Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 8-17-18

Local
Attorney Joyner Presented ‘Tenacious Trailblazer’ Award
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Senator Arthenia Joyner has been the recipient of numerous awards during her tenure as an attorney. And, many of those forms of recognition are linked to her role as a pioneer in her field.
She was recently presented an award for an accomplishment she earned as a college stu- dent. Senator Joyner was the recipient of the “Tenacious Trailblazer” Award. The pres- entation took place during the rededication celebrating the classmates of 1948, 1958, and 1968 at Florida A & M University.
Dr. Larry Robinson, current President of Florida A & M University and Colonel Gregory Clark, President of the FAMU Na- tional Alumni Association, made the presen- tation.
The award was in recognition of her role as a student during the Civil Rights Movement. Her participation in demonstrations led to her being arrested twice. The rededication cere- mony paid tribute to all of the students who were arrested during the 1950s and 1960s.
Senator Joyner was first exposed to the fight for Civil Rights as a child. She was an el- ementary student when the desegregation law- suit Brown vs. Board Of Education came about. The legal battle drew her attention to the legal profession. As a 5th grade student, she decided to become an attorney.
While a student at Middleton High School, Senator Joyner participated in her first demonstration. She joined Clarence Fort, the late Judge George Edgecomb, who was then the President of the Middleton High School Student Body, and other students who participated in a sit-in at Woolworth’s Lunch Counter.
After graduating from Middleton High School, she was accepted at Florida A & M University, where she earned her degree in 1964, and continued her activism by taking part in two sit-ins at theaters and churches. She was arrested twice.
After graduating from FAMU, she returned to Tampa and taught at Booker T. Washington
Senator Arthenia Joyner, center, is shown with Dr. Larry Robinson and Colonel Gregory Clark.
Junior High School for a year. She then earned her J. D. Degree from Florida A & M Univer- sity, School of Law, graduating in 1968. Then, she found firms were not eager to hire a Black female lawyer.
This led her to open her own office with At- torney Delano Stewart.
A long time member of Allen Temple AME Church, Senator Joyner became the first Black woman from Hillsborough County to be elected to both the Florida House and Florida Senate. She was also the first Black woman to lead the Senate Democratic Caucus from 2014 through 2016.
Other trailblazer achievements include: the first Black female to practice law in both Hills- borough and Polk Counties; the first Black Gu- bernatorial appointee to the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority; the first Black fe- male selected to serve on the Board of Direc- tors of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce; the first Black female and first Black officer to serve on the Hillsborough County Bar Association.
Senator Joyner has been the recipient of more than 8o awards.
A native of Lakeland, Senator Joyner is currently in private practice at Vanguard At- torneys Law Firm. She has been a practicing attorney for 47 years --- longer than any other Black woman in Florida history.
‘Senior Citizens Day’ Is Part Of The Activities At H. O. P. E. Learning Center
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
The H. O. P. E. (Helping Our People Excel) Learning Center at 2902 E. Lake Av- enue (at the corner of 29th St., Tampa 33610), hosts a monthly “Senior Citizens Day.” It is every second Fri- day of the month, 11 a. m. to 1 p. m.
According to Mrs. Suzette Dean, Coordinator, the event is open to anyone age 50 and over. However, in- dividuals wishing to partici- pate are asked to RSVP in advance to (813) 231-9177.
“The breakfast begins with a home-cooked southern brunch, crafts and games. We have speakers from the com- munity who come to inform the attendees about some of the benefits available to them. Services ranging from funeral homes, Medicaid and Medicare representatives, local owned pharmacy, and available classes and activi- ties throughout the commu- nity,” she said.
To give students the expe- rience of interacting with the seniors, Mrs. Dean said she has 5-6 high school students from Bible Truth Ministries Academy to assist with serv- ing, sitting down to eat with the seniors, playing games with them, and of course, as-
MRS. SUZETTE DEAN ...Coordinator, Senior Citizens Day
sisting with clean-up.
The H. O. P. E. Learning
Center has been offering this service for several years, and they want the community to be aware of what it offers, Mrs. Dean said.
Under the leadership of Daniel Dean, the Learning Center offers more than just activities for senior citizens. Community meetings are held there; senior citizens have dance classes; there’s computer access and copying service for the community; as well as a GED class Monday through Thursday, 9 a. m. – 1p.m.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2018