WINTER 2024 | VOL. 1 | ISSUE 3
Holiday Traditions, Historic Remembrances, and Healthy Hearts
SHEENA BRITTON Sanford City Commissioner
JUDITH SMITH Historian, Visionary, Change Maker
MARK McEWEN Radio & Television Host & Personality
» Black History Month » Holiday Celebrations » Heart Health
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
FROM THE
PUBLISHER
Happy Black History Month, This is the time of year when the African American community of any city is quite busy, and greater Orlando is no exception. We’ve celebrated Christmas, Kwanzaa, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, organizational anniversaries, and we’ve just rounded the corner to Black History Month. The MLK Holiday weekend was filled with oratorical contests, banquets, parades, festivals, and Divine Nine founder’s days. Many of these activities were taking place at the same time, which showed Black greater Orlando at its best. Whew, I’m already tired, but in the spirit of our ancestors, I know I have to “keep on keeping on.” In this issue, we spotlighted the Christmas decorations of two households that take Christmas to a whole new level. We feature Kwanzaa celebrations in Orlando, Deland, and Lakeland. We were so intentional in our focus on central Florida’s Black History that we can’t share all that we uncovered in this issue; some articles will carry over into our Spring Issue. In our last two issues Black men have
WINTER 2024 VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 3 PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF J. Lajuana Miller ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Michael A. Miller CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Alayna Riggins • Steven Yoder ART DIRECTOR Christina Yoder DISTRIBUTION MANAGERS Anita Mitchell • James Benjamin, Jr. PHOTOGRAPHERS First Klass Memories Photography Chris Lindsay Photography CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kyraneisha Coleman Erikka Hart • Marc McEwen Michael A. Miller Robin Soliz FOR ALL CORRESPONDENCE Radiantly Black P.O. Box 470311, Lake Monroe, FL 32747 407-840-6813 Info@RadiantlyBlack.com VISIT US ONLINE AT RADIANTLYBLACK.COM All information and advertising content contained herein is provided as a service to our readers and is not endorsed by the publisher or staff. Radiantly Black magazine is not responsible for statements made by advertisers or writers. The publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or misprints in copy or in any customer approved advertising copy. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. We reserve the right to refuse advertising space at our discretion.
been talking about love. We allowed them to “take a seat” in this issue (more from them in the next issue) and allowed the ladies to talk about love from a Valentine’s Day perspective. And, as you know, we love, love, love celebrating our people. Herein, there are personal accomplishments, organizational highlights, and, of course – Good Eats, focused this time on Black-owned seafood restaurants. For more central Florida Black history, we encourage you to check out the City of Apopka’s extensive online exhibit covering the Black History of that area. Visit https://www.apopka. gov/973/Black-History-Month-Book-Project. I hope to see you at some of the Black History Month activities shown below. If you see me, come over and say hello. History Alive: Bessie Coleman Aviation Adventure • Sat. Feb. 3, 2024, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Celebrate the remarkable achievements of Bessie Coleman, a pioneer in aviation history! During History Alive! you will experience engaging activities throughout the museum that highlight the incredible journey of America’s first Black and Native American woman pilot and the important role of aviation in central Florida history. Activities are included with museum admission. Orange County Regional History Center, 65 E. Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801. Hint of History Workshops: Galactic Trailblazers • Tues. Feb. 13, 1 – 4 p.m. Houston, we have history! Join us this month to recognize Black Americans who have contributed to America’s space journey. The History Center’s monthly Hint of History drop-in sessions allow families to customize their learning experience and participate in activities at their own pace. Our program is geared towards children ages 5 to 11 years old and is ideal for homeschool students, but all ages and families are welcome to join in on the fun and learning. Orange County Regional History Center, 65 E. Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801. Honoring Black Heritage & Culture • Sat., Feb. 17, 2024, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Join us for our second annual Honoring Black Heritage and Culture family day event! This year’s theme is African Americans as leaders in the arts. We will explore the tremendous impact Black Americans have had on visual arts, music, cultural movements, and more. The day will include performances, speakers, and activities for all ages. Museum admission is free on this date, thanks to funding from Florida Humanities. Orange County Regional History Center, 65 E. Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801. For all of these events, you can visit TheHistoryCenter.org/Events for more information.
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Blessings!
