Progressive Greek » gainesville

Gainesville Omegas award scholarships to graduates

kevin1914 — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:48:18 +0000

The Beta Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. recently awarded the 2010 Neil A. Butler and Richard E. Dukes scholarships to Stacey Williams and Cornelius Stewart.

Williams, a graduate of Buchholz High School, will attend Webber International University. Stewart, a graduate of Gainesville High School, plans to attend Santa Fe College.

Shawn Findlater, a civil engineering major at the University of Florida, received the Cleveland Kiner Scholarship, which is awarded to the undergraduate member of Omega Psi Phi with the highest semester grade-point average.

The Florida School for the Blind 2010 graduating class included:

Arlatarel Tyvate Wills, of Gainesville, completed four vocational career education certifications in the business support services field, in food service and in housekeeping. He is the son of Denise Wills and of James and Alice Wills.

Cameron Jaquez Gardner, of Alachua, completed four vocational career education certifications in the food services field. A Deaf Department graduate and honor roll student, he is the son of Collete Gardner and Kenneth Gardner.

Christopher Brandon Hulon, of Bronson, completed a vocational career education certification in the nursery services field. He is the son of John and Jennie Shiminski.

Hulon received the Florida School for the Deaf & Blind Educational Association Merit Award.

Virginia “Ginger” Childs, chair of the Alachua County School Board, was recognized as a certified board member by the Florida School Boards Association during the annual spring conference in Tampa.

Childs completed 96 hours of voluntary training in 12 areas, which focus on the governance roles and responsibilities of School Board members.

Alexander Kaminski, band director at Buchholz High School, was recently elected to the American School Band Directors’ Association during the national convention in Orlando.

Wayne Wallace, director of the Career Resource Center at the University of Florida, was inducted into the Academy of Fellows for the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Lauren Daley, associate director of the Career Resource Center at the University of Florida, won the Spelman and Johnson Group Rising Star award from NACE.

Farouk Dey, senior associate director for career networks, received the NACE Innovation Excellence in Research award.

Also attending the national conference from UF were: Jill Skuffe and Kevin Guthrie.

Gainesville AKA chapter celebrates 30th anniversary

kevin1914 — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:56:37 +0000

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Recently, the Mu Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. celebrated its 30th anniversary with a luncheon at a local restaurant.

The chapter had its beginning in August 1979 with the following charter members: Betty Abbot, LaKay Banks, Joyce Cosby, J. Leslie Cosby, Audrey Franklin, Claronelle Griffin, Christine Harper, Lois Harrison, Marie Herring, Nancy Hill, Ira James, Bettye Jennings, Audrey Johnson, Catherine Mickle, Evelyn Mickle, Geraldine Miller, Thelma Mosley, Yvonne Rawls, Gloria Simmons, Angela Terrell and Glenda Warren.

The chapter also marked Founder’s Day in late January during a worship service at Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church.

In its 30 years of existence, the sorority has supported national program goals through various projects and activities; however, the chapter has maintained several community service programs such as the March of Dimes March For Babies, health projects consisting of health fairs and forums, the delivery of Thanksgiving baskets, conducting voter registration drives, making donations to historically black colleges in Florida, and awarding scholarships to local high school graduates.

Last year, the chapter raised $2,381 for March For Babies, and during the past 30 years, has awarded over $100,000 in scholarships.

In 1987, the chapter established the Precious Pearls organization, a community service group for young ladies in grades nine through 12. The primary purpose is to provide an opportunity for the members to participate in various community service activities as well as develop into responsible young ladies who will be an asset to society.

Gainesville Sigmas join fight to prevent HIV/AIDS

kevin1914 — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:47:32 +0000

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Black teenagers are getting infected with HIV/AIDS at an alarming rate locally, statewide and nationally say officials as the country gets ready to observe National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

As part of its efforts to recognize the day, which is Feb. 7, the Alachua County Health Department will be providing free and confidential one-on-one HIV counseling and testing to those 13 and older from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. next Monday-Friday at the health department, 224 SE 24th St. Appointments must be made by calling 352-334-7960.

Teresa White, coordinator of the Florida Department of Health Regional Minority AIDS for area 3/13, which includes more than a dozen counties including Alachua County, said people who want to get free testing will have to go through a counseling session, where a risk assessment will be done before taking an OraQuick Advance finger stick test.

She said test results will be available within 20 minutes and the most important thing for people taking the test is to be honest during the risk assessment.

“If you have had unprotected sex in the last 90 days before you get tested, you may have been infected with HIV and it won’t be detected when you take the test,” White said. “Be honest with the counselors so they can help you the best they can.”

White said the fight to educate the black community about the disease is as hard as ever, but she said groups such as the Alachua County branch of the NAACP, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., local businesses, area churches and other faith-based organizations, especially Dayspring Baptist Church, are partnering with her to combat the problem in Gainesville.

White said she currently is focusing on educating men about the data revealed in a report released by the Florida Department of Health titled, “Man Up: The Crisis of HIV/AIDS Among Florida’s Men.” She also is focusing on educating teenagers about the disease.

“One in 44 black men are living with HIV/AIDS in Florida, and one in 79 black men are living with HIV/AIDS in Alachua County,” White said. “Even more alarming is the fact that half of all new infections are those between the ages of 13 to 19.”

