JULY 2021 Hip Rock Star Advertising Receives MULTIPLE Communicator Awards From the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts
Jessica Garrett Modkins President
Sandy Walker, Publisher
My Father, My Lord:
Thank you for always being by my side and for Your unwavering love. You are such a powerful and awesome God. It is a blessing to know You and to have You by my side. I am so thankful for the life You have given me and I am continuously amazed by Your grace and mercy. Lord, You are with me in times of great joy and You are with me during the darkest of times as well. You give me the strength to endure.
Father, I look to You for guidance as I navigate life. Each day you calm my spirit and give me hope in all circumstances. Even during the most difficult times You are there. Having You deep within my soul is my greatest blessing as life is an adventure with You. With the early morning opening of my eyes I wake up each day with great anticipation and great expectations of the power of Your mighty works. You never fail or disappoint me! Who am I to deserve this life? I am Your child. I love You Lord, today and every day. - AMEN
PUBLISHER
Sandy Walker
Publisher’s Prayer
Sandy Walker
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Sommer W. Davis
EDITOR
Jamil Rivers
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Robert Walker
My Father, My God:
Father, in the Name of Jesus:
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Moderator Johnny L. Barber
Anika Madison
All is well with my soul as I focus my attention solely on You. I am thankful as I breathe the air You so graciously provide to me each day. How wonderful it is to be Your child. How wonderful it is to know that You are in charge. I am thankful Dear Lord for the blessings You continue to bestow. Father I know that I am in no way worthy of all that You give to me. You give me peace and love. You give me food to nourish my body. You give me all that I need to survive. Your blessings are so much appreciated as You place the right people in my life and in my path each day. I know Father that You are also placing me in the path of others so that I might do Your will in being a blessing as well. Keep my eyes open, Dear Lord, so that I might see those in need.
I am eternally grateful for the love You continue to bestow upon me. You love me unconditionally with all of my issues and all of my faults. You love me, Father, in spite of myself. I thank You for being with me always. I am comforted by the knowledge that You are with me every moment of my life.
The Gospel Truth Magazine 11285 SW 211th St. Suite 208 Cutler Bay, FL 33189 (786)295-5596 | sandygtnews@aol.com www.thegospeltruthnews.com facebook.com/TheGospelTruthMagazine/
Veronica Carey Buie
Lord as I navigate this wonderful journey called life I am eternally thankful for the love you continue to surround me with. I am thankful for the love and support of my amazing family. There is nothing I have done or could ever do to earn the blessings You continue to bestow upon me. Father I pray to be a blessing to others as you so generously bless me. You, my Lord are so worthy to be praised.
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Father I pray for peace during these uncertain times. As much as we try to figure it all out, Lord You already know. When I find myself pondering the circumstances of the day I take comfort in the fact that You are in charge! Nothing will happen that You don’t allow and nothing will happen that You cannot stop. I realize Dear Lord that it is not my job to understand. It is my
Father I pray for all of Your children who are feeling pain, frustration and lack. I pray Dear Lord that they will seek You in every situation and cir-
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Don Baylor was always a team player. While in the MLB, he had a career that spanned nearly two decades and spent 19 seasons in the league playing for six different teams. Regardless of where he was playing, one thing rang true: everyone respected him. He was a strong figure in baseball and held a natural prowess that helped lead his teams to many victories.
So, naturally, it was quite a blow to hear he’d passed from a little-known illness, multiple myeloma, while still in his prime as a coach in 2017. He was 68. Baylor was open about his battle and was an advocate for awareness about the rare form of cancer. Here’s more information about the illness.
What is multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. Healthy plasma cells help you fight infections by making antibodies that recognize and attack germs. In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells. Rather than produce helpful antibodies, the cancer cells produce abnormal proteins that can cause complications.
Treatment for multiple myeloma isn’t always necessary right away because the cancer isn’t always immediately aggressive. If the patient is asymptomatic, physicians may watch the illness closely instead of launching into a treatment plan. Causes for the illness are still undetermined.
What researchers do know is that myeloma typically starts out with one abnormal plasma cell in the bone marrow — the soft, blood-producing tissue that fills in the center of most of the bones. From there, the abnormal cells replicate quickly and cause issues in the immune system. Because cancer cells don’t have the same life span as normal cells, they accumulate, eventually slowing the production of healthy cells. In the bone marrow, myeloma cells crowd out healthy blood cells, leading to fatigue and an inability to fight infections.