Lajuana
J. Lajuana Miller | Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
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Holiday Traditions, Historic Remembrances, & Healthy Hearts CONTENTS HOLIDAY TRADITIONS 5 A Commissioner’s Christmas 6 Christmas With the Whiteheads 7 Kwanzaa Celebrations HISTORIC REMEMBRANCES 9 Oviedo Colored Schools Museum 11 The History of Orlando Neighborhoods – Parramore & Winter Park 12 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebrations ACCOMPLISHMENTS 13 Author’s Corner 14 Honorees: Featuring Some of Greater Orlando’s Most Influential Leaders and Contributors HEALTHY HEARTS 16 Change in the Weather 18 Black Women Talking About Valentine’s Day IN EVERY ISSUE 17 Good Eats THE SOCIAL SCENE 20 Celebrating the Big 40 – Orange County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. 22 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Comes to Rollins College 22 Spotlight on Visual Artist, Ivan Smith 23 Celebrating 40 Years of Black Journalists in Central Florida 6 7
RADIANTLY BLACK TEAM MEMBER SHOWCASE James Benjamin, Jr., a natural-born entrepreneur, is a Director of Distribution for Radiantly Black Magazine, with an emphasis on churches, beauty salons, and barbershops. The Radiantly Black Publisher admits to being inundated with compliments on the nice, handsome, well-mannered young man who interacts with the staff at the magazine’s pick-up locations. His wife, Jessica, was also bitten by the entrepreneurial bug. Together the Benjamins operate three businesses. Most of their energy is focused on Benjamin Custom Apparel 4 U, which specializes in custom printing, including banners, monogrammed glassware, and all types of custom designed shirts (family reunion shirts, polo shirts, golf shirts, etc.). They are passionate about healthy eating/living and therefore started Will-O-Wik Farms (WOW), which grows microgreens that are sold to local restaurants. Lastly, SEO and Web Design, primarily operated by his wife, provides web design and other services that maximize brand identity. They can be reached for all three businesses at bencustom4u@gmail.com. We expect millionaire status for James and Jessica at some point in the future. James was born and raised in Sanford. He attended Seminole High School and the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
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CONTRIBUTORS
HEALTHY HEARTS CBS journalist and popular television news personality Mark McEwen served for many years in a variety of high- profile positions, including anchoring “CBS This Morning” and serving as entertainment reporter for “The Early Show.” He was also a correspondent for the CBS News show, “48 Hours.” From “The Morning Program” to “CBS This Morning” to “The Early Show,” Mark was a mainstay on CBS since first joining the network in 1987 until he left in 2002. He anchored with a unique flair and snagged a Who’s Who of big interviews. Mark was named one of the country’s “Ten Most Trusted News Personalities” by TV Guide. He has interviewed many prominent newsmakers, including five Presidents and countless Hollywood elites (actors, directors, singers, etc.). He covered almost every imaginable television event, including the Oscars, the Cannes Film Festival, the Golden Globe awards, the Grammy awards, and the Country Music Association awards. He covered three Winter Olympics and anchored the morning broadcast from Nagano, Japan, during CBS Sports’ coverage of the Olympic Winter Games. In Nagano, he also ran with the Olympic Torch. In 2004, Mark became the anchor for the morning and noon news for WKMG in Orlando, Florida. He had a stroke in 2005 that almost killed him and changed his life. He was in a coma and intensive care and did rehab for a year. He did a TED Talk about his time at CBS, his stroke, and the uplifting and inspiring road back. In March of 2014, Mark began hosting “Positive Mark” on WKMG- TV, which showcased good news and positive, inspirational stories. In October of 2014, he started a blog entitled “Mark McEwen’s World,” which currently has over 700,000 viewers - iammarkmcewen.blogspot.com. This blog has already been featured by AARP, the National Stroke Association, and the American Heart Association. His writing has been featured in the Orlando Sentinel as a Guest Columnist multiple times. In October of 2018, he became a board member of the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. In February of 2020, Mark joined the team at the Black News Channel as host of “All Things Men.” Shows can be seen on his website, www.markmcewen.com. Mark is an often sought-after keynote speaker. He was the keynote speaker in Toronto as the for the Canadian March of Dimes, in Fairbanks for Go Red for Woman, at the Neuroscience Convention sponsored by OhioHealth, and Bristol Myers Squibb
BLACK HISTORY
for their Global Patient Week. He was the host for the launch of Eliquis. Mark was born in San Antonio, Texas, and raised in Berlin, Germany, Montgomery, Alabama, and Crownsville, Maryland. He attended the University of Maryland and now lives in central Florida with his family.
Robin Soliz earned a bachelor’s degree in social science education from Bethune Cookman University. She attended Southern New Hampshire University for her master’s degree in
VALENTINE’S DAY
Although her name may be new to this side of the creative industry, storytelling has always been a part of her DNA. Erikka Hart has written poetry, blogs, short stories, and journals for as long as she can remember
history. She has been in the public education sector working as a history teacher, a Director of Education for a non-profit, and now serves as an Orientation Coordinator and Academic Advisor for Valencia College. She is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Inc. Robin enjoys spending time with her husband and dog, reading books, and playing tennis. Robin currently resides on the east side of Orlando. GOOD EATS Michael A. Miller Miami University of Ohio. He is a former Captain in the US Air Force. Moving to greater Orlando allowed him to enjoy the second love of his life, the game of golf. He can be found on various central Florida golf courses at least three days a week. He is a member of Allen Chapel AME Church in Sanford and a Life Member of the NAACP. Mike finds great joy in spending time with family and friends, so the Millers like to entertain. He is the proud father of three children (Angie, Mickey, and Steven), grandfather of four boys, and great- grandfather of two boys. To make sure he always has a foursome for golf, Mike has taught everyone in his immediate family (children, grandchildren, great- grandchildren, and daughter-in-law) to play golf. He is deeply committed to making all of his wife’s dreams come true. retired from a 30-year career with the City of Cincinnati as Chief of Staff for the City Solicitor and Director of Real Estate and Relocation. He earned a BS Degree in Economics from
and worked as a trusted makeup artist in the entertainment industry for two decades. She worked with clients like Nike, Adidas, Cartoon Network, Netflix, Hulu, and entertainment giants like Shaq (pun intended). While being a makeup artist was creatively fulfilling, Erikka always knew that writing was her true passion. The year 2020 forced her to pause and reflect on her life; it was just the motivation she needed to return to school where she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Southern New Hampshire University. Writing has always been her calling, and she knew it was her destiny to pursue it as a career. Her experience as a commercial makeup artist helped develop her eye for detail, which still serves her in her current profession. That, combined with her love for storytelling, allows her to create compelling content as a professional copywriter.
