The Power Broker magazine August 2014 by Gypsy Gallardo

WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE

15TH ANNIVERSARY

CELEBRATION Featuring WBTT artists and the award-winning Broadway star, Chester Gregory in

THE EVE OF

JACKIE

A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO JACKIE WILSON Monday, October 6, 2014 8:00 PM Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Tickets: $100/$75/$50/$35 Available at the Van Wezel box office, by phone at 941-953-3368 or online at www.vanwezel.org

ONE NIGHT ONLY!

DON’T MISS THIS ELECTRIFYING SHOW. YOU’LL BE DAZZLED! CORPORATE SPONSORS

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Letter from the Editor:

Why Chief Holloway May be Just What

St. Petersburg Needs to Transcend Racial Politics in the Police Department & Reduce Southside Crime Mayor Rick Kriseman surprised just about everyone when he detoured from the well-vetted list of four finalists for police chief that was two months in the making.

reducing poverty by 30% in South St. Pete by 2020, in part by helping 1,400 ex-offender men – primarily fathers – exit the life of crime and enter good paying jobs.

Though some have beef with the way the decision was made, I for one was pleasantly surprised that former Clearwater chief Anthony Holloway was Kriseman’s ultimate pick, though perhaps for different reasons than others.

From everything the new chief has said, he has the divine right strategies to help us hit the mark.

The decision won praise from African American leaders, such as Lisa Wheeler-Brown, President of the Council of Neighborhood Associations, and Assistant Chief Luke Williams, who voiced an enthusiastic “thumbs up” to the Times. Others whose opinion I trust spoke in glowing terms about their work with Holloway over the years in Clearwater’s Greenwood community. Their vote of confidence was icing on the cake. But there are two reasons I see Holloway as the ideal person for the job. A, the incoming Chief speaks plainly in support of the same approaches community advocates have called for, but not gotten in the past. And B, Holloway has already proven that he can get the kinds of results we need to achieve the 2020 Plan goal of

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Holloway has made it clear that he intends to keep his “communitycentric” focus, and continue his “evaluate, educate and enforce” mode of operation. Very good news for the NAACP and others who co-signed a May 2013 memo to former chief Harmon and Mayor Foster, asking for a more clear-headed, data-driven approach to policing the community. If Holloway does indeed bring the successful CompStat model to St. Petersburg, it could transform life in the community. The model – which was made famous by HBO’s The Wire – uses sophisticated analytics to spot key trends and problems, and convenes patrol officers and their superiors weekly to develop action plans to address the problems. It’s also good news for South St. Petersburg that Holloway will continue the same 4-crime focus that made him successful in Clearwater: burglaries, robberies, drugs and prostitution, the first three of which account for as much as 80% of crime in the community.

A third “plus” is that Southside advocates will get the kind of community policing they’ve asked for. Holloway’s “park, walk, talk” approach has strengthened police relations under his watch in other cities, simply by directing officers to park their cars, and get to know residents, business owners, and “every day” folks. Perhaps most important, the new top boss has a real shot at moving the City beyond the cancerous racial divides that still simmer in the hearts and minds of many. Not through the force of personality, which, I’m told, is the way Mayor Baker held tensions in check. But by Holloway’s eagle-sharp focus on the numbers – both crime and cost numbers – which will give City and community leaders unprecedented clarity about “the bottom line.” As the chief recently told Times reporter Kameel Stanley, “The biggest issue to me is using the data we have and making sure it goes all the way to the top — and all the way to the bottom. That data sitting on a lieutenant’s desk doesn’t do anyone any good.” Believing in a brighter future,

Gypsy C. Gallardo, Publisher

A product of The Power Broker Media Group Advertise or promote your news, events, and opportunities in Tampa Bay’s most read magazine among African Americans. See rates & circulation details at: www.powerbrokermagazine.com/advertise Gypsy C. Gallardo PUBLISHER Lonnie Donaldson CO-FOUNDER The Power Broker magazine Deborah Figgs-Sanders CHAIRMAN The Power Broker Foundation Carl Lavender, Jr. CAPACITY CONSULTANT Mario Shirley VP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Misha Wong CREATIVE DIRECTOR Pop Lancaster OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER Kimberley Webb DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER Tiffany Cameron STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANT Dr. Yvonne ScruggsLeftwich GUEST COLUMNIST Pastor Manuel Sykes GUEST COLUMNIST Clacci Harmon GUEST WRITER Keisha Pickett GUEST WRITER Dion Taylor GUEST COLUMNIST Aleyah Conway PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Briana Hankins RESEARCH & EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Pat McGhee FASHION EDITOR

CORRESPONDENTS Kellis Glenn - Clearwater Candy Lowe -Tampa Sandra Butler - Polk County Kimberly Albritton Manatee & Sarasota counties Kevin Rose - St. Petersburg REACH US: P O Box 15006 St. Petersburg, FL 33733 T: 727.866.1783 F: 877.255.9572 SSN: 1554-933X SEND YOUR NEWS TO US: reachout@ powerbrokermagazine.com SEE 100 NEW EVENTS, NEWS ITEMS & JOBS POSTED WEEKLY: www.powerbrokermagazine.com LIKE US OR FRIEND US AT: facebook.com/ PowerBrokerMagazine facebook.com/ GypsyGallardo FOLLOW US: twitter.com/powerbrokermag IF INTERESTED IN BECOMING A DISTRIBUTION LOCATION To request that your business or office be one of the Power Broker’s 200+ distribution sites, e-mail us at reachout@ powerbrokermagazine.com. TELL YOUR STORY If you have a story that should be told in our magazines or via our digital media outlets, e-mail your idea or insight to us at reachout@ powerbrokermagazine.com

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TheLeadership Files Who’s moving up, who’s moving on

is the creator and director of the piece. He says, “Initially I was inspired to write the piece because of Sheldon, his talent and style. It was a big success in 2011 but new plays take years to develop and I felt this play needed more work and time.” Timing was also influenced by Jacobs’ negotiations to secure production rights with the Marvin Gaye family, which took 3 years.

Nichols takes 2nd honor this summer It was back to back honors this spring and summer for Dia Nichols, CEO of St. Petersburg’s Northside Hospital, who celebrated his one year anniversary in June with the honor of Northside receiving the Lifeline Quality Achievement Award, given to institutions that implement specific quality measures outlined by the American Heart Association (AHA) for treatment of severe heart attack victims. Each year in the U.S., 250,000 people have a STEMI, or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, caused by a complete blockage of blood to the heart. To prevent death, it’s critical to immediately restore blood flow, either surgically or with clot-busting medication. Nichols said of the honor, “Northside is dedicated to improving the quality of care for patients who suffer a heart attack, and the Lifeline program is helping us accomplish that goal through internationally respected clinical guidelines.” The Lifeline award came on the heels of another industry honor in April when the hospital received the Stroke Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Nichols came to Northside with 13 years of healthcare leadership experience, the past 4 as CEO of the John Randolph Medical Center in Virginia, where he was credited for improving the patient care

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quality, as well as establishing a culture of excellence within the facility. “Dia has proven himself as a dynamic leader and has strong relationships with physicians, staff, and community,” said Peter Marmerstein, President of HCA’s West Florida Division, a network of 16 hospitals and parent company of Northside. ‘Prince of Soul’ salutes Marvin Gaye at Westcoast Theatre Don Daly/WBTT The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s second summer production, Marvin Gaye: Prince of Soul, was a sell-out for most of its 3 week run (July 16th to August 10th). The musical play is a revised version of Marvin Gaye: The Man and His Music, which played to soldout audiences in WBTT’s 2011 season. The play features many of the same cast including the lead role of Marvin Gaye being performed by Sheldon Roden. Founding Artistic Director Nate Jacobs

The play covers Gay’s career from the 1950s through his untimely and shocking death in the mid 1980’s, set in Detroit, the birthplace of Motown. In addition to Roden, cast include Emmanuel “E-Man” Avraham, Ariel Blue, Nate Jacobs and Michael Mendez. Three women will make their WBTT debut in the production: Sasha Lumsden, Emerald Rose and Janesia Shanae. Jay Dodge II is the music director/ production manager. Costume designer is Cristy Owen. Lighting Designer is Nick Jones and Video/Image Designer is Yulner Diaz. For more on WBTT, visit www.wbttsrq.org or call 941-366-1505.

South Florida Barbershop Offers Books, Reading to Young Customers A young owner of a Palm Beach County barbershop is flipping the script. No longer does his shop entertain guests with TV and radio. Reggie Ross, proprietor of Royal Touch Barbershop, Reggie Ross, is promoting literacy by encouraging young customers to read a book while awaiting their cuts. “He even asks them to read aloud to him and sparks discussions with them about the book,” notes TheRoot.com. Way to go Reggie!

Florida Legislative Black Caucus Celebrates Legacy & Leadership Senator Dwight Bullard, chair of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, along with supporters from across the state celebrated the “legacy of leadership of African-American state lawmakers” at the 2014 Florida Legislative Black Caucus (FLBC) reception at the Hollywood Hard Rock this June 27th. “This was truly a great opportunity for members of the community to come out and meet with past and present

members of the Caucus,” Senator Bullard stated. “There is a litany of issues that we still must address in Florida, and we know that with the support of an engaged electorate and strong elected leadership, can we truly move things forward.” The evening is designed to promote awareness of and celebrate the FLBC’s history, and look to the future as the 2014 midterm elections draw near.

Crumbley Inducted to Hall of Fame (Source: Faculty & Staff News, St. Petersburg College) St. Petersburg College’s Coach Earnest Crumbley has been voted into the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame – Class of 2014. Seven individuals were nominated this year. Only four were elected. Crumbley was one of two coaches chosen, along with Tim Ryan, coach at the College of Central Florida. An induction ceremony took place in March. Coach Crumbley is in his 16th year as head coach of the SPC men’s basketball team, giving him the longest tenure of any coach in Florida with 275 wins. As head coach, his teams have appeared in the regionals 6 times and won 4 Suncoast Conference championships. Crumbley also was named Florida Coach of the Year in 2001-02 when his team finished 9th in the nation after representing Region 8 in the national tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Still Going Strong – Gallerie909

After grand opening this past April on the famous Deuces Live (22nd Street) business corridor in St. Petersburg, Carla Bristol’s Gallerie909 is still going strong. With a consumer-friend mix of upper end and one-of-a-kind pieces, along with affordable prints, Bristol is adding her cozy touch of customer service to build a faithful clientele. When the Power Broker asked for five prints to give as gifts, Bristol not only had them framed but decoratively wrapped and bowed! Check out the new Gallerie909, which is located at 909 22nd St. S. in St. Petersburg. And friend Carla Bristol on Facebook for weekly event announcements.