The myeloma cells continue trying to produce antibodies, as healthy plasma cells do, but the myeloma cells produce abnormal antibodies that the body can’t use. Instead, the abnormal antibodies (monoclonal proteins, or M proteins) build up in
Black Health History: Don Baylor
the body and cause problems such as damage to the kidneys. Cancer cells can also cause damage to the bones that increases the risk of broken bones.
What are the risk factors?
Factors that may increase your risk of multiple myeloma include:
Getting older – Risk increases as in older, as most people diagnosed in their mid-60s.
Being a man – Men are more likely to develop the disease than women.
Being Black – Black people are more likely to develop multiple myeloma than people of other races. The reason is still unclear. Genetics – If the immediate family had previously been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, you have an increased risk of the disease.
Link to monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) – Multiple myeloma almost always starts out as MGUS, so having this condition increases risk.
How is it treated?
According to Cancer.org, patients with active myeloma or light chain amyloidosis are often given a combination of 2 or 3 drugs. The drugs chosen depend on the patient’s health (including their kidney function) and whether a stem cell transplant is planned.
When offered a combination containing bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone, the cocktail can be especially helpful in patients with kidney problems and those whose myeloma cells contain certain high-risk chromosome abnormalities.
Treatment for bone disease (bisphosphonates) as caused by myeloma is often started along with chemo. If the areas of damaged bone continue to cause symptoms, radiation therapy may be used.
Transfusions and stem cell transplants may be part of treatment plans for myeloma patients as well.
by Jasmine Browley via blackdoctor.org
FROM HOMELESS TO DOCTOR, WHITE COAT CEREMONY USHERS
IN NEW CLASS OF RESIDENTS AT CHI
Dr. Yeily Hernandez Mato knows how it feels to be vulnerable. When she was just 18, she nearly died in a violent car accident. Doctors performed several surgeries to save her, including facial reconstruction. Four months later, she was released from the hospital, left to sleep and recover in her mother’s car as the two of them were homeless.
Her health was still a challenge and a lot of follow-up doctor’s visits were required. Without any money or insurance, Hernandez went to Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI) where doctors kept her on the path to recovery and brought her back to good health.
Today, the former homeless woman steps back into the non-profit health center, but this time to receive her white coat in a special ceremony reserved for new medical residents. Dr. Yeily Hernandez Mato is one of seven new residents who were recognized in the white coat ceremony at the Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. Teaching Health Center at CHI. The same place where more than a decade ago, doctors helped her heal.
“It’s an emotional moment for me to come back to CHI,” said Dr. Hernandez Mato. “The care team here showed me compassion and now I have the opportunity to show others the same compassion. I can relate to the homeless population more than most people because of the journey I took to get here. A lot of them are not what other people think they are. Just look at me.”
Dr. Hernandez is one of four family medicine and three psychiatry residents who received their white coats in the boardroom at CHI. The new class of residents begin their training during one of the most difficult times to work in medicine, during a pandemic. But they usher in new hope amid a projected doctor shortage nationwide. That includes hope that community health centers like CHI can retain them to care for some of the most vulnerable
populations: the uninsured, migrants, homeless and indigent.
“We knew we had to grow our own doctors,” said Blake Hall, CHI President. “It’s never been so hard to recruit doctors and nurses. By entrenching these young doctors in our system, our communities and our programs we have an opportunity to show them the tremendous impact that they will be making here.”
In 2014, CHI became the first Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) designated teaching health center in the state of Florida. Currently it has a total of 27 residents training in family medicine and psychiatry.
About Community Health of South Florida, Inc.
CHI celebrates its 50-year anniversary in 2021 with a legacy of excellence in healthcare. Since 1971, CHI has been a beacon of hope providing access to high-quality healthcare for all regardless of insurance status, income level or background. The non-profit federally qualified health center offers comprehensive healthcare services including primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, dental, urgent care, behavioral health, vision, radiology, pharmacy, transportation and more. CHI has 11 health centers and 35 schoolbased sites. CHI is a recipient of the Florida Governor’s Sterling Award. It is accredited by the Joint Commission and is also designated as a patient centered medical home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. CHI is also designated as a behavioral health medical home. In addition, CHI is home to the Brodes H. Hartley Jr., Teaching Health Center, training the next generation of doctors in family medicine and psychiatry. CHI is currently building the first Children’s Crisis Center in southern Miami-Dade County. It will service kids with severe behavioral health problems from Monroe and Miami-Dade Counties.
