Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 12-29-17

Feature
Students, Youth Groups Encouraged To Register For Free Symposium
The Tampa Alumni Chap- ter of Alpha Phi Alpha Frater- nity, Inc. and the GZL Educational Foundation, Inc. announce the Youth Sympo- sium, “MLK, Community Empowerment, and So- cial Justice Activism through Entertainment and the Arts.”
This free event will be held on Saturday, Janu- ary 20, 2018, from 9 a. m. to 3 p. m. at Hillsborough Community College – Ybor Campus (Palm Av- enue @ Republica De Cuba [14th St.]) in the Ybor Room.
The goal of the symposium is leadership development and empowerment of middle and high school youths. The pro- gram is funded through a MLK Day of Service Grant from Hillsborough Commu- nity College.
Throughout history, and in particular during the 20th century, African-American celebrities from the entertain- ment and arts fields have used their platforms to empower their communities and for so- cial activism.
Whether it was authors such as Langston Hughes,
or Zora Neal Hurston dur- ing the Harlem Renaissance; or performers such as Paul Robeson, Josephine Baker, and Marian Ander- son, members of the enter- tainment and arts communities have not hesi- tated to speak out against in- justice, even as they too were victims of discrimination.
During the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s, many African-Ameri- can celebrities from the enter- tainment and arts were prominent supporters of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Entertainer Harry Bela- fonte, comedian and social activist, Dick Gregory fre-
quently marched with Dr. King, along with actors Ozzie Davis and Ruby Dee.
Today, celebrities such as
Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, Beyonce, and Alicia Keys are among those noted for their social justice and community empower- ment activism.
Attendees will learn about
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and will discuss socially active celebrities past and present, including those that supported Dr. King.
The program will include a panel discussion on Commu- nity Empowerment and Social Justice Activism.
Panelists will be Phillip
Walker – Lakeland City Commissioner, Ed Narain – former member of the State of Florida House of Representa- tives, and Jordan Greer – President, Florida State Uni- versity NAACP Student Chap- ter.
The event will include a DJ, music, interactive exer- cises, food, and prizes.
This symposium will posi-
tively impact the Tampa Com- munity by showing middle and high school students that there are pop culture icons of today that are not only doing well with regards to fortune and fame, but are also working to make their communities and the world better. Stu- dents will leave with a better understanding of social ac- tivism and community em- powerment, and hopefully with an increased desire to serve others.
This event is open to indi- vidual students and youth groups. The event is free, but registration via Eventbrite (http://evite.me/XZHvJVFm S3) is required.
For more information, please call (813) 841-6548.
Alphonse Stewart is Di- rector of Educational Activi- ties, Gamma Zeta Lambda Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fra- ternity, Inc.
ED NARAIN ...Former State Representative
PANELISTS:
PHILLIP WALKER ...Lakeland City Commissioner
JORDAN GREER
...President, FSU, NAACP Student Chapter
PAGE 4-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2017