A native of St. Petersburg and graduate of Boca Ciega High, Coach Crumbley graduated from Arizona Western College with an Associate of Applied Science before transferring to Utah State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He also earned a Master’s in Educational Counseling from the University of South Florida. Coach Crumbley is a past president of the Delta Omicron Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. in St. Petersburg. He and his wife Shirley have two sons. Power Broker magazine | 9

KudosColumn Tampa Bay Times’ Ivan Penn wins Loeb Award The Times reported at the end of June that staff reporter Ivan Penn was among the honorees at this year’s Gerald Loeb Awards for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism in New York City, marking the second time the Times has won the award established in 1957.

Studio@620 celebrates 10th Birthday Bash Happy B-day to the Studio@620, which on June 21st, celebrated its 10th anniversary with volunteers, artists, performers, patrons, members, and of course, celebrated founders including Bob Devin Jones. Councilmember Rice goes to Harvard! This July, St. Pete Councilmember Darden Rice was one of several public officials picked to complete the prestigious Senior Executives in State & Local Government program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Rice is a major supporter of the 2020 Plan to increase employment by the 2020 Census in South St. Petersburg.

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$100K vote of confidence in new FAMU President The still-new president of FAMU, Dr. Elmira Mangum, received rousing support after laying out her priorities at the 2014 Annual National Alumni Association Convention in Louisville; 200 alumni raised over $100,000 during the convention’s President’s Fundraising Breakfast.

57 years for Gibbs Junior College Alumni This summer marks the 57th anniversary of the event that ultimately created the Gibbs Junior College Alumni Association – that 1949 campaign by 3 young men to challenge the School Board of Escambia County to establish a 2-year college for black students. Congratulations!

Hats off to Marris Smith for Mercy Ship Aid to Africa Tampa’s Marris Smith, a registered nurse at Moffitt Cancer Center, answered her life-long dream this summer, taking a leave from work to volunteer on Africa Mercy (a “Mercy Ship” i.e., a floating hospital of sorts) – bringing healthcare to the poor of the Republic of Congo.

Buckhanan Wilson Installed Int’l President of AKA As Tampa’s Carolyn House Stewart finishes her 4-year term, her successor - Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson of Milwaukee - was installed as the 2014-2018 International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, a 265,000 member organizational with 986 chapters worldwide.

LocalShops 1 launches new magazine On June 12th, the business group known as LocalShops 1, which promotes consumers’ buying from local retailers and business owners, launch the new Live Local! Magazine as yet another way to drive consumer interest and shopping to their members.

Omega on the Move – new Line As ever, the Eta Rho Chapter of Omega Psi Phi stays on the move. This spring, the chapter welcomed a new line of 6 men. An officer told a Challenger reporter “The fraternity is very fortunate to bring into the folds of Omega such men of vision and determination.”

Father-Son Graduate FAMU together This May it was a touching site to see a father and son duo graduating together. Sherwood Brown and his son, Sherwood Jr., shared the stage at FAMU’s late spring ceremony. The younger Brown received a BA in business management, while his father, who earned an MBA.

B-CU Blessed with $1 million gift It was announced this June by Bethune-Cookman University President Dr. Edison Jackson that Joe Petrock, a member of the board of trustees and executive director of the philanthropic arm of Florida-based Halifax Health corporation, pledged a bequeathed gift of $1 million, which hails as one of the largest of its kind in the university’s history.

Hillsborough’s ACT-SO Youth Complete on National Stage Kudos to Hillsborough County students who traveled to Las Vegas this summer to compete at the National competition of ACTSO chapters at NAACP branches nationwide, and gratitude to the pastors, parents, businesses and others who contributed small sums to get them there.

Bucs’ Murphy continues 1st Downs 4 Life Tradition

Congratulations to local clergy marking anniversaries in the ministry This April Pastor Al Baldwin of All Nations Church of God in St. Petersburg, marked his 26th anniversary with his annual radio address and other festivities, while Pastor Louis M. Murphy, Sr. celebrated 15 years as head of the flock at Mt Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist, and his minister of music, Kevin Parrott, rung in his 50th birthday and 42nd anniversary in ministry this June. Rev. Fleming Tarver & The Original FL Spiritualaires’ Anniversary recently celebrated 50 years of singing and radio broadcasting, and this May was Pastor Manuel Sykes’ 21st anniversary at Bethel Community Baptist. Last but not least, a belated happy birthday to Sister Diane Hughes who celebrated her 23rd year at WRXB early this year.

Congrats to Buccaneer Louis Murphy, Jr. for his 6th annual football camp and 2nd annual celebrity basketball game to train and inspire hundreds of young people. This year’s B-ballers and

camp helpers include NFL players Keith Kelsey, Jonte Green, Jamar Newsome, Josh Bellamy, CFL player Ricardo Colclough and former Seminole Marcello Church, among others.

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enny Leon won his first career Tony this June for best director for the Broadway revival of Lorraine Hansberry’s 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun, starring Denzel Washington, which was nominated for 5 Tonys, and also won for best revival of a play and best actress. In 2004, Leon notably directed a revival of A Raisin in the Sun with Sean “P.Diddy” Combs in the lead role, which went on to register the highest-grossing box office sales for a drama in Broadway history to the tune of $7.9 million. Over the past 2 decades, Leon has directed 3 August Wilson’s plays on Broadway. He also directed Katori Hall’s much talked-about The Mountaintop featuring longtime friend Samuel L. Jackson in the lead as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leon’s latest show Holler If Ya Hear Me, which features spoken word artist Saul Williams, is based on the songs of late rapper Tupac Shaqur. It has been described by Rolling Stone as hip-hop’s first jukebox musical in Broadway history. Leon had these insights in his recent exclusive with BlackEnterprise.com.

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On Finding Meaningful Material

Plays are both brought to me and I (scout) for them. I am looking for plays that I think can make a difference and that move me.

On Reaching Back

Broadway: The Great White Way is a microcosm of America. I don’t think that we have reached the mountaintop. It’s still a challenge for black directors to get their foot in the door. We are doing a few more African American stories. But I would really love to see more African Americans as directors. Every show I have, I have an assistant director that is a person of color to help continue to find opportunities for ourselves.

On Working With A-List Actors

Bassett to direct for the first time Former St. Petersburg resident and Golden Globe winner Angela Bassett will direct for the first time for the Lifetime channel’s biopic on the life of Whitney Houston, to air in 2015.

For directors, it’s about building reputations. For producers, it’s about being able to deliver. The more you can build that family of actors that wants to work with you, the more you can create really exciting stories. I would love to work with Oprah. I would love to do something with Laurence Fishburne and non-African Americans such as Tom Cruise.

On Changing Broadway Landscape

You try to make a contribution by telling stories that need to be told. They may not always be stories about race; they may be about love and family. I want to continue to have an impact. If (audiences) support and spend their dollars on black plays, that will continue to push Broadway into a new area of telling more of our stories.

Another box office hit for Packer St. Petersburg native and 1991 St. Petersburg High graduate Will Packer continues his roll of back-to-back hits as a major film producer, this time with his Think Like a Man Too sequel to the now iconic Steve Harvey brand.

Special to the Power Broker by Stephanie M. Brown, Life Coach & CEO, Grow WOMEN Have you ever had to do something that you were so totally afraid of that you turned and RAN the other way?

circumstance, in order to reap God’s promise that “all things work together for the good,” on their road to peace.

is practical: if you reconcile your marriage, some friends and family may not be as forgiving.

Have you ever been really hesitant to move forward with the call on your life because it feels way too vulnerable? Have you ever had thoughts of what others may think if you __________ (fill in the blank)?

When something like this happens, I know from experience that a woman can drown in an emptiness she wouldn’t wish on her worst enemy. She wants to know that she is not alone and will survive.

Third, I suggest that you reconnect with your self – your needs, goals, desires, strengths and faults. Of course, if there are children involved, they should be considered in every decision.

Have you ever hit a wall? Had nowhere to turn? Ran out of options? Could not depend on anyone but God?

It’s at that point that she can choose either the path to peace or to prolong the pain.

What I’ve just described is how I felt before the whale spit me out. Like Jonah who was called to go to Nineveh and instead went the other way - so did I. I am called to offer hope to women who have none. Women who’ve experienced adultery and betrayal in their marriage. It happened to me, and I am called to come alongside women in need of support, so that they too can escape emotional post-adultery hell. I imagine you can see why I would run the other way. This issue is like the elephant in the room. You can see and feel it, but there isn’t much public discussion on the topic. I offer women tools to work, think and pray through their

Here are 4 things that helped e down the path to peace.

First, calm your thoughts and emotions, through prayer and acceptance. Allow yourself to mourn the loss of what has happened. Be honest to God about all that you feel, including the searing pain to psyche and soul that is normal for such a time as this. Though you may feel devastated, praise God through the pain. He will quiet you with his love.

Next, consider finding someone objective to talk to as your thoughts likely travel from one extreme emotion to another. A wise friend or professional counselor can help steady the storm. I do recommend that you share what you’re going through with close friends and family, but refrain from sharing all the details. The reason

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Last, I strongly advocate that you forgive! Forgiveness is a decision to be healed, to no longer harbor hate or other forms of ill-will toward the person who hurt you. I’ve come to understand that you can test whether or not you have forgiven someone, if you no longer have any negative thoughts, feelings or actions toward the offender. It’s no easy task, but it’s worth it! Research shows that there is a positive relationship between forgiveness and self-acceptance. It is believed that the more you accept and have compassion for others, the more you like and show compassion to yourself. And that makes forgiveness worth it for you and the one you forgive! Stephanie Brown is a Forgiveness Coach and the Founder of Grow Women a professional life coaching business, providing women with the emotional and practical tools to peace, progress and purpose. Power Broker magazine | 13

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Driving Their Dreams Down the Fairway

By Ersula Odom

hose in attendance for the first annual Women of Color Golf (WOCG) Soiree held on Sunday June 1 at Pebble Creek Golf and Country Club witnessed history in the making.

providing college scholarships to help students focus on their transition into professional life. WOCG is partnering with Hillsborough Community College to offer a golf continuing education program.

Clemmie Perry, President of WOCG, told her “treasure in the trash” story about traveling with her brother Ross who turned on PGA Blvd and discovered a set of golf clubs in a trash pile. Ross just couldn’t let destiny slip by. He stopped, retrieved the clubs for his sister, and instructed her that these would be her training clubs. Her other big brother Ken paid $50 for her first golf lesson.

Paula Pearson Tucker, guest speaker and honoree at the June event, is a South Florida LPGA golfer and African American Golfers Hall of Famer who turn professional in 2004 by leaving a 14-year career as a Financial Services Broker.