Hip Rock Star Advertising Receives
MULTIPLE Communicator Awards From the Academy of INTERACTIVE and Visual Arts
Hip Rock Star Advertising, a trailblazing, award-winning advertising, marketing, and communications agency that focuses exclusively on building today’s socially conscious brands, recently received multiple awards from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA).
The 27th Annual Communicator Awards were officially announced by AIVA. With more than 6,000 entries received from across the United States and around the world, the Communicator Awards is the largest and
most competitive awards program honoring creative excellence for communications professionals.
In full categories, Hip Rock Star was able to rise to excellence by receiving the following awards:
2021 Branded Entertainment Category - Social Impact Award for The Culture 2021 Integrated Campaign Category - B2C Award for the National Football League Play Family Festival
2021 Marketing Effectiveness Category- Integrated Campaign for the National Football League Play Family Festival
“We are honored to be among this year’s winners. It is truly an honor to receive multiple 27th Annual Communicator Awards from AIVA. Recognition for all of Hip Rock Star’s hard work, dedication, and sacrifice speaks volumes and illustrates our consistent excellence in marketing, PR, and communications. Moreover, receiving these awards during these especially turbu-
lent times make the honor even sweeter,” said Jessica Garrett Modkins, Founder of Hip Rock Star Advertising. “I am honored to lead a team of amazing professionals who always make it happen for so many life-changing projects. These awards are a testament to how hard our team worked to bring superior creative concepts to life. We greatly
appreciate the designation!” “The work entered into this year’s 27th Annual Communicator Awards is even more impressive than in seasons’ past. This year’s entries are a truly stellar embodiment of our “Communication is everything” tagline,” noted Eva McCloskey, managing director of the AIVA. She added, “On behalf of the Academy, I would like to
About The Communicator Awards:
thank all of this season’s entrants for their willingness to produce such boundary-pushing, effective and outstanding work.”
For more information about the Communicator Awards, please visit communicatorawards.com, email the Communicator Awards at info@communicatorawards. com, or call (212) 675-3555.
The Communicator Awards is the leading international awards program honoring creative excellence for marketing and communications professionals. Founded by passionate communications professionals over two decades ago, The Communicator Awards is an annual competition honoring the best digital, mobile, audio, video, and social content the industry has to offer. The Communicator Awards is widely recognized as one of the largest awards of its kind in the world.
The Communicator Awards are judged and curated by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA). The AIVA is an assembly of leading professionals from various disciplines of the visual arts dedicated to embracing progress and the evolving nature of traditional and interactive media. Current AIVA membership represents a “Who’s Who” of acclaimed media, advertising, and marketing firms including: GE Digital, Spotify, Condè Nast, Disney, Republica, Majestyk, Fast Company, Upstatement, and many others. See aiva.org for more information.
FTHE DARK DWARF: The Black Man Who Made A Great Contribution To The Bible
Rev. Alfred B. Holt
Rev. Holt received his Master of Divinity at the Interdenominational Theological Center and serves as Pastor at the Church of Christ in Perrine
ew people talk about the significant contributions that Athanasius made to the Biblical Canon and the defense of Christianity. We should all reflect theologically that God used a black man to make a list of the sixty-six books of the Bible. It was in the year 367, in Athanasius’s Festal Letter that he made a list of the sixty- six books within the Biblical Canon. Athanasius was the first person to make a list of the sixty-six books of the Bible in the order that we have them today. Given that Black people are still oppressed around the world, and many people on the globe profess the Christian faith, it is theologically profound that God used Athanasius, (the dark dwarf). God is indeed a God of the oppressed.
Athanasius believed that there are only sixty-six books that belong in the Canon. He thought the Apocrypha (the so-called lost books) are not part of the Biblical Canon. Athanasius only believed that the sixty-six books in the Biblical Canon are theopneustos (God-breathed) inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16). “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” ( 2Tim. 3:17,16). Even the Didache, written in the first century about the same time as the New Testament, is not included within Athanasius’ list, although Athanasius did state that a new convert should read the Didache (the teaching of the twelve).
Few ministers, pastors, or deacons advise new members of their congregation to read the Didache. Let us take the advice of Athanasius because he has had a dynamic impact on how we view Christianity.