AUTHOR’S CORNER
Kyraneshia Coleman obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Florida A&M University. She received her Master’s Degree from Troy University in Public Administration. Kyraneshia has worked
in the social services field for over 17 years and has an array of experience. She currently serves as a Health Strategy Specialist in workforce development for a healthcare system. Kyraneshia is also a certified Life Coach and strives to make an impact on those within her community. She is a member of the Sanford Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she is the Chair of the Technology Committee. She has been an avid volunteer for the past 20 years. In her spare time, Kyraneshia enjoys traveling and spending quality time with family and friends.
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a Commissioner’s Christmas by J. Lajuana Miller
M any African Americans, along with many other cultures throughout the country, have a love affair with Christmas. We decorate our homes, go Christmas caroling, and buy the latest and most popular presents for our children. We give Christmas presents to co-workers, fellow church members, nail technicians, hair stylists, and just about anyone else with whom we have regular contact. But there are some of us who REALLY LOVE CHRISTMAS! Meet Sheena Britton, Sanford City Commissioner, District 1 - Commissioner Britton was born in historic downtown Sanford and her family has lived in Sanford for four generations, since the
news, so she didn’t expect to get the Tickle Me Elmo she had so desperately wanted to receive. But lo and behold, on Christmas morning when she unwrapped her presents, there was a Tickle Me Elmo just for her. When we asked how much she spent on her decorations, she replied, “I do budget-friendly decorations. That’s the message I would like for your readers to get. It can be done on a small budget.” In fact, she decorates for all major holidays and offers decorating services to the public. While she loves Christmas, she admits that Halloween is her favorite holiday for decorations because of the variety of themes that can be covered. Her decorating services can be accessed by emailing her at thebokeygirl@gmail.com. Commissioner Britton is the proud mother of three daughters: one is a recent graduate of Bethune Cookman University, another is a sophomore at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), and one is in high school.
1800s. She attended Winter Springs High School and Seminole State College. She is a former City of Sanford employee, where she worked in the City Manager’s office. She loves Sanford, and SHE LOVES CHRISTMAS. See the proof below in the small sampling of photos we took at her beautiful, expertly decorated home, where she has resided for seven years, will host a Christmas Eve gathering, and yearly decorates six Christmas trees inside her home. It was magical! Her favorite Christmas memory is when she was 12 years old. There was a shortage of the Tickle Me Elmo toy. It was on the
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Christmas With the Whiteheads by J. Lajuana Miller
M y friends in the Altamonte Springs (FL) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated tried to prepare me for what I would find when I arrived at the home of our friend, Attorney Esther Whitehead, and husband, Judge Reginald K. Whitehead, Sr. Upon arrival, I noticed that the front of the house was elegantly decorated for Christmas, but it wasn’t overwhelming. Then I stepped into the house and was stopped in my tracks by “Christmas on steroids.” It felt like I had received a VIP backstage invitation to Santa’s workshop. It was AWESOME! All I could say was “Oh wow.” Everything was meticulously placed. A large Christmas tree was decorated with unique, expensive, and simply gorgeous glass and crystal ornaments. There was one for each year, along with presidential ornaments, Faberge egg ornaments, angels, snowflakes, icicles, miniature radios, cars, and motorcycles. Clearly, a lot of money and effort had been spent simply to decorate the tree, but from talking with Esther, it became evident that everything also had a high sentimental value. I turned clockwise, and there were decorations on the floor and on landings around and above the front door. Another turn revealed the dining room table, sideboard, and floor filled with collectible Christmas dolls of Santa and Ms. Claus, the wise men, angels, and nativity scenes. Each doll had real hair on their heads and beards. They were dressed in elaborate attire with real fur. The miniature lambs in the nativity scenes had real lamb’s wool. There were Christmas pianos, jukeboxes, radios, alligators, etc., that all played Christmas music. There was a mystical collection of angels on a ledge at the top of the wall, and none of the doll collections were inexpensive. Also in the dining room was a silver Christmas tree decorated in Ms. Whitehead’s sorority
colors - pink and green. There were decorations on the floor along the hallway leading into the kitchen/ family room. In the family room there was another Christmas tree, decorated in shades of red and white. I thought it was especially pretty (wink wink)! In every crevice, on every wall, on every piece of furniture, and above kitchen cabinets, there was Christmas. There were holiday pillows on the couch. Judge and Attorney Whitehead are proud parents of three young men, Reginald
Jr., Dennis-Leonard, and Jamaal, who make it their business not to arrive for the holidays until all of the decorations are in place. Ms. Whitehead admits to being overly infatuated with Christmas, having come from humble beginnings, and having watched every Hallmark Christmas movie. While we could not capture all that we saw, our photographer tried. We hope you can tell the majesty of it all from the photos. Hats off to Mrs. Whitehead; there can be no display anywhere in the world better than yours! Thank you for sharing.
