cups, taking payments and passing out drinks to people in lines that never seem to end.

When I first started pitching in, I was just happy to spend time with my family and help where I could. But the more I showed up, the more I found myself meeting new people and connecting with other business owners.

Being out there with them—sweating through long days, watching kids light up after the first sip, seeing customers turn into friends—pulled me into a world I hadn’t paid close attention to before.

I started noticing just how many food trucks are out here—and not just at festivals. They are parked near schools, tucked into city corners and catering at some of the most anticipated events.

In just the past few years, the food truck industry has seen serious growth. A recent

BLACK BUSINESS MONTH

report from Mordor Intelligence says the market is currently valued at $4.42 billion and is expected to reach $6.06 billion by 2030. With a 6.5% growth rate each year, food trucks are proving to be more than just a trend.

People are drawn to food trucks because they offer more than just a quick bite. Convenience matters, but so does connection.

Food trucks give you both.

Entrepreneurs who are innovative, passionate and community-minded are at the forefront of this growing industry. Many of them are turning food into freedom— freedom from traditional business models, freedom from startup barriers and freedom to serve what they love on their own terms.

That’s what food trucks represent for a lot of people: possibility.

They are mobile, flexible and relatively low-cost compared to opening a traditional restaurant.

That flexibility is something Brooke McElroy knows well. She helps run a local Tikiz Shaved Ice & Ice Cream truck with her parents, Ray and Tanya Burke, who bought into the franchise about three years ago. Their Tallahassee-based truck serves a variety of shaved ice, ice cream bars and frozen bananas, and often pops up at local schools and events.

Tikiz has remained a part time business for her family, but it works—thanks to a loyal customer base they have built over the years.

“You don’t really have to put as much time into it once you kind of get your clientele built up,” McElroy said.

She also touched on the independence that comes with running a food truck.

McElroy explained that her parents let her take the truck out whenever she wants, allowing her to earn income independently and on a schedule that works for her.

“You can go wherever you want. You can pick and choose your events and where you want to be. You can make your own schedule,” she said. “It’s definitely flexible.”

But beyond the flexibility, it’s the fun of the work that stands out most to her.

“It’s fun. Nobody’s mad when they’re eating shaved ice,” she said. “All the kids get so excited. They’re jumping up and down.

It’s just nice—it’s a nice break.”

That mix of freedom and fulfillment is what draws many into the food truck world. And while some embrace it for the lifestyle it offers, others see it as an opportunity to build something more lasting.

For Eli, the owner of Doughlicious Donutz, it all comes back to family. His truck is brand new—founded in 2025—but it’s already carrying a story much bigger than donuts.

Brooke McElroy helps run a Tikiz Shaved Ice & Ice Cream in Tallahassee.

Doughlicious Donutz isn’t just a food truck—it’s Eli’s way of spending quality time with his kids while passing down the spirit of entrepreneurship, just like his father once did for him.

“My dad ran his own business a long time ago. So, [at my daughter’s] age, I was in people’s houses cleaning carpets, talking to different people,” he said.

He prides himself on using those same interpersonal skills in his own business ventures. He hopes people don’t just remember the donuts, but the feeling they left with.

“Having one-on-one contact with somebody is a lost art,” he said.

It is a sentiment that holds true across the food truck world. Behind every order is a story, and behind every window is someone with a reason for being there.

For my aunt and uncle, it started as a way to stay busy and continue earning money after retirement. For others, it’s about independence, flexibility or building something of their own.

From lemonade to donuts to shaved ice, these trucks deliver bold flavors with personality.

And that personality matters. Because today’s customers don’t just want good food—they want a good story. Food is personal, and food trucks make that connection feel even more intimate.

Raina Smith is the managing editor of Journey Magazine in the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication at Florida A&M University.

Eli, the owner of Doughlicious Donutz, says his food truck is inspired by family.

July/August 2025 ONYX MAGAZINE 19

THE QUAD

Florida A&M University Announces 13th President The Florida Board of Governors (BOG) voted unanimously in June to confirm Marva Johnson, J.D., as the next president of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). Johnson was selected as the institution’s 13th president by the FAMU Board of Trustees (BOT) on May 16. Her selection followed a thorough presidential search, which narrowed the field to four highly qualified finalists. “As president, I recognize the legacy I carry and remain committed to protecting and extending that legacy and FAMU’s mission, while fighting to ensure that we are positioned for success in the evolving higher education landscape. I am ready to bring a bold, business-minded, results-driven approach to advancing student success, financial sustainability, and long-term institutional growth,” Johnson said. She has received many accolades, including Cablefax: The Magazine’s “MSO Executive to Watch” and “Top Women in Tech.”

Marva Johnson, J.D.

Bethune-Cookman University Announces 8th President

FAMU Tops List for Online Programs Florida A&M University (FAMU) has been named the #1 HBCU for Online Programs by Forbes Advisor, securing the top spot in its 2025 rankings of Historically Black Colleges and Universities offering high-quality, flexible, and affordable online degrees.

The Forbes Advisor rankings evaluated HBCUs based on affordability, student outcomes, academic credibility, and overall online student experiences using data from the U.S. Department of Education.

FAMU’s strong performance in each of these areas reaffirms its leadership in online education.

FAMU Communications

20 ONYX MAGAZINE July/August 2025

Bethune-Cookman University proudly announces the appointment of Albert Mosley, Ed.D., as its 8th president, following a national Albert Moseley, Ed.D. search that drew 135 applicants. A visionary leader with three decades of experience in higher education and nonprofit leadership, Mosley brings a deep commitment to academic innovation, institutional growth, and student success. A first-generation college student from Shuqualak, Mississippi, Mosley holds degrees from Millsaps College, Duke, Yale, and the University of Georgia. Most recently, he served as president of Morningside University in Iowa, where he launched cutting-edge programs in aviation, cybersecurity, AI, and more—while also securing record-breaking philanthropic support.

“It’s an extraordinary honor to be selected as the 8th President of the GREAT Bethune-Cookman University,” Mosley said. “I look forward to partnering with our entire Wildcat community to build on the powerful legacy of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and shape an inspiring future for B-CU.” Board Chairman Pete Gamble called Mosley’s journey “a powerful reflection of the transformational impact we strive to deliver.” His presidency began July 7. Bethune-Cookman stands ready for its next era—with bold leadership at the helm.

B-CU Communications

Edward Waters University Tops Enrollment Numbers Edward Waters University, the State of Florida’s first independent institution of higher learning and first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) has officially shattered its all-time record for student applications, receiving nearly 11,500 applications to date for the Fall 2025 term—surpassing all previous benchmarks in the institution’s 158year history. The university has seen a 6.2% increase in total applications compared to this time last year. In addition to the growth in applications, Edward Waters has also experienced a 17.6% increase in enrollment deposits for new students, signaling strong student intent to enroll and

continued momentum for the institution as a destination of choice.

This surge in interest reflects Edward Waters University’s growing reputation and is fueled by innovative academic programming, dynamic institutional leadership, and strategic outreach initiatives. “This historic milestone speaks volumes about the growing momentum, relevance, and reputation of Edward Waters University across the state, nation, and globe,” said A. Zachary Faison, Jr., J.D., the president and CEO of Edward Waters University. “We are thrilled to see this record level of interest and are committed to building on this foundation by continuing to provide an accessible, rigorous, and mission-driven education to all students who choose to join us.”

Notably, applications to Edward

A. Zachary Faison, Jr., J.D. Waters’ graduate programs have soared, with the university reporting a 153% increase over the same time last year. Nearly 250 applications have been received across the institution’s four newly launched master’s degree programs: the Master of Cybersecurity, Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Master of Education Policy & Advocacy.

FAMU Communications

THE QUAD

New Initiative Helps Parents Advocate for Positive Academic Outcomes Albert Moseley, Ed.D.

Florida Memorial University Chorale Debuts at Carnegie Hall he Florida Memorial University Ambassador Chorale is back in South Florida after making their historic debut in New York City’s Carnegie Hall on Saturday, June 21, 2025.

Under the direction of Dr. Argarita Johnson-Palavicini, the Chorale performed with the Choirs of America In Harmony, but it was their solo rendition of the traditional African American spiritual, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” in the beautiful Midtown Manhattan concert hall that brought down the house. “We received an emotional standing ovation,” said Dr. Johnson-Palavicini. “The audience wanted us to sing more songs. We will definitely be going back again soon!” Founded in 1975 by the late Professor Roosevelt Williams, the Ambassador Chorale has garnered notoriety over the past 50 years performing throughout the United States, The Bahamas, and Europe.

FMU Interim President, William McCormick, also traveled to New York to display his unwavering support of FMU’s 30-member student ensemble, which they greatly appreciated. Dr. Johnson-Palavicini stated the next big trip for the FMU Ambassador Chorale will hopefully land them in Spain in 2026, along with a select group of alums.

FMU Communications

UNCF announced a special initiative to help parents better engage with local schools, historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other colleges and universities to achieve positive academic outcomes for their students and to promote teaching as a viable career path.

“It is abundantly clear when parents and communities join forces and advocate for change, they ensure this work is not just a movement, but a sustained commitment to excellence for generations to come,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF. “We can build the dynamic teacher workforce our children deserve.”

“The stakes are high for our Black students. The need for parent involvement in the work to bring more Black teachers into the service of our young people is greater now more than ever. The path to educational equity is incomplete without the active involvement of Black parents as advocates for change,” said Sharif E. Mekki, Founder and CEO, Center for Black Educator Development.

To facilitate this new initiative, UNCF released a toolkit on how to advocate for more teachers with the support of locally elected officials, school board representatives, assistant and district superintendents, parent/teacher organizations, student-led organizations and community advocacy groups.

Titled, “Hear Us, Believe Us, Invest In Us: Helping Parents Advocate for Black Teachers,” the toolkit was developed in response to a national survey of parents conducted by UNCF’s K-12 Education Advocacy Division.

A recent UNCF study, “Hear Us, Believe Us: Centering African American Parent Voices in K-12 Education,” showed that African American parents felt more respected, held higher college-going aspirations, and reported fewer instances of exclusionary discipline, when their child attended school with more African American teachers. “The presence of Black teachers is not just beneficial—it’s transformational for all students,” said Ashlyn Thomas, M.Ed., co-author and research and engagement manager, UNCF. While 55% of students of color attend U.S. public schools, only 22% of U.S. teachers are of color and only six percent are Black teachers. Several studies show the positive benefits that Black teachers have on all students including decreases in suspensions, deeper student engagement and greater access to rigorous courses.

Research shows that Black teachers benefit not only Black students, especially Black male students, but all students. Additionally, Black students who have just one Black teacher in K-3 are 13% more likely to graduate from high school and 19% more likely to go to college.

In under-resourced schools, Black teachers have achieved the highest student retention rates and lowered out-of-school suspensions by three times the national average.

In addition, HBCUs are significant producers of Black teachers for America’s public education system.

A recent UNCF study, “The Heart Work of Hard Work,” examined the best practices of teacher preparation programs implemented at HBCUs. The study found that HBCUs have extensive recruitment networks, cultivate intentional relationships with students, employ culturally responsive curriculum, and provide mentorship support. HBCU-educated teachers leave their institutions equipped to serve their communities with excellence and have a positive impact on all students’ learning environment and outcomes.

As a result of the survey’s findings, UNCF—in partnership with the Center for Black Educator Development—created the toolkit to help mobilize parents to advocate for more Black teachers, “because after all, who best to advocate for high-quality teachers than parents who are partners with teachers in ensuring children receive the love, care and academic support they need,” Anderson said.

The toolkit includes tips for partnering with local organizations and initiatives like the One Million Teachers of Color Campaign and how to celebrate Black teachers through social media campaigns like Center for Black Educator Development’s (CBED) #WeNeedBlackTeachers. The toolkit also includes a template for parents to use when contacting local representatives to advocate for more Black teachers.

Elaine Wells, a parent advocate featured in the toolkit, said, “When Black parents stand with teachers and school leaders, we create a village that nurtures our children academically, socially and emotionally.”

This toolkit is designed to amplify such voices, ensuring that Black families are heard and empowered as key partners in the fight for educational equity.

UNCF Communications Parents attend a UNCF meeting.

July/August 2025 ONYX MAGAZINE 21

M U S I C & E N T E R TA I N M E N T

2025 Star 94.5 Heart & Soul

Festival Lineup

T

he Heart & Soul Music Festival is more than a concert—it’s a celebration of African American culture, community, and history.

Since its inception in 2020, the festival has brought vibrant performances, diverse vendors, health screenings, and educational resources to Central Florida, making it a treasured community event.

As Assistant Producer Thomas Bonds shares, “Our goal is to create a space where community members can connect through music, culture, and shared pride, making a positive impact on everyone involved.”

Join us at the Apopka Amphitheater on October 11, 2025, for a day of soulful music, cultural celebration, and community enrichment. For tickets, vendor opportunities, and sponsorship info, visit Heart and Soul Music Festival.

22 ONYX MAGAZINE 22 ONYX MAGAZINE July/August 2025

Morris Day & The Time A funk and R&B powerhouse, Morris Day & The Time are known for their vibrant performances and hits like "Jungle Love" and "The Bird." As pioneers of the Minneapolis sound, their energetic shows and charismatic presence continue to captivate audiences across generations.