Before Athanasius made his list, many Christians did not know all of the books that consisted of the Biblical Canon. Athanasius made his list before Johannes Gutenberg built the printing press in 1436. Athanasius’s list of the books of the Bible has proven to be archaeological correct. Therefore most people do not consider Nag Hammadi, the text of Maccabees, the Didache, et cetera part of the Biblical Canon. Thank God for Athanasius, the dark dwarf (the short black man) who has helped students of the Bible on their journey.
Not only did Athanasius make the first list of the books we now consider the Canon, but he also had a profound impact at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.. Brother Athanasius stood up at the Council of Nicea and argued that God the Father, the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are One. This is what the early Christians believed, and a different belief about God among the early Christians would have been considered heresy.
The Biblical record states that Jesus said “....All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”(Matt. 28:18-20, KJV). Athanasius fought so vehemently against the Arians (the people who believed God did not come in the flesh). He professed boldly that Jesus is part of the Godhead. “ I and my Father are one” (Jn 10:30, KJV). The substance of God is spirit. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth “ (Jn. 4:24, KJV). When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended in the bodily form of a dove and the Father spoke from heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son in him am I well pleased”(Lk. 3:21-23). The twenty-seven books Athanasius listed in
the year 367, is a complete list of the New Testament Canon. Twenty-seven is three to the power of three (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).
Athanasius being theologically and exegetically correct to argue over two millennia ago that Jesus was God in the flesh. Emperor Constantine became so mad at brother Athanasius that he exiled him to Germany. Athanasius had done nothing wrong, Constantine just feared his influence.
Athanasius was like Jeremiah; the word of God was like fire shut up in his bones. “Then I said, I will not make mention of him nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay” ( Jer. 20:9, KJV). It is believed, that Brother Athanasius planted seeds in Germany about Christianity and the Bible. The seeds that Athanasius planted were still yielding fruit over a millennia later. In 1517 in Wittenburg, Germany, Martin Luther nailed ninety-five thesis to the door of the Catholic Church in Wittenburg, Germany. Martin Luther is given much credit. However, Athanasius has been more impactful in how most people think about Christianity and the scriptures. After Constantine died, Athanasius came back to Rome. Thank God for Athanasius, our black Christian brother, who lived over a millennia before the TransAtlantic Slave Trade. Given the TransAtlantic Slave Trade, slavery in the United States of America, Black Code Laws, Jim Crow, redlining, and mass incarceration; it is theologically profound that God would providentially choose a black man to be the first person to make a list of the sixty-six books of the Bible in the order that we currently use them today. What a God?
L i v i n g L e g e n d s S e r i e s
Mr Rackley is a wine connoisseur and owns a vast collection of fine wines and liquor showcased at his home
Realtor Kimberly is a Miami native who has served South Florida for over 20 years. She is very passionate about the community and launched this series, "Living Legends: A Conversation with Local Pioneers to share the rich history of the area. This month we honor, Mr. Herman Rackley a Real Estate Guru.
Mr. Rackley was born in Modello, he moved to Florida City and later to Goulds, where he graduated from Arthur and Polly Mays High School in 1959.
Upon graduation, he worked at the following companies: AeroJet, a company that made solid fuels for rockets; Sandos, a pharmaceutical company and Foremost Liquors, a liquor store located in the "The Village" in Coconut Grove. Alongside mastering the skill of selling wine, Mr. Rackley acquired a love for the product and eventually became a wine connoisseur. He also frequented the nearby Coconut Grove Playhouse to hear live Jazz Music. Mr. Rackley found himself offering food and wine pairing suggestions to many patrons, including local news anchor, Jim Brosner.
While working at Foremost, Mr. Rackley simultaneously attended Real Estate School. In March 1973 he obtained his Real Estate License.
Mr. Rackley spent his early real estate years as a Subdivision Manager at lennar Homes Corporation, where he handled all maintenance and sales at Richmond Heights Estates and Coral Villas Townhomes, which at the time sold between $49,000- $63,000.
A few years after, Mr. Rackley interviewed for a Managerial position at JV Realty, a position that according to Mr. Rackley changed his life.
HERMAN RACKLEY
JV Realty was the only black owned real estate office in town. He worked under the owner, Verbert Anderson, a savvy businessman who became his mentor.
In six months, Mr. Rackley advanced to Vice President and Partner with the company.
