Kendra Cummings
Vistra Communications
C:813.431.0444

“American Idol” Season 11 Top 10 Finalist DeAndre Brackensick Visits Tampa on Dec. 13 to Promote Upcoming Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival

TAMPA, FL – (December 12, 2012) –

On Thursday, Dec. 13, “American Idol” finalist DeAndre Brackensick will visit Tampa Bay to promote the upcoming Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival. Brackensick was the eighth place finalist in the eleventh season of the hit show. During his time in the area, he will visit a local school and television stations in Tampa Bay. He plans to return in January during the Festival where he will perform during the 10-day event.

DeAndre’s Tentative Schedule for Dec. 13:

Interviews with local media

The Shops at Wiregrass Visit from 7:30-8:30 p.m. during the

Symphony and Lights Show

“We are excited to have young performers like DeAndre Brackensick and national saxophonist Eric Darius who will appeal to diverse audiences as part of our line-up of highly-talented performers, ” said TBBHF Co-Chairperson Ruby Jackson “The 2013 Festival promises to be a can’t miss event.”

On “American Idol” Brackensick was well-known for crooning soulful ballads by Earth, Wind and Fire, DeBarge and Eric Benet. He was consistently praised by the judges for his performances and was one of the live audience’s favorites. After his performance of Stevie Wonder’s “Master Blaster, ” judge Randy Jackson told Brackensick he was the most commercial ready at that point out of all the contestants for the season. Since “American Idol”, he has appeared on various talk shows including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “LIVE! with Kelly,” “The Today Show,” and “Anderson.” Brackensick returned to the “American Idol” stage for the season eleven finale. He was also part of the American Idol’s season eleven top ten finalists concert tour in summer 2012. For media and publicity inquiries for DeAndre Brackensick on Dec. 13, please contact Kendra Cummings of Vistra Communications at Kendra@ConsultVistra.com or (C) 813.431.0444 and (O) 813.961.4700.

The Tampa Bay Black heritage festival honors culture and diversity in the greater Tampa Bay area and takes place Jan. 17-26, 2013. Brackensick will perform on Jan. 19, as part of the two-day, lively and exciting street festival at Curtis Hixon Park. His trip to the Tampa Bay area is sponsored by the Black Women Business Owners, Executives & Entrepreneurs (BWBOEE) and supporters of TBBHF.

University of South Florida Lecture Series
“DOING THE LITTLE THINGS, AND EXECUTING VISION”

Speaker: Mr. Herman Edwards

Marshall Center Ballroom
4202 East Fowler Avenue
Tampa, FL 33620

Mr. Samuels will be greatly missed and his contribution will never be forgotten.

Location:

Hillsbourgh County Childrens Board
1002 East Palm Avenue
Tampa, FL 33605

Panelists

Brenda J. Grove

I have a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, Master of Public Administration degree, Business of Medicine Certificate from Johns Hopkins University, and am certified as a Grant Professional by the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI).

My professional experiences include Assistant to the City Manager in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Senior Administrator at Johns Hopkins University, School Hygiene and Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, where I garnered 20 years’ plus grant development experience in working with the largest federal granting agencies (e.g. Dept. Health and Human Services, Dept. of Education, Dept. of Transportation, Dept. of Commerce and Environmental Protection Agency, etc.) and other state and local agencies and foundations. At the University of Maryland, School of Business, I served as the Deputy Director for Maryland’s Small Business Development Center directing the statewide Business Counselor Certification training and financial management of four regions. As Director, Restricted Funds Accounting, Morgan State University, I managed $60 million. | Read More…

Steven Hoschak

Hoschak has five years of banking experience. He joined TD Bank in 2011 as an Assistant Store Manager. Prior to joining TD Bank, Hoschak served as a Relationship Manager at BB&T Bank.

A Citrus Park, Fla., resident, Hoschak is a member of the Pasco/Hernando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate of Sickles High School in Tampa.

TD Bank focuses on delivering legendary customer service by providing seven-day branch banking with extended hours, Penny Arcade coin-counting machines, hassle-free products, free online banking and bill pay at www.tdbank.com, and treats for kids and dogs. Customers also have access to a network of 2,700 ATMs from Maine to Florida.

Harland Henry

Harland Henry is an economic development strategist. He is the founder and President of SunBiz Showcase Alliance LLc, a Business Consulting and Business Referral Company. He is a former public servant having worked with the FDIC, and then the state of Connecticut as an advisor to the Secretary of the State on economic and community development with a special focus on small business. He created an award winning project designed to help the growth of over 7,000 small businesses in the New England area.

