NAACP Youth Holds Men Of Valor Awards Breakfast
BY C.S. HOWARD
The 2019 Class of Men of Valor: Christopher Hannon, Gregor y Alexandrea, Jr., Fredd Atkins, Rev. Demetrius Jifunza, John Jones, Sr., Brock Waters and Pat Lavender.
The Sarasota County Branch NAACP Youth Council recognized six men in the community for their work with children, youth and families. The Ninth Annual Men of Valor Awards breakfast was held on Saturday, June 1st at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex. The theme was “Charting our Course; Telling Our Story; Changing the World.” The 2019 Men of Valor were Gregory Alexandreá, Jr., Fredd Atkins, Christopher Hannon, John Jones, Sr., Pat Lavender, Sr. and Brodrick “Brock” Waters. Atkins was selected as the 2019 Man of the Year for his many years of service and dedication to the community. A three-time Mayor of the City of Sarasota and the first African American to serve on the Commission, Atkins has volunteered with organizations focused on youth for several years. Alexandreá volunteers with the Police Athletic League, the Boys and Girls Club and Truly Valued, and is a volunteer mentor at various elementary, middle and high schools in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Hannon, a former NFL player, works with youth at the Boys and Girls Club/ Sarasota County School Board. He is a physical education teacher and mentor for the Booker Middle After School Program and owns and operates Camp941 Elite Sports Camp. Jones has been involved in youth sports for the past 20 years and founded Bay City Ballers, a premier boys travel basketball program, helping to help build up young men as athletes and quality young citizens. Lavender serves as an Ambassador with the Sarasota Police Department and volunteers at many community and family-oriented events. Waters is owner/operator of X-Factor Elite Academy, LLC and helps develop athletes both physically and mentally. The message to youth was given by Rev. Demetrius Jifunza, vice president of the Sara sota County Branch, NAACP, and pastor of Mt. Calvary C.M.E. Church in Lake Wales.
The 2019 Dr. Edward E. James, Jr. Memorial Scholarship was presented to Amari Wideman, a graduate of Pine View School where she maintained a 4.2 GPA while doing dual enrollment at State College of Florida. She was a four-year scholar athlete, participating in softball, track and cheer. She was also a member of the National Society of High School Scholarship. Amari will attend Florida State University this summer as a pre-med major and would like to become a neonatal surgeon. The mission of the youth council is to inform youth of the problems affecting African Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities, and to help develop youth into great leaders. Jaela Dennis is Youth Council President and Cynthia S. Howard is Youth Advisor. Trevor D. Harvey is Branch President.