Mr. Rackley excelled and moved up the ranls. In 1980, he was the President/ Manager at the Ambassador Mortgage Corporation, where he expanded the business and recruited 15 additional Real Estate Associates.
Mr. Rackley never stopped learning, he continued his formal real estate education gathering numerous certifications including the: Real Estate Broker's License, Mortgage Broker's License, Certified Real Estate Appraiser and the Resident Narrative Appraiser Certification. He later became licensed in Property and Casualty Insurance.
After JV closed the Realty Division, Mr. Rackley was hired as a manager at Pollyco Realty. While there, Mr. Rackley directed 15 Real Estate Associated in Appraising. he also created training programs and incentive plans that helped boost productivity. The tactics Mr. Rackley implemented, increased sale volumes by 60% in two years.
In 1991, Mr. Rackley set out on his own entrepreneurship journey and launched Richmond Perrine Realty. His office offered a vast array of services including: Listing, Marketing, Appraising, Sales, Training, Financing, Credit Counseling and Negotiating Contracts.
In 1993, alongside running a business, Mr. Rackley became a Real Estate Consultant. He held various educational workshops that helped those with past credit irregularities. He provided training on how to move from renting to homeownership. Landscaping and housekeeping techniques were perks in his curriculum.
In 1992, after Hurricane Andrew left Miami devastated; Clarence Edwards, who owned the nearby drug store in Richmond Heights, asked Mr. Rackley if he wanted to use his business facility as a recovery center. Upon speaking with his wife Gwen Rackley, they accepted and opened their doors to the community.
The recovery center had lights, 10 telephones and a generator that ran 23 hours a day, with only one hour set aside to refuel. Both Local and State resource agencies were stationed there to assist the Community. Residents were able to contact their insurance companies and other agencies for assistance. Those humanitarian efforts helped put Richmond Perrine Realty on the map.
The facility also operated as the Campaign Headquaters for Commissioner of District 9, Dennis Moss. Every election, Mr. Rackley cooked his signature dishes: "Sea Feast" and Key Lime Pie from his family's 50 year old recipes. The site remained the Moss Campaign Headquaters until 2008/2009.
After 35 years in Real Estate, Mr. Rackley retired in 2010. His Real Estate Company still operates today and is run by Randy Ricks, a mentee of his. Mr. Rackley resides in McDonough, GA with his wife. His contributions were an inaugural part of creating black wealth in the city,
Advertisement for J V Realty
Mr Rackley and Boss/Mentor Mr Anderson
Mr Rackley and friends caught three Wahoo Wahoo are the fastest fish in the water
Staff at Richmond Perrine Realty owned by Mr Rackley
FPL selects Curley’s House of Style as the 2021 Miami-Dade Nonprofit Energy Makeover
Recipient Received a free energy makeover valued at more than $3,500
Local food bank Curley’s House of Style, which provides food and other resources for thousands of community members, has received a free energy makeover valued at more than $3,500, courtesy of Florida Power & Light Company.
After conducting a business energy evaluation, FPL selected Curley’s House of Style as its 2021 Miami-Dade Nonprofit Energy Makeover Recipient. As a result, energy experts from FPL provided upgrades, such as new light fixtures and a new refrigerator and freezer, to the nonprofit’s headquarters.
Executive Director Laverne Spicer of Curley’s House of Style in Miami, learns about the importance of using energy-efficient lighting from Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) Energy Expert
Frank Guzman during a free nonprofit energy makeover on June 2, 2021. The makeover included the installation of upgraded lighting and a new refrigerator and freezer totaling over $3,500. These upgrades are expected to save the nonprofit approximately $1,200 annually.
These energy efficient upgrades are expected to save the organization approximately $1,200 in energy costs annually.
“This is a service that we really needed and we’re really grateful to and appreciative to FPL for coming out and helping us out with this,” said Laverne Spicer, Curley’s House of Style Executive Director.
Curley’s House of Style plans to reinvest the savings rendered by these enhancements back into funding its mission to help provide vital resources to those in the community who need it most.
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) donated more than $3,500 in energy upgrades to Curley’s House of Style in Miami to help the nonprofit organization save money on energy bills, on June 2, 2021. FPL energy experts installed upgraded lighting and a new refrigerator and freezer that are expected to save the organization approximately $1,200 annually.
