Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 12-2-16 Online Edition

FLORIDA SENTINEL
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2016
B
Celebrating 40 Years: Rev. Abe Brown’s Bust Goes Up In Post Office That Bears His Name
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Friends, family, and com- munity members gathered Tuesday (November 22nd) to honor the late Rev. Abe Brown with the unveiling of a bust in his likeness at an East Tampa Post Office that bears his name.
At a luncheon prior to the unveiling, Brown – who died six years ago – was re- membered as a compassion- ate pastor with a strong affinity to help others, espe- cially the incarcerated and ex- offenders through his Abe Brown Ministries.
How fitting it was to honor Brown, a man who devoted himself to the better- ment of others, during the week of the Thanksgiving hol- iday, said U. S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa.
Cong. Castor said one of her “proudest achievements” was sponsoring the bill that three years ago renamed the Hillsborough Avenue Post Office in Rev. Brown’s honor.
“This is a wonderful op- portunity to say ‘thank you’ to Rev. Abe Brown,” she said. “Everyone who lives in the
Mrs. Altamese Brown, Rev. Brown’s widow is seated. Standing from left to right at the bust unveiling ceremony were: Miles Bennett, Mor- gan Bennett, Vanessa Brown Bennett, Milton Bennett, Pierce Blount, Kimberly Brown Blount, Robert Blount, III, Arthenia Brown and Dar- rolyn Wilds. (Photograph by BRUNSON)
community, you can take great pride in this accom- plishment.”
The bust, sponsored by benefactors Raymond and Nancy Murray, is a testa- ment that “no matter what’s going on out there in the world, we have a lot to be thankful for because we come from a generous community.”
In the years since
Brown’s death, his legacy – which includes the Food For Life Pantry and Ready 4 Work re-entry program – has grown, said Robert Blount, III, president of Abe Brown Ministries.
“We aren’t here to cele- brate the dead,” he said. “We’re here to celebrate the legacy that is alive and well.”
Rev. Brown’s mission of
helping the incarcerated and ex-offenders turn their lives around did not die with him, Blount said.
“To see these conversions for Christ – that’s not a dead legacy,” he said. “That’s very much alive.”
Tampa City Councilman Frank Reddick said the bust is much more than just a marker recognizing Brown –
it’s a reflection of the mutual admiration and love between Rev. Brown and the East Tampa community.
“It’s a historic moment,” he said.
Brown’s widow, Mrs. Altamese Brown, said the honoring of her husband was “just great.”
“I think everything is just fine,” she said.
Marijuana Grow Business Conference Held
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
The recent legalization of full- strength medical marijuana in Florida opens a window for both current and emerging entrepreneurs to cash in on a business that is expected to generate billions in the coming years.
Those wanting to get in on the ac- tion must approach the business of marijuana like any other – with seri- ousness and a willingness to do the work to be successful, said George Allen, founder of Comfy Tree, a busi- ness that helps business owners enter the cannabis industry.
Allen recently explained the ins and outs of the cannabis industry to a few dozen attendees at Comfy Tree’s Canna Conference at the Cuban Club in Ybor City.
The conference featured a sympo- sium, Cannibis Academy, Grow School, and a career fair.
It is one of many hosted through- out the country as more states em- brace marijuana legalization laws.
Last month, Florida voters over- whelmingly approved Amendment 2 which allows those with debilitating illnesses – including allowing those with cancer and HIV/AIDS, among others – to use the drug with a doc- tor’s recommendation.
The goal is to arm entrepreneurs with information that prepares them
to take advantage of the many differ- ent business ventures that are form- ing, said Elizabeth Seda, director of strategy for Comfy Tree.
Many may only consider entering the business as growers, but there are other lucrative sides to the business including transportation, manage- ment, accounting, and security, Seda said.
“These are the opportunities that we know are going to open up,” she said.
It’s estimated that legalized mari- juana could become a $50 billion in- dustry.
The hardline on the so-called “War
on Drugs” is crumbling, opening the industry to minority groups that anti- marijuana laws have affected dispro- portionately, Allen said in a separate interview.
Additionally, society’s perspective on marijuana is changing, he said.
“People are starting to see this is a medical benefit,” he said.
Because legalized marijuana is a relatively new industry, it’s best that entrepreneurs have access to as many resources as possible before leaping in, Seda said.
“It’s hard to navigate,” she said. “We want them to feel confident in their decision to do this.”
At the Cannibis Academy, Allen took attendees through a step-by-step process of starting a marijuana-based business.
Before starting a marijuana-re- lated business, it’s best that entrepre- neurs know if they want to enter the industry as a supplier, middle man- agement, or salesman, Allen said.
Additionally, entrepreneurs should be prepared to “put some skin into the game” or invest significant re- sources and time into the business, he said.
This is especially necessary if you wish to take on investors to help you grow the business, Allen said.
Allen encouraged attendees to be well-versed in local legislation outlin- ing the establishment of a business, including zoning laws and ordinances, tax laws, and laws regarding the types of businesses felons can own and op- erate, he said.
Allen said his recommendations stem from studying the legalized mar- ijuana laws of different states and helping people navigate them to set up successful businesses.
Colorado, one of the first states to legalize recreational use of marijuana, offers a great blueprint for how to set up a legalized marijuana business, Allen said.
“If everybody wrote it out like Col- orado did, this is what you want to see,” he said.