Clemmie credits God for leading them to those tools which led to WOCG. WOCG beginner golf lessons are already offered in two counties. In Hillsborough, WOGC golf professional Mackenzie Mack provides lessons at Roger’s Park Golf. In Pasco the lessons are offered by WOCG golf professional Donna Pentrack at Wentworth Golf & Country Club. The organization has already created an outreach program by

clubs, five young women and Clemmie’s “adopted son” Chris. They turned an idea at a Super Bowl party into an organization, and the crew is now, as WOCG members say “Driving Our Dreams Down the Fairway.” Perry views WOCG as an opportunity for groups of people to form teams, learn the game, and play together. The ladies are looking to work with sororities, social and business groups, educational institutions, and networking organizations who want to try the sport. For more info, contact Clemmie Perry at (813) 892-0659 or info@ womenofcolorgolf.org. Learn more online at www.womenofcolorgolf.org

Tucker shared that her passion for kids and golf led her to develop a million-dollar golf course for underserved kids. She has moved from mentoring young people to making golf a reality for them. As Perry prepared to present the first ever Women of Color Golf Legacy Award to Tucker, she evoked the legacy of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, who started a school with $1.50, five little girls and her son. WOCG was started with beat-up Power Broker magazine | 15

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By Lauren Victoria Burke | Published by Politic365 | July 10, 2014

enators Rand Paul and Cory Booker are joining a list of legislators that have made the long march to change the failed U.S. criminal justice system. With $63 billion in tax money spent on locking people up every year, the failed results of decades of justice policy that yields detrimental results, is finally getting a persistent challenge from lawmakers and the Attorney General. Recent stats tell the tale: • As of 2011, 65 million Americans have a criminal record. • One in 25 Americans was arrested in 2011. • In 2010, over 7 million Americans was either on probation, parole or behind bars. • Currently, each year over 250,000 children are tried as adults in the U.S. justice system. Reps. John Conyers, Bobby Scott and Maxine Waters have been pushing the issues over a quarter of a century in Congress. Finally, on the Senate side, it appears that Senators Booker and Paul are set to push reform policy as well. The bigger question is who will support their efforts? The game on criminal justice is that politicians have gotten thousands of votes over the last 30 years bragging about how tough they are on crime. Telling voters that you’re helping to lock all the bad rand-coryguys up has been an election time winner in American politics for over 50 years. Telling voters the rest of the truth:

That much of American crime policy wastes tax money, is carried out in a racist way, and spurs dysfunction in communities full of men who can’t support themselves, is a rare find. Even though American crime policy has made the U.S. #1 in the world in the rate of locking people up, some politicians continue to support policy that is implemented in a racially biased way. The stats after a quarter of a century are undeniable. The bigger question becomes: Will “tough on crime: Democrats like Dianne Feinstein and Chuck Schumer vote for the Booker/Paul legislation? Will tough on crime Republicans like John Cornyn and Orrin Hatch? Will Sens. Chuck Grassley and Dianne Feinstein continue to add mandatory minimums to every criminal justice reform bill? An interesting political aside has been watching Sen. Paul continue to say things Sen. Feinstein won’t say as some Democrats — who receive 94% of Black vote support — continue to support criminal justice policy that has devastated Black communities disproportionately. Keep an eye on Democrats like Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who are clueless on crime prevention strategies, and Sen. Dick Dubin (D-IL), who has a talent for finding millions in earmarks for Thomson Prison but little for education and prevention in cities like Chicago. Lauren Victoria Burke is the Managing Editor of Politic365. Power Broker magazine | 17

Career Moves

New Perry Law Firm is a Family Affair Mayor Bob Buckhorn on Hand for Downtown Grand Opening

ampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn recently welcomed The Perry Law Group to Tampa Bay at the firm’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. Attorney Kamilah Perry joined her brother, Attorney Jaimon Perry, to open the Tampa branch of The Perry Law Group that was established in 2006 by Jaimon in Orlando.

estate, estate planning and civil litigation, primarily in the firm’s Orlando office.

Jaimon and Kamilah carry on a family tradition as children of Florida Supreme Court Justice James Perry (at right in the photo, their mother, who is also pictured, is a former Mayor among other posts)

Though young in business, the two attorneys have a combined 25 years of legal experience, including time spent on the staffs of prestigious private firms. Jaimon practiced at Akerman Senterfitt in Orlando for five years prior to forming Perry Law Group, while Kamilah practiced at Carlton Fields, now known as Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, and Phelps Dunbar in Tampa for 12 years prior to joining her brother in private practice.

The brother-sister team will continue in their areas of expertise - Kamilah in labor and employment law and business litigation, and Jaimon in bankruptcy, real

“I am so excited to continue my family’s legacy. We have a long standing heritage of community service and commitment to equality,” says Kamilah.

About Kamilah & Jaimon Jaimon ran for County Court Judge in 2012, gaining recognition for his work in Seminole, Brevard, and Orange counties. He is also very active in the community as President of Florida S.P.E.C.S., a non-profit focused on affordable homeownership; as a board member of Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, providing pro bono services to disadvantaged citizens; and as a moot court judge for Florida A&M’s College of Law. Jaimon was a mentor with the Jackie Robinson Youth Baseball League, and is a former member of the board for the Negro Spiritual Scholarship Foundation and The Kingdom Church. In 2012, he was nominated as one of the Orlando Business Journal’s 2012 Most Influential Men. Kamilah was named by Florida Super Lawyers Magazine

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as a “Super Lawyer” in 2013 and 2014, and as a “Rising Star” for 5 consecutive years (2009 to 2013). She was listed among the 100 Most influential African-Americans in Tampa Bay; was a finalist for the Tampa Bay Business Journal 2008 Business Woman of the Year Award; and received the Journal’s Up & Comers honor in 2012. Kamilah has served as president of the Edgecomb Bar Association; and on the board of the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers. She is currently a member of the 13th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee and was appointed to the Tampa Mayor’s African-American Advisory Council, where she is Community Development Chair. In June, Kamilah took office as President of the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association. For more about The Perry Law Group: www.PerryLawFla.com

A lonely road for the handful of black entrepreneurs and consumers who do raw food; how to join in the movement

By Dion Taylor as a special to the Power Broker magazine

our years ago my wife Sandesha, a gourmet Chef, and I set out to change the world, well ok, the local food system at least. As selfprofessed “foodies,” almost everything we do centers around food. We love to eat it and equally enjoy preparing it. You might consider us “food snobs,” because it’s our preference to shop for locally grown produce that doesn’t harm our environment. We spend most of the family food budget on items that some consider “hippy” grub. Our journey into the “business” of food began mostly out of necessity. We wanted to feed our precious bodies the best foods on the planet. But there wasn’t much on the shelves at our local grocer that was free of the pollutants and toxins that wreak havoc on our health. We knew others like us – i.e., yoga lovers, athletes, and all around food snobs. So, RawONE Foods was born. With Sandesha’s culinary skills and my business skills, we started our company. Four years later, our food line is carried at 220 retail outlets nationwide, including Whole Foods Markets, Publix GreenWise, and the regionally famous Mariono’s, and we continue to grow rapidly. My only regret is seeing so few other African Americans take the leap into raw foods, as entrepreneurs or consumers. Over the years, as I’ve traveled the country

promoting RawONE at product demos and trade shows, shaking hands and kissing babies, I was often the only black person trying our snacks. For certain, I’ve seen more and more African Americans join the fresh food movement, but few who’ve seized the trend professionally, and fewer who’ve joined the craze for nutrient-dense raw foods.

I’ve wondered why that is: “Don’t they (we) know how important it is to eat nutrient dense, organically grown, minimally processed foods?” But I’m afraid we don’t. “According to “The National Diabetes Report 2014,” not only do black Americans make up 13% of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes cases, it’s downright scary that within the last generation, Type 2 diabetes cases among black teens have doubled. In other words, a disease that’s fully preventable has become one of the biggest killers of black and brown people, and now threatens the future of our races. What do we do about it? We take our health back from the doctors and pharmaceutical companies, and do what our grandparents and their parents did.

Go to your cupboards and pantries and look for anything that contains the following: • Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) • High Fructose Corn Syrup • Aspartame • Food Colorings and Dyes • Hydrogenated Fats/Oils Then throw them ALL away. Replace that garbage with: • Colorful fruits and vegetables (a slogan that keeps me on track when ordering or preparing food is to “Eat the colors of the rainbow”) • Whole unprocessed grains such as Quinoa and Forbidden (Black) Rice and Millet • Lean meats such as fish and chicken (wild caught and free range if possible). And remember, drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day, and get out and play! Run, walk, swim, bike, whatever gets you moving and burning calories. Join me in the raw food movement! Dion Taylor is a principal at ENO Consulting Group headquartered in South Florida, and co-owner of RawONE, whose products are sold in stores nationwide. To reach Dion, 772.240.9553 or diontaylor@me.com.

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inding a job isn’t easy for anybody these days, but it’s even harder for people with criminal records. Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track the unemployment rate of people with records, a New York Times articles notes that “various studies have found unemployment rates of 50% or higher for former prisoners” up to a year after release. That’s why the Hillsborough Organization for Progress & Equality (HOPE) is fighting to give people with criminal records a fair chance at employment. Last year, HOPE got the Tampa City Council to pass the Criminal History Screening Ordinance, which removed a question about criminal history from City job applications. The ordinance does not prohibit the city from doing a background check, but does give people with records the opportunity to move to the interview process so that they can tell their story. This year, HOPE built on that success. In April 2014, HOPE

for jobs, their applications are often immediately tossed without a chance to present their skills or story. turned out 1,000 people, and got Tampa City Councilmembers Reddick and Montelione to commit to expand the ordinance to apply to businesses that contract with the city. If passed, it will require businesses receiving city tax dollars to remove the question about criminal history from their job applications. The Tampa Council will hold a workshop about the proposed change on October 23rd at 9:30 am. Expanding this ordinance is good for the City of Tampa. We know that 92% of people with criminal records that keep a job for more than a year do not reoffend. And, if they keep a job for 5 years, they are no more likely to commit a crime than anyone in the general population. Yet, people with criminal records are discriminated against, and have a hard time getting their foot in the door to job opportunities. Since they are usually asked if they have a record when applying

As a result, businesses possibly miss out on hiring the best person for the job, and people who paid their debt to society continue to face discrimination and unemployment. Having a vibrant workforce that gives everyone the opportunity to find gainful employment reduces crime, and makes our county a better place for the families and business owners that live here. In the words of Bob Rohrlack, CEO of the Tampa Chamber of Commerce, “the best social program you can offer somebody is a job.” This quote sums up why HOPE continues to fight for a fair chance for the unemployed. For more on HOPE, visit http:// hillsboroughhope.org. HOPE’s mission is to promote justice, fairness, and the dignity of people, by engaging and training hundreds of people to responsibly and successfully act together to hold officials accountable to improve the systems affecting the quality of life in our communities.