Florida Power & Light Energy Expert Frank Guzman explains how energy efficient LED lighting can help yield significant savings on your energy bill during a nonprofit energy makeover at Curley’s House of Style in Miami on June 2, 2021. FPL energy experts also donated a new refrigerator and freezer to the nonprofit, which serves as a food bank for the local community. The upgrades totaled over $3,500 and are expected to save the nonprofit approximately $1,200 annually that can be reinvested into its mission to provide vital resources to those who need it most.
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) Energy Expert Frank Guzman describes some of the energy efficiency features for a new refrigerator installed at Curley’s House of Style in Miami to Executive Director Laverne Spicer. This cost-saving initiative is part of a free nonprofit energy makeover provided by FPL on June 2, 2021. FPL energy experts also installed upgraded lighting and a new freezer valued at over $3,500. These upgrades are expected to save the nonprofit approximately $1,200 annually that can be reinvested into its mission to help provide vital resources to those who need it most
MIami-Dade Solar Co-op one step closer to bringing solar to community
Co-op members select Goldin Solar to serve group
The Miami-Dade Solar Co-op selected Miami-based Goldin Solar to install solar panels for the group. Co-op members selected the company through a competitive bidding process over five other firms. The group has 93 members, and is accepting new sign-ups through July 30.
“It’s an honor to be selected to serve the co-op,” said Daren Goldin, co-founder and CEO of Goldin Solar. “We know the co-op selection process is thorough and considers all aspects of an installer. We’re excited to work with co-op members to help them go solar.”
Co-op members are working with nonprofit Solar United Neighbors to learn about the process of going solar. SUN expands access to solar by educating Miami-Dade residents about the benefits of distributed solar energy, helping them organize group solar installations, and strengthening Florida’s solar policies and its community of solar supporters.
SUN is partnering with the South Dade Branch of the NAACP to help spread the word about the co-op and increase solar access in minority communities. “We believe everyone has the right to have affordable energy,” said Sen. Dwight Bullard, President of the South Dade Branch NAACP. “Solar energy is cleaner, healthier, and more affordable overall — solar co-ops like this one help lower the barrier to entry.”
The solar co-op is free to join to anyone in Miami-Dade County and joining the co-op is not a commitment to purchase panels. Goldin Solar will provide each co-op member with an individualized proposal based on the group rate. By going solar as a group and choosing a single installer, members can save on the cost of going solar and have the support of fellow group members and solar experts at Solar United Neighbors.
“If you’ve ever thought about going solar, now is your chance,” said Laura Tellez, Solar United Neighbors’ South Florida Program Coordinator. “The co-op makes it easy to learn about solar and works with you throughout the process.”
Organizations partnering with SUN include: the NAACP South Dade Branch , American Cities Climate Challenge, City of Coral Gables, City of Miami Beach, CLEO Institute, Dream in Green, Earth Ethics institute at Miami Dade College, Miami-Dade County, Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida, Rocky Mountain Institute, Solar Energy Loan Fund (SELF), South Florida Regional Planning Council: Southeast Florida Clean Cities Coalition, Tropical Audubon Society, World Resources Institute and funder The Green Corridor PACE District.
Zalia & the Bee: First National African American Spelling Bee Winner
Zaila Avant-Garde
“M-U-R-R-A-Y-A”
Those where the letters of the final word that solidified fourteen-year-old Zaila Avant-garde taking the top prize at the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday. For those who aren’t botanists — or brilliant 8th graders — murraya is “a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae,” according to Wikipedia.
With her win, the New Orleans spelling phenom Avant-garde becomes the first African American champion in the nearly 100-year history of the event. She will receive a $50,000 cash prize; a commemorative medal; the “Scripps Cup,” which is the official championship trophy of the Scripps National Spelling Bee; a $2,500 cash prize and reference library from Merriam-Webster; and $400 in reference materials from Encyclopædia Britannica.
“I was pretty relaxed on the subject of Murraya and pretty much any other word I got,” Zaila told the Associated Press.
“I can’t even put into words how I feel right now,” she told NPR.“I’d like to say thank you to Bill Murray because the reason I knew that word ‘murraya’ was because of the movie Lost in Translation, which when I was a little kid I used to listen to the soundtrack and so that’s how that word was stuck in my head because it was spelled like Bill Murray’s name.”
Zaila is the first from her hometown to win the contest and the competition’s second Black winner in its 96-year history. The first was Jody-Anne Maxwell of Jamaica in 1998.