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K wanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day. It was created in 1966 by activist Maulana Karenga, based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West and Southeast Africa. Kwanzaa was never intended to replace Christmas, such that many African American families celebrate both.
The Evans family in Lakeland Florida – This is a picture of the Happy Seven Heirs (brothers and sisters), children of Ruth and Prince Evans who started the Kwanzaa tradition for the Evans family.
Four floors of 14,000+ years of Central Florida history. Admission: $6-8 Four and under: Free
TheHistoryCenter.org
65 E. Central Blvd. | Orlando, Florida 32801 | 407-836-8500
The History Center is supported by
Deland Community Kwanzaa Celebration
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Kwanzaa CELEBRATION Hughes Family
by J. Lajuana Miller
O n Monday, Janua ry 1, 2024, Reginald and Tiffany Hughes welcomed my husband and I into their lovely, ethnically, and tastefully decorated home for a Kwanzaa Celebration; and what a celebration it was! We were surrounded by family, friends, co-workers, and sorority sisters of the Hughes family. Two guests were Palestinian, which resulted in a highly intellectual but compassionate conversation about current events in the Middle East. Seven candles in a kinara symbolize the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the principles, as follows: • Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race. • Kujichagulia (Self-determination): To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves. • Ujima (Collective work and responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and to solve them together. • Ujamaa (Cooperative economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together. • Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. • Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. • Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. Many people have raised the question of whether Kwanzaa was meant to replace Christmas in African American households. While initially designed for that purpose, its creator, Dr. Karenga later altered his position. Though some households host Kwanzaa celebrations instead of Christmas, many who celebrate Kwanzaa do so in addition to observing Christmas. In fact, the first thing we saw upon entering the Hughes home was a Christmas tree. Kwanzaa celebratory symbols include a mat (Mkeka) on which other symbols are placed: a Kinara (candle holder for seven candlesticks, Mishumaa Saba (seven candles), mazao (crops), Mahindi (corn), to represent the children celebrating (and corn may be part of the holiday meal), a Kikombe cha Umoja (unity cup) for commemorating and giving shukrani (thanks) to African Ancestors, Zawadi (gifts). This year, Kwanzaa celebrations took place at homes, parks, and community centers throughout central Florida.
At the Hughes home, after introductions, the Kwanzaa ceremony began with Tiffany explaining the function/purpose of each item on the mat. A summary of each Kwanzaa principle was read by a different guest. At the close of the symbolic ceremony, the Hughes served a delicious meal. During the meal we discovered that we had something in common with the Hughes. They have a nephew who lives in Ohio, with whom my husband and I both had interacted professionally. We marveled at how small the world is. We laughed, had interesting
The Hughes Family (left to right) Tiffany, Reginald, and Kharis
conversations, and felt right at home with the Hughes family. It was a great day. We hope your Kwanzaa celebrations created the same results. Dr. Tiffany Hughes is a native of Miami and moved to central Florida to attend the University of Central Florida (UCF), where she was initiated into the Pi Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is currently a member of the Award-winning Psi Theta Omega chapter and serves as the Graduate Advisor for the newly chartered chapter of AKA at Rollins College. She holds a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and has served in the field of education in various capacities for over 22 years. Reginald is a native of Leighton, Alabama, attended Alabama State University, and is an Officer for the Transportation Security Administration. He is a member of the Delta Xi Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity, Inc. Married for 25 years, Mr. & Dr. Hughes met at a pool party, cupid shot his arrow, and they have been together ever since. They are proud parents of one daughter, Kharis, who is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, graduated from UCF and is now pursuing her master’s degree at Alabama State University.
