Page 14 - 5-22-15 Friday's Edition

Local
National Council Of Negro Women, Inc. Host Annual Bethune Recognition Luncheon
On Saturday, May 2nd at the DoubleTree Hotel, the National Council of Negro Women, Incorporated, Tampa Metropolitan Section, held their annual Bethune Recognition Luncheon with the theme, “Our Legacy, Our Leadership, Our Future.”
Guest speaker was Sonya Pridgen, Esquire, assistant public defender for the Office of the Public Defender, 13th Judicial Circuit in Tampa.
Master of Ceremony was Rod Carter, News Anchor for WFLA News Channel 8.
A musical interlude was given by Unnatural of H. W. Blake High School; the Invocation by Willie Lee Brown; the introduction of the Master of Ceremony, Ms. Erma
Griffin; A solo by Ms. Janice Nunn Nelson, and introduction of the speaker by Ms. Josephine Townsend. (PHOTOS BY SYLVESTER HARRIS)
National Council of Negro Women 2015 Group: (sitting) Flossie Pridgen, Joan Harris, Minnie Sullivan, Geradine Rellis, Erma Griffin, Tee Solomon, Rosalie Jones, Patrice Mitchell, Mary Forbes-Williams, Selphenia Hudson-Sheilds, and Bertha Kemp. Standing: Gloria W. Davis, Patricia Jones, Molbert Scrivens, Cheryl Green, Colleen Smith, Cas- sandra Howard, Josephine Townsend, Rosa Webster, Sonia Pridgen, Jacqueline Mitchell, Charlotte Smith, Willie Brown, Debra Thomas, Deloris Gambrell, Rosa Cambridge, Doris Scott, Geraldine Twine, Veronica Maxwell, Carolyn Watson, Christie Jacobs, and Antonia Barber.
Youth Program Returns
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
After going through a big legal battle with the hospitality industry, in 1996 Sanford “Dr. San Man” Harper founded a youth organization called J.U.I.C.E. (Juveniles United In A Community Ef- fort).
“The idea at that time was to create a completely disci- plined environment for young boys and girls that resembled military boot camp in its doc- trine and structure.
Through his “Pure Poets Society,” Dr. San Man hoped to create not just an alternative for young people, but a com- plete summer alternative when they’re out of school.
“Instead of parents worried about the cost of sending their children to summer programs, my idea was to create jobs for the kids so they can earn money for themselves and for J.U.I.C.E.
“We teach them financial planning, and show them how to open a savings account.”
Due to what he describes as a “great injustice,” Dr. San Man found himself in jail for something he was later exoner- ated for, but it cost him every- thing he had put together over the past 15 years.
“Now, I’m starting from scratch, but the plan is the same. I’m sure parents can see what’s happening in the streets. They don’t want to see their children turn out to be a statistic.
SANFORD HARPER Dr. San Man
J.U.I.C.E. Cadets
“Through my summer pro- gram, the young people will be taught the importance of being self-reliant, and how to make a difference in their home and community.”
Dr. San Man said he owes a lot of thanks to Hillsborough Community College, the Gas- par Grotto, Charles “Candy- man” Coney, and others for their support.
“Anyone interested in al- lowing their children to be a part of this program, first they need to know there is no charge. All they have to do is contact me at purepoets@yahoo.com, and I’ll be more than happy to visit their homes, meet my potential cadets, and get them started.”
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PAGE 2-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015