Blogging Black Miami

Miami Central Alumni to Present Computers to College Bound Seniors

The Miami Central High School Alumni Association will present free laptop computers to 54 deserving college bound Miami Central graduating seniors on Wednesday, May 30, 6;30 p.m. in the auditorium of William Turner Technical Arts High School. The Alumni Association, headed by President William “DC” Clark, has donated laptop computers to Miami Central graduating seniors since 2006 as an incentive for students to improve their academic performance in school. 

In the economically-depressed area where Miami Central is located, receiving a computer from the Alumni Association goes a long way in helping the students and their families defray some of the costs of college. The Miami Central Alumni Association donates approximately 50 computers each year and are working hard to reward every student who submits a letter of acceptance to college to the school’s CAP (College Assistance Program) Advisor with a computer.  The organization receives about 70 requests per year. “If a student is doing well enough to be accepted into a college then they deserve our help,” says Clark. 

Renovation of the auditorium at Miami Central forced the relocation of the event to Turner Tech.

 

 

 

In Remembrance of and Gratitude to Our Fallen Soldiers

On this Memorial Day, let us stop and give thanks to the men and women in military service who made the ultimate sacrifice. We enjoy our freedoms today because they gave their lives for our nation. May they rest in eternal peace.

Brother Rice Middle School Students Capture 2nd Place at First Annual Haitian Heritage History Bee

Last week, middle school students from the Brother Rice Honors Academy at Archbishop Curley Notre Dame Prep, captured second place at the First Annual Haitian Heritage Month History Bee.  The event, that took place at North Miami Senior High School, hosted students from both public and private schools throughout Miami.  The Brother Rice students, the only middle school team to compete at the high school level, fell only one point short of the MAST Academy.

The competition was part of a month-long celebration of the arts, culture, and education held under the auspice of Miami-Dade County’s Haitian Heritage Cultural Month held each May for the past 12 years. 

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jean Monestime who sponsored the event, stated in a press release, “The history of the Haitian people is rich and should be shared and cherished by everyone.  The History Bee is an excellent opportunity to share the story of the Haitian people with the residents of Miami-Dade County.  This is also a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the contributions that Haitians have made to our country and our world.”

The Brother Rice students prepared for the competition for about one month.  Academy teacher William Perry had pairs of students prepare lesson plans and quizzes to present to their fellow students.  “We studied everything from the Pre-Columbian Era to the Revolutionary War,” commented Perry.  “It was an exciting competition and, by the end, our students received a standing ovation!”

The Brother Rice Honors Academy accepts no more than 30 students in grades 6 to 8 inclusive.  The school offers a high school preparatory experience where individually designed programs offer a mix of formal classes; small and large group presentations; research work in the library and media center; and a daily period reserved for reading.  For more information, visit www.acnd.net.

Br. Rice Honors Academy students place 2nd at the First Annual Heritage History Bee. The middle school students competed at the high school level and against public and private schools in Miami-Dade. Back Row (from l to r) - Emily Windsor, Ivanee Cruz, Aaron Martin, Dawaun Davis, Christian Masseus, Lorie Tranchant, Trevor Landry; Middle Row - Moises Iriarte; Front Row (from l to r): Dimitri Grant , Maximilian Gazeroglu, Kevin Valladares.

Photo: Optimum Exposure Photo/Video

Weird News: Man killed in flesh-eating attack of another

The Miami Herald reported one naked man chewing the face off another naked man Saturday on the MacArthur Causeway ramp. Police shot the attacker once and he did not stop. Several more shots were fired and he died on the scene. The victim of the attack was hospitalized.

Surveillance video shows little of the crime scene but the legs of the men can be seen.

Questions still remain and theories for the attack are plentiful from drug-induced psychosis to zombie attack.

More than 250 Purell® dispensers will be installed with refills for one year throughout local childcare centers

(left to right):  Brad Helfman, Business Development Director of GOJO Industries, inventors  of Purell®; Jeannifer Bonnet, CEO of Our Little Ones Learning Center; Blythe K. Robinson, Sr. VP & Chief Programs Officer, Early Learning Coalition; Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, Miami-Dade School Board Member, District 2; and Pamela Hollingsworth, Director, Quality Counts.

GOJO Industries, Inc., the maker and global distributor of Purell® Hand Sanitizer, the #1 hand sanitizer in both home and professional settings, and proponent of wellness is giving back to the South Florida community with a donation of more than 250 dispensers and one year’s worth of Purell® Advanced Hand Sanitizer to 250 childcare centers within the Quality Counts Program, a collaborative effort between The Children's Trust, The Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Ready Schools Miami, The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

"Viruses and infections typically spread very rapidly in child care centers and schools, so donations such as this one fromPurell® help reduce the spread of illness, contributing to improved attendance and more learning," said Modesto E. Abety-Gutierrez, President and CEO of The Children's Trust.