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Deeper is the invisibility of those black women who are 3 times as likely the victims of it. Something in the very gut of the American social fabric appears to trivialize the broken bones and busted faces of black women in distress.

To understand our dirty little secret of a crisis called domestic violence means to look no further than the perverted lack of a serious conversation about it. No more

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tragic is the abject silliness of popular discourse within the AfricanAmerican community when the subject comes up.

In her 2001 Wisconsin Women’s Law Journal submission, then-law student Lisa Martinson argued that racism was “the additional obstacle for the African-American victim of domestic violence in obtaining adequate resources to leave an abuser and continue a life free from abuse.”

It explains the wholly inadequate top-of-the-season 2-game slap on the wrist the NFL handed down to Baltimore Ravens’ Ray Rice after knocking his wife unconscious in an elevator. If the NFL doesn’t take the issue seriously, it likely explains why ESPN’s Stephen Smith - never known for rhetorical restraint – felt cozy enough to suggest that Rice’s conduct could have been the result of female “provocation.” Sports commentators are pulling their hair out trying to understand why NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is missing in action on Rice. He levied a 6-game (later reduced to 4) suspension in 2010 of beloved Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and an 8-game suspension to the Miami Dolphins’ Richie Incognito for bullying fellow lineman Jonathan Martin with bigoted taunts.

Goodell even sends out his lieutenant Adolpho Birch— an African-American—on a clumsy explanation tour. Not because it’s awkward for Goodell to explain it himself, but because he—like most white men in authority—is loath to get tied up in disputes between black men and women whom they view as beneath them. In this instance, Goodell essentially pulled a Palumbo, as in Maryland District Court Judge Richard Palumbo, who, after scolding a battered Yvette Cade for filing too many protective orders, dismissed her case allowing her to later get doused in gasoline and savagely burned by her estranged husband. There is no substantive, policyfocused or data-driven debate on the impact of violence on black women and its devastation on our community. Instead we confuse onlookers by blaming victims.

And when pointing out the racially muddled treatment of former Eagles quarterback Michael Vick— who suffered league exile and prison for dogfighting—we wonder what would have happened had Vick laid his hand on a black woman.

As a society and community, we foolishly pass on opportunities to know more about the abused black women who die at 3 times the rate of white counterparts, or the 30% of sisters who have suffered violence at the hands of intimate partners.

It’s hard not to conclude, after the punishments meted out in various episodes, that the NFL doesn’t value the life of a black woman as much as white women, dogs and other players. Society, after all, doesn’t take violence against black women seriously. Why should the NFL?

Rarely do women of color, who serve more time for self-defense, see justice, and rarely do we hear our elected officials talk about it unless pushed by tragic headlines.

It’s not as if the popular conversation on domestic violence in the African-American community warrants real consideration from the commish. Don’t think he’s not watching the “who hit who first” circus of a conversation black folks openly have about celebrity acts of brutality against black women.

In the meantime, we happily venerate celebs like Chris Brown and Ray Rice, and yet don’t take the time to reflect on, study and truly recognize the destruction to our women, families and children. Sadly, we’re not forcing that conversation. And if we’re not, we shouldn’t expect the rest of the world to, either. Charles Ellison is a Washington correspondent for the Philadelphia Tribune.

Violence Policy Center Sept 2013 report Black women face a disproportionate share of fatal domestic violence in America, according to the new Violence Policy Center (VPC) report When Men Murder Women. In 2011, the most recent data available, 492 black females were murdered by males at a rate of 2.61 per 100,000, compared to a .99 per 100,000 for white females. Using data from the FBI’s unpublished Supplementary Homicide Report, the study’s findings related to black females murdered by males include: • 94% of females killed by males knew their killers. Nearly 15 times as many black females were murdered by a male they knew than by strangers. • Of victims who knew their offenders, 52% were wives, common-law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends. • Firearms were the most common weapons used by males to murder females; 51% of black female victims were killed with guns. • 12% of black female victims were less than 18 years old, and 5% were 65 years or older. • The vast majority (87%) of homicides of black females were not related to other felony crime. They were most often committed in the course of an argument. “Nine women each week are shot to death by their husband or intimate partner,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “We urgently need new policies.”

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A Power Broker Research Brief: FEDS INVESTIGATE HILLSBOROUGH’S TREATMENT OF BLACK STUDENTS This June, Hillsborough Superintendent MaryEllen Elia received a letter from the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, citing a complaint received in their office, alleging that county schools discriminate against black students with harsher discipline measures, and by failing to hire experienced teachers for schools serving more minorities. The complaint, filed by retired educator Marilyn Williams, led Civil Rights officials to request 43 types of records for the last 3 school years, including discipline statistics, policies, offense management practices and personnel who play a role in discipline actions. The district asked for a 6o-day extension to respond, while Superintendent Elia made a run of public appearances affirming Hillsborough’s progress in closing the achievement gap and improving discipline, and touting recent moves such as signing aboard President Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative.

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Hillsborough officials point out that black students’ out-of-school suspensions were cut in half in 2012-13 compared to the prior year (to less than 2,000), which was a sharper decline than for whites. The district’s black student graduation rate rose slightly in 2012-13, but still lagged substantially (59% for blacks versus 74% for whites). Elia also announced plans to forge “success teams” in some schools, made up of teachers, administrators, and non-profits offering intensive support to students with grades, absence and behavior patterns that put them at risk. RED ALERT TO PINELLAS LEADERS - TRENDS IN SOUTHSIDE SCHOOLS After years of positive news about black student achievement and improvements in South St. Petersburg schools, the latest data show new trends, particularly in elementary schools. Number one, discipline problems rose dramatically for Southside elementary schools last year; and number two, school grades for Southside schools dropped disturbingly in 2013-14.

• Second, while the number of girls suspended in Southside schools grew 68% (from 125 to 210), the number of girls suspended elsewhere stayed flat (172 in 2012 vs 173 in 2013).

Discipline problems spike in southsides schools. Suspensions in Southside elementary schools rose so sharply (by +493), they offset positive gains across the rest of the district where suspensions fell by -572. The net increase for the Southside is due entirely to 681 added suspensions in Southside elementary schools.

• Third, girls suspended in Southside elementary schools made-up over half (54.8%) of all elementary girls suspended districtwide.

School grades dropped dramatically in South St. Petersburg Only 1 Southside school saw its grade improve in 2013-14, while 4 schools saw their grades drop. According to preliminary data for 2013-14, elementary schools fared the worst. Nearly half of all Southside elementary schools (46%) scored an F grade. What’s worse, 4 out of the 5 schools earning an F, also received an F the year before.

Perhaps more disturbing are the trends for girls. Though boys continue to account for the majority of suspensions, girls have a larger share of suspensions in South St. Petersburg schools (35.7% versus 29.8% in other schools) and they make up an even larger share of students suspended (39.2% versus 32.5% in other schools).

Elementary schools account for 5 out of the 6 Southside schools that earned an F last year (note: high school grades were not in when this brief was written). This year’s grades cemented a full reversal in the decade-long trend of positive improvements in Southside schools. Grades were better five years ago.

Elementary girls show several reasons for concern:

Since 2009, school grades have fallen for nearly two-thirds of elementary schools in the community (64%), while another 27% had the same grade in 2014 as in 2009 (notably Jamerson, Perkins and Bay Vista Fundamental maintained their A grade). Only 1 elementary school improved its grade over the 5 years (Sanderlin).

• First, they appear to engage in suspensionbehavior earlier than girls elsewhere. In Southside elementary schools, girls were 32% of students suspended, compared to only 18% in schools across the rest of the district.

Elementary Schools

BAY POINT BAY VISTA FUNDAMENTAL CAMPBELL PARK FAIRMOUNT PARK PERKINS DOUGLAS L. JAMERSON JR. LAKEVIEW FUNDAMENTAL LAKEWOOD MAXIMO MELROSE JAMES B. SANDERLIN PK-8

Grade 2009

A A C C A A A C B C C

Grade 2010

B A C F B B A F D C C

Grade 2011

A A C D A A A D F F D

Grade 2012

B A D D A A A C F F B

Grade 2013

C A F F A A A D F F C

Grade 2014

I A F F A A B F F F A

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A ”GO” FOR MANY IN SOUTH ST. PETE; YOUNG PEOPLE “SPREADING THE WORD” “It’s exciting to get out and connect with people about the new community focus on growing the economy and creating new jobs,” says Brother John Muhammad who is a captain a team of young folks, out spreading-the-word asking South St. Petersburg residents to tune in and vote “yes” this November on the referendum to fund a 1-cent sales tax increase to fund the GreenLight Pinellas Plan. The effort is part of the 2020 Plan campaign to reduce poverty in South St. Petersburg by 30% by the 2020 Census. Plan leaders say “Jobs and job access are key to reaching that goal,” says Carl Lavender, Jr., chairperson of this year’s 2020 Plan Task Force meetings to map out a five-year plan of action. 2020 Plan leaders are aiming for GreenLight to aid their cause in two ways: by creating more jobs for Southside workers as bus service expands, and by giving Southside workers access to more jobs. Brother John says “The GreenLight plan expands the number of good paying jobs Southside workers can reach in mid and north-county when they don’t have reliable transportation.” He currently wears three community hats – as a 2020 Task Force member, president of the Neighborhood Association of Childs Park, and Field Coordinator for GreenLight outreach this August.

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In addition to “job access,” 2020 leaders have secured preliminary agreement from Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority officials to create a more direct pipeline for job seekers, with community hiring stations at PTEC and the Urban League, in order to rev up recruitment of Southside workers for new jobs. Jabaar Edmonds – a GreenLight supporter and co-founder of People United for Progress points to quality-of-life benefits too. “It gives us real city-style transportation, so it doesn’t take an hour just to get to the mall or downtown. We can move around like people in Atlanta or D.C for employment and entertainment.” Ten young people ages 16 to 24 were trained through the twomonth outreach project, and conducted three rounds of outreach to neighborhoods, sports events, and retail venues.

“We’re putting a small stipend in their pockets just in time for school clothes and supplies, but it’s more important that we’re training them in community service,” says Brother John. “They will see the seeds they plant take root by that 2020 Census.”

