Monica May's Point Of View

Candice Simmons – Lead Well and Enterprising Black Orlando and Brandon Johnson (Government Relations) talked about the legislative changes and how they’ll affect our local nonprofits as well as healthcare and SNAP benefits. These cuts will affect our local community organizations – by reducing appointments and services available. Enterprising Black Orlando has a workshop July 12th 9am – 2pm @ Seco...

City of Ocoee Police Chief Vince Ogburn, Sr. joined the force 5 years ago as Deputy Chief before being appointed as the 1st African American. Chief Ogburn, a native New Yorker also served in the U.S. Navy, as a State Trooper for Florida Highway Patrol and was an Orlando Police Officer for 23 years before retiring. While he is very aware of the racial history of Ocoee, he encourages his team to lea...

After almost a decade a jury found former Orlando Fire Chief Roderick Williams, not guilty and cleared him of all sexual and racial discrimination allegations. He had his name cleared after being dismissed by the department over 8 years ago. Chief Williams wants to now develop education for others in this same situation and help them remain steadfast in protecting their character. Alonzo Mitchell...

Young Fathers of Central Florida Executive Director, Haki Nkrumah and Qwazay Crawford discussed all the programs they offer in support of fathers 12-24. The non-profit guides dads through mentoring, employment and family mediation. They also present Fatherhood Week Events starting June 9th – 14th at the Callahan and Grand Avenue Community Centers. To find out more about the event and the programs...

Larry Colleton, Retired Naval Serviceman from 1983 – 2007 he now serves as President of the Florida Voters League, Treasurer of the RAFMAN Club of Orlando as well as NAACP Committee of Civil Engagement. Mr. Colleton was also an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the 18th Judicial Circuit in Seminole and Brevard Counties. We learned the difference between Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) honors men &...

Candiss Ducksworth-Durange from the Florida Department of Health and board member of the Children’s Safety Village shared information about their upcoming “Safe Kids, Strong Futures Fair” May 31st 10am at 910 Fairvilla Road. This FREE safety fair is open to all residents to provide access to more than 20 vendors with information on everything from swim safety to mental health and human trafficking...

Sister Anita Barnes – Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, Eatonville FL covered us in prayer from Proverbs 31. Her prayer to refresh, restore and reignite women who are new mom’s, seasoned, grandmothers, aunts or godmothers was a spiritual request for Peace and Joy! She hosts an annual Mother’s Day Breakfast that has been in existence since 1998 for women in our community. Follow her on FB @ Anit...

Sisaundra Lewis is a staple voice in our community, who has sung with Peabo Bryson, toured with Celine Dion and even appeared on The Voice. She has her own television show on the Afrotainment Network and new music coming out this week. Lewis will open for Fred Hammond at this week’s 4th Annual Mother’s Day Concert. About Sisaundra: EPK | Sisaundra Live Tickets onsale now - info at STAR945.com. One...

Our mantra “You Can’t Treat Me if You Don’t Know Me,” is the reason why CARE ACCESS is making clinical research available to all. It is the only way African American DNA will ever be considered when developing new drugs. Jammie Wood with CARE ACCESS shared how they bring FREE health screenings and education to communities of color in order to advance strides in medicine. They offer specific choles...

An Easter Sunday blessing started us off with Reverend Terence Gray, sr. Pastor of St. Mark AME Church 1968 Bruton Blvd. in Orlando offering prayer to start our conversation on this Resurrection Sunday. Then we segued into a conversation on Sexual Assault. Dr. Crystal Raphael, CEO of ShesThankful.org shared openly about 3 separate assault experiences beginning at the age of 9. We discussed the tra...

Men account for 75% of all suicide victims in the U.S. with one man taking his own life every 20 minutes. They are dealing with depression in silence and afraid to express their inner feelings. Behavioral changes such as agitation, emotional disconnection and outbursts are a few signs of mental health challenges. Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Schellie Fan Fan offers the “Teach Me How to Heal”...

The Healthy Start Coalition of Orange County (HSCOC) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that was established in 1992 to decrease Florida's high infant mortality rate, low birth weight babies and to improve health and developmental outcomes for all children. They also offer Teen Dad and Dad University for men with babies 0-3 years-. Mom's are invited to attend a FREE baby shower April 5th 9am...

