Page 12 - Florida Sentinel 4-25-17

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Tampa Chapter Of The Links, Inc. Close Out 2016-
The Tampa Chapter of The Links, Inc. have been very busy in 2017.
The chapter members men- tored its youth groups at both Sheehy Elementary and Van Buren Middle School from Sep- tember through May.
The Royal Jewels and Royal Gents at Sheehy are all of the stu- dents in the 5th grade class. This was the first year the Links en- gaged in mentoring the 5th grade boys. The boys were mentored by the husbands of the Links, using a curriculum created from the book ‘The Eagle Who Thought He Was A Chicken’. The girls were mentored using the curricu- lum created by Link members from the book ‘A Is For Atti- tude.’ Both curriculums were created by Links Casey Curry and Jewel Warren. The 5th grade class at Sheehy consists of 40 boys and 36 girls.
The girls were treated to a field trip at the Victorian Stroll in December. The boys were treated to a tour of One Buc Place on April 11.
The Sheehy Royal Jewels and Gents will be treated to a Royal Celebration in May to close out the school year, chaired by Link Inez ‘Liz’ York Cohen. The Celebration will feature the stu- dents sharing what they’ve learned over the year with their parents and guardians.
The Links also mentor 30 8th grade girls at Van Buren Middle School called the Radiant Jewels. The teens were mentored in the STEAM curriculum designed by Links Casey Curry and Kendra Frorup, The Arts facet chairs. The STEAM program is ‘Science, Technology, Engineer- ing, ARTS, and Math. The teens have learned about Jazz and clas- sical music, dance, quilting, and other art forms by being taught the life of a historical Black per- son and how their craft inter- twines with STEM.
The teens were given a field trip to see the movie ‘Hidden Fig- ures’ in February at Studio Grill Movie Theater at University Mall. Links Margarette Spears and Ozepher Wilds are the chairs of the Service To Youth facet of the chapter. They coordinate all activities involving the Jewels and Gents.
Also in February the Chapter hosted its 11th Annual African American Read-In at Sheehy. The event was chaired by Link Sonjia Little and co-chaired by Links Marlina McClure and Joselynne Forde. The Royal Jewels and Gents were the greeters and escorted the Read- ers to the various classrooms at the school. Over 30 people from the community volunteered to read to the students at Sheehy. Mayor Bob Buckhorn joined the group to read. Patricia Mc- Cants is principal and Dr. Diane Levy, is the asst. princi- pal and liaison.
New this year was the exten- sion of the Read-In to Van Buren, also held in February. The liter- ary arts classes were the audience
to African American poetry and prose accompanied by well- known Kuumba drummer, Myron Jackson. Mr. Ovette Wilson is principal at Van Buren and Mrs. Cynthia For- ward is the chapter’s liaison.
The Tampa Links hosted its 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tourna- ment. The hugely successful event was chaired by Link Yolanda Anthony, and co- chaired by Links Sandra Brookins, Renee Joseph and Bianca Heard. The tourna- ment raised approximately $40,000 to fund its 4 scholar- ships as well as its mentoring programs at Sheehy Elementary and Van Buren Middle School.
Approximately 115 golfers converged on historic Rogers Park Golf Course on March 4th to enjoy a beautiful day of golf, catered breakfast by Eve’s Cater- ing, Chef Eric Holland and lunch catered by the golf course staff, drinks, old school music by DJ Tony Baron, raffle and auc- tion gifts and prizes.
Many thanks to Rogers Park leadership, Golf Director, Kenny Sims and Rogers’ Director, T. J. Heidel and Colbert Camille, Manager of Operations and staff for helping make the event run smoothly and successfully.
The winners for the second time was ILA 1402 sponsored team members, Rogier Pear- son Norman Black, James Jackson and Fred Young who shot a 56.
The chapter raised more than $5,000 by raffling over 30 bas- kets of items and through its auc- tion alone, coordinated by Link Willa Peterson. The highest priced auction item was a signed football and hat donated by Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams. Williams was also a top donor.
The tournament sponsors were Platinum sponsors: ILA 1402 and Seminole Hard Rock; Emerald Sponsors: Suncoast Credit Union, Regions Bank, L. M. R. Associates and NorthStar Bank.