Since relocating to Florida in February 2009, he started SunBiz Showcase Alliance LLC, a business consulting company. He continues his work in supporting small businesses and innovators through his “Localization” initiative. Localization is a concept that empowers businesses to support, build and make their community sustainable through networking and virtual connections. | Read More…

Jim Parrish

Jim Parrish is a Certified Business Analyst in the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of South Florida. He is responsible for the coordination of the Florida Small Business Development Network’s Growth Acceleration Services. This statewide program provides extensive consulting services to assist a company in its growth efforts while improving the financial performance of the firm.

Jim has more than 40 years of extensive experience as a bank executive, small business loan officer, financial counselor, and instructor. He has had direct responsibilities in the areas of accounting, auditing, operations, security, insurance, investments, retail lending, commercial lending, budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and personnel.

Gregory Hart

Mr. Hart is Managing Director of the Minority and Small Business Development Office (MBD).

Gregory’s professional expertise is extensive which includes program management at the city, county and federal level; business development; contract compliance and budget performance evaluation.

Mr. Hart received his undergraduate degree in Political Science with a minor in Psychology, and a master’s degree education in Public Administration (concentration in city management), both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a Tar Heel from the Michael Jordan collegiate era.

Register

Join us at the HCC Dale Mabry Campus for the Farming Family & Folk Art Exhibition Reception.

Native to Bealsville, a traditional and historic African American town in Hillsborough County, Florida, Ruby C. Williams is well known for her brightly painted folk art. It is sold alongside fruits and vegetables, such as black-eyed peas, strawberries, watermelons, and colared greens, at the self-built market located on her property. Originally, Bealsville was founded by five freed slaves, one of them being Mary Reddick, Williams’ great-grandmother. As a result, Williams has a deep sense of attachment to the land she works with.

Williams is an artist in charge of her life, and this fact is apparent in her strong and determined values that center on hard work, problem solving, close family ties and a strong religious grounding. Ruby Williams believes she was put on this earth to heal and minister through her produce, her artwork and her community space. Her work is in private collections and galleries all over the world. But even today, she seems as interested in selling produce as she does in selling art.

Featuring: Stogie Kenyetta as “Paul Robeson”
The #1 Solo Show in the USA and Caribbean Show College Circuit.

A favorite on the topics of diversity and social justice. Laff-out-Loud funny, educational and inspiring”

Tickets: $45.00 (Tickets purchased online will incur service fees.  Tickets purchased onsite at the Straz Center will not incur service fees)
Dinner/Reception: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Show: 8:30pm – 9:30pm
Dessert Meet & Greet: 9:30pm – 10:00pm
Skaters Gala & Steppers Ball: 10:00pm – 2:00am

Skaters Gala & Steppers Ball

Steppers Ball, Ballroom & Bop

Featuring: Mz DJ Tone & Dj Jammin

“You Don’t want to Miss this”

Description:

Felecia Ann Winton-Taylor

Part of the 10-day Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival, this 5K walk emphasizes healthy living and is dedicated in memory of Felecia Ann Winton-Taylor. This is a FREE Event.

Felecia Wintons - Taylor a founding member of the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival and the owner of Books for Thought in Temple Terrace lost her battle with cancer on November 14, 2009.  In memory of Felecia’s legacy, the Festival will forever celebrate her great works throughout the Tampa Bay area.

Register Today to this very important walk.

Register Today

Heritage Street Festival – This 2-day weekend event is the heart and soul of the community.

Kicking off a week-long series of activities, the Street Festival features a stage of local and national entertainment, as well as unique “Villages.”

• Artists’ Village: Local and national artists display a wide selection of original, ethnic artwork.
• Authors’ Village: Local and national authors showcase their literature.
• Children’s Village: Features face painting, storytelling, educational activities, and arts and crafts, as well as several other engaging activities for children.
• Greek Village: A platform for sororities and fraternities to showcase their organization and share information regarding their community involvement.
• Health Village: Adults and children are offered free health screenings for HIV, diabetes, hypertension, breast cancer, glaucoma and many other prevalent health concerns.
• 

  Beer & Wine Available

  Heritage 5K Walk or Run for Cancer: Honors Felecia Ann Wintons-Taylor, a founding member of the Festival who lost her life to breast cancer, and emphasizes healthy living while addressing health concerns prevalent in the African-American community.

• Corporate Village: Bay area businesses have the opportunity to reinforce their brand. TBBHF supports community development, and the Street Festival allows local businesses to optimize opportunities by presenting a platform to promote products and distribute promotional materials.