The 60th Annual Bob Hayes Invitational Track Meet spotlights 60 of the most elite high school track stars March 13th –15th at the University of North Florida. Originally spearheaded by track star Hayes, it focuses on student athletes and provides scholarships for their future endeavors. Visit www. BHITM22.org for more information. Edgewater H.S. and Valencia graduate, Omari Jones shares his journe...

Join Artistic Director Patricia Whatley in a roast and documentary about Tajiri Arts on Friday March 21st at Midway Community Center 2251 Jitway Avenue in Sanford. For 20 years, Mrs. Whatley and her staff provided after school artistic direction to more than 3,000 students. Many have gone on to perform with the likes of Ledisi, Patti LaBelle or performed on Broadway. To participate in the event co...

Dr. Andrea Dunn, Dr. J. Richelle Joe and Dr. Shan-Estelle Brown completed a four-year research project on “Removing Obstacles to HIV Prevention for Black Women in Orange County.” Florida now stands 6th in the nation for newly infected cases of HIV. The three researchers interviewed 75 women and determined that stigma and socioeconomic barriers remain the main contributor to the high rate of infect...

Sonya Hill, the Co-Chair of The Unity Celebration which is the annual event of Jones H. S. shared the itinerary for the weekend that brings graduates back to fellowship. More information can be found on the Jones H.S. Facebook page and Eventbrite. Other graduates who shared their stories of the school's pride as well as heartfelt memories of the late, great historian and State Senator Geraldine Th...

HIV/AIDS Research in Orange County Since 1996 we have acknowledged the disparity in HIV Awareness and Treatment during National Black HIV Awareness Day. Dr. Andrea Dunn, Executive Director of Let’s BeeHIVE (HIV educated) and a team of black female researchers received a grant from the Robert Wood Foundation to study stigma in HIV and preventive wellness. They presented their findings at a 2-day sy...

Hollywood filmmaker RaMell Ross shared background information about the making of his Oscar nominated documentary, “The Nickel Boys.” Adapted from the book written by Colson Whitehead, it is the true story of the Dozier School a boy's reformatory in the Panhandle. The juvenile reform school was a target of frequent state and federal investigations that were largely ineffective. It was later found...

January is Thyroid Awareness Month, and statistics show that an estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. Registered Dietitians, Ashley Carter and Jasmine Westbrooks Figaro of Eat Well Exchange shared information on how to decrease health disparities in low socio-economic communities while keeping culturally relevant food on the table. The Need to Read Program offers a Bene...

LLD Scholarship Fair Students bound for college, need to get their resumes ready, SAT and ACT scores and bring them to the LLD Scholarship Fair. Dr. Laura Dorsey has arranged scholarship fairs in our community for more than 15 years and is bringing it to Jones High School 801 Rio Grande Avenue Wednesday January 22nd 4pm. Parents are welcome to attend with their students. Colleges from around the c...

Mayor Angie Gardner is in her 3rd year leading the town of Eatonville, FL which is the oldest black incorporated town in America. They are celebrating the 48th Annual MLK holiday with a parade that starts at 2pm Saturday January 18th with a vendor display after. Their theme, “Illuminating Tomorrow Together,” speaks to the Mayor’s intention of getting the town residents to realize that, “they are s...

Dana Mackey, President of the Southwest Jaycee’s, Rosene Johnson, from the City of Orlando’s MLK Commission and Dr. Earl Mowatt, Chair of the Orange County MLK Initiative discussed the plans to commemorate the 41st year of the legendary parade January 18th honoring Dr. King. This year the theme is based on “Mission Possible: Celebrating Unity, Love and Non-Violence which are some of the 6 Principl...

15-year-old Sumer Strawbree was bullied as a youngster and her father Everett helped her gain back her confidence through positive affirmations. She would have to respect them in the morning and before bed. Those positive words have now turned into a business. Sumer makes appearances around the country and shares her own artwork and affirmations with other girls through her books and speaking enga...

Dr. Treshonda Baucom and Erika Blunston of Enriched Life Counseling & Consulting reminded us that grief has no expiration date. In fact, there are 5 Stages of Grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. You can actually get stuck and repeat any one of these phases over a period of time. It is important to be your own gauge when it comes to grief so that you don’t feel compelled to...

After a very tumultuous election, Point of View has been very intentional to have guests on who could share not only historical facts of the election cycles but steer us toward the action necessary to move our community, our state and this country forward. Keisha Mulfort, Sr. Communications Director for the ACLU Florida and Genesis Robinson, Executive Director of Equal Ground talked about the role...