Later that week, the chapter supplied dinner and gifts for the Watoto Choir from Uganda at the MorningStar Church. The choir consists of orphans who live at the Watoto Village founded and created by the church in Uganda. The children toured for 5 months raising money for their home and schools through donations. The activity was sponsored by the In- ternational Trends facet of the chapter led by Links Ruby Brown and Sylvia Andrews.
At the March meeting the chapter collected purses to do- nate to Dress For Success. Each member was asked to supply an inspirational message inside the purse as well. The chapter has been engaged with Dress For Success through the National Trends facet. Link Hosetta Coleman is chair. The purse ini- tiative was led by Link Janice Carter Collier.
To close out the month of March, the chapter hosted a re-
ception for member, Kendra Frorup. Link Kendra is an in- ternational artist and art instruc- tor at the University of Tampa. Approximately 40 Links, family members and friends attended the reception to hear Link Kendra share her inspiration for her art. She shared that her work was inspired mainly by her late Mother. The Arts facet was the event sponsor, led by Link Casey Curry.
Four Blake High students created original poems about the piece of art that inspired them.
The students read the poems during the reception, they were: Senior - Lyrik Courtney, Sen- ior - Ming Washington, Junior - Jaimar Alvarez, Senior - (Blake Valedictorian 2017) Mer- ritt Lay. The teens are under the tutelage of Link Casey Curry, who is a teacher at the school.
On April 4-5, Link members attended Links Day at the Capi- tol in Tallahassee. The effort was coordinated by Link Verneka Rhodes.
The chapter will host a Wine tasting event in April with
renowned Black sommelier, Kelvin Pye of Nappa Valley, CA. A sommelier, also known as a wine steward, is a person that has undergone training in order to become extremely knowledge- able about wine. The event will be chaired and hosted by Links Casey Curry and Kendra
Frorup.
Link Kay Andrews is the
outgoing president of the Tampa Chapter.
Beginning in May, the Tampa Chapter will recognize a chang- ing of the guard.
Royal Gents at Sheehy Elementary: First row: Charles Gholston, Demetrius Thompson, Isaiah Flick- ing, Peace David, Jaiden Clay, Kalen Johnson, Christian Rodriguez, John Smith, Destin Johnson, and Shawn Boyer. Second row: Jaden Robosky, Victor Bullard, John Riggins IV, Sevin McGee, Felix Harell, Galy Leandre, DaNario Jackson, Malik Brown, Zirquor Cole, Abi Hernandez, Darius Glenn, Johnny Rig- gins, III, and Solomon Williams. Third row: Gregory Smith, Jayden Harris, Echeva Wynn, Sidney Han- ner, Joseph Dolston, Luis Tosca, Axavian Alexander, Michael Ross, Carter Jefferson, Datrian Roberts, and Jaden Doyle.
Royal Jewels: First row: Melika Blanc, Kaira Mullen, Jordyn Hayes, Charlene Boderick, LaKyrah Brown, Kamora Hood, Saniah Williams and Shanissa Warren. Second row: Ray’Chel Foster, Jeanette Kondaya, DJhene Clay, Delicia PAmphile, Eunice Baah, Aniyah Williams, Dynique Williams, Kaniya War- ren and Katrina Rodriguez. Third row: Aja Harrison, Samaa Alvardo, Ed”Laya Holmes-Jones, Kirshanna McHayle, Nachauncia Welch, Nikeya Goree, Faith Johnson, Aaliyah Jemkins, TreMoni Philon, Alacia Watts, Sa’Nya Williams, Jessica Joseph and Christini Keese.
Tampa chapter members attending its 11th Annual Read-In held February 24 were: front row, Mar- lina McClure, Joselynne Forde, Read-In co-chairs, Sonja Little, Read-In chair, Kay Andrews, president, Atty. Renee Lee, Vice President, Margaret Spears, Service To Youth chair and Ozepher Wilds, STY, co- chair. Back row: Sonja Garcia, Phyllis Lee, Dr. Juel Smith, Verneka Rhodes, Sylvia Andrews, Gloria An- drews, Frances Sykes, Joan Dawson, Beverley Hartsfield, Patricia Parker, Evelyn Bethune, Ruby Brown, Willa Peterson, Teresa Brown and Marsha Lewis Brown. Not shown, Dr. Marketa Wills. (Read-In Photos by Fred Harris)
PAGE 12 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2017