Quality Counts is a voluntary rating and improvement system that is currently benefiting 30,400 children in childcare across Miami-Dade.  The program reviews early learning programs according to clearly defined, high quality standards related to teacher qualifications, teacher/student ratios, curriculum, learning environment, parent involvement, and program administration. It uses a five-star method of evaluation and offers support and incentives to help child care programs reach high quality. 

”Through the Quality Counts Program, we know how important it is to attain high standards, something we see reflected in this partnership,” said Evelio C. Torres, President and CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe. “Thank you, Purell®, for helping us promote healthy standards within our childcare centers.” 

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), proper hand hygiene is the single best way to prevent infection and illness. When soap and water are not available, the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers is recommended to reduce the spread of germs that may cause illness, especially after shaking hands and before touching your face.  

“We are very pleased to make this commitment to enhance the health and well being of South Florida’s children and couldn’t have found better partners than The Children’s Trust and Quality Counts,” said Brad Helfman, Business Development Director of GOJO Industries, inventors  of Purell®.  

Video Highlights of New America Media Education Roundtable

New America Media has provided video highlights of the Education Roundtable held here in March. They are capturing comments from media and parents in various states in the Southeast.

 

See Miami Media Roundtable on Education Reform

 

Career Opportunities

 

Quality Counts Administrator

The Children's Trust has an opening for an administrator for its Quality Counts initiative. The administrator reports to the Chief Health and Child Development Officer and is responsible for managing all aspects of Quality Counts within The Trust and maintaining a close working relationship with the Early Learning Coalition (ELC) and with The Children's Forum to ensure continuous quality improvement for the initiative. A master's degree in public administration, the social sciences, or early childhood education or related field is required; doctorate degree is preferred. Visit www.thechildrenstrust.org, for a complete job description.  

 

Records Scanner - Temporary
The Children's Trust seeks a records scanner, a short-term, temporary position with no benefits. The scanner will perform work directly related to the electronic storage for records retention schedules, retrieval of archived records or for documents to be archived. Copyist/Scanner must be able to operate scanner, concisely explain and assist the staff with archival equipment including computers, digitizers and reader/printers. Applicant must be a current resident of Miami-Dade County, currently enrolled and attending college or a vocational school. For a more complete job description, visit www.thechildrenstrust.org. 

 

Social Worker/Court Liaison

FSU's Young Parents Project, a multidisciplinary home visiting program serving teen mothers in delinquency, seeks a social worker/court liaison. A Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field with three years experience serving complex families is required. Responsibilities include recruiting participants, completing intake assessments, serving as court liaison, and general case coordination. Please call Tara Thomas at (850) 922-1305 or e-mail ltthomas@fsu.edu for details.

 

Coordinator, CFE & Grants
United Way of Miami-Dade is looking for a coordinator, CFE & Grants to support to the finance department and assist grants management. Coordinator is responsible for preparing monthly invoices of grants and ensuring that grants packages are complete. A high school diploma and one to three years of accounting experience required. Contact jobs@unitedwaymiami.org.

 

School Nurse   

The Institute for Children and Families seeks a school nurse to join their team. Candidate must be a licensed RN in the state of Fla, have at least two years pediatric experience and speak, read and write both English and Spanish fluently. Salary is $52k plus benefits. EOE & DFWP. Interested candidates should contact Sylvia Sanders at (305) 685-4231 or email ssanders@icfhinc.org. Fax resumes to (305) 685-4208 or email to the address above.    

 

Administrative Assistant

Citrus Health has an immediate opening for an experienced full-time administrative assistant. High school degree required, A.A. preferred to work in this fast-paced office. Must have solid secretarial and computer skills (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint), be organized, detail oriented and reliable. Bi-lingual (English/Spanish preferred). Email resume to susang@citrushealth.com.   

  

Source: The Children’s Trust

Archbishop Curley 2012 Graduate Signs with Liberty University Flames - Receives Full Tuition, Division 1 Scholarship

Last week, Wesley Alcegaire, a 2012 graduate of Archbishop Curley Notre Dame Prep, signed with the Liberty University Men’s Basketball Program.  Alcegaire, LU’s 6^th recruit, received a full tuition, Division 1 athletic basketball scholarship.

