Black Excellence

NABCO 2024 Leadership Summit & Retreat: Uniting African American County Officials for Empowerment and Advocacy

The event stood as a beacon of empowerment, providing a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and strategic advocacy for African American elected and appointed county officials.

Published

2 months ago

May 1, 2024

Unheard Voices Staff

Photo: NABCO 2024 Leadership Summit & Retreat

The National Association of Black County Officials (NABCO) proudly held the NABCO 2024 Leadership Summit & Retreat, from April 25-27, 2024.

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NABCO 2024 Leadership Summit & Retreat

In the heart of downtown Miami, the InterContinental Miami served as the backdrop for this transformative gathering. The event stood as a beacon of empowerment, providing a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and strategic advocacy for African American elected and appointed county officials.

Dynamic agenda

The Leadership Summit & Retreat had a dynamic agenda, featuring insightful sessions, networking opportunities, and moments of relaxation. Attendees engaged with industry leaders, executives, and fellow county officials from across the United States, fostering connections and exchanging ideas to drive positive change in their communities.

Throughout the Summit & Retreat, attendees enjoyed engaging sessions and events focused on leadership and advocacy. Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, US Congresswoman Fredericka Wilson joined Miami-Dade Commissioner Kionne McGhee, NABCO President to welcome guests to Miami at the Welcome to Miami Rooftop Party.

: NABCO 2024 Leadership Summit & Retreat

: NABCO 2024 Leadership Summit & Retreat

: Photo Credit: Wyatt Malmstead, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons | NABCO 2024 Leadership Summit & Retreat

: NABCO 2024 Leadership Summit & Retreat

“We were thrilled to host the NABCO 2024 Leadership Summit & Retreat in Miami,” expressed Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kionne McGhee, President of NABCO.

“This event served as a testament to our unwavering dedication to empowering Black county officials and amplifying their voices in the decision-making process. By convening in Miami, we not only fostered a supportive environment for collaboration and growth but also symbolized our collective resolve to drive meaningful change and representation within our communities. Together, we forged a path towards a future where every voice is heard, every perspective valued, and every opportunity realized.”

Politics vs Policy Panel

At the Politics vs Policy Panel, attendees delved into thought-provoking discussions and panels moderated by industry experts, including Bill Diggs, Rodney Ellis, Mary Estimé-Irvin, Stanley Moore, and Victoria Siplin. The panel discussion emphasized the pivotal role of Black leadership in local communities, highlighting its significance in shaping the future of politics. The discussions resonated with themes of empowerment and advocacy, underscoring the collective commitment to advancing social justice and equity at the grassroots level.

Cocktails & Conversation

Cocktails & Conversation with District Attorney Fani Willis included an outdoor panel discussion featuring journalist Roland Martin; Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis; and Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore, NABCO Vice-President. Miami-Dade Commissioner Kionne McGhee, NABCO President closed the night with a panel discussion with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis who engaged attendees on law, the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and mentorship.

Esteemed guest speakers

Attendees had the opportunity to engage with esteemed guest speakers, including Kneeland Youngblood, Founding Partner of Pharos Capital Group; Desmond Meade, Executive Director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition; and Freddie Figgers, Founder of Figgers Communication. These influential leaders shared insights and strategies for effective leadership and advocacy, inspiring attendees to drive positive change within their communities.

NABCO 2024 Leadership Summit & Retreat Awards

The Summit & Retreat ended with a memorable celebration honoring Black trailblazers. Guest speaker Journalist Jeff Johnson delivered remarks on the importance of power, politics, and voting, inspiring attendees to continue their advocacy efforts.

During his remarks, Jeff Johnson commended all Black county officials in attendance as well as all of the event’s attendees. “Thank you so much for who you all are, thank you for the legacies you are leaving, and thank you so much for the sacrifices you have made. Move forward in power, but most importantly let’s move forward in love,” said Jeff Johnson.

Recognitions

Additionally, distinguished individuals were recognized for their outstanding contributions:

Lifetime Achievement Award: Alonzo Mourning Trailblazer Award: Connie W. Kinnard Game-Changer Award: Clarence D. Brown Community Impact Award: James Hawkins Community Impact Award: Patricia Fairclough-Staggers

Steadfast commitment

NABCO’s commitment to advocacy on behalf of African American elected and appointed county officials remained steadfast. Since its establishment in 1975, NABCO has served as a vital forum for networking, information sharing, and issue advocacy, championing the diverse populations in America’s counties, boroughs, and parishes.

For more information, please visit NABCO’s website.

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Black Excellence

In Memoriam: Rev. James M. Lawson Jr. (1928 – 2024)

James M. Lawson Jr., a Methodist minister who became the teacher of the civil rights movement, has died.