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JUDGE

PATRICE MOORE Speaks on finding her purpose and demystifying the taboos about mental illness in the black community By Carl Lavender, Jr. and Clacci Harmon

he was elected in 2010 as the first African American female Circuit Court Judge in Florida’s 6th Judicial Circuit, covering Pinellas and Pasco counties. That was quite a feat for self-described “introvert” Patrice Moore, who’d never been overly “political” and who had only half the money and name recognition of her opponent in the race. But that feat goes to the heart of her story of faith, for Judge Moore makes it clear “Everything that I am and that I hope to be is by the grace of God and the people who are praying for me.” The Power Broker’s Carl Lavender and Clacci Harmon, recent Florida State University graduate, got up-close-and-personal with Moore, who wasn’t shy in sharing how she overcame her fears to walk in faith, and why it’s imperative that more Pastors and community leaders support folks in seeking out mental health services. Power Broker magazine | 39

JOURNEY TO

JUDGESHIP

For Patrice Moore, the journey to becoming one of 45 judges elected to the Circuit courts began in eighth grade, which is when she recalls that first vision of herself as a member of the legal profession. Judge Moore acknowledges her former boss, Public Defender Bob Dilinger, and his wife as two of the people who planted the seeds early in her career. It was Dilinger who first suggested she consider the bench as a career aspiration, and repeated the suggestion often during Moore’s 14 years as an Assistant Public Defender. After countless times saying “no” – to herself and others - Moore finally relented to what she now sees as her Godgiven purpose. And to others struggling with life decisions, she cautions “You must have a real reason to say no. Do not say no because of fear. It was by faith that I overcame doubt.” When asked how faith factored in her journey, Moore – who

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presides over family cases – pointed to “prayer” as her guide. “My prayers were two-fold. I asked God to keep me passionate about what I was doing, because it meant more to me than the modest pay check. At the same time I asked God if this is what he wanted of me. He challenged me to overcome my natural shyness and find my own voice.” Carl: How did you manage the dichotomy of being an introvert and a public campaign figure? Judge Moore: (Chuckling) It took 3 or 4 candidate forums for me to feel comfortable meeting new people. I was shy and would rather sit and let people come to me. Two great friends - Rene Flowers and Gershom Faulkner – helped steer me to ‘come out of my shell.’ Carl: You obviously managed to beat the odds. What was your first thought when you got the news that you won the election?

Judge Moore: I knew it was nothing but the grace of God, because my opponent had raised a lot more money than I and was the brother of a judge, which came with a larger network of relationships. Carl: Have you ever presided over a case that caused you to agonize or question? Judge Moore: Before and after all my trials, I reflect on how and whether justice is served, which isn’t always clear cut. A part of me says that we all deserve a second chance. I also welcome the opinions of colleagues when determining how to deal with certain cases, which gives me a second set of eyes in weighing justice. I also try and sustain life “balance,” to stay mentally and physically healthy in a stressful occupation. Joy FM radio stays on my dial. I also incorporate daily prayer on my way to work and take breaks from trials to replenish in prayer. I knew when I took this job that “balance” would be key.

Carl: What is the most challenging aspect of your work? Judge Moore: Since 1998, I’ve worked with mentally ill clients, and I can tell you that mental illness is real, but too often considered “taboo” and kept quiet in a lot of communities, including ours. The recent death of a 4 year old child in Jordan Park, allegedly by his own mother, is a perfect illustration of how we tune-in to mental health challenges in the black community when crisis strikes, but never go deep enough to face the realities. If you are resistant to the fact that there are mental illnesses then you will be resistant to the fact that medicine could help. Carl: If authority figures, like pastors, promoted treatment for the mentally ill, do you believe that the community will begin to actively seek treatment? Judge Moore: People of color are people of faith. Pastors should embrace this issue and encourage people to seek the help they need. Many do that already, but more of them should join in this battle that so many in their flocks face. It isn’t something for anyone to be ashamed of. The proper place to confront mental illness is not in jail or in the streets. There are treatment and help available before it gets there. Carl: What is the most rewarding aspect of your career? Judge Moore: Being a public defender! In my interview with Bob Dilinger, I explained my philosophy that everyone deserves competent counsel to protect their rights. It’s also rewarding to strengthen and reunite families as a judge. One of my greatest joys is closing adoptions which give a child a “forever home.” I understand

that from my personal journey. It was my grandmother’s tender-loving-care that raised me. I call her a “Shero” for taking me in while my father finished college. Clacci: Is being a Judge anything like the shows on TV? Judge Moore: No two days are the same but in real life court, it’s about business and people’s lives, not TV ratings.

PROFILE JUDGE

PATRICE MOORE

Clacci: What do you believe will give young professionals such as myself a more positive focus?

The St. Pete native is a magna cum laude graduate of Florida Memorial College with a BA in criminal justice and a JD from Stetson College of Law.

Judge Moore: Know this - in spite of where you come from, you can have success. In spite of what you see in the mirror, learn to see yourself as what you want to be in life. See yourself as God would see you. Even if you can’t imagine a brighter future, use your situation as stepping stone and not an excuse.

Judge Moore’s first job was with Turner Law Group, handling employment discrimination cases, before joining the staff of newly elected Public Defender Bob Dillinger in 1996. There, for over a decade, she specialized in clients with severe mental health issues on cases ranging from misdemeanors to murders, including 27 jury trials, 12 bench trials, and appearances in 30+ judicial reviews. She also worked with “crossover kids” involved in both dependency and delinquency court, to give them “an adult who will be a constant, no matter what.”

Clacci: What types of events would be beneficial for the development of the youth in our community? Judge Moore: Events that can give youth something to take home and actively engaged in our fight to better our community. Keynote speakers at youth events should be people who have struggled and overcome obstacles, because those are the leaders who many youth can relate to. Carl: In closing Judge, can you offer readers, particularly young professionals, any suggestions? Judge Moore: Number one is to join networking organizations because that’s where you find mentors in your field. Two, be willing and open to accepting help; and number three, dare to dream in-spite of their situation.

In the community, the Judge serves as Vice Chair of the board for Brookwood Florida, which offers troubled girls an alternative living environment and therapeutic programs in education, employment, and independent living. She is also a staff member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha AKAdemy, a program to help teens develop leadership, service and academic skills, as well as a member of the St. Petersburg Links, the Minnis Bar Association, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Thurgood Marshall’s School Advisory Council, and the League of Women Voters. Moore was appointed in 2008 by then Governor Crist to the Florida Board of Psychology and is a Past Co-President of Barney Masterson Inns Of Court. She and her husband have 2 young girls. A tennis mom, cheer mom and dance mom, most of Judge Moore’s free time goes to her daughters’ activities. However, she does enjoy old movies and reading a good book when time permits.

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(Front row) Michael Coker, Rev. Keisha Dixon, Dr. Mary Wynn, Pastor Vanda Jacobs, Pastor Jake Jacobs, Lo Berry, Dr. Sydel LeGrande, Dr. Chloe Coney, Pastor Ernest Coney, Sr., Dr. Mary Nelson, Min. Ernest Coney Jr, Lucky Guerra; (2nd row) Elder Lucius Harris, Obed Santiago, Dr. Bethany Harris, Pastor Jonathan Brooks, Dr. Deborah Austin, Pastor Anthony White and David Ogburn.

The Coney Family is intent on making “faith” a cornerstone of community development happening on both sides of Tampa Bay over the years to come, and witnessed a big milestone this July with the first-ever Christian community development conference held in the region. On July 12th, Pastor Ernest and Dr. Chloe Coney of Spirit of Truth Ministries convened representatives of 120 churches, faith-based organizations, and community agencies – most located in Hillsborough– to what the Coney couple considers a first annual occasion. The event – hosted in the Abe Brown Fellowship Hall at First Baptist and dubbed the Tampa Intensive Christian Community Development Conference – was the product of a years-long vision of the Coney’s. But it was sparked by the passion they felt at this year’s annual Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) national conference. “We knew it was the right time,” says Chloe, who is best known for her antidrug crusades and decade at the helm of intensive commercial development work in the East Tampa community. “So we seized the moment and invited several CCDA trainers to do their 1st major training here in Hillsborough.”

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“The church must be at the forefront of poverty reduction efforts in St. Pete and Tampa, and the CCDA strategy asks “the church” to become a force in organizing and bringing new resources to poor and under-served communities such as South St. Pete, East Tampa, and Sulphur Springs” says Pastor Coney, a former YMCA Branch Manager credited with spearheading the $ 4.2 million Central City YMCA’s development. To his point, Chloe and the Reverend already have plans to implement the CCDA framework as part of the 2020 Plan to reduce poverty by 30% in South St. Petersburg.

Three CCDA facilitators traveled from various parts of the country for the session: Dr. Mary Nelson, CCDA Board Member, along with Pastor Jonathan Brooks and Dr. Bethany Harris. The conference was sponsored by the Children’s Board, Spirit of Truth, Abe Brown Ministries, CDC of Tampa, REACHUP, College Hill COGIC, First Baptist of College Hill, BibleBased Fellowship, Life Point Church, University Community Ministries, BRYCE Ministries and Sol Davis Printing.

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A Republican’s Perspective on How to Really Empower Black Voters Nationwide By Ron Christie ǀ Published by The Daily Beast ǀ July 22, 2014 Fifty years after the Freedom Summer, black voters are more powerful than ever. It’s time for both parties to realize this, and start competing for their support. For the first time in history, according to the Census, blacks are voting at a higher rate than whites. And while the presence of President Obama on the ballot almost certainly drove up turnout, blacks are still the only group to show a significant voting increase in 2012. Nowhere is this trend more noteworthy than in the South where, as Nate Cohn recently argued in The New York Times, black voters may decide who controls the Senate. “If Democrats win the South and hold the Senate,” he wrote, “they will do so because of black voters.” The expanding clout of black voters in the South is welcome news. Now we need to see their power expand nationwide, which will only happen when Republicans and Democrats are forced to fight for their support. Given that roughly 90% of blacks are committed supporters of the Democratic Party, I suspect they will take this voting bloc for granted by promising more government support - belittling blacks by assuming a majority of us are interested in “free” stuff from the government. I also assume they’ll continue pushing the canard that Republicans’ push for voter ID laws is an attempt to disenfranchise black voters, despite the fact that black turnout increased last cycle in Georgia and Indiana, 2 states with some of the toughest laws. So what will Republicans do, and will they find a way to make inroads with people of color?

