Monica May's Point Of View

Tony Foster, Florida Chapter President of Kentucky State University (an HBCU) National Alumni Association discussed major issues facing our institutions today. The struggle to keep doors open stems from financial drought and student retention. The need for graduates to give back is more essential today than ever before. Connect with Kentucky State U to give back at info@ksunaa.org or find a HBCU in your area today. Peggy Gustave a Haitian woman born in the United States shared detailed information about the recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on the Trump mandate to end Temporary Protective Status for Haitian people living in communities around the U.S. For more info contact the Florida Immigration Coalition 1-888-600-5762; Hope Community Center 407/880-4673; Catholic Charities 407/658-1818; or Congressman Frost's local office 321/388-9808. Redemption Home1.com is an organization comprised of three black men who work with the Department of Children & Families to provide housing and reunification methods for youth 8 - 17. Since 2013, these men have obtained 5 homes and developed programming for youth with developmental issues or ADHD. You can participate in the Monday Night Mentors program contact vbrantly@redemptionhome1.com or call 689-808-1074

Orlando native Dr. Kalandria Smith starts local company, Landi-Lou Productions and presents, "I've Been Sleeping....." Saturday, June 27th @ Olympia H.S. 2:30 & 7:30pm Dr. Sherry Parramore, Executive V.P. & COO of Bethune Cookman University shared details about their "Day of Giving" Thursday, June 18th. They want to raise $200,000 which will be matched by a donor. If you'd like to add to the financial assistance for students, visit www.Give.Cookman.edu Former Olympic Star Damu Cherry-Mitchell shared highlights of her track career and how important it is for she & her husband Dennis to train potential Olympic athletes through their Elite Star Athletics Track Club program. Second Harvest Food Bank conducted community research and got direct feedback through their Career Pathways Program. Director Keonna Yearwood-Branch shared the results of how AI has taken over human resources and is preventing students from obtaining sustainable employment. However, they continue to train the community through an enhanced customer care and culinary program. www.feedhopenow.org details their July 7th start for customer care and August 3rd begins culinary training.

Dr. Lavon Bracy and State Senator Lavon Bracy-Davis shared a fun filled conversation about what it was like growing up in a family of community servants. They had a chance to laugh and tell behind the scenes stories that we'd never heard before. Village of Love, Inc. is an organization assisting families through the loss of a loved one through gun violence. Emily Pringle and Tuwanan Ware both lost their sons at the age of 20. They shared how VOL supports families with grief counseling, victim compensation forms, burial assistance, and more. Connect with them through www.villageofloveinc.org or call 407/309-0645

26 Health invites the community to a seminar on menopause, March 24th 6pm at their office 801 N. Magnolia Avenue. Physicians will be available to answer all questions. "Is it Hot in Here" is a FREE discussion . Register online at www.26health.org Center for Change is an education and resource organization that serves Orange, Osceola and Volusia counties. They provide information and testing on colon and prostate cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, chronic pain, and more. We spoke with a 5-year colon cancer survivor, Renard Mitchell about his experience. They shared their collaboration with the Colon Cancer Coalition and the upcoming Sneaker Ball as well as the 5K "Get your Rear in Gear" run. For more info visit www.floridacenterforchange.org

Karen Castor Dentel, our new Orange County Supervisor of Elections, shared updated information as we prepare for the midterm elections. This election happens midway through our presidential four-year term. The following are elections happening March, August 16th and November 3rd.

Our recorded conversation with Former Congresswoman Val Demings left us with several nuggets. She talked about how Florida is a testing ground for national policy debates. We discussed the importance of accountability and defining the issues that voters should be paying attention to. Demings reminded us that the President is doing exactly what he said he was going to do. Her response to what defines our 2026 voter issues was "affordability, taxes, and education. Russell Drake, CEO of Build Black Daily, shared his digital Black History calendar for 2026. He shares over 60 activities that cover 7 counties - to receive your copy visit www.buildblackdaily.com The Central Florida Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials has been in existence since 1999. Former Chair, Clerk of the Court Russell has now handed the torch to Congressman Maxwell Frost. The members are local city and county officials as well as state legislators, and they convene to hear constituent concerns. To connect contact jason.henry@mail.house.gov

There is a "Science to Sisterhood" so says Anika Allen with 5-Star Friendships! An organization she began during the pandemic that stays on the cutting edge of research on the importance of friendship in terms of life longevity. Today there is a national epidemic where 20% of our population suffer from loneliness. She also pointed out that since the lifespan of women is longer than men, some 80% of women will die alone. Therefore, it's important to develop friendships. In a social setting, you can let your clothes, a broach or tie be a focal point to start a conversation. Other important gestures we can use to make ourselves appealing to friendship would be to put our phones down, have engaging eye contact and facial expressions. Connect with Mrs. Allen at www.FiveStarFriendships.org. Order her book "Friendships to Go!" on her website. January is National Mentoring Month, and the Winter Park Kappa League developed a youth mentoring component now in its 20th year. To date they have serviced over 100 male youth on the importance of community and mentoring. Derek Walls, their Leadership Coordinator designed the "Speed Networking Experience" to get 20 males connected with 20 community leaders. Khalil Dexter, a 9th grade student at Jones H.S. Is the Vice President of their young men's group and shared how integral the league has been in his development overall. To connect your son to the league call 321/209-4610 or visit www.winterparkkappaleague.com