Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 3-21-17

All About You!
Enlistee Becomes Navy’s
Happy Anniversary
First Black, Female
Boatswain Mate
NORFOLK, Va. – Recently, Summer Levert became the first African American female to rise to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2. Chief Lev- ert is assigned to the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) as the ship’s Bos’n. The ship’s Bos’n is an officer who is the subject matter expert on all major seamanship functions and the maintenance of topside gear such as; small boat operations, supervising anchoring, mooring, replenishment at sea, towing, transferring of per- sonnel and cargo, and the operation and mainte- nance of ship's boats. She is depended on by the ship’s captain to execute major seamanship evolu- tions safely and maintaining the external upkeep of the ship.
A Cleveland native, Chief Levert began her military service in the Army National Guard in 1997, and was assigned to a military police com- pany. After her time with the National Guard was completed, she decided to join the Navy, and in October of 2000, become a boatswain’s mate. After making Chief Petty Officer in 2011, Chief Levert wanted more from her career. She applied and was selected into the Chief Warrant Officer Program in 2014.
Chief Levert said, “Coming up as a junior Sailor in a male dominated field I knew there would be times I’d have to prove to them that I de- served to be there as much as they did. There were times I felt I had something to prove or that I was- n’t strong enough, and now by looking at what I have accomplished thus far I realize that the only thing to prove was that goals can be reached through hard work and perseverance.
“My Sailors motivate me. Not the fact that I’m the first this or that. Through all the madness, the long days, and feelings of wanting to give up, I al- ways think about the young Sailors that tell me how much they admire me, how much they want
to be like me someday. If I quit they’ll think it is ok to quit and that’s not the message I want to send” she said.
Using her family, friends and mentors for in- spiration to survive the obstacles that an African American woman would face, Chief Levert said, “My first inspiration was my twin sister, who was also a BM in the Navy, but had joined before me. My second inspiration is my mom, who was an Army nurse in the reserves, and then there were the Bosn's that I worked for and observed through- out my years as a BM. They were the smartest peo- ple I knew. They taught me my job so well that I thought they read Naval Ships’ Technical Manuals in their sleep. They were respected everywhere they went, and I knew that it was well deserved. That's what I wanted to be in my wildest dreams.”
According to multiple Sailors on Mesa Verde; Chief Levert is the Bos’n she’s looked up to throughout her career. Her leadership echoes throughout the ship and can be seen and heard during any boat operation; one can hear her call- ing out orders and making sure Sailors comply with safety procedures. It’s safe to say that deck department has a female leader who knows what it takes to achieve mission and personal success.
In December of 2015, she received a plaque of recognition for her service from her hometown U. S. Representative Marcia L. Fudge, which she viewed as a great honor.
SUMMER LEVERT CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 2
MR. & MRS. MACK
On March 18th 2016, I married my best friend and the fa- ther of my kids. No paragraph needed but, I am thankful we made it to celebrate our first of many anniversaries.
Every storm thrown our way we have surpassed them with the help of our Heavenly Father. As in Mark 10:7-9, “Yes we have departed from our fathers and mothers to become one and one we shall be until.
Happy First Anniversary from the queen of your heart and castle and all eight soon to be nine of our princes and princesses.
Love you always, Big Daddy!
Our Military Men & Women
Local
New Parish Institute Of Tampa Presents Hymn Singing: A Universal Catalyst For Racial Healing
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sunday, March 26 at 4 pm
During the civil rights movement, blacks and whites from every economic background marched to- gether in unity, singing the same gospel hymns like We Shall Overcome, and Pre- cious Lord, Take My Hand. The same songs are still being sung, but it’s done every Sunday separately dur- ing what remains the most segregated hour of the week.
New Parish Institute of Tampa will be hosting a Hymn Sing and Panel Dis- cussion on the history of church hymns on Sunday, March 26 at 4 p. m. in collab- oration with the Hymn Lovers Conference.
The event will be led by
CARLTON BURGESS ...Will lead the discussion
Burgess School of the Art, Founder/CEO Hymn Lovers Conference. A Tampa native, Carlton has ministered mu- sically in Europe, and both West and South Africa. He conducted the Million Man March Choir at the U. S. Capitol and the nationally televised Super Bowl Choir XLIII in Tampa. His televi-
BISHOP KELVIN MCCREE ...Panelist
sion credits also include BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel.
Additional panel mem- bers include: Bishop Kelvin McCree, author, entrepreneur, conference speaker and mentor, who is a founding Partner of the Les Brown Maximum Achieve- ment Team and lead pastor of Diverse City Church, who
DR. OUIDA HARDING ...Panelist
recently merged to create Overflow Church in Lake- land, Florida. He is also the Co-Founder of City Bible College and resides on the Executive Council of the Fountain of Life Interna- tional Fellowship, Inc., Pitts- burgh PA, as the Assistant Presiding Bishop.
Dr. Ouida W. Harding
received the Doctorate in Worship Studies from the R. E. Webber Institute for Wor- ship Studies. Dr. Harding serves as Academic Dean of the Hymn Lovers Confer- ence. The Greater Harvest Baptist Church and Minis- ters Conference of Baltimore ordained her as the first Min- ister of Music for Worship.
Dr. Harding is also one of the newly appointed Di- rectors of Educational Min- istries for the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses.
At this event: Hymn Singing led by local church choir members. Panel dis- cussion on the history of church hymns and their im- pact on racial healing. Light refreshments will be served after the concert.
The public is invited to the free concert.
Carlton
Owner/Artistic
Burgess,
Director
PAGE 8 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017