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Senator Thad Cochran’s re-election should give Republicans insight on how to bring black voters to the polls. Cochran’s strong showing among blacks is the only thing that kept him from losing to Tea Party challenger Chris McDaniel, because Cochran did what many Republicans seem reluctant to: Ask for black voters’ support, and make a substantive argument for it. Republicans need a positive message for people of color, and they need to state it clearly, with conviction. Senator Rand Paul is already making an aggressive pitch to black voters, and I hope other Republicans follow suit. The GOP insists it’s trying to attract the increasingly active black vote. “North and South. East and West. Everywhere we go, we’re listening to black voters, sharing our vision of a better country,” RNC spokesman Orlando Watsontold The Daily Beast. “ Perhaps most importantly, Republicans need to expand who they are talking to. Cozying up to the NAACP or church ministers isn’t going to cut it anymore. My friend Marc Morial, CEO of the Urban League, has been diligent about bringing Republicans to meetings and conventions. Two years ago I spoke at the Urban League’s convention in New Orleans and was met with a few jeers during my remarks as to why blacks should give the Republican Party a chance. But as soon as my speech was over, I can’t tell you the number of people who approached me to thank me for coming. Many said they agreed with much of what I said, but felt it improper to support Republicans who often act like wooing black voters is a

waste of time. If Republicans don’t roll up their sleeves, and ask blacks to support them, they have only themselves to blame if black voters stay firmly in the Democratic camp. Blacks are voting in stronger numbers than ever, and it’s time both parties woke up and started competing for their loyalty. Blacks comprise only 13% of the American population yet continue to flex their muscle when it comes to voting. With one party taking blacks for granted and the other trying to gain traction with them, let’s hope Republicans and Democrats focus on the important issues facing communities of color, rather than attacking their opponents by using race as a wedge. Ron Christie is CEO of Christie Strategies and previously served as special assistant to President George W. Bush. He has written 3 books on race and politics in America.

Taking our Votes to the Bank! A Democratic Voice on Black Voters’ Getting More In Return for our support. The 2020 Plan – and the years of organized advocacy by Agenda 2010 to create it – is a rare example of how we can “ask, expect and hold officials accountable” for real investments.

By Rev. Dr. Manuel Sykes I conducted forum by this title in July to discuss our community’s need to demand more in exchange for our vote. In the financial world, when we money, we expect a return. However, in the voting arena, we have not operated with this same expectation.

But more often than not, we wave their signs, make their calls, and knock on doors for free, while they pay others to supervise us. And when elected, many never return to the community with tangible resources. Some thought this recent July forum would be about how I was treated when deciding whether to run for the U.S. Congress and faced hostility from the Pinellas Democratic Party leadership.

We as a voting bloc, have not demanded more from candidates than a handshake and a photo opportunity, as though they are rock stars. The truth is that, if they win office with the aid of the minority vote, they are our employees! And if they don’t have specific responsibilities to you as their employer, they don’t have to deliver anything!

It’s bigger than that.

As a community, we seldom receive commitments, and when we do, it’s what the candidate says they will do, rather than what we ask or tell them to do. This brings up another issue: some don’t even bother to show at key forums, and simply assume that minorities will vote Democratic because they have no place else to go.

This is far larger than my personal experience. It is about disrespect for us as a voting powerhouse, and the expectation that we will do their bidding without demanding inclusion in public resources, policies and candidate opportunities.

To this I say “Respect our Votes, don’t Expect our Votes! As a community, we have seldom come together, to tell candidates what we demand in exchange

I’d been appointed as the county voter outreach chair weeks before by the Party, to register and rally minority voters. But when I considered running for those votes, I became persona non grata, which to me says “You can vote for us, but then stay in your place, or run for a “black” seat!”

What, then, are black voters to do? While many Republicans oppose our interests, don’t even bother to solicit our vote, or try all that they can to repress them, Democrats are glad to take our votes for granted, without engaging us as a voting bloc to be reckoned with.

Since candidates and parties tend to focus their courting attention on “super voters,” i.e., those who vote in every election – and most black voters cast ballots in general elections, but not primary elections, neither party prioritizes proactive outreach to our community. My recommendation is to vote, for sure, but to vote only for those candidates and causes that have asked for your support or come strongly recommended by people you trust. Whatever you do, make the candidates and parties work for your support. Many candidates cannot win without the help of African Americans, which has been proven in many election cycles past. Black voters accounted for 99% of President Obama’s 2008 margin-of-victory in Pinellas, and for a lion share of his 2012 win, despite an openly racist ill-willed Congress and billions spent by the Koch brothers and others. It’s time to “Take Our Votes To The Bank,” and demand a fair return on our investments. Some have billions to spend on candidates, but a dollar can’t vote! While the rich use their billions to misinform and mislead voters, let us make it our business to turn up the volume and continue to get out the vote. Vote on or before August 26th in the 2014 Primary Election, and get informed using the voter guides and information being published by the Weekly Challenger Newspaper and the Power Broker magazine.

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Be there:

The 2020 Plan Pre-Launch Community Leader Invitational

Wednesday, September 17th 2014 - 5 to 8 pm PTEC 901 34th St. S. in St. Petersburg

Moving forward to reduce poverty by 30% by the 2020 Census What: The 2020 Plan Task Force will welcome 200 key leaders whose support is needed to achieve the top goals of the 2020 Plan, which are to increase employment by 5,000 and reduce the poverty rate in South St. Petersburg by 30% by the 2020 Census. Who should attend: Key leaders who are already working toward 2020 goals (including concerned citizens, and leaders in education, government, philanthropy, and the fraternal, faith, corporate, business and non-profit communities), or those being invited to lend their support (for organizational presidents and officers who cannot be present, we ask that you please send a representative).

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When: Wednesday September 17th at PTEC (901 34th Street South in St. Petersburg) 5 to 8 pm (dinner served from 5 to 6 pm). Why: This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the partners, design and goals of the 2020 Plan, including the 100+ community organizations whose work is needed over the next 5 years to reach the goals; most importantly, most importantly, it will also gather feedback and ask the support of invitees. RSVPs: RSVPs are strongly encouraged; important handouts and meals will be prepared for each participant: reachout @powerbrokermagazine.com.

This photo says it all in describing the winning formula that, by 2014, had made the 2020 Plan the largest public-private poverty-reduction plan in Florida – a formula that combines visionary leadership by younger leaders such as Deputy Mayor Dr. Kanika Tomalin, together with the unrivaled expertise of luminaries such as Dr. Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich and Winnie Foster, and the energy and ideas of people across the boundaries of race, religion and creed.

ore than 200 diverse and enthusiastic people gathered this past May 29th at the South St. Petersburg’s Historic Manhattan Casino to celebrate the 2020 Plan’s 7-year Anniversary as a bold initiative seeking to reduce poverty by 30% and to add 5,000 adults and older teens to South St. Petersburg’s employment rolls before the 2020 Census is taken.

remember. It is a hope, still unborn for some, whose faith in its possibility was - and remains crushed after many generations, by the inability of government at all levels to embrace, within its often fleeting and cynical attention-span, the promise of equity and opportunity.

Such an ambitious endeavor resulted from the collaborative efforts of all in that room, who served as representatives of 2,000 individuals and local organizations directly contributing to the 2020 Plan efforts over the past 7 years.

The 7th Anniversary Celebration’s Master of Ceremonies Carl Lavender, Jr., the 2020 Plan’s chief strategy officer, was assisted by the Plan’s chief designer, Gypsy Gallardo, in introducing those honored for their contributions with 164 awards and citations, presented in seven categories: 2020 Plan Cornerstone Awards - 20 recipients; 2020 Plan Pillar Awards - 22 recipients;

The 2020 Plan is a hope, held in abeyance, for longer than many generations of South St. Petersburg residents care to

This hope now feeds thousands of St. Pete residents’ prospects for themselves, for their County and new City government, and especially, for their children.

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Foundation Award honorees

Pillar Award honorees

Foundation Cornerstone Award honorees Award honorees

Financial Co-Sponsors 2007-2014 - 58 organization/ co-sponsor Citations; Spokespersons & Mc’s Awards -11; In-Kind/Staff Citations - 12; 2020 Plan Task Force and Founding PACT Board Citations - 35; and 2020 Plan Task Force Advisors - 6 Awardees.

“But Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 For the devout supporters of the Plan - chief among them Gypsy Gallardo, the Plan’s creator - references to biblical passages and values like faith and hope come easily to mind. With its origins in the sanctuary of Mt Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in 2007, when 300 fraternal, faith, neighborhood and civic leaders pledged their confidence in the real possibility of permanently reduced poverty with well-paying, career-ladder jobs, the 2020 Plan’s strategies have been rooted in years of experiences elsewhere in the nation. The Great Society’s approach - first introduced nationally as race riots raged in the 1960’s KennedyJohnson years - offered an inspirational model of a front-end funded effort, led by a close citizen-

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government partnership and public/ private investments to support concentrated data analysis and comprehensive planning. Many, especially younger St. Petersburg residents, may not remember this history. And no wonder. This City never before has participated in such a concerted focus on poverty-reduction, rather than poverty funding, with either national or local support. In St. Petersburg, as well as most other small-tomedium-sized Deep South communities, the models for community revitalization have followed the South’s school desegregation Deficit Model, which generally has led to transitory, compensatory and remedial solutions. What was presented to the 2020 Plan’s founders, sitting that Saturday morning in May of 2007 in the Mt Zion Church pews, was the innovative Developmental Model of community regeneration - one that provides transformational and sustainable solutions - by reducing statistically measured poverty by 30%, and raising employment by 5000 for South St. Petersburg’s unemployed and under-employed residents. These are the goals to be reached by 2020 when the nation again gathers Census data about all American’s income and economic mobility.

Left and right, Winnie Foster and Gwendolyn Reese, both founders of the predecessor group to the 2020 Plan (called “The PACT”).

The City’s administration of Mayor Rick Kriseman, the City Council and the Pinellas County Board of Commissioners have taken major supportive actions, important to the Plan’s pre-planning phase, which ends on September 30, 2014. The Plan’s core-action group often includes Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin or City Urban Affairs Director Nikki Gaskin-Capehart, and several top City Economic Development staff such as Dave Goodwin and Rick Smith, the latter of whom was honored as a “Cornerstone” of the 2020 Plan at the recent celebration. Earlier this year City Council approved a grant of $74,000 to the Pinellas County Urban League for a summer pilot of the “wrap round family services model” prioritized by the 2020 Plan. The Board of County Commissioners last year authorized the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) and recently approved the Interlocal Agreement with the City to complete a new CRA Plan, both of which are significant economic policy contributions towards the achievement of the 2020 Plans goals for South St. Petersburg. On this past June 26, Mayor Rick Kriseman took the next significant step by making 22 appointments to an Ad Hoc CRA Advisory Committee (see list in table) to consider and plan actions, in 5 publicly noticed meetings, open to all citizens, which will deliver the benefits of the Community Renewal Plan, and of the 2020 Plan’s 7 years of citizen-driven efforts and insights, to South St. Petersburg.