SOS Band Originating from Atlanta, The S.O.S Band is celebrated for their fusion of R&B, soul, and dance. With timeless hits such as "Take Your Time (Do It Right)" and "Just Be Good to Me," they’ve made an enduring mark with their infectious grooves and soulful melodies.

Dru Hill Emerging in the late '90s, Dru Hill is renowned for their smooth harmonies

and heartfelt ballads like "In My Bed" and "How Deep Is Your Love." Their soulful vocal style has made them a staple in modern R&B.

Carl Thomas A shining star in neo-soul, Carl Thomas gained widespread acclaim with his debut album "Emotional," featuring hits like "I Wish" and "Summer Rain." His expressive vocals and emotionally charged performances continue to enchant fans worldwide.

Chante Moore A talented singer and songwriter, Chante Moore is known for her powerful voice and hits like "Love’s Taken Over" and "It’s Alright." Her soulful sound and heartfelt lyrics make every performance a memorable experience.

ONYX READS

SWEET SUMMER TIME BOOKS TO READ WITH THE LITTLES

I GOT YOU

By Derrick Barnes Illustrated by Shamar KnightJustice Rasheed has the best big brother in the world! Anthony has been his hero from day one, making him feel safe during storms and included in all kinds of fun activities. And now that Rasheed is getting a little older, Anthony is teaching him how to do big-boy things—and help him understand that Anthony needs his own with his buddies. At first Rasheed feels crushed, but fortunately, Anthony reassures him that even when they’re not together he still loves Rasheed. Then, they get big news that they both will be big brothers! Rasheed knows—thanks to Anthony—just what kind of big brother he wants to be.

SUNSHINE BABY, BOFROT CHEEKS

By Bernard Mensah Follow a sunshine-bright baby as he goes about his busy day with his dad in this perfect gift for new parents! Sunshine Baby. Bofrot Cheeks.Daddy tickles. Baby shrieks. Sunshine Baby, Bofrot Cheeks follows a day in the life of a rambunctious little baby and his dad as they wake up, eat, play games, take a bath, and finally, go to bed.

With some common Twi words throughout, this book is the perfect gift for new parents!

bench because they don’t have a home. The next morning, there’s a fountain for washing up—and they are ready for the walk to school.

His classmates may or may not know about his living situation, but the deep love he and his mom have for each other shines through.

BATTLE FOR SKY KINGDOM (FUTURE HERO #4)

By Remi Blackwood Jarell’s adventures continue in this exciting fourth installment of Future Hero! Unlikely hero Jarell has proven himself a warrior—defender of the Kingdom of Ulfrika.

He’s gathered three of the four iron animals of the staff of Kundi, which will unlock the powers he needs to defeat the evil wizard Ikala. But now Ikala is closing in on the Iron Eagle, which could spell the end of Ulfrika forever.

THE CHILD FROM DINDEFELLO FALLS: THE LITTLE PRINCE OF AFRICA

By Aminta Dupuis Translated from French, The Child from Dindefello Falls is a coming-of-age, initiatic story of young Sonlio, who, in search of answers after his mother’s mysterious death, begins

a transformative journey of healing and self-discovery where he experiences the diverse, human, and unique spiritual treasures of Africa. As Sonlio navigates a landscape shaped by climate change, poverty, and injustice, his journey becomes a reflection of the capacity of individuals and communities to overcome adversity through humor and friendship. Steeped in Senegalese culture, Sonlio’s story unfolds as a poetic fable and evolves into a thought-provoking exploration of resilience, love, and spiritual awakening.

EVERYTHING BUT TYPICAL: INFLUENTIAL NEURODIVERGENT PEOPLE WHO HAVE SHAPED THE WORLD

By Margeaux Weston Celebrate remarkable neurodivergent people who have forged unique paths to success—in sports, education, entertainment, media, and more! Neurodivergent people have unique brains. They defy norms in the way they think, learn, process information, and engage with others and the world around them. These differences may help them not only to see the world in uncommon ways, but to forge one-of-a-kind paths. People like: Simone Biles, Amanda Gorman, Octavia Butler, Pharrell Williams, Muhammad Ali.

WEIRD AND WONDERFUL YOU

By Zaila Avant-Garde

PLACE FOR US

By James Ransome A poignant wordless picture book about a homeless boy and his mom. Through evocative illustrations, we see that they ate out because they don’t have a kitchen to cook in.

And at night, they settle in to sleep on a park

Scripps National Spelling Bee champ Zaila Avant-garde encourages young readers to embrace what makes them different in this vibrant and uplifting new picture book. We are the weird.

The wonderfully weird, that is. When others blend in, we stand out. Young readers will find joyful encouragement in this empowering celebration of individuality and self-acceptance. Through a motivating message and a series of inspiring quotes and affirmations, this book encourages readers to embrace their unique quirks and see them as strengths. It’s a colorful manifesto for anyone who has ever felt out of place or different, urging them to stand out, be proud, and stay true to themselves.

July/August 2025 ONYX MAGAZINE 23

A R T & C U LT U R E

POP, SODA or COKE?

THE FIZZY HISTORY BEHIND AMERICA’S FAVORITE LINGUISTIC DEBATE

By Valerie M. Fridland

W

ith burgers sizzling and classic rock thumping, many Americans revel in summer cookouts–at least until that wayward cousin asks for a “pop” in soda country, or even worse, a “coke” when they actually want a Sprite. Few American linguistic debates have bubbled quite as long and effervescently as the one over whether a generic soft drink should be called a soda, pop or coke.

The word you use generally boils down to where you’re from: Midwesterners enjoy a good pop, while soda is tops in the North and far West. Southerners, long the cultural mavericks, don’t bat an eyelash asking for coke—lowercase—before homing in on exactly the type they want: Perhaps a root beer or a Coke, uppercase.

As a linguist who studies American dialects, I’m less interested in this regional divide and far more fascinated by the unexpected history behind how a fizzy “health” drink from the early 1800s spawned the modern soft drink’s many names and iterations.

Bubbles, Anyone?

Foods and drinks with wellness benefits might seem like a modern phenomenon, but the urge to create drinks with medicinal properties inspired what might be called a soda revolution in the 1800s.

24 24 ONYX ONYXMAGAZINE MAGAZINE July/August 2025

The process of carbonating water was first discovered in the late 1700s. By the early 1800s, this carbonated water had become popular as a health drink and was often referred to as “soda water.” The word “soda” likely came from “sodium,” since these drinks often contained salts, which were then believed to have healing properties.

Given its alleged curative effects for health issues such as indigestion, pharmacists sold soda water at soda fountains, innovative devices that created carbonated water to be sold by the glass. A chemistry professor, Benjamin Stillman, set up the first such device in a drugstore in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1806. Its eventual success inspired a boom of soda fountains in drugstores and health spas.

By the mid-1800s, pharmacists were creating unique root-, fruitand herb-infused concoctions, such as sassafras-based root beer, at their soda fountains, often marketing them as cures for everything from fatigue to foul moods.

These flavored, sweetened versions gave rise to the linking of the word “soda” with a sweetened carbonated beverage, as opposed to simple, carbonated water.

Seltzer—today’s popular term for such sparkling water—was around, too. But it was used only for the naturally carbonated min-

A R T & C U LT U R E

eral water from the German town Nieder-Selters. Unlike Perrier, sourced similarly from a specific spring in France, seltzer made the leap to becoming a generic term for fizzy water.

Story from theconversation.com, published using a creative commons license.

Regional Naming Patterns

So how did “soda” come to be called so many different things in different places? It all stems from a mix of economic enterprise and linguistic ingenuity.

The popularity of “soda” in the Northeast likely reflects the soda fountain’s longer history in the region. Since a lot of Americans living in the Northeast migrated to California in the mid-tolate 1800s, the name likely traveled west with them.

As for the Midwestern preference for “pop”—well, the earliest American use of the term to refer to a sparkling beverage appeared in the 1840s in the name of a flavored version called “ginger pop.” Such ginger-flavored pop, though, was around in Britain by 1816, since a Newcastle songbook is where you can first see it used in text. The “pop” seems to be onomatopoeic for the noise made when the cork was released from the bottle before drinking.

Linguists don’t fully know why “pop” became so popular in the Midwest. But one theory links it to a Michigan bottling company, Feigenson Brothers Bottling Works—today known as Faygo Beverages—that used “pop” in the name of the sodas they marketed and sold. Another theory suggests that because bottles were more common in the region, soda drinkers were more likely to hear the “pop” sound than in the Northeast, where soda fountains reigned.

As for using coke generically, the first Coca-Cola was served in 1886 by Dr. John Pemberton, a pharmacist at Jacobs’ Pharmacy in Atlanta and the founder of the company. In the 1900s, the CocaCola company tried to stamp out the use of “Coke” for “CocaCola.” But that ship had already sailed. Since Coca-Cola originated and was overwhelmingly popular in the South, its generic use grew out of the fact that people almost always asked for “Coke.”

As with Jell-O, Kleenex, Band-Aids and seltzer, it became a generic term.

What’s Soft About It?

Speaking of soft drinks, what’s up with that term?

It was originally used to distinguish all nonalcoholic drinks from “hard drinks,” or beverages containing spirits.

Interestingly, the original Coca-Cola formula included wine— resembling a type of alcoholic “health” drink popular overseas, Vin Mariani. But Pemberton went on to develop a “soft” version a few years later to be sold as a medicinal drink.

Due to the growing popularity of soda water concoctions, eventually “soft drink” came to mean only such sweetened carbonated beverages, a linguistic testament to America’s enduring love affair with sugar and bubbles.

With the average American guzzling almost 40 gallons per year, you can call it whatever you what. Just don’t call it healthy.

Valerie M. Fridland is a professor of Linguistics at the University of Nevada, Reno

MUSEUM HOP THIS SUMMER Studying the arts and different cultures is a great way to pass the time. Though summer is winding down, you still have time to take family trips to a few museums around Florida. Here are just a few to check out.

Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, Delray Beach Spady Cultural Heritage Museum in Delray Beach, is a museum that celebrates the cultural heritage of the local African American community. The museum has exhibits on various topics, including the history of African Americans in South Florida, the contributions of local African American leaders, and the African American experience in the United States. Visitors can also attend various cultural events, workshops, and performances.

Florida Civil Rights Museum, Tallahassee Florida Civil Rights Museum in Tallahassee is a museum dedicated to the history of the civil rights movement in Florida. The museum has exhibits including segregation, Voting Rights Act, and Freedom Rides. Visitors can also attend educational programs and events.

Reflections of Manatee, Bradenton Reflections of Manatee is a museum located in the Curry Houses Historic District in Bradenton.

The museum focuses on the history of the Maroon Angola Settlement, the Curry Family and the Village of Manatee. This location was on the Underground Railroad and also features archeological and historical objects.

July/August 2025 ONYX ONYXMAGAZINE MAGAZINE 25 25

JUSTICE FOR ALL

TAX CHANGES THE CHILD TAX CREDIT IS CHANGING—RISING TO $2,200, BUT ITS NEW REQUIREMENTS WILL SHUT OUT AN ESTIMATED 2.7 MILLION AMERICAN CHILDREN. HERE’S WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUR FAMILY.

By Chabeli Carrazana

A

new child tax credit is coming next year, bringing significant changes that will alter how much assistance families receive—and which families can receive it.

With his tax and spending package, President Donald Trump passed a permanent change to the child tax credit spearheaded by congressional Republicans. It goes into effect for families filing income tax returns in 2026.

The changes increase the total amount of the tax credit from $2,000 to $2,200, and index it to inflation so it grows over the years, a change advocates have championed for years. However, the package also introduces new parameters to qualify for the credit that will directly affect immigrants and the lowest-income families.

For the first time, children and at least one of their parents or guardians will have to have a Social Security number to be able to qualify for the child tax credit.

That means an estimated 2.7 million American kids who likely qualify for the credit this year will no longer be able to get it as of next year.

The tax credit was passed in 1997. Families have used it to help cover basic needs like food and also wants, like getting their children into extracurricular activities.

But for its nearly 30-year history, the credit has been structured in a way that families with the lowest incomes couldn’t get the full amount.

With the most recent change, and because the credit phases in depending on income and the number of children you have, families have to earn more before they can claim the full amount.

Democrats had been pushing to change those requirements in recent years so that the lowest-income families could get more of the credit, but Republicans pushed back, saying it disincentivized people to work.

Under the new child tax credit, an estimated 19 million children are now blocked from receiving the full amount, compared with 17 million currently, according to an analysis by the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University, which has done much of the research and analysis on the child tax credit. The share of children from marginalized backgrounds who are not going to be able to receive the full amount has also gone up for each group: • 48% of American Indian or Alaska Native children (from 45% under the current law) • 45% of Black children (from 41%) • 39% of Latinx children (from 34%) • 60% of children of single mothers (from 55%) • 35% of children in rural parts of the country (from 30%)

26 ONYX MAGAZINE July/August 2025

“Families of all sizes are going to need higher levels of income to be eligible for the full credit amount,” said Christopher Yera, a research analyst at the Center on Poverty and Social Policy. The child tax credit is being cut at a time when other vital services for low-income Americans are seeing reduction.