Now don’t think that Avant-garde is just a one-trick pony and only spends her time
spelling every word she hears. She’s also a basket prodigy. The eighth-grader hopes to one day play in the WNBA and, when she’s not spelling, is known as a basketball prodigy whose skills include dribbling three balls while riding a unicycle. She holds three Guinness World Records for trick dribbling, appeared in a Stephen Curry commercial in 2018, and has a twitter account littered with he basketball exploits.
Oh, she can also dribble multiple basketballs while riding a unicycle and has future plans that include becoming an NBA coach, or being an astronaut for NASA, or an immunologist, or maybe even a scientist who studies gene therapy. When you’re this good at life, it’s nice to have choices.
lorida A&M University (FAMU) today announced it is one of 10 institutions to receive a $5 million grant from Google, designed to help create pathways and opportunities for increased diverse representation in the STEM industry.
The one-time unrestricted financial grant will provide FAMU with financial support for scholarships, technological infrastructure support, career readiness and curriculum development.
“Google’s $50M investment in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) shows a firm commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and an appreciation of the value HBCUs bring with regards to the talent and ingenuity of our students, faculty, staff and alumni,” said FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “FAMU is proud to be a part of this historic partnership with Google and fellow HBCUs which will help produce the next generation of leaders and innovators in information technology and computer science.”
Over the last three years, President Robinson has been among HBCU presidents to hold ongoing discussions with Google senior leadership about internships and other opportunities for FAMU and other HBCU graduates and students. The grant reflects the company’s commitment to diversity, especially in the tech industry, said Melonie Parker, Google chief diversity officer.
“I’m delighted to provide our HBCU partners with a $50 million unrestricted grant. These institutions are actively shaping the next generation of Black leaders and are helping build a more diverse workforce across all industries,” Parker said. “This investment further solidifies our commitment to providing access and opportunities for underrepresented groups in tech.”
This investment builds on Googles Pathways to Tech initiative, which was announced earlier this year and is designed to build equity for HBCU computing education, help job seekers find tech roles, and ensure that Black employees have growth opportunities and feel included at work.
THERE’S A REASON FOR THE SEASON THAT YOU’RE IN RIGHT NOW
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
By Veronica Carey Buie
On almost any given day of the year in Miami, if you were to walk out the front door of your home around 7:00am, there’s a very good chance you may not be able to recognize which season you’re in. In Miami, a winter day could feel like summer and a spring morning could easily be confused with a day in the fall. It’s hard to know when one season ends and another begins. The same could be said about the many seasons in our lives. There are certain seasons that seem to last five to six months at a time while others appear to remain for only a few weeks. And like the seasons of the year, those personal seasons we experience, we have absolutely no control over. Seasons such as abundance, lack, sowing, reaping, fruitfulness, barrenness, joy, sorrow, beginnings, endings…and the list goes on.
These seasons are inevitable in our lives. At Ecclesiastes 3:1, the Bible states, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” It matters not whether we like these seasons or not or whether we are prepared for them, they will certainly come to past.
Right now, someone somewhere is about to experience a season of abundance while someone elsewhere is dreading that season of sorrow that awaits them. There are some seasons we wish would never come our way and there are those we wish could stay forever and a day. As long as we “keep on living” we’re bound to get our share of an array of seasons. Have you ever noticed that with these seasons, comes certain people? These
individuals play a significant role in our seasons. A certain person or persons may appear during our seasonal periods with a mission to teach us, encourage us, challenge us, guide us, hurt or anger us, enlighten us, grow us, support us, mentor us, strengthen us, cheer us up, or simply (and especially) to love us. Like our seasons, these folks may come/remain in our lives for a short period of time, a few years or they may stay nearly a lifetime. Other individuals only last as long as the season yet they have a specific reason for being connected to our seasons.
I think God assigns particular people to be in our lives for both an appointed reason and an appointed season…as if to be on some covert mission. They show up for an unknown period of time, meet a need or fill a void, and as soon as our season ends their work is done and they are gone. Look around you. Who recently came into your life or who left not too long ago? Could it be that reasons and seasons go hand in hand? If that is the case, then there’s a good reason for the season that you’re in right now.
Rather than becoming anxious about the dreaded seasons of life that bring about sorrow, pain or uncertainty, why not go through those seasons with an outlook of great expectation, looking for the blessings that come with each new season. There is a reason for the seasons we experience and the Bible says that for every season there is a purpose. It’s so encouraging to know that seasons don’t come to stay. Every season you have ever experienced, came to past but don’t miss out on the gift attached to each season.