She said although a lot of attempts have been made to educate the black community about the disease, the numbers are not going down, and young people are being hit the hardest.

White said she is helping to organize a huge teen summit on the issue in April that will be sponsored by the local NAACP.

She said it is going to take a community-wide effort, including participation from parents, business owners, faith-based organizations, civic organizations, individuals and more, to stop the devastation that HIV/AIDS is reaping on the black community.

“The community has got to realize that HIV/AIDS is the end result of issues we don’t want to address like drugs, alcohol abuse, unprotected sex, teenage sex and other things,” White said. “We have to deal with behaviors.”

White said more and more people are taking advantage of free testing, and she said that is good because it is important for people to know their status and save their own lives while hopefully preventing people who find out they are positive from infecting other people.

She said getting tested regularly also will help people who test positive identify who infected them.

“We are facing the elimination of the black race if we don’t do more to stop the spread of this preventable disease,” White said.

500 coats given out at drive sponsored by Gainesville AKAs

kevin1914 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:11:47 +0000

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As a cool Wednesday morning lingered, hundreds of people waited in line at Mount Carmel Baptist Church.

While waiting for the doors of the church to open, they pulled their sleeves over their arms to keep from shivering.

Once the doors opened, they rushed in to get a coat before it was too late.

More than 500 coats were distributed for free to people who attended the annual coat giveaway sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha on Wednesday at Mount Carmel Baptist Church Family Life Center.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to help so many families,” said Sarah Richardson, vice president of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

The giveaway was spread across two days to offer people more opportunities of getting coats.

The event started Saturday at Haven Hospice and continued Wednesday in a concerted effort to provide children with coats for the fall.

Although coats and jackets were the main clothing items distributed to families, sweaters and pants were also available.

Because the coat giveaway was organized on a first-come, first-served basis, most of the families came early in the morning to ensure they would get a coat for their children.

However, the large number of donations ensured that no family left without getting a coat, Richardson said.

On average, two coats were given per family.

However, families were welcome to come back at 2 p.m., when the coat giveaway ended, to claim any leftover coats.

One of the gratifying experiences that Richardson remembers from the past coat giveaways – this is the sorority’s fifth such drive – is when a family who lived in a homeless shelter contacted the sorority last year to thank them for their coats.

“People appreciate what we do and that’s a great feeling,” Richardson said.

The number of coats given away grew this year due to increased support from residents and businesses, Richardson said.

Among the supporters of the coat giveaway are Mount Carmel, Haven Hospice, Dominos, Target Copy, CH2MHill and the Alachua County School Board.

Richardson emphasized the importance of Mount Carmel’s involvement in the event.

Mount Carmel provided the location for the giveaways.

Haven Hospice was also a crucial supporter, letting the sorority store its coats in their facilities and donating 200 coats to boot.

“Our goal is to provide help for our community,” said Elisabeth Scott, a marketing and sales representative from Haven Hospice.

Yvonne Rawls, president of Alpha Kappa Alpha, said that the publicity this year’s giveaway generated led to a larger turnout of people in need of coats.

J. Leslie Cosby, who sorority members call “the golden woman,” has been part of Alpha Kappa Alpha for 60 years.

Every year, she attends the coat giveaway and helps her sorority to obtain donations.

“I feel gratified that we are able to help the community,” she said. “It’s part of our sorority to be dedicated to all mankind.”

Gainesville AKAs and Deltas to be honored at Arts Festival

kevin1914 — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 01:39:22 +0000

In its 30th year of celebrating an historic section of Gainesville, the 5th Avenue Arts Festival will focus on how the whole community is responsible for all their children this weekend.

With the theme, “We are our children’s keepers,” the festival runs Saturday and Sunday along NW 6th Street at the intersection with NW 5th Avenue. Headliners will be R&B singer Lenny Williams and the group Blue Magic.

The 5th Avenue Arts Festival traditionally has been held on the weekend of Malcolm X’s birthday and portrays the rich cultural heritage of the area. Before the festival, there will be seven artists who will visit public schools on Friday.

The festival is known for its variety of arts and food vendors as well as for live performances and games for children. “We will continue to have programming for children and adults,” said Nkwanda Jah, director of the Cultural Arts Coalition and a founder of the festival. “All the good that has happened, we are keeping.”

This year’s event also will offer new aspects, she added. A spiritual gathering, which has not been done before, will kick of Sunday’s events starting at noon. “It’s not Christian, not Buddhist, not Islamic,” Jah said. “It’s just a spiritual gathering.”

New artists and other participants will be on hand this year as well. Creepa, the winner of season one on MTV’s “From G’s to Gents,” will be one of six judges for Saturday’s spoken-word competition, which is a combination of poetry and rap.

This is the third year the festival will include activities marking Earth Day, which is April 22. About 20 exhibits will promote energy conservation and other proper ways to take care of the environment, she said.

Three groups will be honored by this year’s festival as well.

Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority will be awarded the Paul and Polly Doughty Community Service Award, and Gainesville Striders Track & Field Club will receive the Oscar Harris Community Service Award. Both groups are being recognized for being role models and working with children, Jah said.

The third group, Delta Sigma Theta sorority, will receive the FAAF Community Service Award.