Published

2 days ago

June 13, 2024

Unheard Voices Staff

Photo Credit: Joon Powell, CC BY 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons | (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jameslawson.jpg)

James M. Lawson Jr., a Methodist minister who became the teacher of the civil rights movement, has died. He was 95.

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Rev James M. Lawson Jr passes

Lawson died Sunday of cardiac arrest en route to a Los Angeles hospital, according to his son J. Morris Lawson III.

Civil rights activist

Lawson was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in 1928, according to his biography by The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University. For decades, Lawson worked as a pastor, labor movement organizer and university professor. Recruited by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Lawson trained hundreds of youthful protesters in nonviolent tactics that made the Nashville lunch counter sit-ins a model for fighting racial inequality in the 1960s. Dubbed ad “the leading nonviolence theorist” by King, Lawson had studied Gandhi’s philosophy in India before joining the movement in the South. He led seminars throughout the region and became a gallivanting spokesperson for the Southern Christian Leadership. Conference. In 1968, he invited King to speak to striking sanitation workers in Memphis, where the captivating preacher was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel. Lawson committed his life to civil rights, working with various groups in the South until 1974, when he moved to L.A. to become pastor of Holman United Methodist Church. He led the church for 25 years. He retired in 1999 but remained an activist for peace and social justice. He also taught at the University of California Los Angeles’ college of social sciences, and university officials there called him “one of the most impactful social justice leaders of the twentieth-century.”

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Black Excellence

First Black Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Tech Honored In New Pentagon Exhibit

The new Department of Defense Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) exhibit is the first and only exhibit in the Pentagon that represents the history, mission, culture and tools of the Joint EOD Force.

Published

3 weeks ago

May 23, 2024

Unheard Voices Staff

first Black Explosive Ordnance Disposal Sherman Byrd

Sherman Byrd (Photo: DoD)

Master Chief Boatswain’s Mate (BMCM) Sherman Byrd, the first Black Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician in the U.S. Navy, is being honored in a first of its kind exhibit by the United States Department of Defense at the Pentagon.

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The first Black Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician in the U.S. Navy

On April 23, part of a corridor in the Pentagon was dedicated with a ribbon cutting ceremony to honor the joint explosive ordnance disposal mission and the opening of the exhibit in which the history-making Byrd is prominently featured. Throughout his career, BMCM Byrd served on 10 ships, and supported the Secret Service in the protection of U.S. Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon. Byrd was a native of Mississippi and lived and trained in Virginia, where he also passed away. “I am overjoyed to see the historic naval contributions of my father be honored at the Pentagon,” said Cynthia Byrd Conner, daughter of BMCM Sherman Byrd, who published the book on his career disarming bombs “Quiet Strong” several years ago. “While he did not bring a lot of attention to himself, he was the epitome of a ‘sea daddy,’ mentoring young sailors until they became subject matter experts. He led by example while performing such a dangerous job, and he did it quietly.”

Department of Defense Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) exhibit

The new Department of Defense Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) exhibit is the first and only exhibit in the Pentagon that represents the history, mission, culture and tools of the Joint EOD Force.

U.S. Navy’s EOD Division

The U.S. Navy’s EOD Division was founded in 1941 after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Technicians who are part of the division render safe unexploded bombs and ordnances, including improvised, chemical, biological and nuclear – both on land and underwater. “It’s truly an honor to officially open the Pentagon’s first and only explosive ordnance disposal exhibit,” said Melissa Dalton, deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, during the ribbon cutting ceremony. “The brave men and women who volunteer for this dangerous special duty are out there in our communities, on our military installations, traveling with the president and deployed across the world every day of the year.”

Ribbon cutting ceremony

More than three dozen members of the Byrd family from California, New York, New Jersey, South Carolina and Illinois attended the ribbon cutting. Joining the U.S. Navy in 1947, Byrd became the first Black American to graduate from EOD School in Indian Head, Maryland in 1958. He previously graduated from the Deep-Sea Diving School at Washington Navy Yard and Naval School Underwater Swimmers, in Key West, Florida. In 1969, he was promoted to Master Chief Boatswain’s Mate, a rank that only 1% of all enlisted personnel achieve.

