Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 2-12-16

Features
FAMU Alumni And Other Organizations Converge On Tallahassee To Coincide With Black Legislators Conference
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Sonja Jordan graduated from Florida A&M University in 1992, but the love for her school burns just as brightly as it did when she first stepped onto its campus as a freshman.
Ms. Jordan’s passion for her school is so strong, last Thursday she boarded a bus in the early morning hours along with several other Rattler alumni to make the four-hour trip from Tampa to Tallahas- see.
Their mission was to meet with legislators during the an- nual Florida Black Legislators Conference. The Florida alumni were present to push representatives to obtain the appropriations their beloved alma mater needs during the Legislature’s current session.
At stake is ensuring the 128-year-old institution is around not just for future gen- erations – but also current stu- dents, said Ms. Jordan, operations manager at Tampa- based nonprofit, Miracles Out- reach, Inc.
“Because they have so much, they don’t realize what it takes to keep it,” she said.
Hundreds of FAMU grads from all over the state joined with community groups and Greek organizations to visit with Black lawmakers and make the case for their inter- ests.
State Rep. Ed Narain, who is chairman of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, said while constituents regularly
State Rep. Ed Narain meets with the FAMU alumni during FAMU Day at the Capitol.
be involved in this organiza- tion,” he said. “I implore you to carve out some time with the FAMU Alumni Associa- tion.”
Balancing out a week of panel discussions and meet- ings with legislators were a number of luncheons, galas, and other celebrations, includ- ing recognition of Senate Mi- nority Leader, Atty. Arthenia Joyner’s years of service in the Legislature by service organization, The Links, Incorporated.
Sen. Joyner, who is term-limited and will step down from office this year, was feted Thursday morning, by Florida Link sisters at a special breakfast.
In addition to her work in the Legislature, Sen. Joyner – a member of the Tampa Chapter of The Links, Inc. for
20 years – also has made con- siderable contributions to the Tampa Chapter, including es- tablishing a scholarship for Law students, said chapter vice-president, Atty. Renee Lee. The Tampa Chapter con- tributed to the Arthenia Joyner Endowment Scholar- ship at FAMU Law School.
“We wanted to say thank you for her work,” she said.
In a phone interview, Sen. Joyner said it was “extremely gratifying to be recognized by sisters in service and in friend- ship. Sen. Joyner, a 1964 FAMU alumna who graduated from its College of Law in 1968, also was honored by FAMU’s alumni association.
“It’s been 16 great years,” she said at the alumni recep- tion. “It ends in November, but I am a Rattler forever.”
visit with lawmakers during the legislative session, FAMU and its alumni and other groups hosting their visits in conjunction with the annual conference made for quite an impact on the Hill.
“It’s good to see people of color come (to the Capitol),” he said.
FAMU is asking for mil- lions in capital and operating expenses, including $26.5 mil- lion for a new student affairs building, $15.5 million for in- frastructure repair, and $2.8 million to help the university as it continues to establish it- self as a sustainability insti- tute.
The goal is for FAMU to be the best university in its class – not just the best historically Black college, university pres- ident, Elmira Mangum told alumni at a Thursday evening reception.
“It means becoming a uni- versity that is competitive with any university of similar size,” she said.
Recently, FAMU was rec-
ognized by the Carnegie Foun- dation for the Advancement of Teaching as a Level II research institution, a designation that puts it in line to receive more money and resources for re- search, Ms. Mangum said.
But with about 1,000 stu- dents – many of them seniors – unable to continue their ed- ucation this academic year be- cause of financial hardship, the university also must imple- ment programs that boost re- tention, Ms. Mangum said.
Financing those initiatives will require help not only from the Legislature, but also alumni, said alumni president, Gregory Clark.
At the reception, Mr. Clark kicked off S. O. S. (Save Our Students), a $500,000 fundraiser that will raise money for scholarships to help students meet their financial obligations and stay in school.
Ten $1,000 scholarships have been awarded, but many more students need assis- tance, Mr. Clark said.
“There’s no better time to
Opponents Of Proposed Toll Lane Roadway Gain Support
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
In February 2015, the Florida Department of Trans- portation (FDOT) and the Met- ropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) presented a plan to build toll lanes onto I- 275 during a public meeting.
Since that announcement, residents of Tampa Heights and other communities have opposed the idea, saying it would destroy their communi- ties and eliminate historic homes and businesses.
Sunshine Citizens, an advo- cacy organization, has been outspoken in their opposition of the project, along with for- mer Tampa City Council- woman, Linda Saul-Sena and Mit Patel, a member of the “Stop TBX Movement.”
County Commissioner Les Miller, Chair of the MPO, said nothing has changed as far as FDOT’s plans to fund the project.
“Opponents have held marches and meetings, and
we’re still getting reports from FDOT on the community meet- ings. We expect the next report in March, but for now, we’re still listening to what the com- munity has to say about the project, and FDOT’s position on the project.”
According to Sunshine Cit- izens Director, Chris Vela, Commissioner Kevin Beckner is showing signs of supporting the group, and they are waiting to hear from a cou- ple of City Council members.
“We just aren’t convinced that FDOT’s plan allows for congestion relief on the high- way corridors of I-275 and I-4.
“We are opposed to this project, because it does not present a viable economically sound plan for addressing the transportation needs of the Tampa Bay region.”
Tampa Heights residents are upset, because the pro- posed project would shut down a community center they have spent years rehabilitating, and is close to being ready for oper- ation.
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