Consistent with the Mayor’s promise of a government dedicated to the values of Stewardship and Fiscal Responsibility; Innovation; Impactful Service; and Community Engagement, through transparency, diversity and inclusion, more than half of the members of the Mayor’s Ad Hoc CRA Advisory Committee appointees also were honored during the 2020 Plan’s Anniversary Celebration for their significant and indispensable contributions, over 7 years, to the design and progress of the 2020 Plan. The substance of things hoped for was evident in the identification and unfolding of the CRA boundary, which comprise the heart of the 2020 Plan’s target area: bounded by First Avenue on the North; 30th Avenue on the South; 49th Street South on the West; and 4th Street South on the East. Inside these borders is where poverty is most concentrated. Though Governor Scott vetoed funding in the 2014 State Budget for legislatively proposed expenditures slated to go to 2020 Plan partners, several of those partners nevertheless received State funding that, as Gallardo notes, “gets us closer to the 2020’s employment-increasing goals.” The St. Petersburg Chamber continues to advance the involvement of its business members in 2020 Plan implementation strategies, and over 3 dozen local and county independent agencies contribute to a shared work-load of 2020 planning and action initiatives. Fund-raising strategies are integrated and interdependent. A real-time performance-tracking technology has been identified to help in assessing

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RSVP: 2020 PLAN PRE-LAUNCH LEADER INVITATIONAL

WEDNESDAY, SEPT 17TH 5 TO 8 PM (DINNER 5 TO 6) Moving forward to reduce poverty by 30% by the 2020 Census What: The 2020 Task Force welcomes 200 leaders whose support is needed to achieve the top 2020 Plan goals: to increase employment by 5,000 and reduce poverty in South St. Pete by 30% by the 2020 Census. Why: This session gives a comprehensive overview & gathers feedback on the partners, design and goals of the five-year 2020 Plan. Who: All current and invited partners of the 2020 Plan, including citizens and leaders in education, government, philanthropy, and the fraternal, faith, business and non-profit communities.

progress toward the goals of poverty reduction and improved employment levels. The first action-year for the 2020 Plan begins on October 1, 2014. The very well supported 7th Anniversary Celebration was a shot of adrenalin for the Planâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s corestaff, partners and collaborators. Replication at this local level, of an ambitious national model, has

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taken guts and, going forward, will require a thick skin on the part of the City, County and especially the 2020 Planâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leaders and partners. In South St. Petersburg, the habit of expecting failure is hard to break. But success is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ...except by Faith.

RSVP: Handouts and meals will be prepared for each participant who sends an RSVP to reachout@ powerbrokermagazine.com.

2020 PLAN CORNERSTONE AWARDEES • Carl Lavender, Jr. • Winnie Foster • Watson Haynes, II • Pastor Louis Murphy, Sr. • Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin, Ph.D • Minister Louis Muhammad • Deborah D. Figgs-Sanders • Rick Smith (City of St. Petersburg) • Rick Smith (FPSU/SEIU) • Councilmember Karl Nurse • Commissioner Kenneth Welch • Gwen Warren • Dr. Manuel L. Sykes • Lounell Britt • Art O’Hara • Larry Newsome, Sr. • State Rep. Darryl Rouson • Dr. Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich • Chris Steinocher • Dr. James McHale & Lisa Negrini 2020 PLAN PILLAR AWARDEES • Terry Boehm • Askia Aquil • Councilman Wengay Newton • Nikki Gaskin-Capehart • Philip Harris • Pastor Clark Hazley • Kevin Johnson • Dr. Kevin Gordon • Elder James Myles • Keona Welch • Tamara Felton-Howard, Esq. • Brother John Muhammad • Lou Brown, Jr. • Lou Brown, III, Esq. • Mrs. Yvonne Reed Clayton • Jan Johnson • Councilmember Amy Foster • Councilman Steve Kornell • Councilmember Darden Rice • Harvey Landress • Pastor Walt Draughon • Clarence Givens FINANCIAL CO-SPONSORS • African American Health Forum • African American Voter Educ. Forum • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority • Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity • Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity

FINANCIAL CO-SPONSORS • Project Juffure • The James B. Sanderlin Center • Rainbow Push Coalition • The Weekly Challenger • The WRXB AM 1590 • The Power Broker magazine • BlackintheBay.com • West Coast Conference 11th District African Methodist Episcopal Church • The Nation of Islam • People’s Budget Review • Florida Public Service Union • Pinellas Classroom Teachers Assoc • Council of Neighborhood Associations • St. Petersburg NAACP • Pinellas County Urban League • Omega Psi Phi Fraternity • Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity • Mt Zion Progressive MB Church • Urban League Young Professionals • The PACT/Agenda 2010 • Fred G. Minnis, Sr. Bar Association • Tampa Bay Healthcare Collaborative • National Congress of Black Women • Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity • Infinite Solutions • Top Ladies of Distinction • Urban Development Solutions • The Sojourner Truth Center • MycroSchool • CDC of Tampa • LiveFree! Coalition • Neighborhood Assoc of Childs Park • National Council of Negro Women • The Florida Courier Newspaper • East Tampa Business & Civic Assoc • Hillsborough County NAACP • Coalition on Black Civic Participation • Midtown Health Council • League of Women Voters • George Edgecomb Bar Association • Tampa Organization of Black Affairs • Center for Comm. & Economic Justice • Earth Mission Ministries, Inc. • Stetson Black Law Student Association • R’Clubs • Operation PAR SPOKESPERSONS & MCS 2007 TO 2014 • Dianne Speights • Deborah D. Figgs-Sanders • Pastor Brian Brown • Capreece Thomas • Pastor Prentiss Davis

Special Thanks to Boe Norwood of PTEC *In-kind space/staff sponsors: Childs Park YMCA, PTEC, Mt Zion Progressive MB Church, CCEJ, Greater Mt Zion AME Church, New Hope MB Church, Bethel Community Baptist Church, Suncoast Hospice, Boys & Girls Clubs, 22nd Street Church of God, City of St. Petersburg, & others THE 2020 PLAN TASK FORCE (& *FOUNDING BOARD OF THE PACT) • Gypsy C. Gallardo* • Gwendolyn Reese* • Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich, Ph.D. • Carl Lavender, Jr.* • Watson Haynes, II • Pastor Louis M. Murphy, Sr. • Dr. Manuel L. Sykes • Randolph Lewis • Deborah D. Figgs-Sanders • Larry J. Newsome, Sr. • Winnie Foster* • Dr. Marie Nelson • Dr. Kevin Gordon • Lounell Britt • Pastor Frank Peterman, Jr. • Rev. Dr. Deborah R. Green • Askia Aquil • Rick Smith (FPSU/SEIU) • Rick Smith (City of St. Petersburg) • Sharon Joy Kleitsch* • Art O’Hara • Harvey Landress • Lou Brown, III, Esq. • Brother John Muhammad • Chitra Naidu • Michael Jalazo • Jan Johnson • Dr, James McHale • Carolyn King • Pattye Sawyer-Hampton • Charlotte Anderson • Delquanda Turner • Carrie Hepburn* • Gregory Johnson* • Dr, Eugene Givens * 2020 PLAN TASK FORCE ADVISORS State Representative Darryl Rouson County Commissioner Kenneth Welch City Councilmember Karl Nurse City Councilmember Amy Foster City Councilmember Darden Rice City Councilmember Wengay Newton Power Broker magazine | 51

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LOCAL GOSPEL GROUP “CHOSEN” QUICKLY BECOMING A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN THE BAY AREA AND BEYOND

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HOSEN is realizing its dreams of making the bay area proud and becoming a staple in gospel music.

The group of four - comprised of brother and sister duo Joshua and Desiree Sherman accompanied by Randy Griffin (tenor) and Alisa Jackson (soprano) - has built a reputation for its high energy performances over the past decade, and recently made its national debut after being selected to appear on the Impact Network’s Bobby Jones Presents, before an audience of millions in June 2014.

encouragement. The road to success in entertainment, gospel included, is no easy task. CHOSEN is determined to leave a legacy and imprint in the heart and souls of millions. By faith.” To learn more about CHOSEN, visit www. ChosenMusicMinistry.com. Keep up with CHOSEN on Facebook: chosenministry5; Twitter/Instagram: I_am_Chosen5.

According to Joshua Sherman, lead singer, CHOSEN received rave reviews from the “Ambassador of Gospel.” “I really love the way you sing,” said Jones to Joshua Sherman after the show’s taping. CHOSEN’s manager Louise Sherman has worked hard to help move this project along and is humbled by the group’s advancement. “Ambassador Bobby Jones loved CHOSEN’s performance. That’s a big deal coming from such a respected man in this industry.” The quartet parlayed that energy into the studio, to produce a new single “We Won’t Hold Back,” releasing this September at an official red carpet release party “A Black & White Affair,” date and time soon to be announced). Also stemming from the Bobby Jones honor, CHOSEN was invited to be the opening act for a national tour stop in Tampa with BET’s Sunday Best stars Joshua Rogers (Season 5 winner) and Alexis Spight (Season 5 finalist). The four rising stars are thankful for the new opportunities. “We give God the glory. He continues to bless us and open up doors,” says Sherman. “And we thank our family and growing fan and friend base for the

Independent Avon Representative Power Broker magazine | 55

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Democrats AG candidates Perry Thurston & George Sheldon in Tampa

Unlike some other cabinet positions (CFO, anyone?), Florida Democrats actually have a vibrant primary election going on in their contest to see who faces incumbent Attorney General Pam Bondi this November. House Minority Leader Perry Thurston and George Sheldon, who last served as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ assistant secretary, are competing for the Democratic nomination for AG. However there appears to be little distance between them on the issues and the candidates themselves downplayed the competitive nature of their contest at a Tampa Tiger Club meeting at the Straz Center early in the race. Instead they focused on how different they would act in the AG’s office if they ousted the current occupant. But if their substance is similar, their styles are different. Thurston has a more energetic vocal delivery, and wasted no time in going after Bondi for what he said were her extremely ideological positions, some of which he claimed were far out of the mainstream in Florida. One issue ripe for any Democrat to exploit this year is on medical marijuana, and nobody in Florida has a higher profile in opposing the proposed ballot initiative. But Thurston said the “true reason” she and the rest of the GOP establishment don’t want the referendum (supported by 82% of the

public) is because the initiative could trigger an outbreak of Democraticleaning voters. “The attorney general for the state of Florida should be fighting the rights of the people,” he declared, chastising her further for opposing the Affordable Care Act as well as the expansion of Medicaid, which could have provided 800,000 more Floridians with health care coverage.