Tiffany explains the principles of Kwanzaa to guests
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HISTORIC REMEMBRANCES
Oviedo Colored Schools Museum by J. Lajuana Miller
A conversation with Judith Smith is like opening a history book. Judith D. Smith is President of the Board of Directors for the Historic Oviedo Colored Schools Museum, Inc. (HOCSM - formerly the Historic Jamestown Colored School Museum, Inc.). The purpose of this organization is to: preserve African American history in Seminole and Orange Counties, supplement the Black History education provided to students in the Seminole and Orange County Public Schools, provide a site for community organizations to convene for purposes of enhancing the lives of the residents of Seminole and Orange Counties, increase community awareness of the historical existence, significance, and effectiveness of colored schools, and conduct cultural enrichment and historically significant programming. Its primary objective is to restore one of the last remaining former colored school buildings into a museum. They couldn’t have chosen a better person to lead them. Judith was born in Sanford because the closest hospital was there. She was raised in Oviedo. Her paternal grandfather came to the area in the 1900s. Her grandfather received a patent from the federal government to own land, and he was given 80 acres. Her family began homesteading the 80 acres. During that time, there was a school for “colored” students called the Little Red Schoolhouse. It was where her mother went to school. Her mother graduated from high school at Florida A & M University because there was no high school for Blacks. Students went to Tallahassee and boarded with families to attend high school. In 1897, the Robert Hungerford Normal and Industrial
Left to right: Harriet Brown Birk AME Episcopal Diocese Attorney, HOCSM Board Members: Kelley Muller-Smith, Vice President, Judith Dolores Smith, President, Gracia Muller Miller, Secretary, Dr. James Gavin, Representing the Assistant Treasurer Dr. Annie Jackson Gavin, Missing Board Member Arthur B. Davis, Treasurer
School was established in Eatonville, founded by Professor and Mrs. Russell C. Calhoun. It was a premier high school for Blacks. One of Judith’s cousins graduated from that school in 1930, and her sister graduated from there in 1966. In order for her sister to attend Hungerford, her mother arranged for her to board (live) with a teacher. Her brothers, because they were boys and didn’t need as much “looking after,” attended Crooms High School in Sanford. In 1967, Oviedo High School was desegregated, and Judith graduated from there in 1972. Efforts to establish a museum were initiated in 2001, when a reunion was held of students who had attended the colored schools. Gracia Miller (a board member) and Gloria Godwin conceptualized and organized the reunion. Judith had just completed doing genealogical research for my family, so she volunteered to work on the history of the school. She didn’t want the reunion to just be a group of people getting together. She wanted to legitimize the reunion and have a record of what the group was doing. She started to collect anything related to the colored schools, of which there were six in Oviedo. She conducted research at the Seminole County School Board, the City of Oviedo, and the Seminole County
Historical Society. Since her mom had been a teacher, Judith found a lot of historical information her mother had saved. She needed more, so she went to the community. She put the word out that she needed photos or anything people had. She had a computer but didn’t have enough space to save everything she had, so she went to Kinko’s and copied each picture. The staff at Kinko’s showed her how to put together a document, and she had it photocopied. It was a short booklet with photos and history that she researched from her sources. In 2014, another reunion was held, and attendees brought more information. Around 2018, the structure in Jamestown, which had been both a school and a church owned by the St. James AME Church, was damaged by a hurricane. There was a hole in the roof. For six months, Judith drove by it and wondered, “Why doesn’t someone fix that hole?” Then a voice in her head said, “Why don’t you fix it?” That began the journey of restoring the building in Jamestown as the site for the Historic Jamestown Colored School Museum. Judith contacted the AME church diocese, who owned the building and asked: 1) if she could cover the hole, 2) if a group could work to save the building,
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3) if after saving the building it could be rented. She sent a three-page outline of her vision for the building. She also visualized a building in Oviedo to house all of the information she had collected. She was naïve because she thought she could just fix it and open it with little to no money. She gathered some friends who shared her interest in establishing a museum, applied for and received IRS 501c3 tax-exempt status, and in 2021, the group started applying for grants. While waiting to hear the outcome of the grant application from the State of Florida, the group started trying to raise funds from other sources. A local roofing company, Certified Best Roofing, saw their efforts and provided a roof, free of charge. Had they not fixed the roof, the building would have imploded; the leaking was so bad. They received approval of a grant of $225,000 from the State of Florida, contingent upon an architect and an engineer being contracted. They found an architect, Richard Reap, who is just great. He got the engineer. Plans have been developed, and three bids have been received from contractors. Before the project can move forward, Seminole County is requiring that the building be rezoned. If a
ceremony was held on February 13, 2023. In addition to the funding from the State of Florida, HOCSM has been blessed with small grants that each arrived at a critical time to address an urgent need. Board members have conducted individual fundraising campaigns resulting in approximately $30,000. Lowe’s has pledged to provide new flooring for the building and possibly a $2,000 grant. In recognition of the one-year anniversary of the groundbreaking, as a fundraiser, there will be showings of a documentary on the Rosenwald Schools on February 13, 2024, at the Regal Theatre at the Oviedo Mall. At some point, HOCSM hopes to find a building large enough to highlight the history of all the schools in the Jamestown and Oviedo area. Donations can be accepted at their website (www.hocsmuseum.org) and checks can be sent to the Post Office Box 621589 Oviedo, Florida 32762-1589 . The public is invited to learn more about local history and assist with fundraising for the Historic Oviedo Colored School Museum, Inc. by attending one of the showings of Rosenwald.