Under the same tax package, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is losing $186 billion in funding through 2034, affecting eligibility for free school meals and for families that rely on the assistance to put food on the table. Another $1 trillion will be cut from Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program in the next decade.

“All these families that are going to lose access to basic needs, it would be handy if the folks harmed by that were actually reached by the child tax credit,” said Meredith Dodson, the senior director of public policy for the Coalition on Human Needs who has been lobbying for an expansion of the credit. Here is a breakdown of how the new child tax credit works and how to access it:

What is the Child Tax Credit?

The child tax credit is a return parents and guardians receive in their

taxes annually for every child under the age of 17 in their care. Stepchildren, foster children, half siblings and descendants, including grandchildren and nieces or nephews, may also qualify if the tax filer is their main caretaker.

Since 2017, the most families could claim from the credit is $2,000 per child, and that amount goes down after a certain threshold.

Guardians who earn very little or nothing have never been able to claim the full amount of the credit except for in 2021, when it temporarily expanded during the pandemic.

JUSTICE FOR ALL

What is the New Child Tax Credit Amount?

For the 2025 tax filing year, the child tax credit will increase to $2,200. Eligible parents will see this amount in their tax returns next year. The credit will also be adjusted annually to account for inflation beginning in 2026.

Who Qualifies for the New Child Tax Credit?

If filing a single return, parents and guardians must have a Social Security

number to access the credit. This is a significant departure from prior years when only the children, but not the adults claiming them, had to have a Social Security number.

For parents and guardians who are filing jointly, only one parent has to have a Social Security number to qualify. That means some mixed-status households will be able to qualify for the credit.

To Claim a Child, the Child Has To Have:

they earn past $200,000; for joint filers the threshold is $400,000.

Caregivers earning more than $240,000 for a single filer and $440,000 for joint filers do not receive anything.

Who Doesn’t Qualify?

Children who don’t have a Social Security number don’t qualify. Single parents or guardians who don’t have a Social Security number also don’t qualify, even if the child does have a Social Security number.

An estimated 28% of children will not qualify for the full amount because their parents earn too little. That is up from 25% previously, according to an analysis by the Center on Poverty and Policy at Columbia. The share of kids who are ineligible because their parents earn too much stays the same, at 4%.

The states with the largest share of children who don’t qualify for the full amount are Mississippi (40.6%), Louisiana (38.2%), New Mexico (38.2%), Alabama (35.1%) and Kentucky (34.9%).

• Lived with the parent or caregiver for at least six months during 2025 (though there are some exceptions) • Lived six months or more in the United States How Do You Claim the Credit in Your Taxes?

• Have a Social Security number Filers must include their children or dependents on Form 1040, the IndiThe shift is part of a years-long effort to limit immigrants’ access to vidual Income Tax Return, and also complete a Schedule 8812. government services. Before 2017, any child living in the United States was eligible for the child tax credit. Then Trump’s tax cuts package in 2017 Is This Like the Child Tax Credit in 2021? changed that rule to require that the child No. In 2021, that credit was expanded to give have a Social Security number to qualify. families up to $3,600, much of it in the form Their parents could use an Individual Taxof monthly checks, instead of an annual payer Identification Number, or ITIN, to file lump sum. The 2021 expansion allowed the their taxes and still be eligible for the credit. poorest families in the country, those who Now at least one of those parents will need don’t file income taxes, to access the child to also have a Social Security number. tax credit for the first time in its history.

Families headed by an undocumented Those pandemic-era changes cut the child single parent, where the child is an American poverty rate in 2021 to a historic low of 5.2%. citizen, will not get the child tax credit at all.

But the temporary changes lasted only a “Instead of actually expanding the [child year, and an effort by Democrats to make tax credit], they took it away from millions them permanent failed. The tax credit then of kids,” Dodson said. “There are important reverted to its usual amount—$2,000—and changes [in the law] but they kind of miss the child poverty rate rose to 12.4% in 2022. the mark when the whole thing is leaving WHAT IS THE MINIMUM YOU out the folks who need it the most.”

Is This a Temporary Change

Does Everyone Who Qualifies get $2,200?

No. Families who earn less than $2,500 a year do not receive anything. After that, the credit begins to phase in depending on how much families earn. (Keep reading for exact figures) Some families earn little and owe no taxes. Those families are eligible for only a portion of the child tax credit, up to $1,700 in 2025. That means that even if your tax liability is zero, you can still receive a check for up to $1,700 for the child tax credit.

Then, the credit starts to phase out once families earn too much to qualify for the full amount. For a single filer, the credit starts to decrease for any amount

NEED TO EARN TO QUALIFY FOR THE FULL AMOUNT?

According to an analysis by the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University: • • •

•

Families with one child: A single filer needs to earn at least $28,700; joint filers need to earn at least $36,500.

Families with two children: A single filer needs to earn at least $33,700; joint filers need to earn at least $41,500.

Families with three children: A single filer needs to earn at least $38,700; joint filers need to earn at least $46,500.

Families with four children: A single filer needs to earn at least $45,800; joint filers need to earn at least $51,500.

or a Permanent One?

This is a permanent change. Previous child tax credit expansions have been in place for a set number of years and when it was time for those changes to expire, lawmakers renegotiated the new parameters. That is why the child tax credit came up this year—changes put in place in 2017 were set to expire in 2025.

What the new version does differently is make the changes permanent. Lawmakers can still tweak the credit if they want to later, but there is no set date where the changes will end, and the credit will revert to a former amount.

Chabeli Carrazana is the Economy and Child Care Reporter for The 19th July/August 2025 ONYX MAGAZINE 27

COMMUNITY

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make A Lemonade Stand

By Ashton Johnson

F

reshly squeezed lemon, water, and a quarter cup of sugar make the perfect cup of lemonade. One day out of the summer, pitchers are filled, cups are stacked, and behind every corner, a kid with a bright idea and a goal.

An ice-cold cup of good old-fashioned lemonade from a neighborhood lemonade stand can cheer anyone up on a hot summer day, but for thousands of youths across America, lemonade is more than just a refreshing beverage.

Lemonade Day is where young entrepreneurs, passion, and creativity meet to teach youth how to turn lemons into life lessons.

It may sound like a funny concept, but do not let the name fool you; this event is a hands-on, free business learning workshop that teaches kids how to plan, market, and operate their own lemonade stand.

Originally launching in Houston, Texas, in 2007, Lemonade Day expanded to multiple cities across the U.S., serving over 1.5 million kids, and made its way to Tallahassee in 2015. Lemonade Day is a fun experience for youth to learn about financial literacy, critical thinking skills, and leadership all wrapped into one.

The participants create budgets, set profit-making goals, and determine the best way to serve customers and how much they want to give back to the community.

In Tallahassee, hundreds of youth line the street corners and provide Florida’s capitol city with delicious lemonade from some of the city’s most creative future business leaders. For 14-yearold Michael Gallon, a random day of looking up things to do for kids in Tallahassee turned into his annual lemonade stand, “Who’s Thirsty,” that has his customers begging for more every year.

Coming up with the name himself and adding his slogan from his aunt, Michael’s experience with Lemonade Day Tallahassee has taught him how to cater to his customers.

“You always need to pay attention to what your customers say and how you manage a business,” he said.

Gallon started participating in Lemonade Day Tallahassee in 2021 after his mother, Juenelle Gallon, put him in a kids’ business workshop after looking on the Fun For Tally website. From there, they got involved with Lemonade Day Tallahassee and have not stopped since.

28 ONYX MAGAZINE July/August 2025

The Chapman brothers own Thirst Drumline lemonade stand.

Friday-Stroud

White

Turner

Selling freshly squeezed lemonade topped with strawberries, pineapples, mango, or watermelon, “Who’s Thirsty” has become a hit lemonade stand in his community. With a catchy slogan of “Who’s thirsty?

You’re thirsty. Come on down to Who’s Thirsty, where one swallow makes your taste buds holla,” his unique lemonade stand has people wanting more.

“The first year we did we were like okay. The second year we did it, we were like, okay, we’ll do it, but the year before last year, he decided that he didn’t want to do it,” Micheal’s mother said.

“People kind of depend on us doing the lemonade every year because they look forward to it... And that’s when he ended up on the news— the year he didn’t want to do it.”

One day out of a year is not enough for his loyal customers, who ask him to bring out his stand more often. For every dollar earned, Michael makes sure to plan how he wants to save, spend, and give back to an important initiative.

Ten percent of his earnings go to the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital Foundation, the hospital that helped him in his early years of life.

“I was born seven weeks early, and I had to be transported to the NICU,” Michael said.

So, as a way of sending support to the place where it all started, his donations make his stand about more than just the lemonade.

Though he plans to become a pilot, the lessons he learned from being the boss of his mini-busi-

COMMUNITY

Young entrepreneurs learn the value of starting a business.

ness have prepared him with leadership skills, confidence in his ability to set and reach his goals, and the power to problem-solve in any situation.

Lemonade Day Tallahassee has guided K-12 students to entrepreneurship for almost 10 years, thanks to The School of Business and Industry (SBI) at Florida A&M University. In 2015, former SBI professor LaToyna White, Ph.D., worked with former SBI dean Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Ph.D., to plant the seed of Lemonade Day in Florida’s capital city.

Dedicated to preparing business students for corporate America and entrepreneurial innovation, SBI has spread that impact beyond lemonade by setting the foundation for business independence and youth empowerment.

Rashada Turner, a FAMU alumna and SBI instructor, is going into her third year as director of Lemonade Day Tallahassee, where she works hard to make this special day happen.

“For a long time, up to two years ago, we were the only city in Florida that had Lemonade Day,” Turner said.

Even in surrounding cities, communities participate in this pipeline of possibility.

“We’ve had families in Madison, families in Quincy, Monacello, you know, throughout the Big Bend selling lemonade,” Turner stated.

Orlando is the only other major city in the Sunshine State joining the program in 2023. Now, dozens of organizations and businesses support the event, offering stand locations, donating supplies, and providing sponsorships, but in the beginning, SBI covered the whole event.

“It was funded and licensed by Florida A&M’s School of Business and Industry. It is a very big deal,” the director stated.

SBI is still sponsoring and guiding this event almost a decade later, and its impact continues to ripple across the region.

One shining example of that impact is with Brothers Edward Chapman III and Ethan Chapman, ages 13 and 10, where Lemonade Day has become a steppingstone into a more significant entrepreneurial journey.

Their business spirit sparked early when older brother Edward started Thirst Drumline, his own drumming business, at six. From there, when a church member told his mom, Youri Chapman,

about Lemonade Day, she knew this was the perfect opportunity to nurture a budding talent.

“The skills that they are learning in Lemonade Day have reinforced their business skills because they were younger when they started,” Youri said.

“We’re just walking this thing out together, becoming business owners, trying to learn everything about owning a business, and Lemonade Day just kind of added to those skills.”

Just starting with one son, The Chapman Brothers’ Lemonade Stand was launched once Ethan became old enough, blending family values and bold flavors into every cup.

They initially offered regular and strawberry lemonade, but in the last two years, they added peach and raspberry to the mix.

Michael owns "Who's Thirsty" lemonade stand.

For six years, the Chapman family has participated in Lemonade Day, and the brother’s passion and dedication can be felt through every cup sold.

There was so much passion that in 2020, at only 11 and 7 years old, they swept both the local and national Youth Entrepreneur of the Year awards.

“They were flown out to Houston, Texas, to meet the founder of Lemonade Day. They won a prize in money and were able to talk about their journey through Lemonade Day,” Youri explained.

“To be honest, I wasn’t expecting that, but it happened.”

Through sharing their stories, they were also able to highlight their own businesses and a book that the youngest son, Ethan, wrote and published.

Now, with several successful summers behind

them, the Chapman brothers are considering how they can evolve their one-day lemonade stand into a year-round brand.

“I didn’t know we were going to be in it this long, but it’s been a good experience. The boys have learned a lot of financial skills as well as learning how to interact with people better and the business side of it,” she said.

For parents thinking about signing up their kids for Lemonade Day, Youri, a satisfied parent, says get involved.

“Especially if you’re wanting your kid to learn more about entrepreneurship, participating in Lemonade Day gives them that hands-on practical experience on how to run a legit business.”

These hard-working brothers have been in the game for a long time, but their story proves that when kids are empowered early, they don’t just set up a stand; they build a foundation.

Lemonade Day Tallahassee happens every year on the second weekend in June, and you can find different stands through the stand locator on the lemonadeday.org/tallahassee website.

Lemonade Day Tallahassee isn’t just about drinks and dollars; it’s about planting seeds of confidence, teaching real-life skills, and giving kids a chance to lead, grow, and shine. Every pitcher has a plan of action. Every stand is a classroom. And every satisfied and smiling customer helps fuel a dream.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, business owner, or just someone who loves a good cup of lemonade, you can be a part of the Lemonade magic. Visit lemonadeday.org/tallahassee to sign up, sponsor a stand, or become a mentor.

Sometimes, the best way to build a better future is to step aside, hand over the apron, and let the kids take the stand with heart, hustle, and a whole lot of lemonade.

Ashton Johnson is a Broadcast Journalism Major and the Copy Desk chief for Journey Magazine in the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication at Florida A&M University.

