Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 11-20-15 Edition

FLORIDA SENTINEL FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2015
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FOX 13 News Anchor Denise White Plans To Mentor In Her Retired Years
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
“I’ve tried to be a good reflec- tion of the African-American community. I’m appreciative and touched by my position as it relates to African-Americans. I never took that for granted.” ...DENISE WHITE
Anchor, FOX 13 News
It’s a 40-year career that’s coming to a close, but by no means will Ms. Denise White be going into seclu- sion. “I’m very excited about the retire- ment and trying to make that transition,” she said via phone inter- view. Ms. White will have her last on- air date on Wednesday, November 25, 2015, -- a day, she said on-air Monday, “that is so close to Thanksgiving and I have so much to be thankful for.”
MS. DENISE WHITE ...Last on-air date, Wednesday, November 25, 2015
One of the things she’s most excited about is mentoring ten 5th grade girls at Stewart Middle School. Crystal Bailes has introduced her to GEMS, Inc. (Girls Empowered Mentally for Success, Inc.).
“I’m looking forward to really working with girls in need, 1-on-1, helping to build confidence; taking a look at where they are, their goals and dreams,” she explained.
Ms. White came to Tampa 25-1/2 years ago as the first African-American major news anchor in this market. She joined then anchor, now retired, Kathy Fountain and they became the first female duo anchors in the area doing the evening news. Ms. White calls those years here in Tampa as ‘glo- rious.’ “The years have really flown by and I’ve enjoyed them.” She went on to explain that, “it seems like an out-of- body experience.”
She started to work at the age of 14 and has worked ever since – through high school, summers, and college years, interning in Richmond, VA. Less than a month after graduating from college, she had taken on a profes- sional journalism career that led her to Orlando, Miami and then to Tampa.
Now 60 years old, the Virginia Commonwealth University graduate says one of her favorite projects at WTVT was the Black History Month profiles that she did.
“I enjoyed searching out the lesser known heroes in the community...so they could see themselves reflected positively,” she explained. Ms. White also mentors young college journalists, as she was doing during this interview.
Ms. White and her husband, Keith, are parents to 5 children and 4 grandchildren. Their youngest is a 9th grader.
Former Tampan Promoted To Manage EEOC Mediators In Florida, Puerto Rico And The Virgin Islands
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Marvin Frazier, a Miami-based federal mediator for the Equal Em- ployment Opportunity Commission, was recently promoted to manage other federal mediators in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands from the agency’s South Florida loca- tion.
Frazier, is well-known to many in the Bay Area because he worked twice in Tampa as an investigator – once from 1984 to 1987 and again from 1988 to 1992. Now in Miami, he said he will supervise his team remotely, but does expect to travel occasionally to other offices.
Frazier also has worked as an in- vestigator and supervisor at the EEOC offices in Atlanta, and served as direc- tor of the commission’s Savannah, Georgia office.
He’s also served as the commis- sion’s Miami District Office’s liaison for Executive Order 13256, The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
He is engaged civically in the South Florida area, having served on various committees and the School of Busi- ness Advisory Council for Florida Me- morial University.
A 1972 graduate of Florida A&M University, Frazier says he enjoyed his more than 30 years of work with the commission.
“I like the fact that I help individ- uals find resolutions to their situa- tions,” he said.
Growing up in Orlando, Mr. Fra- zier said he saw extreme cases of dis- crimination that left a heavy impression on him.
“My interest has always been fair-
ness and fair play,” he said.
When he joined the EEOC in the
late 1970s, he said he was drawn to its mission of helping both sides of em- ployment discrimination disputes chart a pathway to resolving conflict.
“I believe the EEOC provides an opportunity for individuals to address their concerns and it gives companies a chance to respond,” he said. “It clears communication between the employee and employer.”
In his three decades with the EEOC, Mr. Frazier has mediated hundreds of employment discrimina- tion cases. He said he’s seen instances where the employee may feel they have a cut-and-dry case of workplace discrimination when it’s really mis- communication between them and their employer.
There also have been instances where, after the EEOC has found no discrimination against the employee took place, the employee hires an at- torney who takes the case to court and a jury sides with them, Mr. Frazier
said.
“It can go both ways,” he said.
“That’s why mediators should provide both sides the opportunity to air grievances.”
Being a federal mediator requires practicing good judgment and study- ing all of the circumstances related to a case, Mr. Frazier said.
“I feel very fortunate where I can provide help to both parties,” he said. “I can’t favor one side over the other.”
Mr. Frazier said as a mediator he’s often reminded to be like Solomon, the wise Biblical king, and do his best to hand down the most fair decision so that “everyone walks away with some closure and walk into the future instead of being stuck in the past.”
Frazier said he’s looking forward to continuing his career with the EEOC in his new capacity.
“I am blessed,” he said. “It’s by God’s provision and mercy that I’m doing what I’m doing now.”