Judith’s vision is to have a Colonial Williamsburg type of interactive museum. She hopes it will be a living museum “where we are actively engaging people in what went on at that time. We want to tell the story about those schools. Black people don’t realize what was accomplished with so few resources in those schools. The African American middle class emerged from the Rosenwald schools. We want the Jamestown school to be the starting point and that the museums will be connected with others. When people come here, they won’t be just coming to Disney World but can walk or drive to learn about our history.” The Rosenwald School project built more than 5,000 schools, shops, and teacher homes in the United States primarily for the education of African American children in the south during the early 20th century. The project was the product of the partnership of Julius Rosenwald, a Jewish-American clothier who became part-owner and president of Sears, Roebuck and Company and the African American leader Booker T. Washington, who was president of the Tuskegee Institute. The need arose from the chronic underfunding of public education for
African American children in the south, as Black people had been discriminated against at the turn of the century and excluded from the political system in that region. Children were required to attend segregated schools, and even those did not exist in many places. Rosenwald was the founder of the Rosenwald Fund. The Florida list of Rosenwald Schools shows 120 schools. At the writing of this article, research is still being done to determine the exact number of Rosenwald Schools in central Florida. There was one in Altamonte Springs. But by far the most advanced and successful efforts to retain, restore, and operate one of the schools as a community center is being conducted by the Okahumpka Community Club in Okahumpka, Florida (near Leesburg.) The history of that area and their efforts warrant a separate article to be included in our Spring 2024 Magazine.
building has not been used for its intended purpose within the last six months, rezoning is required at a cost of $6,000. All necessary documentation has been submitted to the Seminole County Planning Department. The HOCSM is in the pipeline for rezoning. The organization has a 25-year lease with the AME Church Dioceses. Hopefully, someone will want to continue operating the museum thereafter. The groundbreaking
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HISTORIC REMEMBRANCES
The History of Orlando’s Neighborhoods – Parramore and Winter Park
by Robin Soliz, Academic Advisor, Valencia College
B ehind the glitz and glamour of The City Beautiful lies the rich histories of African American communities flourishing in a time where success was not easily attainable. In the 1800s, White residents
Book,” which was a traveling guide for Black people to know where African American lodging, restaurants, and gas stations were while traveling through the south. Dr. Monroe Wells had other business ventures, such as duplexes he rented out to families on South Street, a gas station, and the South Street Casino. The South Street Casino served as a community center, which had a roller rink, a basketball court, and hosted parties. Today, the hotel is the Wells Built Museum, which is located at 511 W. South Street, Orlando, Florida, 32805. Dr. Monroe Wells was not only a physician and a businessman, but most importantly he was a humanitarian who wanted the residents of Parramore to feel loved and valued. Six miles up the road, another African American township was blossoming in the city of Winter Park called Hannibal Square. In 1881, Oliver Chapman and Loring A. Chase founded Hannibal Square due to the rising railroad industry. Chapman and Chase purchased eighty- four lots, which equated to about six hundred acres for “Upstanding Negro Citizens” to buy. As African Americans settled into Hannibal Square there were talks about incorporating the town. Hannibal Square citizens had to be registered voters for the incorporation to happen. To register or cast a vote Black citizens would have to cross the train tracks into the White neighborhood. Gustavus “Gus” Henderson would spearhead this vote on incorporating Hannibal Square. Mr. Henderson was an African American who taught himself how to read and write. In Hannibal Square, he was the founder of The Winter Park Advocate, which was a Black newspaper for the residents. On October 12th, 1887, Gus Henderson took Black registered voters to the polls. This was a daring move for Mr. Henderson, but much-needed to make sure he and the citizens of Hannibal Square had a seat at the table. This voters’ march would pay off as Walter B. Simpson and Frank R. Israel became Aldermen (a member
created African American townships due to employers needing domestic servants, railroad workers, orange grove workers, and other miscellaneous jobs. These African American communities gave birth to affluent Black-owned businesses, a political seat at the table, and an overall sense of Black pride. James B. Parramore was a former Orlando mayor who created the Parramore Community in 1880. Parramore residents are descendants of Africa, the Caribbean, and the Seminole Tribe, which became one of the largest African American communities in Orlando. As the township started to become home to African Americans, they started to set a blazing trail to be entrepreneurs and pillars in the community. There are numerous guiding lights that have illuminated Parramore through community activism, health care, education, and economic gain, such as C.T Williams, Henry Sadler, Mercedes Richardson Clark, and Dr. Monroe Wells. Dr. Monroe Wells was born in Fort Gaines, Georgia, in the late 1800s. He graduated from Meharry Medical College in 1914. Three years after his graduation he decided to make Orlando, Florida, his home and opened a medical practice in the Parramore Community. After residing in Orlando for a few years, he saw a greater need for the residents of Parramore and people traveling to Florida during the Jim Crow Era. In 1926, Dr. Wells gave birth to the Wells Built Hotel. The hotel had two stories, with various Black-owned businesses on the first floor and hotel rooms on the second floor. This hotel became a haven for African American musicians who were a part of the chitlin’ circuit. The Wells Built Hotel was also featured in “The Green
of the legislative body of a municipal corporation). Alderman Simpson and Alderman Israel served in these positions until 1893 and created a space where Black voices were heard. As we fast forward to 2024, there has been no elected Black official for the city of Winter Park since 1887. This has left the African American residents of Winter Park without representation on the city council and their community diminished due to gentrification. The past and present residents of Hannibal Square are resilient and thriving to keep their history alive. You can visit the Hannibal Square Heritage Center, which is located at 642 W New England Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. This is where you can see historical photos of the town and go on a guided walking tour. African Americans have always made something out of nothing, as we can see from the Parramore and Hannibal Square communities. The Black residents have constantly made an impact on The City Beautiful. As we continue to push forward to strive for greater, we must give honor and thanks to the ones who dared to be different in a time when it could have cost them their lives. We must continue to be our ancestors’ wildest dreams and continue to lay the foundation for the future generations that will come after us. Source: https://www.thehistorycenter.org/tag/parramore/ Source: https://www.thehistorycenter.org/the-wellsbuilt/ Source: https://www.wellsbuilt.org/about/ Source: https://winterparkmag.com/history/ Source: https://chdr.cah.ucf.edu/efhq/article2.html Dr. Monroe Wells, one of the first Black doctors in Orlando, Florida
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DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS HISTORIC REMEMBRANCES Several events were held throughout Greater Orlando during the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend. Below are photos from events in Eatonville, Deland, Oviedo, Orlando, and Sanford.