Featuring:

DeAndre Brackensick

Brackensick initially auditioned for the tenth season of American Idol, but he was cut in the green mile round because the judges felt like he wasn’t ready and advised him to come back the following season to audition again. He did return and auditioned for the eleventh season of American Idol in San Diego, California, ultimately making it into the top twelve male contestants.

In the semi-finals, he performed “Reasons” by Earth, Wind & Fire. He was not one of the top five males chosen by America’s votes, but was selected as one of six contestants to perform in the wild card round. In this round, he performed “Georgia on My Mind” by Hoagy Carmichael and His Orchestra and was selected as one of the three wild cards to advance to the top 13 by American Idol judge, Steven Tyler. He was consistently praised by the judges for his performances and one of the live audience’s favorites. After his performance of Stevie Wonder’s, “Master Blaster” American Idol judge, Randy Jackson told Brackensick out of all the contestants for this season he was the most commercial ready, now.

Parking Fees: vary depending on location.

Get Your Sk8on Entertainment Presents the  ”Let’s Goooooooo Skate Party”
Featuring: Dj Jammin from Philadelphia

Saletta Coleman
202-271-1149

More Info

Location:
Skateworld
7510 Paula Drive
Tampa (Town & Country)

Come back out Sunday for our “Gospel / Jazz Sunday” portion of the 2013 Street Festival. We are proud to bring to the stage Tampa’s own National Recording Artists: Eric Darius and Nathan Mitchell along with many talented live performing artists and groups that will grace the stage for a day of entertaining, inspirational and joyful music.

Beer & Wine Available

Eric Darius

With the release of 2004′s “Night on the Town”, saxophonist Eric Darius was prophetically hailed, Best Debut Artist of the Year by Smooth Jazz News, alerting the world that an exciting and vibrant new artist was officially embarking upon his destined mission to take the idiom to scintillating new heights. Noted for his searing and unrelenting passion and energy, Eric’s albums and live performances earn him new fans at every turn, as well as industry and critical acclaim.

His last album “Just Getting Started” debuted in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart, remained there for nine consecutive weeks, and featured four hit singles, including his cover of pop star Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You” (the album’s second single, which reached 2 on the SmoothJazz.com charts and also cracked the Top 10 on R&R Contemporary Jazz chart).

Nathan Mitchell

Producer, Multi-Instrumentalist, Composer, and Singer Nathan Mitchell aka “Nate” is becoming one of the most sought after talents on the National Smooth Jazz Market. Since his 2011 entrance in the smooth jazz industry as a premier keyboardist, organist, and vocalist, he has performed with a widely diverse list of some of the biggest artist(s) in the music industry, including grammy nominees/winners and billboard chart toppers such as: Jessy J, Paul Brown, Gerald Veasley, Mindi Abair, Marcus Anderson, Stokley Williams (Mint Condition), Shaun LaBelle, Jaquiem Joyner, Nick Colionne, Will Donato, Nate Najar, and Jonathan Fritzen; as well as stars from many other genres like Chico DeBarge, Chris Tucker (Comedian), Thomas McClary (The Commodores), as well as, many other acclaimed artist(s).

Paige in Full

Paige in Full is a visual mix-tape that blends poetry, dance, visual arts and live music to tell the tale of a multicultural girl growing up in Baltimore, MD.. The production explores how a young woman’s identity is shaped by her ethnicity and popular culture, telling a personal, yet universal, story through the lens of hip-hop.

To create Paige in Full, sibling-duo Paige Hernandez (writer and performer) and Nick tha 1da (musician) worked with Danielle A. Drakes (director) and Bryan Joseph Lee (dramaturg) to develop a story that speaks to a dynamic hip-hop-influenced generation. Paige in Full draws upon a range of creative disciplines such as literary, musical and visual arts. The story unfolds on a backdrop of multimedia projections provided by Flashpoint Gallery veteran Tewodross Melchishua. Paige in Full had its workshop production in December 2009 and its world premiere May 11-May 29, 2010 at the Mead Theatre Lab at Flashpoint. Read More>>

“Presented by the Straz Center and supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, SouthArts and NPN”

 

 

 

 

Arts, Crafts & Food Vendors, Free Health Screenings – Live Entertainment, Villages (Artists, Authors, Children’s, Health, Greek (Fraternities/Sororities) & Corporate

“Black Girls ROCK Party” featuring Mz Dj Tone of Chicago

Skate World
7510 Paula Drive
Tampa, FL 33615

Event sponsored by Get Your Sk8on Entertainment

The Plant City MLK Leadership Breakfast involves community leaders both civic and government (local, county, state, and federal) along with faith based leaders joining together to pay tribute to the late civic leader and recognizing individuals in the community whose achievements reflect community service, education and leadership.

