Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 1-12-18

Features
Saxophonist BK Jackson To Host Tampa Bay Black
Heritage Music Festival
Fifth Annual Suit Up & Show Up Event Planned
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Friday, January 19th, the CDC of Tampa, Inc., will host their Fifth Annual “Suit Up & Show Up” Initiative.
The event will be held at the Hillsborough Commu- nity College Campus, Stu- dent Services Building, 1320 E. Palm Avenue. It will begin at 8:30 a.m., and conclude at 2 p.m. The theme for the event is “New Dreams ... New Leaders.”
Ernest Coney, Jr.,
President and CEO of the CDC of Tampa, Inc., said, “We are excited to bring these young men together, just to let them know that we care about them and their fu- ture. The suits they will be presented with, will be a con- stant reminder that they are prepared and well-suited for success.”
SuitUp&ShowUpis a Leadership Retreat for
ERNEST CONEY, JR. President and CEO of CDC of Tampa, Inc.
young men between the ages of 16 and 24. This year, ap- proximately 90 young men will participate in the event.
David Jones, Director of the Workforce Develop- ment Center at the CDC of Tampa, Inc., said the partici- pants are selected from 7 tra- ditional high schools, along with Brewster Technical School, Gary Adult School, and Brooks-DeBartolo Colle- giate High School. “Each
school selects 10 young men to participate in the event.”
Its purpose is to help the young men focus on goal set- ting, personal responsibility, and developing the leader within.
The event will open with a keynote speaker that will be followed by a breakout ses- sion. The young men will take part in a panel discus- sion during lunch and the event will culminate with each young man being the re- cipient of a tailored business suit.
Jones said, “We are still in need of volunteers. The more volunteers we have, the greater the chance of them working with the young men on a one-to-one basis. The volunteers will provide the students with priceless words of wisdom from the male role models.
“The volunteers will help them learn how to tie a tradi- tional tie and help them se- lect their suits.”
The suits are being pro- vided compliments of the Men’s Warehouse. Other sponsors and event partners will be on hand as well.
Jones further said that the event may also present opportunity for the students to secure internships in the future.
For more information contact Jones at (813) 231- 4362, extension 3020.
BK JACKSON ..Saxophonist
BK will host the Music Festival on Sunday
Tampa native and Howard W. Blake High School graduate, Bernard ‘BK’ Jackson, who will be on a short break from the Parking Lot Symphony world tour with Trombone Shorty and Orleans Av- enue, will host the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival on Sunday, January 14, 2018.
This year’s Festival brings some changes from previous years. To help with the rising cost of expenses, and to in- sure the Festival can continue to hold all of its much-antici- pated signature events, the Music Fest will charge a small admission.
BK is fresh out of the stu- dio with Bruno Mars, and prior to joining Trombone
Shorty and Orleans Av- enue spent three years tour- ing the world with the legendary artist Prince as a member of the New Power Generation Hornz Sec- tion.
BK grew up performing at the Tampa Bay Black Her- itage Festival. BK released his debut album in 2008, “On the Move,” when he was just 17 years old. His single “Be- lieve That” was spotlighted in the September 2008 Jazziz Magazine CD sampler with staff writers noting that BK “sounds like a seasoned con- temporary jazz veteran, rather than a high school stu- dent.”
As a child, BK first picked up the saxophone at the age of 11 and quickly began mak- ing a name for himself as a young performer to watch. He has received numerous awards and recognitions.
Currently, BK is working on the finishing touches of his sophomore album, “Life of the Party,” with an antici- pated release date of April 2018. On this new album, BK has joined forces with hit- makers James Lloyd of Pieces of a Dream and Matt Edwards, former mu- sical director for pop sensa- tions, the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato.
A FAMU graduate with a degree in Music Industry and Entertainment, BK will be debuting the first release from his upcoming CD at the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival.
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