Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 2-16-18

Local
FYI
The Diversity Of Black History Month In 2018
College Hill Association/ Crime Watch Meeting
The College Hill Associa- tion/Crime Watch will be meeting on Thursday, Febru- ary22,2018,6p.m.-7p.m., at the Lee Davis Neighborhood Service Center, 3402 N. 22nd Street, Tampa, FL, 33605, in the Queen Miller Suite.
Cynthia Few, President and Gary Oncy (VP).The Col-
lege Hill Association/Crime Watch will be meeting on Thursday, February 22, 2018, 6 p.m.-7p.m.,attheLeeDavis Neighborhood Service Center, 3402 N. 22nd Street, Tampa, FL, 33605, in the Queen Miller Suite.
Cynthia Few, President and Gary Oncy (VP).
In our current world, di- versity is viewed as a key component to the func- tion of our country. Diver- sity is scholastically defin ed as the inclusion of indi- viduals representing more than one national origin, color, religion, so- cioeconomic class and sexual orientation.
Today, diversity is es- sentially thought of as en- suring the participation of African Americans where the primary focus is on race.
As we are in Black His- tory Month, Dr. Carter G. Woodson comes to mind when thinking about the necessity of inclusion through diversity. Diver- sity is so much more than race, but also in the same breath it is so much about race.
Dr. Woodson was a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., and considered the Founding Father of Black History Month, which grew from the root of his publication titled, “Jour- nal of Negro History.”
His many accolades in- clude receiving his Ph.D. from Harvard University, establishing the Associa- tion for the Study of Negro Life, Negro History and the establishment of Black History Month in 1976.
The month of February was chosen for Black His- tory Month because Feb- ruary 12th was Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and February 14th was the recognized birthday of Frederick Douglass. Dur- ing his lifetime, Dr. Woodson wanted to stress the importance of Diver- sity in the United States of America.
Dr. Woodson published over 30 books primarily based on inclusion and the African American ex- perience. African Ameri- cans contributed to the importance of diversity in 1926, as well as being a vital part of the conversa- tion in 2018.
In this day and time, we see diversity more in America through inclusion initiatives that
focus on recruitment, branding and reputation.
In the last two years we have seen more light shown on the extent of how important it is to have diversity in: K-12 Schools, Institutions of Higher Education, Poli- tics, Public and Private Businesses, Organiza- tions, Fortune 500 Com- panies, Law Enforcement Departments, Military Branches, Health Care Fa- cilities, Engineering Or- ganizations, and the Court
Systems.
I admit, I didn’t quite
understand the extensive significance of Black His- tory Month or the contri- butions of Dr. Woodson when I was in high school. We participated in speeches and assemblies. Today, I am a part of the necessary change, dia- logue and the work of defining diversity for the next generation.
DR. SHANDALE TERRELL Lakeland
Tampa Bay Sarcoidosis Support Group Meeting
The Tampa Bay Sarcoidosis Support Group will meet on Saturday, February 17, 2018, 2p. m.-5 p. m., at the Seminole Heights Branch Library, 4711 N. Central Ave., Tampa 33603.
If you have Sarcoidosis, or know anyone having this ill- ness, or just want to help make a difference, please attend the meeting. Meet and greet oth- ers with Sarcoidosis, share
your story, treatment options and hear the latest in research. The support group is spon- sored by Janine’s Sarcoidosis Outreach Foundation and the American Lung Association of
Florida.
For additional information,
please call Megi Garrison, (813) 785-0000 or Fannie M. Keith, (813) 466-5876.
Light refreshments will be served.
Mayor’s Youth Council Hosts Free Session On Depression And Suicide Prevention
Members of the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council are: front row, L-R: Rachel B, Sophie R, Sania M, Fernanda A, Faith J, Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Ashvin T, Morgan G, Katy H, and Iman A. Back row, L-R: Yasmine M, Carly F, Annmarie C, ErrDaisha F, Grace B, Victoria W, Bryce C, and Gustavo A. Missing from photo are: Hira K and Deeksha G.
Tampa teens, their parents and other interested individ- uals are invited to attend a FREE educational session on depression and suicide pre- vention on Wednesday, Feb- ruary28from6p.m.to8p. m., at Barksdale Adult Activ- ity Center, 1801 North Lin- coln Avenue in MacFarlane Park.
The session is sponsored by the Mayor’s Youth Leader- ship Council, a program of the City of Tampa that allows
local teens to develop their leadership skills and have the opportunity to apply them through various service proj- ects and workshops.
Three panelists are sched- uled to discuss the means of treatment for depression, how to identify the risk fac- tors for suicide and personal experiences with mental ill- ness. Each speaker will give an individual presentation, followed by a facilitated ques- tion-and-answer session.
Panelists include: Dan Bramel, a Crisis Center Community Educator; Dr. Maria Aranda, President of the Florida Psychological As- sociation Bay Chapter; and Susannah Robinson, a mother who lost her son to suicide.
For more information, please contact Molly Biebel, Youth Development Coordi- nator, 813-274-5909, or via email at molly.biebel@tam- pagov.net.
PAGE 4-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018