Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 3-11-16 Edition

Features
Tampa Native Appointed To Florida Commission On Status Of Women
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Steve Crisafulli has ap- pointed Ekecia Grayson Taylor, Esquire, to the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. She will serve a 3-year term ending De- cember 2019.
This Statewide Commission seeks to support women in achieving their fullest potential by studying and making rec- ommendations to the Gover- nor, Cabinet Members and Legislature on issues affecting women.
A Tampa native, Atty. Ekecia Grayson Taylor said she’s “excited about the oppor- tunity to serve. Women’s causes have always been dear to me. I’m grateful that the House Speaker thought well enough of me to make the ap- pointment. I’m glad to have the opportunity to speak to the Legislature for women, espe- cially women of color. I’m glad to be that voice.” Her term be- gins immediately.
“I’m excited about coming to Tampa May 19th because that’s where our first Commis- sion Board meeting will be held,” she said.
The Speaker of the House also appointed Ashley Quinn of Tallahassee.
Atty. Taylor, currently in private practice, is a graduate of Tampa Bay Technical High School, and a graduate of the
University of South Florida by way of Florida A&M University. She is a 2007 graduate of the Florida State University Col- lege of Law and is the wife of State Representative Dwayne L. Taylor, and mother of Ke- lyce (14) and Hannah (3).
State Representative Taylor is in his final term and is now campaigning for a seat in Congress.
The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William (Beverly) Grayson, Atty. Ekecia Tay- lor is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Links, Inc., Jack & Jill of America, Inc. as well as the Junior League of Daytona Beach. She is also active with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and helped establish a chapter in Tampa.
The Florida Commission on the Status of Women was es- tablished in 1991 after Gover- nor Lawton Chiles lobbied the Florida Legislature.
EKECIA GRAYSON TAYLOR. Esquire
Mother Mourning The Murder Of Her Son Homeless After Apartment Fire
STARLETT CLARK
Still mourning the death of her son, Gabriel Wallace, Starlett Clark has been dev- astated once again.
On Sunday, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue units found themselves visiting a fire scene twice within 6 hours.
At 4:30 p. m., fire units were called to 1931 Oxnard Court where firefighters found a two-story, four unit building with flames and smoke venting from the roof.
The fire was extinguished after 45 minutes, and the county’s Code Enforcement of- fice determined that the build- ing was not safe for habitation.
At 10 p.m., fire units were once again called to the same address after getting reports the fire had rekindled. Fire- fighters arriving at the scene reported that the building again had flames and smoke coming from the roof. Again, the fire was extinguished in 45 minutes.
Three families were dis- placed, one of them Ms. Clark’s.
“We moved in a little over a year ago, and now I don’t know where we’re going to go.
“I wasn’t home when the fire started, but my 3 daugh- ters, my grandson, and my fi-
ancé were in the apartment, and they all got out safely.”
Ms. Clark said when she got news of the fire, she auto- matically feared something had happened to her family.
“Thank God they all got out. You can’t imagine what was going through my mind, especially after my son was murdered.
“We lost everything, and would appreciate any help we can get, no matter where it comes from.”
Ms. Clark said she can be reached at (727) 520-4524.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
Oxnard Court Fire
East Tampa Community Cleanup
Volunteers are needed to participate in the East Tampa Community Clean Up on March 12th. Four staging areas have been setup for the volunteers.
Staging Area One: H.O.P.E. Center, 2902 East Lake Avenue.
Staging Area Two: Eastern Heights, corner of Chelsea and 44th Street.
Staging Area Three: Rainbow Heights, corner of Chelsea Avenue and Courtland Street.
Staging Area Four: Highland Pines, 3002 Starr Street.
Volunteer registration will start at 8 a.m., and the community clean up will be conducted from 8:30 a.m. to 1 .m.
There will be a celebration after the clean up along with a food and information fair at Peace Pro- gressive Primitive Baptist Church, 2628 East Lake Avenue.
Students, churches, fraternal groups and organizations are all invited to take part in this event. For more information, call (813) 431-1814.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016