Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 5-1-20

State
Former Miss FAMU Uses Entrepreneurial Skills To Fight Coronavirus
BY JODI YONDER
Because of its deadly con- sequences, the fight against the Coronavirus has taken on new meaning in the African American community. African Americans top the list of ethnic groups killed by the virus at alarming rates because they are dispropor- tionately impacted by other killer diseases.
Former Miss Florida A&M University NaKena Cromartie, a business major, has shifted her focus to making and providing Personal Protective Equip- ment (PPE). Cromartie is the Founder and CEO of SUSTAINABLE SHIFTTM, an
Miss NaKena Cromartie, the former FAMU Queen, has taken on the Coronavirus fight.
online resale clothing com- pany, but like many small businesses, she had to pause community and business de-
velopment activities due to social distancing guidelines. But NaKena decided to shift to a more important task.
Now, she makes reusable surgical face masks by hand. They are affordable, stylish, and sustainable. The face masks are unique. They are made from 100% cotton and equipped with a 90-day air filter.
“Now more than ever it is important to reinvent and re- tool to ensure our communi- ties have access to the supplies that will keep them safe and protected from the spread and infection of the virus,” says NaKena.
Cromartie’s resource- fulness will not only fulfill a need in the community, but keep her small business alive. To learn more visit www.sustainshift.com.
Making masks: Miss Cromartie makes reusable surgical masks.
Florida Colleges And Universities Receive Funds From CARES Act
FAMU and B-CU among those to receive millions
Approximately 254 edu- cational institutions in the state of Florida will receive funds from the CARES Act. The funds are referred to as the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund, which is authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The act also fueled about $6 billion in funding for the country’s colleges and uni- versities.
Those funds come from the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, approved by Congress on March 27, 2020.
Florida’s total is fourth behind California, Texas and New York — half of the state’s $740 million must go to students.
The University of Central Florida in Orlando received the largest amount of $51,071,250, of which $25,535,625 must go to stu- dents.
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Univer- sity will receive $13,051,325 ($6,525,663
for students), while Bethune-Cookman Uni- versity will be receiving $6,648,501 ($3,324,251 for students). A chart below shows what other institutions in the area will receive, and the amount that will go to students.
Schools have a lot of de- scretion on how to distribute the funds to students. The only requirement is for stu- dents to spend the money on
food, housing, course mate- rials, technology, healthcare, child care or other costs in- curred due to the pandemic.
However, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos en- couraged universities and colleges to prioritize students with the greatest need. It was recommended the schools establish a maximum fund- ing threshold for each stu- dent “to ensure that these funds are distributed as widely as possible.”
PAGE 2-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020