July/August 2025 ONYX MAGAZINE 29

FLORIDA SCOPE FLORIDA BEHIND IN AI RACE With 11.3% of businesses using AI (sixth overall in the United States), Florida is finding ways to monetize the technology. But even with 11 AI jobs per 1,000 workers (21st overall), infrastructure and education aren’t keeping up. For example, only 2.3% of high school students take computer science. Only 10 states are worse by that metric. The state is 35th when it comes to AI-related degrees for people aged 20 to 24. Florida Politics

THE WORST HOUSING MARKET IN AMERICA IS NOW CAPE CORAL They came in droves via Zoom. Thousands found an inexpensive slice of paradise in Cape Coral, a city with more canals than anywhere else in the world. House hunters were so taken with this boating community on Florida’s west coast that many purchased homes sight unseen during the early years of the pandemic. Now, three years later, “For Sale” signs line every other block. Open houses are deserted for hours. Foreclosures are ticking up. Home builders are listing half-built shells at discounts as they abandon projects to cut losses. Wall Street Journal

BUCS OWNERS OFFER GRANTS TO HURRICANEIMPACTED BUSINESSES The owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers created the Glazer Family Small Business Fund after the 2024 hurricanes hit Florida to help organizations impacted by the storms. The fund is currently accepting applications for a third round of small business fund grants, open to small businesses in Tampa Bay and west central Florida. Business Observer

HEALTH ADVOCATES NETWORK OF BOCA RAISES $15.6M IN DEBT AND EQUITY FUNDING Health Advocates Network, a national provider of healthcare workforce solutions, announced that it has closed on $15.6 million in growth capital in recent equity and debt raises. Founded in 2020 and based in Boca Raton, Health Advocates Network provides healthcare staffing and services across the United States to hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities, supporting the company’s mission to provide quality care and optimal patient outcomes. Refresh Miami

AFTER LOSING TECH JOBS, TAMPA MAY SEE A COMEBACK Tampa Bay’s tech workforce saw a slight decline last year, but a new report suggests the region may be poised for a rebound. The Tampa metropolitan area lost an estimated 1,316 tech jobs in 2024, a 0.1% dip in overall tech employment, according to CompTIA’s newly released State of the Tech Workforce 2025 report. Despite the dip, the nonprofit projects a turnaround in 2025 with a 2.2% growth rate, which would add about 2,000 jobs back to the local tech economy. Tampa Bay Business Journal

BREEZE AIRWAYS OFFERS NONSTOP ROUTE FROM TAMPA

DESANTIS INCLUDES AFFORDABLE-HOUSING PROGRAMS BUDGET Affordable housing projects in Florida are not solely dependent on money from the federal government. Gov. Ron DeSantis fully funded a pair of programs that Florida Housing Coalition’s Ashon Nesbitt said could fill in the gap by subsidizing developers. "We're very fortunate in Florida to have those programs in place, to have infrastructure in place, that we can invest more in to further fill gaps,” Nesbitt said. The programs are the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) and the State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL). Both are funded by the Sadowski Trust Fund, which was established in 1992. WUSF 30 ONYX MAGAZINE July/August 2025

Robyn Wallace, co-owner of the new Local Green food truck at Disney Springs, never imagined herself launching a food business. She studied science and analytics in college, and her plan was to become a doctor. But life has a way of taking us in unexpected directions, and Wallace has spent the bulk of her career focused on chronic health issues in communities, specifically related to the accessibility of healthy food. In 2017, she put that passion into practice when, alongside her husband and business partner, Zak Wallace, she launched Local Green, a fast-casual restaurant in Atlanta focused on healthier food choices. Now she’s bringing that same passion to Walt Disney World, with the debut this month of the second Local Green location–a food truck at Disney Springs! Local Green Orlando features vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian dishes, bringing even more healthy options to Walt Disney World guests. “We want folks to know you don’t have to sacrifice your taste for health,” Wallace said. Tampa Bay Business Journal

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COMMUNITY

ONYX Magazine received a proclamation from the City of Jacksonville Rich Black greets guests, including former U.S. congresswoman, Corrine Brown, second from left.

BACK in DUVAAAL! O N Y X M AG A Z I N E R E L AU N C H E D I N J AC K S O N V I L L E TO R E C O N N E C T A N D C E L E B R AT E B L AC K M US I C .

By Penny Dickerson

O

NYX Magazine returned to its Jacksonville roots for the relaunch of the publication, which has served as a preeminent lifestyle source, entertaining, inspiring, and informing the Black community for the past 28 years.

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Rich Black remained intentional in his relentless quest to uplift the rich history and culture of Jacksonville, with an emphasis on impact, influence, and leadership. He was steadfast in bringing ONYX Magazine back home.

The festive Jacksonville Relaunch, held May 14 at The Ritz Theatre and LaVilla Museum, received sponsorship from The Ritz, Cox Media 106.5, with radio personality Wanda P. serving as presiding host, 5000 Role Models of Excellence (Jacksonville), and delectable bites by Chef Jeff Johnson (3J’s Catering & More). More than 200 attendees included Duval County's community stalwarts, municipal leaders and movers and shakers who serve at the forefront of sustaining Jacksonville as one of North Florida's most populous and thriving cities.

Thematically, the gathering marked the early celebration of African American Music Appreciation Month (June) by honoring four of the city's stellar songwriters and musicians, some of whom are Jacksonville natives but all of whom have contributed to the lyrical landscape of Jacksonville. Collectively, they have a global reach and collaborative bragging rights, working with renowned musicians across a range of genres.

32 ONYX MAGAZINE July/August 2025

Among those honored were Deb McDuffie, producer and composer affectionally known as 'The Jingle Queen’; Glenn Jones, recording artist, producer and composer of We've Only Just Begun; Jevon Hill, recent Grammy Award-winner, producer, songwriter and musician and celebrated Southern Hip-Hop pioneers 95 South (Michael "Mike Mike" Phillips and Carlos "Daddy Black" Spencer), who once kept radio airwaves lit with their landmark hit, Whoot, There It Is. Dynamic greetings from leaders filled the evening's program, which included a Jacksonville City proclamation naming May 14 as ONYX Magazine Day, presented by Pat McCollough, special advisor to the mayor on Civic Engagement and Youth Participation.

Former Senator Tony Hill engaged the audience with a resonant speech on the relevance of ONYX Magazine to the Black community and expressed his gratitude to Rich Black for his consistent hard work and dedication to maintaining ONYX Magazine since he purchased the magazine from its original owners, Lester and Lillian Seays.

COMMUNITY

City Councilman Dr. Rahman Johnson presented a plaque to Rich Black.

Joe Jones was recognized for his heroism during the 1964 "Bloody Sunday" march.

Honorable Jacksonville City Council members JuCoby Pittman (District 10) and Rahman Johnson (District 14) delivered an outpouring of encouragement that inspired attendees to support ONYX, both financially through subscriptions and advertising.

Never absent for words on the integrity of the civil rights movement and the shameful brutality Blacks endured to achieve racial equality, Rodney Hearst, author of "It Was Never About a Hotdog and a Coke," ignited the mic with his Black history wisdom and perpetual message, "Unless we tell our stories, they won't get told and certainly not with accuracy." Hurst is also among the 2024 ONYX Magazine Men of Honor.

Former Congresswoman Corinne Brown, who once graced the cover of ONYX Magazine, offered her presence and eloquence as a foremost supporter whose endorsement of ONYX

Violinist C'ana Chappell-Bilbro

Award recipient Deborah McDuffie talked about her legacy in music.

took the publication to the steps of Capitol Hill and exposed a new sector of readers to the wealth of knowledge held within its illustrious pages.

ONYX Magazine also gave special recognition to community hero Joe Jones, who was a student when civil rights activists converged upon the Edmund Pettus Bridge during "Bloody Sunday." Jones received a commemorative purple lanyard medallion for his presence, service, and for being a keeper of the legacy.

Moving forward, Rich Black plans to launch a community awards ceremony akin to the publication's existing Women on the Move and Men of Honor celebrations. Future editions of ONYX aim to be more inclusive of the magnificent strides Jacksonville achieves, profiling many of its known and lesser-known community activists and leaders.

Currently based in Orlando, Black offers a litany of thanks to staff and Jacksonville

Honoree Carlos Spencer.

Honoree Deborah McDuffie

committee members who made the event an immeasurable success: Ricky Anderson Christy Jones Bird Sade Cole Penny Dickerson Marianne Eggleston Syrita Frinks Ronnie Garmon Tony Hill Dr. Patty Mason Wanda Patterson Angela Pittman-Leath D. Shenell Reed Lonnie Tisdale Jesse Williams Penny Dickerson is a senior features writer for ONYX Magazine. Photos by Ronnie Garmon.

Honoree Glenn Jones

July/August 2025 ONYX MAGAZINE 33

HEALTHY LIVING The first Jacksonville Health & Lifestyle Festival brings vital resources to the community.

O

n Saturday, May 3, Downtown Jacksonville came alive with energy, education and community spirit at the first Jacksonville Health & Lifestyle Festival. Presented by CSI Media & Events and Choices, the free fair held at The Ford on Bay delivered a full day of health screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, ZYTO, vision, and much more.

"There is a mandate to connect the community with resources that allow everyone to receive quality healthcare and equip them with information to make better, more informed decisions; and wiser choices to improve their health and increase longevity," said Yolanda Hooper, the event founder and organizer. "Although this event was done with no funding support and very little sponsorship, we hope to gain the support of corporate and legislative leaders who will help us in our pursuit to make a difference in the health and well-being of our communities."

In year one, the results were quite impressive.

Nearly 2,500 registrants walked away with lifestyle resources that equip them to improve their overall health, enhance quality of life, and embrace longevity. More than 80 diverse vendors doled out free reading glasses and conducted onsite mammograms. Seven food trucks served up delicious, healthy, local, and fresh cuisine. Wellness scans, school and sports physicals accompanied a bevy of other critical health checks, even for family pets.

"We understand that wellness extends to our furry best friends, too," said Hooper. The pet-friendly section offered nail trimming, teeth brushing, dental hygiene, pet nutrition, and healthy treats. With more than 180 four-legged friends at registration, it became evident that pet parents highly regarded the services.

34 ONYX MAGAZINE July/August 2025

The daylong festivities kicked up a notch with the smooth jazz stylings of Eric Carter & Company; easy listening with Ace Winn; the powerful vocals of Antwoine Overby; and a stunning performance by the award-winning Britney Boyd Dance Company. The Band Be Easy closed out the day with a festive and upbeat groove.

Hooper thanked Reggie Gaffney, Jr., Lynn Sherman and Jimmy Peluso for their support of the inaugural event. Other supporters included host WJXT Channel 4 River City Live Show Host Rance Adams; and Digital Media Manager Tamiko Stuckey.

"Tamiko played a key role in branding, digital outreach, and vendor engagement. We were able to plan and produce this successful community event in just four months," Hooper said. "Special thanks to Special Government and Public Affairs Manager Shantrel Brown for establishing dynamic partner opportunities. The response was amazing."

Hooper, the CEO of CSI Media & Events, is also a media specialist who started her career in media at WJAX CBS 47, then founded CSI Media & Events in 2003 and has been providing multi-media solutions, organizing and coordinating events for 22 years. She expressed passion for the overall initiative.

"We chose to do this in a fun and engaging environment to remove the stigma and logistical barriers currently associated with receiving healthcare access and life solutions, while maximizing our ability to impact as many people, households and generations as possible," said Hooper. "The results have reflected the event's success."

Hooper plans to host the second annual Jacksonville Health & Lifestyle Festival on Saturday, May 2, 2026.

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ONYX ON THE MOVE

ONYX Publisher Meets His Grace, Bishop Neil C. Ellis

His Grace, Bishop Neil C. Ellis tours Mr. Black around the Neil C. Ellis Library.

ONYX Magazine Publisher Rich Black is all about nation building.

During the upcoming #ONYXMagazineMenOfHonor, we will recognize His Grace, Bishop Neil C. Ellis as the Man of the Year. Mr. Black took a trip to Nassau, The Bahamas, to meet with Ellis, who is the founding visionary of Mount Tabor Church in The Bahamas, and Global United Fellowship, which has 43 locations throughout the world. While in Nassau, Mr. Black and Bishop Ellis met with Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, the 2023 Men of Honor Global Impact Leader. They also met the new president of the University of the Bahamas, Dr. Robert Blaine, III, Bahamian ambassadors, and residents. ONYX Magazine Men of Honor will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at the Rosen Centre. Visit www.ONYXMOH.com for more information.

Bishop Ellis and Mr. Black interviewed with Clint Watson on The Rundown on ZNS, The Bahamas's national news source.

Rich Black Honored During Juneteenth ONYX Magazine Publisher Rich Black received the Ally in Action award from 1K Women Strong in June. In celebration of Juneteenth, nonprofit hub 1K Women Strong honored civil rights activist Dr. Opal Lee, known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” and other community leaders with the 2nd annual Dr. Opal Lee Legacy Breakfast and award ceremony. Dr. Lee, an advocate for education and social justice, will be in attendance to celebrate her immense legacy, the fight for voting rights, the ongoing pursuit of equality and all those who use her vision to drive forward progress and keep our communities strong. This special breakfast hosted 60+ guests, including local civic leaders, organizers, and legacy partners who are committed to building the future.

