Page 22 - 2-20-15 Friday's Edition

Local
U. S. Rep. Castor To Present
NAACP Acquires Second
Annual Congressional Records
Bus For Selma For 50th
MS. EVANGELINE BEST
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Several years ago, U. S.
Representative Kathy Castor began honoring members of the community who had made a difference during their lives. Since the inception of the program, several individuals have been recognized.
On Monday, February 23rd, Rep. Castor will once again present the Congres- sional Records awards. The Congressional Records will mark the legacies of the re- cipients in the U. S. Library of Congress. The ceremony will take place in the Audito- rium at Middleton High School, 4801 N. 22nd Street, at 2:30 p.m.
This year, the honors will be bestowed upon Ms. Evangeline “Van” Best and the late Jetie B. Wilds.
A Tampa native, Ms. Evangeline “Van” Best has served as a community
JETIE B. WILDS, JR.
activist for the majority of her adult life. When con- tacted by the Sentinel, Ms. Best said, “When I was a child, my mother always told metodowhatGodputinmy heart to do. I’m still that way today, I haven’t changed.
“Every time I start to talk about it, I can’t help but cry. I am so humbled, appreciative andIseeitasmoreofachal- lenge to stay focused on the community and continue to do what God puts in my heart.”
Ms. Best said her goal from the beginning has been to do what she feels needs to be done. She has never wor- ried about accolades or re- ceiving recognition. “This is just evident that when you’re doing something unto God, and from your heart, you never know whose heart God will touch on your behalf.”
Rep. Castor will also pay tribute to the late Mr. Jetie B. Wilds, Jr. A Tampa native, Mr. Wilds
KATHY CASTOR
graduated from Middleton High School in 1957. He re- ceived his Bachelor of Sci- ence Degree from Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA, in 1962 and his Master’s Degree from Portland State University in Oregon. He spent more than 30 years with the U. S. De- partment of Agriculture.
Wilds retired from the U. S. Department of Agriculture as a Senior Executive.
In addition to his profes- sional career, Mr. Wilds served an adjunct professor at the Lewis and Clark Uni- versity. He was the recipient of numerous awards for his service in the community. He served on the Board of Direc- tors for the Tampa Organiza- tion of Black Affairs (TOBA) and was a former member of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators.
Mr. Wilds also served as the Moderator of a popular Saturday morning talk show entitled “The Citizen’s Re- port.” He served as host of the program for 14 years.
The program aired on AM 1150 WTMP Radio Station. Its goal was to enlighten and inform listeners about issues impacting or pertaining to their neighborhoods, their communities, and the nation in general.
Mr. Wilds was 74 years old at the time of his death in September 2014.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On March 6th, two buses will leave Tampa en route to Selma, Alabama.
The purpose of the trip is to remember, as a nation, the historic events that took place in that city on March 7, 1965.
On that date in history, a group of citizens began a march across the Edmund Pettius Bridge to draw atten- tion to the plight of African Americans in the areas of Civil Rights and Voting Rights.
The group of non-violent protesters was attacked by po- lice, who beat them with night sticks, and used water hoses and dogs on them. Before the protest came to an end, 41 people died. The day became etched in history as “Bloody Sunday.”
Bennie Small, President of the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP said, “We ac- quired the second bus because this is so important. It’s been over 50 years since that strug- gle for voting rights took place. Still, there are many ob- stacles staying in the way of people wanting to vote.
“People can register now, but it seems that for every step forward we take, we get pushed back 5 or 6 steps by different legislation being passed. We are still fighting for equality.”
“Selma is the place where more than 1,000 leaders came together to fight for the dream of equality. The dream is still alive and we are walking in the footsteps of those who stood before us to make it possible.”
The cost of the trip will in- clude the roundtrip, a two- night stay in a hotel in Montgomery, Alabama, and admission to the Street Festi-
BENNIE SMALL
... President, Hillsborough County Branch NAACP
val. The group will also visit the historic Brown’s AME Chapel for the re-enactment and take the walk across the Edmund Pettis Bridge.
There will be a series of workshops that will discuss such topics as: “Race, Poverty and the Injustice System,” “Health Care for All: Now Is The Time,” Alabama Un- afraid: Latino Immigrant Ac- tivism Post-House Bill 56,” “The Role of Education in the Liberation of a People,” “Still Separate, Still Unequal: Com- bating Racial Segregation Under the Fair Housing Act and other Civil Rights Laws,” “Environmental Justice,” “Policing & Mass Incarcera- tion in America,” and other subjects of interest.
Civil Rights activists such as Ms. Claudette Colvin, Dr. Bernard Lafayette, Robert “Bob” Moses, Ms. Diane Nash, and Rev. C. T. Vivian will also be in atten- dance.
The group will also tour the Freedom Rides Museum, the National Center for the Civil Rights & African Ameri- can Culture Museum, and the Rosa Parks Library & Mu- seum.
The bus is scheduled to re- turn to Tampa Monday, March 9th at approximately 10 p.m. (SEE AD THIS EDI- TION).
Anniversary Trip
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