: Family members of Sherman Byrd, the first African American Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician, attend the Pentagon EOD corridor exhibit unveiling in Arlington, Va., April 23, 2024. The EOD Exhibit is the first and only exhibit of its kind in the Pentagon and represents the history, mission, culture, and tools of the Joint EOD Force. (U.S. Army photo by Christopher Kaufmann)

: Family members of Sherman Byrd, the first African American Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician, attend the Pentagon EOD corridor exhibit unveiling in Arlington, Va., April 23, 2024. The EOD Exhibit is the first and only exhibit of its kind in the Pentagon and represents the history, mission, culture, and tools of the Joint EOD Force. (U.S. Army photo by Christopher Kaufmann)

: Family members of Sherman Byrd, the first African American Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician, attend the Pentagon EOD corridor exhibit unveiling in Arlington, Va., April 23, 2024. The EOD Exhibit is the first and only exhibit of its kind in the Pentagon and represents the history, mission, culture, and tools of the Joint EOD Force. (U.S. Army photo by Christopher Kaufmann)

: Family members of Sherman Byrd, the first African American Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician, attend the Pentagon EOD corridor exhibit unveiling in Arlington, Va., April 23, 2024. The EOD Exhibit is the first and only exhibit of its kind in the Pentagon and represents the history, mission, culture, and tools of the Joint EOD Force. (U.S. Army photo by Christopher Kaufmann)

: Melissa Dalton, performing the duties of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and Thomas Vail, Senior EOD Plans and Policy Analyst, cut the ribbon at the Pentagon’s new Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) corridor exhibit during its unveiling in Arlington, Va., April 23, 2024. The EOD Exhibit is the first and only exhibit of its kind in the Pentagon and represents the history, mission, culture, and tools of the Joint EOD Force. (U.S. Army photo by Christopher Kaufmann)

: Family and friends attend the Pentagon Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) corridor exhibit unveiling in Arlington, Va., April 23, 2024. The EOD Exhibit is the first and only exhibit of its kind in the Pentagon and represents the history, mission, culture, and tools of the Joint EOD Force. (U.S. Army photo by Christopher Kaufmann)

: Sherman Byrd (Photo: DoD)

Byrd died at the age of 40 in 1971 in Virginia from a heart attack following a physical training exercise. In 2009, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training and Evaluation Unit 2 facility was dedicated in his honor. In 2022, he was also honored with a Resolution in Jacksonville, Florida, where his daughter lives.

Tour the Department of Defense Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) exhibit

Those wishing to reserve a Pentagon Tour must be 18 years or older and a United States citizen or alien admitted for permanent residence in the United States.

Before the tour, all adult tour members must register as Pentagon Visitors and be cleared by the Pentagon Force Protection Agency to enter the Pentagon for the tour. To reserve a tour, please visit the Pentagon Tour Reservation Portal.

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Black Excellence

Black Woman-Owned STEM Non-Profit Receives $4M to Create Four-Story STEM Hub in Miami, Florida

S.E.E.K. Foundation, Inc. has announced the launch of the groundbreaking SMART Tech Health Hub project in Opa-Locka, Florida, which aims to provide residents, children, and families with access to high-quality STEM education.

Published

3 weeks ago

May 22, 2024

Unheard Voices Staff

Photo: S.E.E.K FOUNDATION INC.

S.E.E.K. Foundation, Inc. has announced the launch of the groundbreaking SMART Tech Health Hub project in Opa-Locka, Florida, which aims to provide residents, children, and families with access to high-quality STEM education.

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About the SMART Tech Health Hub

With $4,000,000 in funding from the state of Florida, this innovative initiative is the first of its kind in the city, aiming to provide residents, children, and families with access to high-quality STEM education, re-entry pathways to the STEM workforce, broadband width, and basic essential health services.

S.E.E.K. Foundation, Inc founder Anike Sakariyawo

“The partnership with the Miami Foundation’s Digital Equity Collective program has been pivotal in advancing this initiative,” says Founder of SEEK Foundation, Inc., Anike Sakariyawo. “We are looking to provide Opa-Locka community members of all ages access to educational resources and pathways to STEM careers to children and adults, and a space to innovate and follow individual curiosity.”

Beacon of opportunity and advancement

The Smart Tech Health Hub is looking to fill a void that has long been felt in the community as the City of Opa-Locka has no high school or technical facility. Anticipated to be fully operational by December 2026, the SMART Tech Health Hub will serve as a beacon of opportunity and advancement for the local community, empowering individuals with the tools and resources needed to thrive in today’s technology-driven world.

The SMART Tech Health Hub will be a multifaceted building, serving a purpose for each level.

The first and second floors are designed for children and staff members of S.E.E.K foundation to conduct everyday operations for educational programs in STEM. This will include a pipeline program to create academic access to a specific industry (e.g. USDA – food, agriculture, artificial intelligence (AI) learning deployment and integration, cybersecurity, coding program, robotics, UI/UX Design, etc.). The third floor will allow children and families to have access to basic health needs, such as annual shots/vaccinations, back to school boosters, telehealth, as additional sites for the community.

1st Annual Youth STEM Summit

This Summer, S.E.E.K. Foundation, Inc. hosted their 1st Annual Youth STEM Summit, which inspired 500 young students about the opportunities and importance of STEM education. Through hands-on activities, interactive workshops, and informative presentations, they ignited curiosity and nurtured students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. For more information, please visit: https://seekedu.org