Page 4 - 8-7-15 Friday's Edition Updated

Features
Caregivers Forum Planned To Help Women
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
On Saturday, August 22nd at the Tampa Park Community Center, Black Women’s Agenda “Because We Care: African American Women Caregivers and Their Families” along with AARP, will be presenting a forum that hopes to provide vital information to caregivers.
The Mistress of Ceremony for the forum will be Dr. Paulette Walker, National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
Event Co-Chairs, Ruth Duncan Bell and Heddie Sumpter, said they want to provide awareness and sup- port on issues that affect Black women worldwide.
“This is the first forum held in Tampa, but there have been 20 forums held across the country,” said Mrs. Bell.
“The forum will provide a panel discussion with experts that will provide tools for awareness and facilitate a dia- logue for caregivers. One in five African Americans provide care for a loved one, and African American women pro- vide the most.”
Mrs. Bell said for working women with families, this forum will give them the tools, resources, and education to help them as caregivers.
“We aren’t trying to recruit caregivers, but let them know we understand the challenges they face.
“We think a young woman with a parent who is disabled
RUTH DUNCAN BELL CO-CHAIR
would be perfect for this forum, because she can learn how to be a caregiver and still make a life for herself. It takes a special person to be a care- giver, because it’s not an easy job.”
Ms. Sumpter said one of the speakers for the forum will be an Elder Affairs attorney.
“The forum will be interac- tive as people will ask ques- tions and also tell their personal stories.
“There is help out there, but no one has reached out to African Americans to assist caregivers in caring.”
Mrs. Bell and Ms. Sumpter said everyone feels this forum will help give elders a better quality of life.
“To be a caregiver you just need to care,” said Ms. Sumpter.
“We are raised to respect and care for our elders, and that tradition must continue. We have access to so much more information now, and it’s up to us to let our seniors
HEDDIE SUMPTER CO-CHAIR
know they will have a great quality of life. It takes time and dedication.”
Ms. Sumpter said there are a lot of caregivers out there, and they hope this sup- port forum will be well at- tended.
The forum will be from 1:30 p. m. until 3:30 p. m., and registration will begin at 1 p. m.
Please RSVP as there is limited seating.
Among the 19 national col- laborating organization part- ners are: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incor- porated; Jack & Jill of Amer- ica, Incorporated; National Coalition of 100 Black Women; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated; The Links, Incorporated; Top Ladies of Distinction, Incorpo- rated; Women’s Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, In- corporated.
Tampa Native Helps Students Enter College
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Dr. William H. Bryant is on a mission that he plans to accomplish. And, that mission is to get as many students en- rolled in college as possible.
Now residing in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Bryant visited Tampa last month and spoke with several potential college students.
Although many students have chosen institutions of higher learning, others have not. And that is why Dr. Bryant volunteers to recruit for the school.
“Counselors don’t tell our students about the HBCUs. It is up to the graduates of HBCUs to go back and spread the mes- sage.”
After serving as an educator for many years, Dr. Bryant retired. About 5 years ago, he was asked by Fort Valley State personnel to help recruit stu- dents.
“This is a voluntary position and we don’t get paid for it. But, I talk to students every- where I go about the school. I am a part of the Ralph Malone Motivational Task Force at Fort Valley State. We go to the school and give the students lessons in life.
“We tell them that just be- cause a company gives you a credit card, you have to still be responsible. I ask them who is going to pay the bill? If they don’t by the time they gradu- ate, they will have bad credit. We also tell them about hang- ing with the wrong crowd, and dressing for success. “No one is going to hire you if you have your pants down below your butts and your hair is not combed,” he said.
While in Tampa, Dr.
DR. WILLIAM H. BRYANT ... College Recruiter
Bryant teamed up with Ross Sandford, a football legend and a graduate of Fort Valley State. He also formed an al- liance with David Anderson Smith, of Plant City.
In the company of his re- cruitment allies, Dr. Bryant made the rounds of visiting several churches in both Tampa and Plant City to recruit students. He later learned that three of them have applied to attend Fort Valley State Uni- versity, in Fort Valley, Georgia.
“Fort Valley State Univer- sity has now waved all out of state fees, so students can at- tend college,” he said.
A Tampa native, Dr. Bryant attended the public schools of Hillsborough County. He graduated from Middleton High School in 1964. He continued his educa- tion at Fort Valley State Uni- versity, where he majored in Music. He also earned his Mas- ter’s Degree in Education. He earned his Ph.D., in Christian Education from Emmanuel Christian College.
Dr. Bryant said Fort Val- ley staff is located away from the big city and distractions that large cities bring. He also said it is a place where the peo- ple not only care about the stu- dents, but care about them graduating on time.
PAGE 4-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2015