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More Than A Meal
St. Matthews Missionary Baptist Church In Miami Will Turn 105 Years-old This Month
During Hunger Action Month, South Floridians can participate in various activities throughout the month.
Feeding South Florida Launches Hunger Action Month This September
By John Bernardo
St. Matthews Baptist Church was organized by an early Miami settler from the Bahamas, Rev. Samuel A. Sampson. In 1905, Sampson organized the first black church, St. Agnes Baptist Church in Coconut Grove, where he was active in religious, civic, and fraternal organizations. One of Miami’s long-standing institutions will soon celebrate a noteworthy occasion, on September 11, St. Matthews Missionary Baptist Church in Miami will turn 105 years-old. “The theme for our 105th Anniversary is ‘Continuing to Build on a Firm Foundation,’” said Reverend Vincent Brown, Senior Pastor of St. Matthews Missionary Baptist Church. Unequivocally, the words: “firm foundation” accurately describe the church in which God blessed St. Matthews Missionary Baptist with longevity and long-lasting leadership. In fact, since its inception over a century ago, only three pastors have faithfully served this longSt. Matthews, Page 7A
in the days, weeks, and months following the attacks. Responders who worked on the rescue, recovery, and relief efforts reported a range of illnesses soon after the attacks. Survivors who lived, worked, and attended school in Lower Manhattan, some who remained throughout and some who returned to their lives in the disaster area, started reporting illnesses as well.” www.cdc.gov
Feeding South Florida – the leading hunger-relief organization serving Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties – is commemorating Hunger Action Month this September with various activities to encourage South Floridians to “Go Orange” to stand against hunger. Hunger Action Month, a nationwide initiative created by Feeding America, takes place throughout September and is designed to raise awareness about the issue of hunger in America and inspire others to take action toward ending it. In South Florida, approximately one million families face hunger and have no idea where the next meal is coming from, including nearly 500,000 children and seniors. Proceeds raised during the month-long initiative will allow Feeding South Florida to fulfill its mission to end hunger in South Florida by providing immediate access to nutritious food, leading hunger and poverty advocacy efforts, and transforming lives through innovative programming and education. This year, Feeding South
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More Than A Meal, Page 3A
gun laws undermine public health, said researchers, public officials, community activists, and grieving parents. Jacksonville kids were shot
most often in racially segregated neighborhoods — a legacy from the early 20th century of state-
A Quarter Of A Century Ago That Seems Like Yesterday Communities In Broward And Miami-Dade Counties Plan 9/11 Remembrance Ceremonies To Honor The 25th Anniversary By John Bernardo
A countless number of families and friends in America and abroad still feel the pain from losing their loved ones. September 11 is coming and Americans clearly recall when a quarter-century ago, the unthinkable happened after terrorists hijacked airliners and attacked the United States of America. The attacks killed almost 3,000 people on September 11,
2001. Many of them were discovered after the World Trade Center in New York was destroyed. The rest perished at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. In addition, since 09/11 the CDC has estimated these health impacts: “An estimated 400,000 people were exposed to toxic contaminants, risk of physical injury, and physically and emotionally stressful conditions
Where Florida’s Gun Violence Exacts Its Biggest Toll On Black And Latino Children By Daniel Chang and Fred Clasen-Kelly, KFF Health News; Olga Pierce, The Trace; Yona Gavino, Action News Jax; and Daralene Jones, WFTV
[1] Two-year-old A’mahri Robinson was murdered while in his mother’s arms in March. (Ladonna Johnson) Just west of the St. Johns River, which divides this sprawling city racially and economically, 2-year-old A’mahri Robinson was murdered in his mother’s arms. Ladonna Johnson was rocking A’mahri to sleep in March when he was shot in the head with a gun she kept for protection. A’mahri loved going outdoors and taking rides in his pull-along wagon. His mother called the toddler “sweet” and “affectionate.” When he was around, she said, “you just felt love.” The child was close with
Steven Dodson Jr., his mother’s boyfriend, who had reached for the gun during an argument. Dodson, 21, in June pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated child abuse and was sentenced to life in prison. A’mahri died in one of Florida’s most violent places for children: Jacksonville. This city has three ZIP codes that rank among the 10 worst in the state for firearm injuries involving children. Every year, hundreds of children are hospitalized in Florida with gunshot wounds, and overwhelmingly, they come from a tiny number of ZIP codes, an exclusive analysis of hospital data by KFF Health News and The Trace found. Hospital billing data obtained from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration shows that from 2018 to 2024
An Educational Send-Up Of Epic Laughs Awaits, 6A
more than 4,000 children 17 or younger were hospitalized for firearm injuries — a rate of about 1.5 a day. The newsrooms gathered data that the state’s hospitals use to collect payments from insurance companies or the government. The information does not identify patients but includes details about where they lived and their age, race, and other demographics. The number of children killed in Jacksonville has grown so large that a nonprofit, Families of Slain Children, built a “Wall of Compassion” memorial listing hundreds of people killed by gunfire in the city. Memorial organizers have stood up a second wall nearby that is filling with names. The numbers reflect how Florida’s long history of racial discrimination and permissive
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Gun Violence, Page 2A
Hallandale Beach State Of The City Address II, 11A