Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 6-26-20

FLORIDA SENTINEL
OVER 75 YEARS SERVING TAMPA
SECTION FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020
B
UpWard Kids Summer Camp Participants Visit Tampa Park Plaza Businesses On Juneteenth
Gigi Richardson, owner of Best-Richardson African Diaspora Literature Museum, talks to the summer camp participants.
CPA, Foster Lovett speaks with the children about his business.
Evelyn Igbinosun, owner of African Extrava- ganza, tells the summer campers about her store.
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Feature Writer
On Friday June 19th, throughout the Tampa Bay area and across the country, African Americans observed Juneteenth. Juneteenth orig- inated in 1865 when on June 19 of that year, Union sol- diers finally reached Galve- ston, Texas to declare slavery over. Despite the Emancipa- tion Proclamation, slave- holders kept this information from slaves, continuing to use slave labor for an addi- tional two years.
This year, amidst the uptick in cases of COVID-19 and the urgency of Black Lives Matter marches, mil- lions of Black Americans took time out to uplift and celebrate the vibrancy of our culture for Juneteenth. Many Black restaurants had special Juneteenth menus, inviting people to enjoy the unique cuisine born out of slavery and grown to greatness. Businesses and educational centers strived to teach the truth of Juneteenth and the struggle for equality.
Businesses in Tampa Park Plaza were among the local venues to partake with a meaningful program to mark such an important day. Teaming with UpWard Kids Summer Camp, Tampa Park
The participants at the UpWard Kids Summer Camp arrive at Tampa Park Plaza. The camp is led by Deanna Bulmer.
Plaza business owners opened their doors and their hearts to young Black chil- dren learning the importance of entrepreneurship.
Originally started by Jeanelle Burney over 15 years ago, UpWard Kids Summer Camp is led by Deanna Bulmer. Ms. Bulmer came to the camp in 2014 and was a counselor be- fore becoming director in 2016. The camp has 42 chil- dren between the ages of 6 to 14 years old. The camp has a strong academic program, including reading and sci-
ence, coupled with intercul- tural dance classes and other activities. The overall theme for the camp this year is “En- trepreneurship,” and they are using the Kidpreneur book as a big part of their curriculum. The camp is located at the 34th Street Church of God.
Ms. Bulmer states, “Touring the Tampa Park Plaza business owners allows the children to see how they can build their own business through hard work. “
The tour was led by Mrs. Yolanda Amos, manager of Tampa Park Apartments,
Inc. and Tampa Park Plaza. The children wore their masks and hand sanitizer was used by them often.
Businesses visited were:
African Extravaganza, owned by Evelyn Igbi- nosun; Lovett CPA, owned by Foster Lovett; Bossa Nova Beauty and Barber Salon, owned by Rosa Wilson; Best- Richardson African Di- aspora Literature Museum, owned by Harry and Gigi Richard- son; Malphus and Son Construction, owned by
Wilbert Malphus, Sr. and Jr.; and the law of- fice of Attorney Warren H. Dawson.
Each of the business own- ers spoke to the children about their business and les- sons they had learned. After the tour, the children were brought to the Community Center where brightly deco- rated tables awaited them. The children received swag bags filled with treats and mementos from the busi- nesses they visited. A won- derful Juneteenth was had by all.