The 6’5” student from North Miami Beach, played 4 years of basketball at ACND.  Prior to ACND, he attended St. Mary’s Catholic School.  This past season, Alcegaire was instrumental in leading the Knights to a 27-3 record and a regional finals appearance. He averaged 28.1 points, 11 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game during his senior year. Alcegaire's on-court performance did not go unnoticed, as he was named to the 2011-12 Florida Association of Basketball Coaches 3A All-State team and earned first team All-Dade County honors.

"Wes has really developed under the leadership of legendary Florida coach Charlie Funk,” Head Liberty Men's Basketball Coach Dale Layer stated in a press release. "He is a versatile, athletic player who can play three and possibly four different positions.  "His length, defensive ability and well-rounded game complement nicely with our team for next year.  Wes can score it, rebound it and pass it, and has a very high potential to develop here at Liberty. We are glad he is a Flame!"

A dual-sport athlete, Alcegaire was also a letterwinner in track & field, capturing the district high jump title in the 2012 Florida High School Athletic Association District 16 Championships this past April.

“Speaking on behalf of the ACND coaches, staff and community, we are extremely proud of Wesley Alcegaire,“ remarked ACND’s Athletic Director, Greg Magner. ”He developed through our Basketball program the last four years from JV to Varsity, to 1st All County and All State performer. Wes is an example of an adolescent that has not fallen into the web of entitlement. He has displayed loyalty and work ethic that is missing in today’s youth.”

Wesley Alcegaire, 2012 graduate of Archbishop Curley Notre Dame Prep, signs with the Liberty University Flames, Lynchburg, VA.  Alcegaire received a full tuition, Division 1 athletic basketball scholarship.

Back Row (l to r): Douglas Romanik, ACND's VP Advancement; Greg Magner, ACND's Athletic Director; Br. James De Piro, ACND's Vice Principal

Front Row (l to r): Br. Patrick Sean Moffett, ACND Principal; Ms. Anael Halcegaire, Wesley's Mother; Wesley Alcegaire; Coach Charles Funk, ACND Basketball Coach.

Job Opportunities with Florida New Majority

Florida New Majority (FNM) is a social justice organization whose mission is to build grassroots power and win campaigns for social and economic opportunities for poor and disenfranchised communities. FNM combines community organizing, grassroots leadership development, comprehensive campaigns, strategic alliance building, and electoral organizing to pursue its mission at the local and state levels. FNM builds alliances between African American and new immigrant communities in Florida with a goal to build and gain power to win good jobs, housing, and opportunity for our community. An additional goal is to educate and turnout large numbers of voters.

For more information about the work of Florida New Majority visit  www.flnewmajority.org.

Above all else, Flroida New Majority is looking for motivated and hard-working individuals with a commitment to social and economic justice and our mission to join their team.

 

 POSITIONS AVAILABLE  

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Lead Organizer

The Organizer is responsible for implementing plans to win issue and electoral campaigns in Florida, providing training and capacity building activities for community leaders and FNM strategic partners, and mobilizing volunteers for canvassing and phone bank shifts. The Organizer reports to the Field Director or Regional Lead.

Click here for a full job description.

 

Resumes accepted for this position until June 4th, 2012.

 Submit resume and cover letter to: opportunity@flnewmajority.org 

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Communications Coordinator

The Communications Coordinator is responsible for coordinating and directing the organization’s communications strategy for the state. This includes earned media strategy execution for organizational campaigns, maintaining the public face of the organization through training spokespeople, social media, the website, and paid media. Responsibilities include developing communications strategies for campaigns and constituencies, for partners, monitoring effectiveness of the strategy, and supervision of communications associates.

Click here for a full job description.   

 

Resumes accepted for this position until June 4th, 2012.

Submit resume and cover letter to: opportunity@flnewmajority.org

 

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Campaign Field Director

MWC is seeking a Grassroots Fundraising Coordinator who will give leadership to all non-Foundation/grants-based fundraising efforts in the support of MWC's liberatory community-based organizing in the low-income communities of Miami.  The GFC is responsible for planning for and managing all aspects of grassroots and donor fundraising in close consultation with the Executive Director, Director of Operations, Grassroots Fundraising Committee, and when appropriate, other Board and volunteer leadership and Staff.  This is a full-time position.

Click here for a full job description.

 

Resumes accepted for this position until June 4th, 2012.

Submit resume and cover letter to: opportunity@flnewmajority.org

 

Free Marissa Alexander March & Rally, 5/29

The NAACP, Sisterhood of Survivors, Florida New Majority and other organizations are rallying in support of Marissa Alexander and all victims of domestic violence. Marissa Alexander is a victim of domestic violence who was sentenced to a mandatory 20 years in jail for firing a warning shot into the air because she was afraid of another attack by her abusive husband.  Marissa Alexander’s case illuminates the racial disparities and gender biases in our society, especially in the application of Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' Law.

