Page 16 - Florida Sentinel 3-25-22

Local
Gentlemen’s Quest Hosts Mother And Son Dance To Celebrate Mothers
Members of the Gentlemen's Quest of Tampa, Inc., left to right: (Row 1) Chase Walker, Clyde St. Vall, Dayvin Fisher, Donovan Terry, and Thomas Miller. (Row 2) Nicholas Nina, Joshua Nina, Antonio Taylor, Ronnie Levar Plummer, Jr., Jayalan Moreau, Earl Knighten, IV, and Damani Fisher. (Row 3) Dominic Cooper, Robert Stone, Jr., Miles Jones, Keith Canady, Jr., and Ethan Eugene.
A local organization is in- vesting in the lives of young Black men across Tampa Bay by providing mentoring, academic support, new experiences, and more.
The Gentlemen’s Quest of Tampa, Inc. has rendered serv- ice to this community since 2014. Hundreds of minority stu- dents’ lives have changed, thanks to the organization.
Last month, Gentlemen’s
Quest hosted The Queen’s Ball, an event for the young men to honor mothers at a mother and son dance. The boys escorted their moms as their dates to the event. One highlight from the event, according to one mother, Bernetta Knighten, was the choreographed dance that the students performed. “It was completely unexpected, but a pleasant and welcomed sur- prise,” said Knighten. The
boys also wrote personalized poems to their moms that they read aloud and presented to them at the event.
Davell Taylor was the co- median during the night. Emjay Meraki and his band performed live, while the moth- ers and sons danced together and enjoyed the evening.
“This was my first mother and son dance,” said Knighten.
“I will remember this night for the rest of my life,” said Tamara Fisher, the mother of two sons that are a part of the organization.
A plethora of opportunities and lessons, mixed with a lot of love, come from Tavis Myrick, the program’s executive direc- tor. “Our goal is to create expe- riences that help to shape the perspective of our youth,” said Myrick.
Kydia Washington and Clyde St. Vall.
Terita Stone and Robert Stone, Jr.
Damani Fisher, Tamara Fisher, and Dayvin Fisher.
Vosha Harris and Miles Jones.
Tiara Sanders and Jayalan Moreau.
Bernetta Knighten and Earl Knighten, IV.
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