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AUTHORS’ CORNER by Kyraneshia Coleman
Developing Intentional Ecclesiastical Mentors for Women in Ministry using Biblical Principles: “Encouraging and Strengthening Others by Rev. Dr. Caroline Shine, Amazon ($25.00)
SO WHAT? KEEP GOING! A Story of Resilience by Robert Lowe, Amazon ($21.99) Join a
Declare the Word of God Over Your Life Prayer Journal by Nyiesha Harrington, Amazon ($11.68) Apostle Nyiesha
captivating journey of resilience and personal triumph as Rob L. Lowe confronts life’s challenges— abuse, trauma, racism—with fearless determination. He surmounts
Harrington has been a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for over fifteen years. She has kept journals of her faith walk, dreams, and encounters with the Lord during that time. She served under the tutelage of Rev. Willie C Barnes, Pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, for about ten years. In 2015, she received her calling into the ministry. In December of 2023, she decided to answer the ongoing nudging of God to publish a guide to teach others how to pray strategically using the word of God. Nyiesha is the founder and Chief Architect of Arise Global Ministries and Women Arise International. She is known for bridging the gaps, building unity amongst leaders, and helping families become healthy families by bridging the gaps surrounding health, social, and economic disparities. Nyiesha believes that people who hear a speaker become more astute when they have materials to help them remember the words to apply to their lives. However, as a minister of the Lord, she still believes the Bible is the main source of knowledge. Prayerfully, this journal will help provide some support on how to pray strategically for different areas of life. She contacted a publisher who told her in order to complete the book before their next conference, she needed to not just write the book, but all other aspects of the book with tasks performed by others must be completed within one week’s time. Believing that God directed her to get this done, she took a week off work, dropped everything, and focused on writing. In miracle-like fashion, everyone working on this effort completed their tasks on time. Her book became available on Amazon on December 16. With just one day of sales, the book shot to the top of Amazon’s best-seller list! Apostle Nyiesha is a native of Jacksonville, graduated from high school in St. Peterburg and lived in Tallahassee for 11 years, before moving to Winter Park, where she still resides. She received a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, a master’s degree in public health with an emphasis on Epidemiology from Grand Canyon University, and is currently pursuing two doctorate degrees: one in Health Administration at Grand Canyon University and the other in Theology at Northwestern Theological Seminary.
Rev. Shine, Founder and Senior Pastor of Greater Faith AME Church in Deltona, and President of the West
Volusia/Seminole Section of the National Council of Negro Women, was born and raised in Sanford. Upon receiving her BS Degree from The University of Central Florida in Environmental Engineering and Technologies, she worked for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for 33 years. This was where her enthusiasm for mentoring began. During her 30th year at DEP, they begin restructuring. Due to her seniority with the department, she was asked to initiate a mentoring program. This program paired seasoned staff with newer employees. The program was ongoing and structured to provide new employees with the tools that could be utilized throughout their careers. During the project, she made the discovery that these individuals were doing and saying things that were biblical, they just didn’t know it. She then saw that there was a thrilling connection between mentoring and scripture. Having already obtained her Master of Divinity degree with emphasis in biblical studies from Asbury Theological Seminary while employed with DEP, she went on to earn her Doctor of Ministry degree from Candler School of Theology of Emory University in Biblical Interpretations. She set out to educate women about scripture, help them elevate within ministry, and encourage them to tell stories of women in the Bible. This was the inspiration for her book, which is self-published. It outlines the structure of her mentoring program, which includes a mentoring curriculum guide. The guide outlines key players needed for the program and the responsibilities of each party. Female ministers, women’s groups, women from different industries interested in biblical principles, and anyone who wants to be mentored can benefit from reading this book. Rev. Dr. Shine resides in Deltona.