During the event, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett received the most esteemed honor of the event—The Torch Bearer Award—presented to a leader whose work reflects relentless commitment to justice, advocacy, and the uplifting of marginalized voices. Her bold and impactful leadership makes her a powerful embodiment of this legacy. Rich Black and the 10th annual ONYX Magazine Women on the Move committee named Dr. Lee the Publisher's Award honoree in March 2025.

July/August 2025 ONYX MAGAZINE 37

TECHNOLOGY

HOW IS AI IMPACTING OUR CHILDREN AI is here to stay, and children use it daily.

Find out how parents can stay engaged with this technology.

By Tiffany Munzer, M.D., FAAP

A

rtificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the way we work, play and communicate. While AI has potential to help solve complex problems, you've likely also heard serious concerns about it—and especially, the ways AI might change the lives of children and teens.

With so many viewpoints out there, how can you make sense of AI and its possible impact on your family? Let's start by looking at how AI works and what issues that parents and families may need to consider as the technology evolves.

What exactly is Artificial Intelligence?

How Does AI work?

AI is modeled on the human brain—how we gather facts, descriptions, comments, images and much more and make sense of it all to complete a specific task. The difference is that AI draws the input together, sorting it and making it immediately accessible to us. However, unlike human knowledge, it doesn’t have the ability to connect new information to all of our other life experiences.

AI technology has been in development since the mid-1950s. Thanks to recent breakthroughs, though, AI-driven tools are quickly becoming part of our everyday lives. For example, when you contact customer service, AI may help answer your questions. When you explore international news, the words you hear or read may be translated into your preferred language by AI. In your doctor's office, an AI speech recognition program may help the medical team take notes and update your chart.

On a larger scale, AI is used to study traffic safety and flow, for example, and analyze health risks in large populations.

38 ONYX MAGAZINE July/August 2025

What About the AI That Some Kids Use to Do Their Homework?

Generative AI is technology that creates content that in the past could come only from humans. For example, instead of sitting down to draft a report, a writer might use ChatGPT to come up with relevant facts and suggested wording. An artist might create what looks like an original photo or drawing by entering a short description into an AI-driven program.

It's easy to see why some kids use AI to help them with school assignments. They can find facts and search among millions of charts and images to learn more about a subject. AI also powers grammar programs that can check their work to fix writing errors.

Schools have rules about how AI can be used for homework and writing, though, so it’s important to check with teachers. Teens also need to learn to be honest about when they used AI with assignments.

AI is All Around Us—and All About Us Even if your kids aren't using AI for portions of their schoolwork, they (and you) are coming in contact with AI every day. Your children, and your family as a whole, have a digital footprint. This may be made up of every online search, purchase, download or viewing and listening session you engage in. If you use an AI-driven smart speaker to answer questions about the weather, sports scores and more, you're feeding even more data into this collective footprint.

How Are Kids Tapping Into AI? As child health experts at UNICEF have pointed out, kids around the world use AI almost daily. Most interactive toys, games and internet platforms

made for children depend on AI technology. Even though AI is advancing faster than anyone expected, most nations have not considered how AI will affect the social and emotional well-being of children.

Much more research is needed, but early studies on AI and kids point to several concerns: • Young children may share personal information with AI platforms. Studies show that little ones often chat with smart speakers, telling personal stories and disclosing details that grownups might consider private.

• They may assume AI platforms are a lot like people. One study found that kids between 3 and 6 years old believed that smart speakers had thoughts, feelings and social abilities. Only a few kids assumed the speakers were actually human. This could affect how kids learn to interact with others. (Also see "Are AI Chatbots Safe for Kids?")

• They may trust AI more than they trust humans. Another study found that young children thought smart speakers were more reliable than people when it came to answering fact-based questions such as, "Who was the first U.S. president to drive a car?"

• Many teens use AI daily. Adolescents are big fans of generative AI that helps them write essays and reports and create images and video for social sharing (among hundreds of other possible uses). However, only 1 in 4 parents whose teens use AI are aware they're doing it, a recent poll shows.

What Are the Benefits of AI for Kids and Families?

TECHNOLOGY There are many ways AI technology can help kids learn and grow.

• It's a valuable tool for learning. AI can be used to tailor lessons and learning experiences to the individual needs of young children and teens. It can help educators and parents find ways to enrich learning for kids of all abilities at different stages of growth and development.

And while it's not a good substitute for live conversation, it can help children improve their language skills and even learn new languages.

• It can foster creativity. We live in a visual world, so kids need ways to express their ideas through photos, images, graphs and more. AI is not only valuable to budding artists, but also kids who want to create data displays, charts, simple cartoons and other visuals.

• It may motivate and engage kids in new ways. AI can be interactive and fun for kids, offering new ways to enjoy and explore their world. For some, this may be a life-changing experience that opens new doors, enhances school performance and helps prepare them for the challenges of adult life.

What are Potential Dangers of AI for Our Kids?

For all the promise they hold, AI platforms can also harm children and families.

• They can spread hate, bias and stereotypes.

Because AI "learns" from everything it finds on the internet, AI platforms reflect the same prejudices that threaten to divide and alienate us. Extensive studies show that AI-generated content advances stereotypes and falsehoods. Adults must be ready to talk with kids about what they see online and how it might reinforce negative beliefs and actions.

• They can erode privacy. AI collects a huge amount of data about us, often without us knowing it. For example, one toy was found to record conversations among parents, kids and anyone else nearby, with the ability to transmit data from these conversations to third parties.

• It's hard to keep up with reports on toys and devices that could violate your family's privacy, but parents may want to avoid interactive toys that promise to "talk" with kids.

• They can flood kids with selling messages.

AI follows us on the internet, making note of what we like and serving us more of the same. Your child's search history may make them the target of relentless ad campaigns you would prefer they not see.

• They can be used for bullying and fraud.

Generative AI can be used to create false or distorted images of your child or teen, or someone they know. One example: the fake nudes that have been used to attack and shame many teens. Deepfakes and voice cloning can be used to threaten kids into taking actions they ordinarily would never consider, like giving private information or sending money.

•

• What Can I do to Safeguard My Child from the Risks of AI? • Talk to your kids about AI. Tailor what you say to your child's age and level of understanding.

• You don't want to frighten a young child, but you can make them aware that the smart speaker in your kitchen is not the same as a trusted friend. Talk about the differences between people and digital assistants—or between live conversations with friends and family and chatting on social media. Draw examples from your own life so your child

•

•

Are Lawmakers Taking Action to Protect Us? It's clear that AI is here to stay. But in the U.S., legislation hasn't kept pace with technological growth.

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) protects kids 13 years and younger by restricting access and usage of personal information about them that can be found online.

However, since its passage in the late 1990s, COPPA has been routinely violated by media companies, manufacturers and others. Further, it isn't clear whether ChatGPT and other generative platforms comply with COPPA regulations.

•

gains a sense of how you practice online safety.

With teens, aim for an open discussion about privacy, bias, bullying and other online safety issues. Don't preach—and don't try to cover every aspect of AI all at once. Ask them for their opinions and keep an open mind. This can prompt discussions that will help you learn together.

Teach older kids how to manage online privacy. Explain how they can manage cookies, clear browsing histories and block social media users or marketers whose messages they choose not to see. Emphasize that this is something all online users should know—and offer a few examples of how you protect your own privacy.

Try AI together. Consider testing out an AI-driven app like ChatGPT or Facetune together with your kids. This can give you the chance to discuss how it works and point out any issues that concern you. Common Sense Media offers reviews that help you choose platforms to test-drive as a family.

Encourage curiosity and critical thinking.

Challenge your kids to look for signs of bias in online content. For example, you can make a game out of spotting things that seem real vs. those that appear to be fake. Ask kids where they think the information or images are coming from. Does the person, company or group sharing them have a goal in mind? What reasons do we have to trust (or distrust) the sender?

Talk about plagiarism. In a time when anyone can cut and paste content and pass it off as their own, kids need to understand the concept of original work. Explain how they can use online information as a jumping-off point for their own thinking. Make sure they understand that copying or presenting the words, images and ideas of others without giving them credit is wrong (and often illegal). Continue the conversation as you kids grow.

The Kids Online Safety Act, first introduced in 2021 and still moving through Congress, would require social media platforms to protect the data of minor-aged children. However, this legislation doesn't address the data that web service providers, email services and educational institutions can gather about our kids.

The Future of AI & Protecting Kids We have a long way to go in realizing the benefits of AI while also protecting our kids from the risks it might pose. The guardrails we need should reflect the tremendous power of AI to shape our everyday lives.

Ongoing dialogue should bring families together with schools, health care providers, sports and arts organizations and other community organizations, so we can help kids benefit from AI while minimizing its potential harms.

An executive order on AI may serve as a guideline for future laws, but regulations that spell out what organizations can and can't do with AI technology do not exist yet.

Tiffany Munzer, M.D., FAAP is a developmental-behavioral pediatrician and digital media researcher at the University of Michigan.

July/August 2025 ONYX MAGAZINE 39

E D U C AT I O N C O M M E N TA RY

The School

Choice is Yours Learning the differences in school types is the key to choosing well for your child’s education.

By Angela Pittman Leath

W

hen parents and others consider school choice, they believe it is a modern-day movement that gives parents a greater voice in their child's education. However, the practice of school choice dates back to the mid-19th century, according to some interpretations of history. Other information and beliefs argue that the initial push for school choice stemmed from the Civil Rights Movement. Regardless of one's view on the argument, one fact is clear: school choice is now available to all parents.

According to updated information on the United States Department of Education website, states have guidance and flexibility in implementing President Trump's executive order, which expands educational freedom and opportunity for families. States are now free to use 3% of their Title 1 allocation to provide funds to local education agencies for direct student services. Before the Trump administration, Title 1 funding would have been allocated to schools that received federal funding to support students from low-income families, aiming to improve their academic achievement.

Traditionally, there were only two main categories of schools: public or private, and the majority of the funds went toward the public schools. With the expansion of school choice, the funding that previously mainly went to public schools is now divided among public schools, magnet schools, charter

40 ONYX ONYX MAGAZINE MAGAZINE July/August 2025 40

schools, private schools, and religious elementary and secondary schools.

Other pots of money are also available to parents because the money is attached to the child.

When you follow the money trail, is school choice a movement that actually improves the educational outcomes of students? Are more students now meeting and exceeding the national and state academic standards, or was this simply a way to privatize education? We may never know the answer to this question.

Gwendolyn Yates is a past Jacksonville city councilwoman and former acting

mayor who established one of the country's first youth crisis centers.

Commenting on school choice, she said, "I do believe that families have a responsibility of being able to choose the schools for their children to go to.

Education is so important; it's important to have children in the right place at the right time. And if they enjoy the schools that they're at, usually they are a lot more successful, and that's what we need."

SCHOOL CHOICES

Let's further examine the three main categories of schools, as well as the

E D U C AT I O N C O M M E N TA RY

financial support available to students through various vouchers and scholarship programs. Additionally, it is essential to remember that this initiative provides parents with an opportunity to be more involved in their child's or children's educational journey. As with any important task, parents should always consult the school office for guidance.

Typically, school choice departments live within public school districts. Conducting research for the right questions is key when choosing a school. Here are some options that school choice provides.

1. Public Schools

The general public finances the education of students in public elementary and secondary schools. Magnet schools are public schools that offer specialized instruction and programs not available at other public schools. Magnet schools are designed to attract target public school student populations. An example of this would be a school that emphasizes art or teaches gifted students.

2. Charter Schools

Charter schools are public schools created by a nonprofit organization, managed by the nonprofit's governing board and sponsored by the county's school board. The school board and nonprofit define the grade levels, targeted student population, and the school’s services. So, if an organization of like-minded individuals comes together to open a school they believe meets their standards and ideals, and supports it with a curriculum, this charter school has a very good chance of opening and operating.

3. Private Schools

Private schools receive tuition for funding. They also have the privilege of selecting their curriculum. The admission standards are those of private schools.

Keep in mind that private schools are not always as advanced as they claim, and the curriculum of a particular school may not adequately address the needs of a student. An example of this is Montessori learning, a child-centered educational approach that emphasizes self-directed activity, hands-on learning, and collaborative play. It is a research-based and

proven successful curriculum; however, not every child thrives in a Montessori learning environment.

FUNDING EDUCATION

Here are just a few of the available funding options:

• • • • • • • • •

Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities Florida Tax Credit Education Savings Account Education Savings Accounts in K-12 Education School Tuition Tutoring Online education programs Therapies for students with special needs Textbooks or other instructional materials

Education savings accounts were established for parents and are a publicly funded government-authorized savings account with some restrictions but has many used for education. Any parent can apply for these funds regardless of income or tax bracket. Simply contact your school district’s School Choice Office.

Alton and Gwen Yates.

In a country where freedom of choice is paramount to maintaining our democracy, school choice is equally important.

Retired Lt. Col. Alton Yates

MAKING CHOICES

Retired Lt. Col. Alton Yates served during the early stages of the space race between the United States and Russia as a volunteer test astronaut. His research and testing were critical to America's winning the space race. Yates was also a civil rights leader in Jacksonville who served as an assistant to four city mayors between 1974 and 1996.