Location: Plant City Hillsborough Community College Trinkle Building

Contact: Improvement League of Plant City, Inc. | William Thomas | phone: 813-757-6760 | email: wsolution@tampabay.rr.com | website: www.plantcitymlkfestival.com

27th Annual Plant City MLK Leadership Breakfast
$25.00 RSVP only before January 17th, 2013

Hillsborough Community College Plant City Campus
Trinkle Building
106 Park Road,
Plant City, FL

Guest Speaker: Elder Joe Nathan Halman Jr.

“A Day on, Not a Day off”

The Parade Committee, cordially invites you to participate in the 25th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade; Monday, January 21, 2013. The parade will again move down the east Tampa route on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. Participating in the event is not only great fun but it also provides you with an excellent way to promote your organization or business at minimal cost.

This fundraising event takes place to support the 10-day celebration, in support of cultural enrichment.

Golf Classic Event Sponsor

Sponsorship & Underwriting Opportunities are still available.

Silent Auction donations needed
For more details, please contact:
Mike Washington at (813) 767-0442 or use our Contact Form

Map and Directions | Register | Sponsorship Opportunities

Hole Sponsors

Location:
Kotler Art Gallery
John F. Germany Public Library
900 N. Ashley Drive
Tampa, FL 33602

Exhibit: Harry T. and Harriette Moore

Two American black civil rights pioneer workers who lead human rights activists in Brevard County, FL. They organized the first Brevard County Branch of the NAACP in 1934 and fought for equality and justice until death.

Harry Tyson Moore (November 18, 1905 – December 25, 1951) was an African-American teacher, founder of the first branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Brevard County, Florida, and a pioneer leader of the civil rights movement in Florida and the southern United States.

Harry T. Moore and his wife, Harriette Vyda Simms Moore, were killed by Ku Klux Klan sneak-attack bombers who blew up the Moores’ home on Christmas night 1951.^[1] The Moores were the first NAACP members to be murdered for their civil rights activism; Moore has been called the first martyr of the 1950s-era civil rights movement.

In the early 1930s Moore became state secretary for the Florida chapter of the NAACP. Through his registration activities, he greatly increased the number of members, and he worked on issues of housing and education. He investigated lynchings, filed lawsuits against voter registration barriers and white primaries, and worked for equal pay for black teachers in public schools.

Moore also led the Progressive Voters League. Between 1944 and 1950, he succeeded in increasing the registration of black voters in Florida to 31 percent of those eligible to vote, markedly higher than in any other Southern state.

Harriette Vyda Simms was born in West Palm Beach, Florida on June 19, 1902, to David Ira Simms, (a wood lathe worker), and Annie Warren Simms. Her family also consisted of her sisters – Valerie Simms and Mae Mebane; her brothers included George Simms, Arnold Simms, Rupert Simms and David Simms Jr. The family then relocated to Mims, Florida. As a youth, she spent summers working in Massillon, Ohio with her father. Simms attended Daytona Normal Industrial Institute in Daytona Beach, Florida. She later graduated from Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach with an associate of arts degree in 1941 and a bachelor of science degree in 1950.

Simms taught elementary school classes for many years, in Brevard County in Merritt Island, Florida and in Mims at Mims Colored Elementary School, and in Lake Park, Florida until her death. In Mims, she helped to cook lunch every day for the students.

Simms met Titusville Colored School principal Harry Tyson Moore while teaching classes in Brevard County. They married on December 25, 1926, and had two daughters, Annie Rosalea (known as “Peaches”), (1928–1972) and Juanita Evangeline (known as “Evangeline”), (born in 1930). .

Ben Green is a professional writer and the author of four non-fiction books. His most recent is Spinning the Globe: The Rise, Fall, and Return to Greatness of the Harlem Globetrotters, published in 2005 by Amistad (HarperCollins). His other books include: Before His Time, The Soldier of Fortune Murders, and Finest Kind.

Spinning the Globe is the first comprehensive history of the world renowned Harlem Globetrotters, tracing their roots back to the 1920s and highlighting their influence in spreading basketball and goodwill around the world. The book has a forward by Bill Cosby and received a full page review in the New York Times. Green was also the primary consultant on a PBS documentary about the Globetrotters, entitled “The Team That Changed the World,” which was broadcast nationally in February 2005.