seemingly insurmountable pain, drawing profound courage to emerge victorious from despair’s depths. This narrative highlights Rob’s resolute drive to transform failures into resounding successes. Brace for the transformative power of the human spirit and its unwavering strength. Embark on an electrifying rollercoaster with Rob as he shares his raw agony in unfiltered and unbelievable experiences. Witness towering triumphs and harrowing defeats shaping his path. Through unwavering transparency, he imparts a lesson: the essence of human experience thrives in relentless perseverance, embracing “So What? Keep Going!” amidst all odds. This narrative, a testament to his determination, guides readers as they witness his journey from suffering to triumph, reminding us that life’s quest is to persist, unwavering, in the face of daunting challenges. Robert was born and raised in Indianapolis. His mother passed when he was young, so he was raised by his grandparents. He earned a BS degree in Business Management and an MS degree in Human Resources Development at Indiana State University. He also holds SPHR and SHRM-SPC Certifications. Rob is the Founder and CEO of It’s My Story Media and Marketing LLC based in Orlando. In previous roles, he has served as Vice President of Human Resources for Republic Airways and JTB Corporation. He also served on many community boards, including his alma mater, Indiana State University. Rob is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He and his wife, Robin, reside in Winter Garden.
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS HONOREES Featuring Some of Greater Orlando’s Most Influential Leaders and Contributors BY J. LAJUANA MILLER Celeste A. Clark, Ph.D. Celeste A. Clark, Ph.D. has been named one of the most influential aligned with the efficient use of environmental resources. She has extensive board governance experience in public entities, privately held companies, and non-profit organizations. She
currently serves as a director of the Wells Fargo Company, The Hain Celestial Group, and Prestige Consumer Healthcare, Inc. She previously served as a director of the Mead Johnson Nutrition Company, AdvancePierre Foods, Diamond
leaders in corporate governance by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD)
as part of their 2023 NACD Directorship 100™, an annual list of leading corporate directors and governance advocates. The list includes leaders who are setting the pace in reshaping board culture. The 2023 Honorees have demonstrated excellence in the boardroom through innovation, courage, and integrity. The peer-nominated selection process evaluates board members across four key categories: integrity, mature confidence, informed judgment, and high-performance standards. A selection committee reviewed the nominees’ histories of advancing board performance and leading corporate governance practices in areas that include risk oversight, corporate strategy, compensation, and transparency. Dr. Clark served as a senior executive of the Kellogg Company, where she was a member of the Global Executive Management Team and had an accomplished career spanning nearly thirty-five years in the food industry. She led the development and implementation of health, nutrition, and regulatory science initiatives globally. She also led the global functions of corporate communications, public affairs, sustainability, philanthropy, and several administrative areas. She served as the President of Kellogg Corporate Citizenship Fund, the company’s philanthropic entity. Corporate brand reputation management and corporate social responsibility (CSR) were integral to the work performed. She also served as Chief Sustainability Officer and worked closely with the company’s Supply Chain to help ensure that the sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution of food products were
of the achievements of the Black judiciary in the state of Florida. At the reception, Judge Alicia Latimore was presented the Justice Peggy Quince Judicial Excellence Award. This award recognizes an exceptional member of the judiciary whose outstanding service and achievement have significantly contributed to the fair administration of justice. Judge Latimore was recognized for her achievements as the first Black woman to serve as a Circuit Court Judge and her significant impact on the circuit’s problem-solving and domestic violence courts. Her commitment to the community, dedication to wellness and well-being in the judiciary, and her high standard of judicial conduct make this honor a well-deserved one. Justice Peggy Quince is a former justice of the Supreme Court of Florida. Justice Quince was the first African American woman to sit on the state’s highest Court and only the third female Justice. On July 1, 2008, Quince assumed the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida for two years; the first African American woman to head any branch of Florida government. Judge Alicia L. Latimore was born and reared in Miami, Dade County, Florida. Her parents worked hard and long to ensure that she and her brother received the best educational opportunities possible. Her father, William L. Latimore, Jr., was an entrepreneur and small business owner while her mother worked as an accountant in the airline industry. Both parents are now deceased. “We were raised in a Black community in northwest Miami now known as “Little
Foods, Inc., Omega Protein, Inc., and AAA Auto Club Group. Dr. Clark is the principal of Abraham Clark Consulting, LLC and consults on food and health policy. She serves as an adjunct professor at Michigan State University, where she earned her doctorate degree in Food Science and was recently bestowed an honorary doctorate of Humanities. Dr. Clark was raised in Colfax, LA., where she graduated as valedictorian of her high school class. She attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, graduating summa cum laude. She earned her master’s degree from Iowa State University and her Ph.D. at Michigan State University. Dr. Clark has been recognized with numerous awards and professional accomplishments, including Outstanding Young Executive, Outstanding Female Executive, and Outstanding Working Mother. She was recently named as one of the Most Influential Black Corporate Directors by Savoy Magazine. She and her husband Leon reside in Longwood and have two adult children. Judge Alicia L. Latimore On November 17, 2023, the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association held their judicial reception at the Florida A&M University College of Law, in celebration
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