The FREE MARISSA ALEXANDER MARCH & RALLY is scheduled for May 29, 2012, 8AM, Hemming Plaza, Jacksonville, Florida. The guest Speaker is Martin Luther King III. For more information, call Angie Nixon at (904) 610-7103.

 

Related Links:

Shame of mandatory minimums shows in Marissa Alexander case ...

Angela Corey lashes out at critics of Marissa Alexander prosecution

Miami Bayside Foundation donates $200,000 to Florida Memorial University

From left to right: Julian Coakley, Student Government President and FMU Trustee Member, Kareem Coney, FMU Trustee Member, Nathan Kurland, Miami Bayside Foundation Education Committee Chair, Louis McMillian, Miami Bayside Foundation Trustee Member, Michael B. Smith, FMU Trustee Member, Nicole Ewan, Miami Bayside Foundation Trustee Member, Pamela Weller, Miami Bayside Foundation Vice Chair, Bill Diggs, Miami Bayside Foundation Trustee Member, Adriene B. Wright, FMU Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Fred Jackson, FMU Trustee Member, Dr. Henry Lewis III, FMU President and Charles George, FMU Board of Trustees Chairman.

 

The Miami Bayside Foundation announced a gift of $200,000 to Florida Memorial University to support access to higher education for City of Miami residents. A portion of the funds, $10,000, will be immediately used for student scholarships during the upcoming 2012-2013 year, while the remaining will support the establishment of an endowment for students interested in business and entrepreneurship from the City of Miami.

Founded in 1988, the Miami Bayside Foundation seeks to stimulate economic development in the City of Miami and provide educational opportunities. As part of this mission, today’s donation will provide talented students within the city the resources needed to pursue their academic and professional goals at Florida Memorial University. 

“We are grateful to have this opportunity to partner with the Miami Bayside Foundation to give minority students from the City of Miami greater access to a high-quality education at Florida Memorial University,” said Adriene B. Wright, vice president for Institutional Advancement. “At Florida Memorial, we take pride in producing the highest return on investment for our supporters and the highest quality education for our students.”

As South Florida’s only Historically Black College or University (HBCU), Florida Memorial is also the third oldest institution of higher learning in the state. Nearly 90 percent of all undergraduate students at FMU are minority students, while the campus also serves many commuting City of Miami residents.  

“It is with great honor that the Miami Bayside Foundation announces today its partnership with one of our area’s leading institutions,” said Nathan Kurland, chairman of the Foundation’s education committee. “With such a culturally diverse student body, Florida Memorial University embodies and reflects our organization’s mission by continuing to advance our community. We are proud to assist in offering educational opportunities to thousands of students through a scholarship program.”

 

Black Hospitality Initiative of Greater Miami Celebrates their Founders and Supporters at Recognition Reception

The Black Hospitality Initiative of Greater Miami (BHI) will host their 1st Annual “Honoring Our Past and Celebrating Our Future" reception on Thursday, June 28th, 2012 at Kovens Conference Center Rooftop, FIU Campus, (3000 NE 151 Street, Miami, FL 33181) from 5:30pm -7:30pm. Entertainment for the reception will be provided by Caribbean Music Farm- Steel Drum Entertainment. Honorees include: Merrett R. Stierheim, Former Superintendent Miami Dade County Schools and Former President of Greater Miami Convention and Bureau (Tourism Pioneer Award); Attorney At Law H.T. Smith (Tourism Pioneer Award) Outstanding Contribution to Tourism: R. Donahue Peebles (Chairman & CEO Peebles Corporation; Distinguished Service Award (North Bay Village Commissioner Stuart Blumberg (Former President of Greater Miami and the Beaches and Former BHI Chairman); Dr. Larry Rice(VP Dean of Academic Affairs at Johnson Wales and Former BHI Chairman).

The BHI initiative was established in 1991 as a non-profit 501© 3 organization by the Greater Miami Convention and Visitor’s Bureau(GMCVB) to advance economic participation and open doors of opportunity for African Americans and Blacks of African descent in the Greater Miami Visitors Industry. The areas of focus include: Advocacy, Talent Development and Career Coaching. Some of BHI’s impressive achievements include: BHI Minority Scholarship Endowment at Florida International University that is valued at more than $441,496.40; BHI graduates have emerged as industry leaders in hotels, cruise lines, restaurants, and entrepreneurs and as educators in Miami and across the country; and the 2012 Hospitality Open Golf Tournament(H.O.T. Challenge) and Silent Auction raised 125,000.00.

To register to attend the reception and learn more about the Black Hospitality Initiative please visit www.blackhospitalitymiami.com.