Yates said, "In a country where freedom of choice is paramount to maintaining our democracy, school choice is equally important. If we are going to continue to live in a society that is free and beneficial to all of its people, then there have to be the kind of opportunities available for one to choose the school of his or her choice."

Regardless of one's opinions or beliefs about school choice, school choice is here to stay. So, guardians face the ques-

tion of which type of school will best meet their child's needs. Most school districts offer a school choice fair or a similar event, presenting various schools in one location. These informational sessions allow parents and students to explore the various schools, meet with principals and other representatives, and gain a deeper understanding of the offerings. If the fairs are out of reach, parents/ guardians can always obtain information from the school choice office, located within their district's public school’s office.

Angela Pittman-Leath is a contributing Education reporter and host of The A+ Parent Show.

July/August 2025 ONYX MAGAZINE 41

BLACK HISTORY

Caregivers Face Financial,

Emotional and Career Impacts, Study Finds

T

wo in five U.S. adults identify as family caregivers, but there is a lack of support for them nationwide, according to new research from Edward Jones in partnership with Morning Consult and Age Wave, “the nation’s foremost thought leader on issues relating to an aging population.” With 46% of Americans expected to become caregivers in the future, this research sought to better understand their concerns and challenges, and uncover ways to support them.

StatePoint Media

How Caregivers Navigate Their Finances, Emotions and Careers Top financial concerns caregivers face include rising costs and inflation (56%) and inadequate retirement savings (42%). In fact, 95% of caregivers have some level of financial concern for their retirement, and 51% must cut back on personal spending because of their caregiving responsibilities, according to the study. In addition to financial challenges, many caregivers cited caregiving as a significant emotional responsibility, leaving them stressed, burned out, and unable to prioritize their own health.

Most caregivers (72%) are willing to sacrifice their own financial security to ensure proper care for their loved ones. This sometimes includes such measures as stepping away from their jobs entirely, reducing work hours, taking on debt and dipping into their own retirement savings.

Despite these challenges, 80% of caregivers say their role has strengthened their relationships with loved ones, with the large majority reporting feelings of personal fulfillment and gratitude from those in their care.

“Caregivers often bear great financial burdens and sacrifice their own well-being to care for children and elder family members,” says Ken Dychtwald, founder and CEO of Age Wave. “The vital role of family caregivers in our care systems and society demands greater recognition, resources and relief, especially as America’s population continues to live longer with more chronic conditions and the need for caregiving grows.”

42 ONYX MAGAZINE July/August 2025

Support, education and resources for caregivers is crucial. Fifty-seven percent have not sought professional advice for caregiving-related financial guidance, yet 93% of those who work with a financial advisor report feeling more confident about their financial future.

“Financial advisors are an important element of a caregiver’s support system,” says Ken Cella, principal and head of external affairs at Edward Jones. “They can give caregivers a complete picture of their finances, enabling them to navigate the complex realities of care while planning for multiple long-term financial and life goals.”

Additionally, 74% say they believe employers should offer benefits such as financial support or flexible work arrangements for employees with caregiving responsibilities, reflecting a growing demand for supportive workplace policies.

“In the face of rising living costs and a looming retirement crisis, supporting caregivers through national and employment policies is an investment in economic stability, public health and the well-being of both caregivers and those they are caring for,” says Cella. “As a firm, we are proud to advocate on behalf of caregivers by backing policies that will build lasting financial

Policies That Help Caregivers Have Bipartisan Support

strength for our clients, colleagues, communities and society.”

Edward Jones supports the Improving Retirement Security for Family Caregivers Act and the Catching Up Family Caregivers Act. According to advocates, these bills would build on the success of the SECURE 2.0 Act by providing additional savings opportunities for caregivers. To learn more, visit www.edwardjones.com/caregiving.

Caregivers have a lot to navigate emotionally, financially and logistically. But support, education and resources can help them meet the challenges.

Currently, 68% of Americans, regardless of political affiliation, say the public sector is not doing enough to support caregivers, a sentiment felt more strongly among those caring for elderly adults and special-needs adults. The research found that the majority of Americans support enacting federal legislation that would aid caregivers, such as expanded retirement account contributions for caregivers, and additional “catch-up” contributions for caregivers.

5

SMART TIPS

ways to be more prepared this HURRICANE SEASON

A

s this year's hurricane season gets underway, it's a good idea to make sure you've done everything you can to prepare your home and family for weather emergencies. Even if you've gotten safely through hurricane seasons in the past, remember that each year and each hurricane can be very different. While it's impossible to entirely hurricane-proof your house, some preparations can help make your home more resistant to damage and help you cope with the aftermath.

Here are five steps you can take to be more prepared this year.

1. Download a Trusted Weather App

BrandPoint Media

Having the most current updates on hurricane activity on your mobile device is ideal for staying prepared. For example, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Live Weather Radar is a timely source of information about weather conditions. NOAA also offers current updates through its Weather Radio service.

Knowing what's coming is crucial to ensure your home and family stay safer. Be sure to follow the instructions from local authorities regarding sheltering in place or evacuation.

2. Secure Your Home

Make sure you have materials (such as plywood and hardware) to shutter your windows if you don't already have permanent hurricane shutters installed. Depending on where you live, there may be laws regulating

installation of hurricane shutters, so you may wish to check with your state or municipality. You may also want to see if professionally installed permanent shutters may make you eligible for insurance discounts.

As soon as possible, trim tree branches close to your home and/or remove trees that are unhealthy or too near your structure to prevent future damage. It's also recommended to make sure outdoor furniture or other objects that could be picked up by strong winds be securely stored, and keep vehicles inside a garage if possible.

3. Prepare an Emergency Kit

Each year, refresh your emergency kit with a few days' worth of fresh bottled water for each person in your household, plus non-perishable food items, a first aid kit, flashlights and batteries, cell phone chargers and essential personal care items. You can find a helpful checklist to build or update your emergency kit at Ready.gov.

Experience frequent power outages during storms? Consider keeping a good quality cooler ready with ice packs to store perishable foods easily.

4. Upgrade Your Backup Power

The most effective way to prepare for power outages that often occur during severe weather - and can last for days - is having a reliable home backup power solution. For example, with the ultra-fast AC and solar recharging Anker SOLIX F3000 Portable Power Station, you'll have reliable backup power in case of outages caused by extreme weather events like thunderstorms, heatwaves and hurricanes.

The F3000 combines rapid recharging, scalable capacity and 120V generator compatibility to keep your essential appliances running during critical disruptions. Its 3,072Wh capacity and 3,600W AC output is enough power for refrigerators, medical devices, lights and more. Even better, it can seamlessly integrate with gas generators for extended run time, adding to the capacity of a generator you may already have. It's also a useful backup in case your gas generator runs out of fuel, which can be hard to obtain during an emergency.

The F3000 supports dual solar inputs (165V + 60V), achieving 2400W solar recharging with most existing rigid or portable panels, with no new accessories required. This high-efficiency design lets you harness solar energy cost-effectively, reducing reliance on the grid and lowering electricity bills.

You can find more information at Anker. com.

5. Be Ready to Go

Especially if your area is prone to evacuations due to severe weather, you'll want to create a "go bag" for each member of the family to make quick evacuation easier for everyone. In addition to water and non-perishable food, go bags should contain any important identification or documents you may need, plus essential medications. Go bags can be customized for your family's unique situation, with items like pet or baby supplies added if necessary.

Hono

July/August July/August2025 2025 ONYX MAGAZINE 43

WORKPLACE

AI AT WORK: Momentum Builds, but Gaps Remain

A recent survey shows it’s time for frontline leaders to embrace AI employees say they receive that support.

Provide the right tools. When employees don’t have the AI tools they need, more than half said they will find alternatives and use them anyway. This is a recipe for frustration, security risks, and fragmentation of efforts.

Provide proper training. When companies train their employees in AI, they are more likely to be regular users and to express confidence in the technology. Regular usage is sharply higher for employees that receive at least five hours of training and have access to in-person training and coaching. Only one-third of employees say that they have been properly trained.

A

I is no longer a distant promise. Leaders and managers have woven it into the fabric of their daily work lives.

However, frontline employees have not fully embraced the technology.

While more than three-quarters of leaders and managers say they use generative AI (GenAI) several times a week, regular use among frontline employees has stalled at 51%.

This gap comes at a critical time in the development of AI. Companies are realizing that merely introducing AI tools into existing ways of working isn’t enough to unlock their full potential. The real magic happens—and value generated —when businesses go further and reshape their workflows end-to-end.

One-half of companies, led by those in financial services and technology, are moving beyond productivity plays (what we call Deploy) to redesign workflows (Reshape).

44 ONYX MAGAZINE July/August 2025

These findings emerge from BCG’s annual AI at Work global survey of employees. (This year’s survey covers 11 countries and regions and more than 10,600 leaders, managers, and frontline white-collar employees.

Solving the Frontline Adoption Gap

The ability of companies to reshape workflows depends heavily on the engagement of frontline employees. The survey suggests ways for companies to help these employees break through the AI “silicon ceiling.”

Provide leadership support. When leaders demonstrate strong support for AI, frontline employees are more likely to use it regularly, enjoy their jobs, and feel good about their careers. For example, the share of employees who feel positive about GenAI rises from 15% to 55% with strong leadership support. Only about one-quarter of frontline

Companies actively reshaping their workflows with AI benefit in many ways that generate value for the organization. Their employees save significantly more time than those in companies where the technology is less integrated into the workday. In addition, employees’ decision making sharpens and they work on more strategic tasks.

These results don’t just happen. Companies in Reshape mode do a better job of tracking value created by AI. They spend more time training their employees, and employees are more likely to say their leaders support them.

Yet this transformation isn’t without its challenges. Employees at organizations undergoing comprehensive AI-driven redesign are more worried about job security (46%) than those at less-advanced companies (34%). And leaders and managers (43%) are far more likely to worry about losing their job in the next ten years than frontline employees (36%). In other words, the work of allaying employee fears is ongoing. Appro-

BCG’s third annual global AI at Work survey

The Upside in Reshaping Workflows

WORKPLACE

priate training and upskilling can help reduce employees’ concerns.

AI Agents: Implementation Lags Potential

AI agents —smart digital assistants capable of learning, reasoning, and handling complex tasks independently—have been receiving a lot of buzz. But the survey reveals they are still in their infancy. Just 13% of employees see them deeply integrated into their daily workflows. Only one-third of employees understand how these sophisticated tools function.

Interestingly, when workers are well-informed and familiar with AI agents, apprehension turns into enthusiasm. Employees begin viewing AI agents less as threats and more as collaborative partners that enhance their work.

What’s Next for AI in the Workplace?

The survey reveals progress by companies in introducing and integrating AI. But it also exposes concerns, primarily about job security. As with last year, the survey reveals that the more employees use AI, the more their concerns grow. This represents a familiar challenge seen in other technological transitions—notably, from steam to electrical power.

The journey from AI adoption to impact is fundamentally about reshaping how people and machines collaborate. Companies committed to this transformation understand that AI’s true power lies in smarter ways of working. When done right, employees don’t just adapt—they thrive. Here’s how to start:

• •

•

•

Stop underestimating the importance of training. Commit appropriate levels of investment, time, and leadership support.

Track the value you are generating with AI through improvements in productivity, quality, and employee satisfaction.

Invest in your people to reshape workflows and unlock AI’s value.

Anticipate the technology’s impact on work, workers, and the workforce. Build upskilling and reskilling capabilities to support workforce deployment.

Experiment rigorously with agents to accelerate the experience curve. Track impact and potential risks via A/B testing.

Getting Back in the Groove After Summer Vacation THIS AI-GENERATED ARTICLE BREAKS DOWN WAYS TO SETTLE IN AT WORK AFTER TIME AWAY

E

asing back into work mode after a vacation involves a gradual transition and prioritizing tasks. Start by organizing your workspace, reviewing your to-do list, and tackling urgent tasks first.

Break down larger projects into smaller, manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Prioritize your health by getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and eating balanced meals. Consider taking breaks, and if possible, schedule an extra day off at the end of your vacation to catch up.

Here's a more detailed breakdown: 1. Prioritize and Organize—Create aTo-Do List:

3. Preparation and Planning—Delegate Tasks:

 Make a list of everything that needs your

 Before leaving for vacation, delegate

attention, categorizing tasks by urgency and importance.  Break Down Large Projects: Divide complex tasks into smaller, more manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed.  Tackle Urgent Tasks First: Address urgent and critical tasks immediately to reduce pressure and create a sense of accomplishment.  Review and Prioritize: Review your to-do list and prioritize tasks based on their urgency and deadlines.

2. Gradual Re-entry—Ease Back In:

 Don't try to tackle everything at once.

Take a slower approach, dividing your first day into time blocks with regular breaks.  Prioritize Health: Ensure you're getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and eating nutritious meals to support your body and mind.  Take Breaks: Incorporate short breaks throughout the day to stay focused and energized.  Be Kind to Yourself: It's okay to not be at full speed immediately. Lower your expectations for productivity and mindset as you readjust.

tasks and inform colleagues about your workload to ensure a smoother transition upon your return.  Schedule an Extra Day: If possible, schedule an extra day off after your vacation to catch up on chores and emails.  Plan a Fun First Week Activity: Schedule something enjoyable for the end of your first week back to boost morale and motivation.  Reassess Your Role: Returning from vacation is a good time to reflect on your work and goals, identifying what you enjoy and what could be improved.

