October 2020 Wrap Up!

                                            

                                                    October Wrap Up

Starting out the month of October, our BHCFL students enjoyed Orlando Rep’s Broadway on Demand production of Vote? By Eric Coble which focused on pivotal moments in history with the Woman's Right to Vote, African-American's Right to Vote, and Young People demanding the Right to Vote. Such a timely production. This play brought to life historical figures like Sojourner Truth, George Washington, Lucretia Mott, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and showed that we are standing on the shoulders of so many that have come before us and not to casually dismiss this American right.

Our "Be Our Guest" Speaker for the month of October was Attorney Junella Reese! She had such wonderful advice for our youth as she shared her inspirational journey to becoming an attorney. 

Our students began a 10- week Marine Science Series hosted by Manatee Lagoon! Classes are every Tuesday from 10-10:30 a.m. If you are interested in participating, please let us know by emailing us at BHCFLStrong@gmail.com so we can send you the Zoom link. 

BHCFL youth ended their 1st session of BHCFL's Tutoring & College Preparatory classes and are beginning their 2nd session on November 2nd.

Our BHCFL families have been participating in the following Community Service projects: 

~ Weekly Pen Pal writing to the elderly at various nursing homes in the community, Virtual 1- mile Fun Run to benefit our local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia, and the collection of eyeglasses for the Lion’s Club Recycle for Sight Program.

Right in step with our Adopt-a -Calf project this year, we enjoyed Virtual Dairy Farm Tours to two dairy farms in PA where they taught us about various careers in agriculture and showed us new technologies that they are using on some of the dairy farms. The highlight was seeing the animals up close and personal. We can't wait to meet our calf! 

This month we also enjoyed two programs geared towards Aerospace. All of our students K-12th were given the opportunity to participate in Aerospace Professionals in Schools Week hosted by theOrganization of Black Aerospace Professionals where they heard personal career stories from several aerospace professionals, and were given an opportunity to ask questions. We learned some alarming statistics. There are 100,000 pilots who fly for a regional(commuter) airline, corporation or major airline. Less than 6% are female pilots, 3% black, and less than 1% black female. We are so grateful that programs and organizations like these exist. They make such an impact on our youth and provide guidance and introduce vast opportunities. Not only did they introduce our youth to a variety of Aerospace careers, but they also gave some great advice:

~Keep good friends and surround yourself with positive people who challenge you to make you better.

~Find a mentor and build a network of people in the industry you’re interested in. 

~If there’s a career you’re interested in, find a family friend or someone in the community and ask to shadow them for a day to see what it’s like in a day.

~BELIEVE IN YOURSELF! Even when others don’t or won’t, BELIEVE IN 

YOURSELF! 

~Never Give Up! 

The following Saturday was focused on our young ladies. At Girls Launch, hosted by the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, our young ladies K-12th were able to see and interact with female aerospace professionals to boost interest in the unlimited opportunities in aerospace. They enjoyed a Virtual Tour of Miami International Airport's Air Traffic Control Tower, they went Behind-the-Scenes with Delta Air Lines Tech Ops, Behind-the-Scenes of anAviation Crash Site, and had Breakout Sessions where Girls Can Do Anything - K-5, Cool Careers in Aerospace - 6-8. Virtual College Fair/Financing Your Education - High School, and Finding Your First Job - Early Career. This day long virtual event was topped off with lots of prizes! 

BHCFL families attended the live virtual event Impact of Inequity & COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Black Youth hosted by WUCF-PBS. This event is part of the PBS Well Beings Tour. In 2020, the threat to the physical and mental well-being of Black youth is especially high. COVID-19 and acts of police brutality nationwide have increased the stress and sense of social isolation young Black people experience. Additionally, according to the Congressional Black Caucus, the rate of suicide among Black youth is rising faster than any other racial/ethnic group. Together, these factors put the mental health of Black youth, particularly at risk and this discussion was timely and needed. The Moderator was WFTV News Anchor Nancy Alvarez. The panelists were Dr. Candice Jones, Therapist Davia Knight, Director of Operations and Research Jeffrey McCary, and Peer Professional and Wellness Advocate Dr. Tamia McEwen. 

Our BHCFL young ladies were invited to attend Charleston Girls in Tech’s Tech Talk which featured women that work in the field of Cyber Security. Especially inspiring was Lieutenant Colonel Linda Riedel who commanded a Cyber Protection Battalion that protected the state of SC and our country from cyberattacks. 

BHCFL’s Annual Family Retreat Weekend, established to deepen the fellowship of our community through shared experiences and to help us focus our energy on village building, was able to continue this year! BHCFL families were able to spend 4 days communing with nature and one another. There was tent and RV camping and glamping, fishing, African mask making, Adinkra cloth stamping, Tie Dye shirts and painting, Pumpkin carving, bonfires and movie night every night, and 60 acres for everyone to stretch out, play, hike, and just enjoy nature. This time was needed for all to release and relax from all of the pressures and obstacles we are  facing.