Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 12-23-16 Online Edition

Features
Candlelight Vigil Of Homicide Victims Called A Success
Royal Jewels At Sheehy Elementary School Take ‘Victorian Stroll’
At University Of Tampa
Royal Jewels who enjoyed the field trip were: from left to right, bottom row, Dynique Williams, La’Kyrah Brown, Aaliyah Jenkins, Kirshanna McHayles, Kiara Mullen, Jeanette Koudaya, Nachauncia Welch, and Kamilah Proctor. Second row: Mrs. Staci Haynes (teacher), Delicia Pamphile, Aja Harrison, Lenn’Asia Brinson, Jayla Love, Melika Blanc, and Ms. Kaneshia Williams (teacher). Third row: Eunice Baah, Jessica Joseph, Faith Johnson, NiKeya Goree, Saniah Williams, and Diandra Lee. Top row: Aniyah Williams, Kaniyah Warren, Char- lene Boderick, Alacia Watts, and Christini Keesee.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
The holidays are a time of joy for some, but it is also a time of sadness for families who lost a loved one this time of year. The sadness is even more profound when the person died as a result of vio- lence.
Last Sunday, December 18th, Ms. Vivian Heyward held a candlelight vigil in memory of the lives lost to vi- olence. This was the first can- dlelight vigil Ms. Heyward has hosted in about five years. Reche Butler served as the Master of Ceremonies.
“I was holding them every year, but it just became too much for me. However, this one really turned out great and people are asking when will I hold the next one.
“There were about 50 peo- ple who turned out and our goal was met. There was not a dry eye in the crowd. It was really emotional,” she said.
Among those in atten- dance were members of “Mothers Of The Victims,” an organization created by Ms. Zelma Culpepper to pro- vide support to other moth-
MS. VIVIAN HEYWARD Community Activist
ers suffering a loss during the holidays and throughout the year.
The vigil was held in the parking lot of the old Post Of- fice at 2905 E. Hillsborough Avenue.
Ms. Vivian Heyward
further said, “I wish others had come, but the message was received very well. Hope- fully, next time more people will attend.”
Ms. Heyward began hosting the candlelight vigils after too many young people were dying violently. Her message then and remain, “The violence needs to stop. There are so many unsolved homicides and the number continues to grow. These deaths are senseless and it is time for them to stop.”
On Tuesday, December 6, 2016 the Tampa Chapter of The Links, Incorporated Services to Youth Facet partnered with the Sigma Nu chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at the
Briana Cantave talks to the Jewels at Victorian Stroll.
Links who chaperoned the Jewels were: front to back, Links Joyce Daniels, Ozepher Wilds, Frances Sykes, Willa Peterson, Margarette Spears, Verneka Rhodes and Joselynne Forde.
University of Tampa. The Royal Jewels of Sheehy Ele- mentary School, a Links’ Services to Youth mentoring group, visited the Henry Plant Museum and took part in the Victorian Stroll.
After the Stroll, AKA un- dergraduate Sigma Nu mem- ber, Brianna Cantave spoke to the students about college life: the importance of setting goals for the future, and the importance of preparing for college by being a good student. A question and answer period with many interesting questions fol- lowed the presentation, and it was concluded because the students had to return to
school.
The Royal Jewels Program
of Sheehy Elementary School is designed to focus on the difficulties faced by econom- ically challenged young girls of color, specifically African American and Latina stu- dents. Fifth grade students at the school participate in monthly workshops that seek to foster positive self-esteem, promote knowledge of cul- ture and art, promote healthy nutrition, strengthen presen- tation and critical thinking skills, and introduce stu- dents to role models and mentors.
Kay Andrews is Chapter President.
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