4. Mental Adjustment—Embrace the Transition:

 It's normal to feel sluggish or tired after

vacation. Allow yourself time to readjust.

 Focus on the Present: Don't dwell on

what you missed while away. Focus on the tasks at hand and prioritize them.  Positive Mindset: Try to maintain a positive attitude and remind yourself of the benefits of your time off.  Engage in Relaxing Activities: Incorporate relaxing activities like yoga, walking, or reading to help you unwind and reconnect with yourself.

July/August 2025 ONYX MAGAZINE 45

F E AT U R E

Paris Richardson

MISS FLORIDA T H E S E C O N D A F R I C A N A M E R I C A N TO W E A R T H E M I S S F L O R I DA C ROW N D E M O N S T R AT E S FA I T H , I N S P I R AT I O N A N D C A R E F O R OT H E RS ’ H E A LT H .

By Penny Dickerson

P

ageantry, glamour and a historic barrier break reigned the evening of June 28 when Paris Richardson became the second Black woman to be crowned Miss Florida in the organization's 90-year existence. Ericka Dunlap preceded Richardson, winning the state title in 2003 and was subsequently crowned Miss America in the 2004 national competition in Atlantic City.

Dunlap played a symbolic role Saturday evening as she served as the pageant competition's host for the final evening held at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

Media sources widely circulated the culminating moments of the new Miss Florida announcement, showing Richardson and Miss Jacksonville, Anjelica Jones, facing one another with clasped hands for what appeared to be a painstakingly suspenseful moment.

Demonstrating her faith, Richardson looked up in a nervous posture of prayer.

"It was an honor to announce her winning and almost like passing of the torch," said Dunlap, who held the notification in her hand, stating Richardson had won. "It's not something to be rushed through, and I had the power of the microphone. I wanted her to feel and remember the excitement of the moment and thought, let's just take our time with this great feeling."

Upon hearing Jones announced as 1st runner-up, Richardson was overcome with both shock and joyous emotion as the official Miss America Pageant state crown and sash were placed by her predecessor, Miss Florida 2024—Casana Fink.

"Paris has been an incredible competitor, and watching from the sidelines, I always had a feeling about her specifically," said Dunlap. "I thought if anyone was going to break the streak, it was her, and it was evident this past weekend."

Richardson, a 23-year-old Jacksonville native, will represent Florida in the Miss America Pageant as delegate No. 32 for the interview and talent portions of competition. The nationally televised pageant will be held in Orlando August 30 through September 7 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

In an exclusive interview with ONYX Magazine, Richardson stated that her overarching competitive strategy was "confidence and hard work," as she proved that the third time was the charm for pageantry achievement, which included $24,000 in scholarship funding earned in the final week of competition and her crowning moment.

"I probably slept three hours after being crowned Miss Florida Saturday night," said Richardson. "The first thing I did was attend the sponsorship dinner that night until the early morning. It was a celebra-

46 ONYX MAGAZINE July/August 2025

tion that included board members, pageant sponsors, and former state and national titleholders."

Priority No. 1 Sunday morning was for Richardson to meet with Miss Florida pageant director Keith Williams to sign her contract, which officially launched her first day on the job as the Sunshine State's new queen.

"Keith and I went to lunch immediately following to talk about my year of service and what I, as a queen and the organization, want to accomplish during my reign," said Richardson. "All competing contestants have to create and submit a plan of how they want to market the pageant, so it's an open conversation."

Dunlap served as Miss Florida for a mere two months before being elevated to Miss America in the national pageant's traditional September competition. She offered firsthand testimony to the benefits that will likely shape Richardson's experience.

"The organization has changed a lot, but the past 22 years have been most rewarding," said Dunlap. "I have been able to leverage the title to open myriad doors, and it has been beneficial both professionally and personally.

Had I not won, I would not have had access to the amazing relationships and opportunities that this organization gives you."

According to Dunlap, the Miss America organization, now referred to as the Miss America Opportunity, is phenomenal, and regardless of people's opinions, the competition twists and turns; it's an iconic brand to be associated with and represent.

Richardson competed for the Miss Florida title three consecutive times, beginning in 2023 as Miss University of Florida, and placed as second runner-up. Determined to win, she returned the following year as Miss Northeast Florida and surprised many by placing third runner-up.

She remained steadfast and kept her eye on the prize. While enrolled as a graduate student at the University of Florida, she entered the Miss Gainesville pageant state preliminary in January 2025, was declared the winner and ultimately claimed the state title.

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rachelle and Clifton Miller and Obbie Richardson is a graduate of Jean Ribault High School in Jacksonville, Fla., where she also reigned as Miss Jean Ribault. As a student, she collaborated with a small cadre of classmates to establish "Ribault Get Raw." The school-based health program enabled medically uninsured students to receive healthcare from a primary care physician while on campus and continues to thrive.

Richardson chose the University of Florida for higher education.

She earned a bachelor's degree in Public Health and, in May, graduated with a master's degree in Health Administration. She aims to serve as an integral force in America's ever-evolving healthcare system by becoming a chief operating officer at a leading health facility.

"My required community initiative for the state pageant is entitled C.R.O.W.N. of Health (COH), which is an acronym for community, research, outreach, wellness, and nutrition," said Richardson, who embodies a strong command of both experience and public health acumen. Community-centric, the program focuses a critical lens on the roles doctors and patients play in making strides toward health equity.

"My launch pad for a medical career was during high school when Jacksonville-based Wolfson Hospital sponsored a trip to Washington, D.C., where I met with former Sen. Marco Rubio's staff and various healthcare superintendents. This was my first exposure to advocating for something bigger than myself and the tipping point in my wanting to be an administrator versus a doctor."

According to Richardson, her pursuit is an aerial view of population health, ensuring that the whole population is healthy, rather than just one person or group.

"It's a relatively new term in healthcare but aligns with health equity because it focuses on research to make better decisions instead of assuming what community's need," Richardson explained. "It absolutely goes hand-in-hand with social determinants and health equity."

"I wanted to demonstrate that through hard work, you can achieve anything, and I am so happy to do this as Miss Florida."

Paris Richardson competing during the Miss Florida pageant in June. The fitness category replaced the swimsuit competition.

July/August2025 2025 ONYX MAGAZINE 47 July/August

F E AT U R E

Some of Paris Richardson’s community service included spending time with students at Becoming Collegiate Academy in Jacksonville.

what she believes to be her best competitive interview presentation.

She attributes it to joining Toastmasters, which helped her perfect her public speaking and build confidence.

"I interviewed on preliminary Wednesday An innovative focus added to COH is the and had peace knowing that I did so many mock publication of a book Richardson authored interviews there was little I was unprepared to titled, "The Not-So-Perfect Garden." Published be asked," said Richardson. "I went in with the

by Amazon, the 31-page storyline teaches juveconfidence of knowing there is nothing they can nile readers ages 4 to 10 about food insecurity ask that would throw me off my pivot." and encourages them to get involved in their Arguably, it was a spectacular talent perforcommunity. mance that sealed the deal for Richardson. In With experience as a Mayo Clinic intern and her first two competitive years, she performed an impressive academic pedigree, what would an acrobatic jazz routine themed after the prompt Richardson to choose more pageantry Broadway musical Hamilton. versus immediately entering a robust healthTo garner the title of Miss Florida, she transicare workforce? tioned to a fast-paced acrobatic jazz dance with "I felt a lot of things," shared Richardson. "The plenty of back flips, split leaps and sassy-sashays need for my sunshine mentees to watch me see to the upbeat tune of Big Noise from Winnetka my dream through and not leave so much talby Bette Midler. ent wasted. I've been a cheerleader since I was 6 "Shea Sullivan choreographed my one-minyears old and didn't want 'being tired' to be the ute and 30-second routine," said Richardson. reason I gave up."

"Shea is a Broadway producer who has worked To compete in the Miss Florida pageant with many titleholders and has a great eye for a third time, Richardson mustered fortitude performance. I had to indulge in strength condiIn 2003, Ericka Dunlap was the first Black and knew that mastering the five competition tioning, acrobatics and took dance classes with woman crowned Miss Florida. She went on to categories was crucial. Incrementally broken 10-year-old girls. Dance and cheerleading techbecome Miss America 2004. down into percentage points, totaling 100, they nique are much different, but it was fun!" include: interview (30%); talent (20%); on-stage question (10%); fitThe hard work paid off, and Richardson was awarded the preliminess (20%); and evening (20%). nary talent award Thursday night for her designated Group B. Changing the trajectory of how she would conquer each comDistinct crowds are rooting for Richardson, but none louder than petitive level was her goal, and she implemented an unprecedented her members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., founded in 1908 as amount of hard work, complemented by dedication to not giving up the first sorority for collegiate Black women. on her long-term dream.

"I really want to encourage other Black women to seek local pagRichardson served as a Florida Gator cheerleader as an undereants and become delegates," said Richardson. "I am proud to repregraduate through the end of graduate school. Admittedly, she was sent Florida and want to see others have the same opportunity." exhausted in 2025 with completing her master's degree program, With one month to perfect loose ends, Paris Richardson is poised working, traveling with the men's basketball team through the entire and destined for success. For those hedging bets, she SEC tournament and being Miss Gainesville. just may be the next Miss Florida to wear the Miss "It was an opportunity to show so many young girls that you can do America crown. hard things," said Richardson. "I wanted to demonstrate that through hard work, you can achieve anything, and I am so happy to do this as Penny Dickerson is a senior features writer for ONYX Miss Florida."

Magazine, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Richardson said her third attempt at the Miss Florida title revealed Inc., and the winner of several pageant titles.

Paris Richardson has been a cheerleader for 17-years which included consecutive years as an undergraduate and graduate student at the University of Florida.

48 ONYX MAGAZINE July/August 2025

"The words of Nilo Cruz waft from the stage like a scented breeze … timeless passions that touch us all." — The Miami Herald

Supported by:

407-447-1700 | orlandoshakes.org

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

Making Waves A scholarship brings swimming lessons to the Black community

By Faith Katunga

O

utdoor Afro, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting Black communities with nature, is addressing a critical disparity through its “Making Waves” program. Launched in 2019, this initiative provides swim scholarships to Black children and their caregivers. It covers the full cost of beginner swimming lessons nationwide. According to Word in Black, the program responds to alarming statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The findings show that Black youth ages 10 to 14 drown in swimming pools at a rate more than eight times that of their White peers. This disparity is attributed mainly to decades of historical segregation from public pools and beaches. Through strategic partnerships with swim schools across the country, Outdoor Afro funded more than 1,500 new swimmers in 2024 alone, with an ambitious goal of providing 2,000 more scholarships in 2025.

How The Program Works Making Waves provides up to $200 per swim participant for introductory beginner swim lessons or up to $400 per family. Applicants can choose their preferred swim provider or select from Outdoor Afro’s nationwide network of trusted partners. The application process is straightforward and is exclusively through the Outdoor Afro app. This streamlined process makes swimming lessons accessible to families who might otherwise face financial barriers.

Foss Swim School represents one of several key partnerships that are helping Outdoor Afro expand its impact. With support from the Win-

nebago Industries Foundation, Foss has provided swimming lessons to 294 students across all its 29 locations around the U.S. Other partners include Black People Will Swim in New York, Evolutionary Aquatics in North Carolina, and several other providers nationwide. Notably, the program welcomes adults, too, recognizing that many parents never had the opportunity to learn this critical skill.

How To Apply For A Swimming Scholarship Families interested in the Making Waves program can apply for swim scholarships exclusively through the Outdoor Afro app. The organization’s 2025 goal is to ensure another 2,000 Black children and caregivers learn this life-saving skill while unlocking the joy of water. For those wanting to support the initiative, a donation of at least $200 provides a complete “swimmership” covering a series of four to six swim lessons.

HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE—WITH A FRUITY TWIST!

H

ydration is key! Especially during the summer months since our bodies will sweat. And fruit-infused waters make it easy to remember to drink our eight glasses a day. Outside of the health benefits, fruit-infused

50 ONYX MAGAZINE 2025 50 ONYX MAGAZINE July/August July/August 2025

water also provides beauty benefits. Various fruits provide endless benefits for our health and skin. And trust me, as the temperature heats up and we go out more, we will want our skin to glow naturally. Listed below are

our top ten fruit-infused waters that taste great and give us a radiant, natural glow.

10 Fruit-Infused Waters For Glowing Skin These fruit-infused water recipes

GENERATIONAL HEALTH: FAMILY REUNIONS, THE PERFECT TIME TO TALK ABOUT WHAT MATTERS MOST

By Jamie Cooley

F

amily reunions are more than just soul food and old stories—they are a chance to share something priceless: our health history. Between hugs and potato salad, we can ask questions that protect generations.

“Grandma, when did you start having high blood pressure?” sounds like love, not worry— because it is.

Black families face higher risks of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and high blood pressure.

Talking about it while gathered in joy helps us catch patterns early and live longer, stronger lives together.

Why It Matters The U.S. surgeon general and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourage family gatherings to discuss health history.