“

“So if you’re the Attorney General for the state of Florida, we need an Attorney General who’s going to fight for the state of Florida.” Thurston said he was stunned that one of the very first acts Bondi did after taking office 3 years ago (in concert with Rick Scott) was to rollback the streamlining of the process for restoring ex-felons’ civil and voting rights. “That’s not fighting for the people,” he admonished. Sheldon was less combative in his references to Bondi, other than a cursory remark that the AG should not believe that attending a fundraiser is more important than presiding over the state’s execution of a death-row inmate (a nod to an incident last summer when Bondi had to apologize for seeking a delay in the execution of Marshall Lee Gore, so she could attend her own fundraiser). Both Democrats were in unison in saying

Remember to vote in the Democratic primary August 26th 2014. Learn more about the candidates at www.thurstonforflorida.com and georgesheldon2014.com.

that the state’s controversial Stand Your Ground law is ripe for being modified, though they both prefaced their comments by preaching their support for the 2nd Amendment. Just hours before the candidates met, a group called Lifelines to Healing hosted a press conference at the AG’s local Tampa office, where they called attention to the fact that Florida is only 1 of 3 states to effectively impose a lifetime disenfranchisement upon a felony conviction. When asked by a member in the audience about the issue, Sheldon said he did support automatic restoration of the civil rights of most, but not all ex-felons. Thurston said the battle to restore rights for ex-felons has been an issue that some legislators he respects have been fighting for decades, and questioned why Bondi felt the need to make such a change immediately upon entering office back in 2011.

BLACK CAUCUS ASKS SHELDON TO STEP ASIDE, SUPPORT THURSTON Henry Crespo, President of the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida, issued an early-August editorial, asking George Sheldon to vacate his race against Perry Thurston in the August 26th Democratic primary election that will decide which man competes with Republican incumbent Pam Bondi in November. Crespo’s letter alleged that Sheldon may be ineligible for the office on two counts, including his failure to meet a 7-year residency rule. Power Broker magazine | 57

Action Alert & Civic News

WHY DOES THE PINELLAS SCHOOL DISTRICT ASK PARENTS TO WAIVE THEIR CHILDREN’S CIVIL RIGHTS?

Take this one small action to protect your child and you By Kurt Donley, Public Safety Committee Chair, St. Petersburg NAACP www.naacpstpete.org

very year Pinellas county schools require parents to sign a tear off sheet in the Student Code of Conduct booklet, indicating that they have read (and agreed to) specified highlights and that they agree to read the code in its entirety.

By signing as a parent, you just agreed to waive your child’s 4th, 5th and 6th amendment rights; you agreed to allow the school to engage law enforcement officers to question your child for something they suspect him of her of doing OUTSIDE of school, without you or a lawyer present. The St. Petersburg NAACP takes the position that this is unacceptable, given the “school to prison” pipeline that continues to needlessly engaged too many students in the juvenile or criminal justice systems. NAACP officials have asked

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Superintendent Grego to change this policy and practice. Some changes were promised. The new 2014-1015 Code of Conduct was not available at the time this article went to press. So if you encounter this signature sheet during your back-to-school activities, CAREFULLY READ it before signing. If this clause is still in effect this year, the NAACP will supply you an alternative sheet to sign with a disclaimer that reads, in part: My child does not consent to any searches, reserves the right to be silent in the event of questioning by law enforcement, and demands that both myself (the parent) and our lawyer MUST be present for any interactions with law enforcement. Any attempt or assistance by the school to deny my child’s civil rights or coerce my child into waiving those rights may result in a civil law suit.

PLEASE HELP & STAY TUNED TO THIS ISSUE: The St. Petersburg NAACP continues to make efforts to have the Pinellas School District adopt a standardized discipline matrix and agreement to handle minor misdemeanors in-house in ways that are predictable and fair. The matrix and agreement advocated for by the NAACP is modeled after similar tools used in Broward County to address the fact that it once ranked 4th worst in Florida for “school to prison pipeline” statistics. Dr. Grego has not yet agreed to the new measures. Please join us in asking the Superintendent and School Board to take actions that will reduce discipline problems in South St. Petersburg schools. The NAACP will continue to ask that parents and activists get involved in support of measures being proposed by advocacy groups, including the NAACP, COQEBS, the Urban League Education Advisory Council, the 2020 Plan Task Force & others. To reach Kurt Donley: kurtdonley@msn.com.

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5-7 pm Sunday, April 26, 2015 The Gulfport Casino & Ballroom Power Broker magazine | 59

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Live entertainment, beach games, raffle. Children 7 & younger free – must RSVP in advance. Vegetarian meals are available with advance notice.

Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 12:00PM DoubleTree Hotel, 10100 International Dr. in Orlando Price: $45 407-600-7614 OLD SCHOOL SATURDAYS From: Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 9:30PM The Menage Lounge, 4900 66th St. No. in St. Pete 813-493-1997, www.facebook. com/tampagrownfolks The new grown and sexy hotspot. PINELLAS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY SUMMER SUNSET BEACH BASH Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 3:00PM Alden Suites, 5900 Gulf Blvd. in St. Pete Beach Price: $35 in advance, $40 at the door www.pinellasdemocrats.org

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GALLERIE 909 EVENTS

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For discounts and free offers exclusively for Power Broker readers, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter facebook.com/ PowerBrokerMagazine

More Community & Faith Based Events

facebook.com/ GypsyGallardo twitter.com/ powerbrokermag

OLD SCHOOL REUNION 2014 SUMMIT III BEING THE BEST M.A.L.E YOU CAN BE 2014 Saturday, August 16, 2014 at 8:00AM • Mt. Olive AME Church, 1902 W. LaSalle St. in Tampa • Price: Free M.A.L.E (Maters of Achievement, Leadership & Excellence) • 813-409-7273 www.maleincfl.wix.com/ maleinc The summit will feature interactive presentations on critical leadership, faith, the law, finance, communication, and life skills. These creative activities are designed to help build self-esteem, encourage positive communication among peers, and provide the tools for conflict resolution. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Walter Smith. The day also will feature lectures focused on plans of action to support the attending youth in leadership and college and career readiness. Light Breakfast and Lunch will be served. Parents are encouraged to attend. Open to male youth 12-17 years old. Registration starts @ 8:00am-8:45am. Pre-register (813) 409-7273.

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ONE COLOR MANY SHADES BENEFIT Saturday, August 16, 2014 at 7:00PM Bay Point Christian Church, 2001 62nd Ave. So. in St. Pete Price: $15pp/$25 per couple 727-504-3149 Ford Christian Academy will be opening a brand new evening preparatory school for high school students in South St. Petersburg for the 2014-15 school year. The host site will be at Bay Point Christian Church, 2001 62nd Avenue South. We will open our doors for 10 high school students who need nontraditional hours in order to prosper.

CARIBBEAN DEMOCRATIC CLUB’S 15TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY BUILDERS & AWARDS LUNCHEON

Sunday, August 17, 2014 at 1:00PMWoodlands Country Club, 4600 Woodlands Blvd. in Tamarac 954-297-6550 Join Congressman Al Hastings as he welcomes his colleague, daughter of Former Councilmember Una Clarke from Brooklyn New York, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke the KEYNOTE SPEAKER for this event.

From: August 29, 2014 to August 30, 2014 Various Locations in St. Pete Price: $25 727-210-9779 The time has come for the “Old School Reunion” Labor Day weekend event. If you missed last year, you missed a treat. This year will be bigger and better. So make sure you’re not left out. We are calling all High Schools to participate in this two day weekend event. Come out and enjoy two days of fun with friends coming together to reunite. The itinerary is as follows: Friday night 7:30pm August 29th - meet and greet fish fry @ St. Petersburg Solomon’s Temple, 3130 18th Ave. So., Saturday August 30th noon til 6pm - cookout at Maximo beach Shelter 1, Saturday night August 30th 9pm- 1:30am - All Black Party at Polonia center 4350 16th Street N. All events are BYOB. Food will be served at fish fry and cook out.

36TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE & EXPOSITION

From: September 16, 2014 to September 20, 2014 Location: Atlanta, GA www.nbmbaaconference.org Just as an artist designs across a canvas, leaders thrive with inspiration, innovation and collaboration. Join NBMBAA® and our nation’s best minds as, collectively, we explore global galleries of leadership and advancement at the 36th Annual Conference & Exposition in Atlanta, GA, September 16-20, 2014.

“A MOTHER’S LOVE” BY KANDI BURRUSS – TODD TUCKER From: September 25, 2014 to Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 11:00PM Location: James L Knight Center in Miami Contact: http://www.jlkc.com FROM RUNAWAY TO THE RUNWAY FASHION GALA 2014, CHARITY FUNDRAISER Friday, September 26, 2014 at 7:00PM Location: The Vault, 651 Franklin St. in Tampa Price: 75.00 Miracles Outreach CDC,813-965-1664, www. Miraclesoutreach.org From Runaway to the Runway, Fashion Gala will highlight the youth of Miracles Outreach who successfully go through our program. These youth become self-sufficient and productive citizens of our community. The funds raised during this event will enable us to provide services to more youth and families and purchase a safe-haven home for exploited youth of human trafficking.

CDC OF TAMPA’S ANNUAL LUNCHEON Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at 11:30AM Location: TPepin’s Hospitality Centrfe, 4121 N. 50th St. in Tampa R.S.V.P. to Ernest Coney, 813-231-4362 ext. 312, Ernest. Coney@cdcoftampa.org www.cdcoftampa.org From Aspiration to Transformation: The NEHEMIAH Legacy. The Keynote speaker will be Dr. Floyd H Flake, Pastor and former US Congressman. The Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc. (CDC of Tampa, Inc.) was incorporated May 5, 1992, for the purpose of alleviating poverty and physical deterioration in Hillsborough County’s East Tampa Community. This community, consisting of many neighborhoods, was plagued with dilapidated, overcrowded housing, and high rates of poverty, unemployment, teen pregnancy, school dropout/suspension, and drug abuse. FUNK FEST 2014 Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 4:00PM Location: Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N. Dale Mabry Hwy in Tampa www.funkfest2014.com Performing artists TBA. GENERAL ELECTION IN PINELLAS AND HILLSBOROUGH Tuesday, November 4, 2014 www.votepinellas.com or www.votehillsborough.org Registration deadline for General Election is October 6th.

Storm coming? We’re ready.

PRIMARY ELECTION IN PINELLAS AND HILLSBOROUGH Monday, August 26th 2014 www.votepinellas.com or www.votehillsborough.org Remember to vote this August 26th on both sides of the bay. Florida is a closed Primary Election state. In Florida, only voters registered with a political party may vote in that party’s primary election. All registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, may vote on issues and nonpartisan races. Examples of nonpartisan races include School Board and Judicial races.