The focus of the Leadership Luncheon is to engage our community in current events that affect our local communities and our nation. The core element includes a speaker who worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and/or who is continuing Dr. King’s dream for equality.

Speaker: Shirley Sherrod

Dr. Shirley Sherrod

In July 2010, Shirley Sherrod was forced to resign from her position at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) after conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart posted video excerpts on his website of a Sherrod address at an NAACP event. According to Breitbart, her comments showed how a federally appointed executive racially discriminated against a white farmer. The video set off a storm of controversy and criticism of Sherrod. Subsequent events showed that the posted video was taken out of context and part of broader comments that conveyed a completely different meaning.  The NAACP apologized for critical comments and her boss at the USDA also apologized while offering her another job, which she later declined.

Location:
The University Area Community Development Center
14013 North 22nd Street
Tampa, FL 33613

Fees:

• $10 Individual / $1 Online Processing Fee
• $125 Table of 8 / $5 Online Processing Fee

Register Online or  Mail Check payable to:  TBBHF,   PO Box 16622,   Tampa, FL 33687   (reference: Leadership Luncheon)

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Register Today

“Bring Your Own Lunch”

Location:
Tampa Theatre
711 North Franklin Street
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 274-8981

Speaker:

Dr. Rev. Calvin Morris

Minister, historian and human rights advocate the Reverend Dr. Calvin Sylvester Morris was born March 16, 1941, in Philadelphia. He attended Meade Elementary School and Vaux Junior High School. Morris was awarded a partial scholarship to Friends Select High School, a private Quaker school known for its high standards. One of two black students in his class, Morris graduated with honors in 1959. He then went on to Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania graduating cum laude in 1963 with a B.A. in history. At Boston University, he earned an M.A. in history in 1964 and an S.B.T. in theology in 1967. Morris was also ordained in the United Methodist Church.

Later in 1967, Morris moved to Chicago to work on his Ph.D., but was asked by the Reverend Jesse Jackson to become the associate director and national coordinator of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s Operation Breadbasket, now the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. He served from 1967 to 1971, through the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Fred Hampton. Breadbasket attracted activists and celebrities like Fannie Lou Hamer, Bill Cosby, Julius “Cannonball” Adderly, Rosa Parks, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Mahalia Jackson and Sammy Davis, Jr. Read More>>

Come out and enjoy an evening of good Gospel music, food & fellowship.

Where:
Open Cafe
3222 N 34th St
Tampa, FL 33605

The tour is designed to showcase the best and brightest, and encourage the investment of black dollars back into the community by supporting local Black-owned businesses.

For More Info: 813.394.6363

Seating Limited

Bus departs from “Tampa Luv Chicken and Waffles”

Are you ready to win a free gift basket from us? Here’s how-participate in our social media contest for a chance to win a Festival Gift Basket full of unique, ethnically-centered gifts. Enter the contest by visiting our “Contests” tab and  providing us with your favorite moment from any Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival from the past 13 years. Hurry, submissions are being accepted Nov. 5 – 26. From Nov. 26 through Nov. 30, your friends as well as friends of the TBBHF fan page will be voting. The contestant who receives the most votes for their experience wins the prize basket. Good luck!

We have decided to extend our Giveaway Contest! We are accepting submissions from now until November 26th! Don’t worry those of you who have entered are still in the running! http://ow.ly/f2HWd

Hosted by:
Macedonia M. B. Church Nehemiah Project
Zephyrhills, Florida
Proceeds – Youth Education Scholarship Fund

Location:
Embassy Suites USF/Busch Gardens
3705 Spectrum Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33612

Silent Auction – Door Prizes – Donation $20.00
Attire:  Business Casual

Reception following Show

Purchase tickets online at – Fashion4Spring.eventbrite.com

The First Annual Women, Heal Thyself: Mind, Body Spirit Health Conference is designed to provide attendees with the health information, tools, and resources they need to take care of the whole SELF. Women of all ages across Florida will come together for a full day of networking, exploring women health issues, and participating in women health circles to support each other in personal healthaction planning for overall health and well-being. If you want the latest information on women’s health and desire to expand your health support circles, this conference is for you! The conference is FREE to all, made possible by funding support of the Health and Human Services Office of Women’s Health, as well as support and partnership of Florida Minority Health Promotion Network, Tampa Bay Black Nurses Association, and Adullam Worship Center.

May 19th, 2012 | 8am-4:00pm
University of South Florida – Marshall Center
4202 E. E Fowler Ave, MSC 4100 Tampa, FL 33620