NAACP YOUTH MEN of VALOR AWARDS BREAKFAST on JUNE 1st
BY C.S.HOWARD
The Sarasota County Branch NAACP Youth Council will host its Ninth Annual Men of Valor Awards breakfast on Saturday, June 1st at the Robert L. Taylor Complex. The breakfast starts at 8:30 a.m. The Men of Valor Awards are presented to men who have given extraordinary service toward the development of children, youth and families in Sarasota through their work in the community and in their church This year’s honorees are Gregory Alexandreá, Jr., Fredd Atkins, Christopher Hannon, John Jones, Sr., Pat Lavender, Sr. and Brock Waters.
Alexandreá has been in the banking business since 2001 and currently works for BMO Harris Bank where he is a Branch Manager 2. He has been actively involved in several community organizations including the Manatee County Branch NAACP, Manasota Black Chamber of Commerce, Police Athletic League, SETV, Boys and Girls Club, the Sarasota Housing Authority, Royal Sara Mana Club and Truly Valued. He is a volunteer mentor at various elementary, middle and high schools in Sarasota and Manatee counties and has been actively involved with the YMCAAchievers/Hippy programs.
Atkins is the first African American to serve on the City of Sarasota’s City Commission. He represented Sarasota three times as mayor and served on numerous state and national committees. He is a founder of the Newtown Little League, and has worked with the Family Life Intervention Program of Coastal Recovery; Union of Concerned Parents, YouthBuild Sarasota, the Greater Newtown Community Redevelopment Corporation, and JOBS Etc.
Hannon has been employed by Boys and Girls Club/Sarasota County School Board for seven years. He works as Physical Education teacher and mentor for the Booker Middle After School Program. He is Camp Owner/ Marketing Director for CAMP941 Elite Sports Camp which he started in 2015. The Camp’s goal is to make sure that youth know how important it is to get an education first and that everything else would fall in place, and provide options for those who may not be interested in college, helping them to decide on a trade or other source of employment.
Jones has been employed by Sarasota County for 29 years working in the parks and recreation department as a facility assistant. He has been involved in youth sports for the past 20 years and founded his own youth organization, Bay City Ballers, a premier boys travel basketball program. Their goal is to help build up young men as athletes and quality young citizens. Through the organization, youth are given an opportunity to travel the United States playing basketball.
Lavender served in the military for 21 years, retiring in December 2000. He worked for the Sarasota Police Department part time for 10 years and continues to serve as an Ambassador providing support and assistance to the community by performing a variety of public services to the citizens of the City of Sarasota. He handles all music/DJ responsibilities for the community and family events for the police department.
Waters is owner/operator of X-Factor Elite Academy, LLC where he is the head personal trainer and a strength and conditioning coach. As such, he helps develop athletes to make them not only the best athlete they can be but also the strongest, fastest and most agile as possible. Mental toughness is the key to his program, and he strives to change the way his clients see the greatness in them. For tickets or other information, you can call 941-724-4205 or email SarasotaYouth57AE@yahoo.com.
Jaela Dennis is Youth Council President and Trevor D. Harvey is Branch President.
