Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 1-1-21

FLORIDA SENTINEL FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2021
B
Elected President Of Business Sorority
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Staff Writer
Yolanda Amos grew up with a deep appreciation for Gamma Phi Delta, the business sorority that strives to improve the economic, so- cial, and political status of women. Her mother, Augnese Dudley, was a member in the 1960s.
A focus of the sorority is to serve as role models and give instructional training in refinement and culture while also serving as mentors for four youth auxiliary groups: the Rosebuds, Phi-Teens, Junior Cavaliers, and Cav- aliers.
In 1968, Amos was a member of the Phi-Teen. Today, she is the Presi- dent of the Delta Delta chapter of Gamma Phi Delta.
In 1980, she was inducted into the Gamma Delta Chapter in Eatonville, Florida. After moving to Tampa in 1982, Amos became a charter mem- ber of the Delta Delta chapter. Until her recent election, Amos held finan- cial officer positions. The other mem-
YOLANDA Y. AMOS ...Elected President of Gamma Phi Delta
bers of the chapter are: Vernice Jenkins, Shirley Puerto, Latasha Oliver, Amber Anderson, Nyree Bryant, Johnnie Mae Williams, Wachovia Vickers, Pamela Roberts, Netta Roberts, Erica Francois, Mary Avery, Catherine
Oliver, and Carrie McQuay. De- lores Gambrell and Luzina Per- due are recently inducted members.
Because Amos had grown up with the organization, it is very dear to her heart. She says that she has been for- tunate to bring several young people to the sorority’s youth group. She states that the help of her boss, Kay Andrews, has been crucial in terms of financial support. Amos also cred- its the following organizations for their support of the youth groups – Tampa Organization of Black Affairs (TOBA), Women’s Council of NAREB, Tampa Chapter of The Links, Incor- porated and Living Faith Assemblies of God. Amos’ husband, Jeffrey, has shown his enthusiasm for the youth auxiliary by establishing a girls’ basketball team.
Even with COVID, the sorority is busy with service projects. The Rose- buds and Phi Teens meet every quar- ter to maintain the butterfly garden in Ridgewood Park. The project teaches the girls how to work hard by cleaning and maintaining a proper environ-
ment for the butterflies to prosper. The graduate members are sponsor- ing a class at Chiaramonte Elemen- tary School with a science center, a technology center, and class library. The entire chapter contributes canned goods every month to a local church.
As President, Amos is focusing on valuing every member in the chapter. She plans on accomplishing this hefty goal by getting every member in- volved and letting them know they are in this together. She also plans to con- tinue to strongly commit to the youth auxiliaries, as “this is where the future is.”
Amos is retiring as Property Manager of Tampa Park Apartments, Inc., on December 30. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), and a Master of Business Administration degree from NOVA Southeastern University. She is married to Retired Airman Jeffrey Amos. Together they have 5 children and 11 grandchildren.
Community Garden Is Part Of Healthy 22nd Street Initiative
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
On December 1st, a group of resi- dents came together at 22nd St. and Chelsea Ave., to plant a garden. The garden is a part of the Healthy 22nd Street Initiative, which aims to reduce health disparities, especially among those populations that don’t have safe and equal access to nutritional foods.
This past weekend (December 19th), the community was invited to a demonstration of the garden steps and the phases.
Accordinbg to Ms. Kitty Wal- lace, one of the founders of the Coali- tion of Community Gardens, these gardens have been in the planning stages for the past 2 years with the in- volvement of 5 different organiza- tions: Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Florida Dept. of Health, City of Tampa, HART, and Coalition of Community Gardens.
The Tampa community was one of 50 that received $50,000 in fund- ing to implement the healthy food ini- tiative in East Tampa.
Community gardens have many benefits: availability to fresh vegeta- bles, herbs, fruits and flowers; and ex- change of ideas and knowledge.
Several other areas in East Tampa are components of the 22nd St. project
From left, Harold Jackson, Ed Johnson, Lena Young Green, and Kitty Wallace. In the rear are: L. Wade Reynolds, MPO; Monica Petrella, Extension; and the USF intern to the MPO.
These ladies participated in planting the garden. They are: Cecelia Mitchell of the Sickle Cell Awareness Foundation, Inc., Karen Elizabeth, Garden Steps Co- ordinator; and Kitty Wallace, co- founder, Coalition of Community Gardens.
and will soon have Community Gar- dens: Ferrell Girls Preparatory Acad- emy Middle School, C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. Library, City of Tam0a Police Dept., Lee Davis Clinic and Gracepoint. (Photos by BRUN- SON)
Garden planted on December 1, 2020, at 22nd St. and Chelsea Ave. Riding north on 22nd St., you can see this garden between Chelsea and Emma.