Just like we pass down recipes, we can pass down wellness. A breast cancer survivor once said that sharing health history “normalizes the conversation,” making her daughters educated and empowered, not afraid.

These talks aren’t scary. They are sacred.

Blending Culture & Health  Family is tradition. Amazing cuisine. Gospel. Folktales. Let’s add health to that mix.  Healthy Twists: Grill more lean meats, add colorful veggies, and cook greens with herbs or smoked turkey instead of salt or pork.  Family Storytelling: Ask relatives about known illnesses in the family tree. The CDC suggests doing this during holidays and reunions. Use the free “My Family Health Portrait” tool to track patterns (My Family Health Portrait).

are super easy to make. Just get your large glass of H2O and add your fruit. Or for a fancier effect, you can freeze the fruit slices in ice cubes to add to your water.  Strawberry Mint  Orange & basil  Honeydew, cantaloupe, & melon  Chia Seeds (Bubble Water)  Blackberry mint

 Faith & Encouragement: Say a prayer of gratitude for healing or encourage a cousin managing a new diagnosis. Support builds resilience.

Turning Talk into Action Once the conversation is open, help the family take steps forward:  Mini Check-Ups: Bring blood pressure cuffs, glucose meters, or step counters. Show cousins how to check readings. Make it fun, not clinical.  Know Your Screenings: Black men are more at risk for prostate cancer, and Black women face more aggressive breast cancers.

Share screening ages and talk to doctors earlier if there’s a family history.  Promote Prevention: Diabetes and kidney disease hit our community harder. If it runs in the family, talk to a provider about tests like A1C and kidney function checks. These are simple, often overlooked, and can save lives.

Wellness That Feels Good Health isn’t just physical — it’s spiritual, emotional, and cultural.  Move Together: Dance to old-school R&B, take a “health stroll” after eating, or let kids lead a fitness game. Movement keeps hearts and spirits strong.  Bring Back the Fun: Reignite the joy of classic games by drawing hopscotch courts with chalk, setting up jump rope challenges, or playing Simon Says with a twist of squats and stretches. Hand clapping games and potato sack races (grab a few carnival bags!) aren’t just for kids — they spark movement, laugh-

 Orange, lime, lemon, & mint  Cucumber & lime  Watermelon & rosemary  Kiwi & blackberry  Mango Basil

Three Benefits of FruitInfused Waters 1. Our bodies need minerals known as electrolytes to absorb,

ter, and sweet memories across generations.

These playful moments open the door for stories, smiles, and meaningful connections.  Share Mental Health Tips: Stress is real.

Share what works — scripture, deep breathing, or group prayer. Say, “I’m here for you,” and mean it.  Normalize Self-Care: Encourage rest, good sleep, and digital detox time. And yes, therapy is strength, not shame.

Use What’s Already in Your Pocket Technology can help the whole family:  Use group chats to share healthy recipes or reminders.  Let tech-savvy teens set up family wellness apps or track steps.  Know the limits of DNA kits — they’re fun, but not full medical guides. Always confirm concerns with a provider.

Quick Resource List  My Family Health Portrait: My Family Health Portrait  CDC Health History Tips: Family Health History and Adults  National Cancer Institute: cancer.gov  Kidney Health Info: kidney.org  Mental Health Resources: mentalhealth.gov The Bottom Line: This summer, let’s not just feed the family—let’s fuel it. Blend tradition with health. Share stories. Swap recipes. Check pressures. Dance it out. Pray it in. We’ve always been strong. Now, let’s be strong together—in body, mind, and legacy. Family is love. And love looks out.

BlackDoctor.org

retain, and deliver fluids efficiently to our cells. Some major electrolytes include calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

Therefore, citrus fruit or cucumbers are naturally rich in electrolytes.

2. When you are dehydrated it shows—poor complexion, dry lips, etc. However, fruit infusions,

improve general blood circulation and detoxification.

3. Fruit-infused water promotes weight loss. Our infused water will carry significantly fewer calories. In addition, studies show that drinking water before a meal reduced calorie consumption by 13%.

BlackHealthMatters.org

July/August July/August2025 2025 ONYX MAGAZINE 51

M E D I C A L LY S P E A K I N G

Vaping Devices that Conceal Cannabis Use Set Off Alarms

T

he e-cigarette trend is raising alarms, especially among adolescents. Products disguised as everyday items make it easier to hide drug use and harder to prevent it.

“They now make vape pens that look like car key fobs that you can smoke out of,” says Bobby Betros, CEO of SwabTek, maker of drug-testing kits that can detect cannabis and other drugs in vaping devices and edibles.

Parents and more than 2,500 schools across the country use the drug testing kits that SwabTek developed to determine if vape devices and suspicious-looking candies confiscated from students contain illicit drugs. The concern isn’t just nicotine, but also teens vaping cannabis.

“They've really latched onto vaping and then quickly discovered, ‘Oh, look, you can buy [vaping] cartridges that contain drugs,” Mr. Betros explains.

Adding to the risk is stronger THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, which is significantly more potent today than in the 1970s. Mr. Betros notes that modern products can contain anywhere from 30% to as much as 90% THC. Frequent marijuana use in teens has been linked to memory loss, attention issues, and learning problems.

The legal marijuana market outside Florida has led to edibles and vape products reaching teens illegally.

“The last thing people want to do is arrest students.

The goal is to identify people who need help…change the path that they're on to not escalate into other, more serious drugs like ecstasy and cocaine,” he says.

Visit https://bit.ly/MMERIMay2025 to watch MMERI’s Conversations on Cannabis Virtual Forum featuring Bobby Betros, CEO of SwabTek, discuss “Hidden in Plain Sight: What You Need to Know About New Vaping Trends.”

Editor’s note: This commentary is provided by the Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative (MMERI) of Florida A&M University.

52 ONYX MAGAZINE July/August 2025

R E A L E S TAT E Real Stories, Real Impact

Home Justice

In 2022, a Tampa couple—both African American professionals—were shocked when their home appraisal was $100,000 below what similar homes in their neighborhood had sold for. Suspicious of the discrepancy, they requested a second appraisal. This time, they removed all signs of their cultural identity from the home. The new appraisal came in $90,000 higher, proving what they had feared: bias played a role in the original valuation.

Similarly, in Jacksonville, homeowners in historically Black neighborhoods like Durkeeville and Grand Park have voiced concerns about being consistently undervalued by appraisers unfamiliar with the area or who hold outdated assumptions about neighborhood desirability.

What's Being Done?

Recognizing the problem, the federal government launched the Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity UNDERSTANDING APPRAISAL BIAS, A BARRIER (PAVE) Task Force to combat appraisal discrimination. In FOR BLACK HOMEOWNERS IN FLORIDA Florida, several grassroots organizations, real estate professionals, and housing advocates are working to raise

By LaToshia Hall awareness, promote equitable policies, and train appraisers in cultural competency and fair valuation standards. espite progress in fair housing laws, appraisal bias remains a perLocal real estate brokers—particularly those specializing in foreclosures sistent issue affecting Black homeowners across the country, and and working with first-time buyers—are advocating for transparency and Florida is no exception. In cities like Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, and accountability. These professionals are often the first to notice when a Orlando, Black homeowners often find their homes undervalued compared home is valued far below market trends and have unique expertise to chalto similar properties owned by White individuals. This discrepancy has deep lenge these discrepancies. roots in systemic inequality and continues to impact wealth-building opportunities for Black families today.

D

What Is Appraisal Bias?

What Can Sellers Do?

If you suspect appraisal bias:

 Request a Second Appraisal. Especially if the valuation

Appraisal bias occurs when a licensed appraiser, whether intentionally or unconsciously, assigns a lower market value to a property based on the race or ethnicity of the homeowner or the racial makeup of the neighborhood. These valuations directly affect sales prices, refinancing opportunities and generational wealth. While appraisers have the skills to follow objective methods, numerous studies have shown that racial bias—both implicit and structural—continues to influence property valuations.

experienced agent can help contest a low appraisal and recommend trusted appraisers familiar with your area.  Know Your Rights. The Fair Housing Act prohibits racial discrimination in housing, including the appraisal process.

The Impact on Black Sellers in Florida

Moving Forward

Florida's diverse population and booming real estate market offer many opportunities for homeownership. However, Black sellers often face hurdles when attempting to sell or refinance their properties. For example, in predominantly Black neighborhoods like Northwest Jacksonville or Liberty City in Miami, properties are consistently appraised lower than similar homes in nearby White-majority areas—even when size, condition and amenities are comparable.

This undervaluation has tangible consequences. Sellers may have to reduce their listing prices to attract buyers who rely on financing tied to the appraised value. Others may struggle to secure the equity they are entitled to from their homes. In some cases, Black homeowners in Florida have reported significant increases in appraisal values only after removing family photos and having a White friend stand in during the appraisal — a disturbing trend known as "whitewashing."

Appraisal bias is not just a financial issue—it's a civil rights issue. For Black sellers in Florida, combating bias is essential for closing the racial wealth gap and ensuring fair treatment in the real estate market. As awareness grows and reforms take hold, homeowners, agents and appraisers need to collaborate toward a more equitable future.

Whether you are preparing to sell, refinance or simply want to understand your home's value, stay informed and empowered. In today's competitive Florida real estate market, fair appraisal is more than a number—it's a matter of justice.

seems inconsistent with market trends.

 Document Everything. Provide comparable sales, home

improvements and other supporting data.

 Ask Your Real Estate Agent to Advocate for You. An

LaToshia Hall is the Broker/Owner of Powerhouse Realty Inc., a real estate brokerage based in Jacksonville, Fla. She specializes in foreclosures, first-time buyers, and community outreach. buyorselljax@gmail.com.

July/August 2025 ONYX ONYX MAGAZINE MAGAZINE 53 53

WINE & FOOD

rom lazy days by the pool to weekend road trips and everything in between, summer is packed with adventures. To keep your energy high for all those warm-weather activities, you’ll need to keep sweet, delicious snacks on the family menu.

Make sure versatile, flavorful watermelon is always on your grocery list so you can enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, snacks, desserts, drinks, and beyond. It easily fits your existing routines for morning smoothies and snacking on the go, or in make-ahead dishes you can serve when hunger strikes.

It’s easy to cool off quickly on hot summer days with Watermelon Ice Pops, a simple, kid-friendly favorite made with watermelon and chunks of fresh fruit. Bursting with flavor, these frozen treats make snack time a cinch while tackling cravings, boosting hydration and supporting wellness in place of added-sugar treats.

For a light afternoon bite before the dinner bell rings, try this Watermelon Salad with feta and mint that offers sweet summer flavor without the hassle and adding nutritional content.

Of course, as a kitchen staple to keep on hand throughout the year, watermelon is also perfect for enjoying all on its own at home or on the go. Whether it’s diced, sliced, balled or blended, you can toss it in a jar for a healthy, hydrating snack.

Cutting watermelon into convenient chunks is fast and easy so you can eat at home or toss in a to-go container to take to the office, beach or soccer practice. Just cut a grid pattern on the fruit and cubes will tumble out, ready to eat.

Don’t forget to wash and dry the rind on the watermelon before cutting.

1.

2.

Cut the whole watermelon lengthwise into quarters. Lay each quarter on its rind with the interior facing up.

Place the knife about 3/4 inch down from the peak of the wedge. Holding the knife parallel to the far side of the fruit and starting at the edge of the rind, cut a horizontal line across the fruit all the way down to the rind.

3.

4.

5.

Place the knife blade about 3/4 inch lower and make the same cut. Repeat. Turn the fruit to the other side and make the same horizontal cuts.

Starting at the end of the rind, make vertical cuts straight down the rind, 3/4 inch apart all the way across.

Remove the cubes and serve or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint INGREDIENTS 1/4 cup lemon vinaigrette 4 cups cubed watermelon 1/2 English cucumber, cut into 1/4-inch half moons 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese 2 tablespoons fresh mint, roughly chopped

INSTRUCTIONS •

•

Drizzle vinaigrette in bottom of large canning jar. Layer with watermelon, cucumber, red onion, feta and mint.

Cover tightly with lid and shake to combine. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Substitution: Use Greek dressing in place of lemon vinaigrette.

Watermelon Ice Pops INGREDIENTS • 1 watermelon • Chunks of fresh fruit (such as grapes, strawberries or kiwi)

54 ONYX MAGAZINE July/August 2025

INSTRUCTIONS 1.

Puree watermelon and pour into ice pop molds.

2. Drop in chunks of fresh fruit, insert caps and place in freezer.

3. Serve when frozen.

Family Features; Recipes from National Watermelon Promotion Board

F

WatermelonWow!

IT’S NOT JUST HOT.

Keep cool and take control with tools and tips from OUC. Visit OUC.com/HotWeather

TO CAMP E C N E D I F N O C H WIT

A strong start makes all the difference. Kick off your child’s winning year with an annual exam from Orlando Health Physician Associates. From sports physicals to routine checkups and immunizations, our pediatricians will help ensure they’re ready to bring their best — on the field, in the classroom, and beyond. Plus, with after-hours appointments at select locations, it’s easier than ever to fit their care into your busy schedule. This is back-to-camp, backed by Orlando Health. Learn more at OrlandoHealth.com/BackToSchool

choose well.