It’s intermingled in with the purpose. Be it the fall, spring, summer or the winter of the seasons in your life, just know that God is well aware of every season we face and is more than capable of seeing us through them all. In the book of Lamentations we are reminded that, “Great is God’s faithfulness”. He grants us new mercies each morning of our seasons. If we are believers, everything we have need of He promises to provide for us regardless of our seasons. Therefore, we can count it all joy when these seasons greet us. What will be your “seasons’ greetings”?
Whatever season you are in right now it is my prayer that God will “reign/rain” over it. God has a divine purpose and a beneficial reason for the season that you’re in right now.
THINK ON THIS PASSAGE - (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) “ There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”
1. Keep that caffeine habit
Sip coffee—before your workout to help raise the number of calories you torch afterward. When cyclists sipped espresso an hour before a ride, their resting metabolism—the number of calories they burned while not working out—leaped by 15 percent post-ride.
2. Pack on the protein
When you drop pounds, some of what you shed is calorie-burning muscle—a loss that can slow your metabolism. One fix: Double your protein. Study participants who downed twice the recommended daily allowance lost the same amount of weight—but much less muscle—as those who ate the RDA. Aim for 1.5 grams per 2 pounds of body weight per day to reap the results.
3. Stack your day
A study in the journal Obesity found that women who ate a 700-calorie breakfast and a 200-calorie dinner shed more than twice as much weight over 12 weeks as those whose meal sizes were reversed. Your body clock is linked to hormone dips that rev metabolism in the morning and leave it feeling sluggish at night, say study authors.
4. Drop the guilt
Twenty-seven percent of people associated chocolate cake with guilt. In a study from the University of Canterbury, those who felt bad about eating it were less likely to maintain their weight over a year and a half compared with the 73 percent of people who associate the dessert with celebration.
5. Be wary of white bread
Limit your intake of white bread to less than 120 grams (four or five slices) a week. People are 40 percent more likely to be overweight if white bread is the
only bread they eat, according to Spanish researchers.
6. Power up with protein
Start your day with eggs and ham. Having a larger serving of protein at breakfast makes you less likely to overeat for the rest of the day, say researchers. Shoot for at least 20 grams.
7. Cut back on carbs
It’s one of the most reliable strategies for short-term weight loss. Dutch researchers found that eating one carb-free meal a day over a 2-week period can increase your metabolic rate by 81 calories per day. The key is making the meal about 70 percent protein and, of course, zero carbs. Watch for sneaky carb sources like milk, sausages, and barbecue sauce, just to name a few.
8. Replace don’t remove
Cutting calories too drastically can feel taxing, mentally and physically. Instead, make one tweak during each meal to get more nutrients like healthy fats, fiber, and protein into your diet. It’s as simple as sprinkling your yogurt with flaxseed instead of granola at breakfast or adding a handful of fresh spinach to your pasta sauce at dinner.
9. Dine in
It should come as no surprise that weekends are the most popular days for dining out, according to the National Restaurant Association. But research has also found that eating dinner out adds 144 calories to your daily intake (but here’s how you can stay lean while dining out). It may not seem like a lot, but if you also ate out for lunch, that’s another 158 calories—plus, any away-from-home snacks tack on about 107 calories each.
IMMUNE SYSTEM BOOSTERS
Strengthening your immune system through multiple self-care channels – healthy diet, regular exercise, and mental health care – is the most effective strategy. And building a healthy diet begins with focusing on what we eat and our relationship with food.
Wanted to share this special story with you.... Like a lot of things in life, it’s much easier said than done but this is where faith and perseverance comes in.
Once there were three trees on a hill in a woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said “Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.”
Then the second tree said “Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.”
Finally the third tree said. “I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me..”
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, “This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter.” and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree a woodsman said, “This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.” The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsman said, “I don’t need anything special from my tree so I’ll take this one” and he cut it down.
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.
The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and women came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.
Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn’t think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said “peace” and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the king of kings in it’s boat.
Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
The moral of this story is that when things don’t seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.
Lance B. Bailey Sr. Pastor
Pastor James R. Polk, Sr. Pastor / Teacher
Doris Granberry, Pastor Rev. Doris Granberry, Pastor
