OrlandoCommunityNews

Soon it will be 50 years since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee and people around the country will pause to honor the civil rights leader’s life. 

Here in Orlando, the Pine Hills Community Performing Arts Center plans to honor King and his dream Saturday, April 7 at the St. Andrews Auditorium, 801 Hastings St., Orlando, FL 32808. 

Organizers plan a tribute through creative arts, starting at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children under age 16.

“Hope to see you at this great event as we remember and pay tribute to our beloved Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” said Michael Kimbrough, executive director of the performing arts center.

“We will honor Dr. King with recitals of some of his famous speeches, quotes and sermons…The speeches will be mixed with dance, poetry and more.”

For more information, call (407) 234-9619.

Over the years, young people, including a younger former President Barack Obama, have been inspired by King.

Leader of the civil rights movement since the mid 1950’s, King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, an event that sent shock waves reverberating around the world.

King was known worldwide for his impassioned sermons and speeches and nonviolent protests to fight segregation and achieve significant civil rights for African-Americans. Founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), King also spoke out publicly against the Vietnam War and formed a coalition of poor Americans  – Black and White – alike to address such issues as poverty and unemployment.

On April 3, 1968, King and other SCLC members were called to Memphis to support a sanitation workers’ strike. He gave what would become his last sermon at a local church that evening and the next evening he was fatally shot. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later, at the age of 39. He was married to Coretta Scott King and the couple had four children. Several months later, authorities arrested James Earl Ray, who was later charged and convicted. No testimony was heard in the trial, Ray died while serving his 99-year sentence and controversy still surrounds the assassination of King.  (Source: The History Channel, history.com) 

© Orlando Community News, 2018

December 16, 2017 (Orlando) – ‘Tis the Season…the Season of Love (Giving) – Not that it doesn’t happen throughout the year but today there are three major “gives” going on throughout Central Florida of which residents can take advantage.

The big gives today are in Orlando (Pine Hills), Apopka and Sanford! Go or take someone you know who’s in need of a little help (be it Food, Clothing, Toys, Services) this Christmas. There is no cost.

• Seasons Blessings Community Giveaway. Sponsored by the Experience Christian Center, Pastor Derrick L. McRae. Time: 9:03 a.m. – 12 p.m. Location: Evans High School, 4949  Silver Star Road, Orlando, FL 32808.
• Season of Giving Food Distribution. Sponsored by Florida Senator Randolph Bracy.  Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.  Location: John H. Bridges Community Center, 445 W. 13th Street, Building F, Apopka, FL 32703.
• Holiday Food Baskets. Sponsored by Communion Packaging L.L.C. First come, first served per family. Drive-thru set up. One basket per car and  One toy, sponsored by David Hoenig.  Time: 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. Location: 751 Cornwall Road, Sanford, FL 32773.

Go or if you can’t go, spread the word. You never know: it could be a blessing to someone who is in right now.

God bless you and Merry Christmas. Remember we are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, reflecting on God’s love for all of us. He gave us his only begotten son, Jesus, the Christ, Emmanuel! Thank you Lord! It’s in that spirit that we should give (and receive). Amen.

– Trish Martin, Founder & Editor

Email: orlandocommunitynews@gmail.com

WOKB’s recent achievement makes you feel like saying: Yes we can. Yes we did. 

WOKB Team Members. Front Row from left: Glenn Allgood, Shanti Persaud, Lady Drina and Rodney Johnson. Back row from left: Chris Shaw and Brother Gerrille. Photo by: Kalila Foy

The gospel radio station at 1680 on the AM dial recently won the title of Best Radio Station of the Year (Large Market) at the 32nd Annual Stellar Award show in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

The Stellar Gospel Music Awards show,  which aired April 9 on TV One and scheduled to air again on May 8 and May 14 on Bounce TV,  is produced by Chicago-based Central City Productions, Inc. and has become the premier Gospel event that recognizes and honors African-American artists, according to the show’s website.

Nominees for all of the categories for this year’s show went through a process of applying, screening and online voting (by the general public). WOKB’s award was one of six handed out to top radio stations from around the country. 

WOKB listeners rallied behind the station when Operations Manager Shanti Persaud put the word out that the station had been nominated. The listeners and fans voted online as often as possible and the rest…as they say, is history! 

The station had applied once before but this time around, the station made it through the application process and went all the way through, Persaud said during a recent interview.

“I feel like, really?” she said. 

Persaud’s acceptance speech was concise but very heartfelt.

“I thank God for leading me, my dad for pushing me into this position and giving me the opportunity and the Stellars. But really, this awards goes to my listeners, my supporters, especially my team at WOKB! We are Central Florida’s Longest Running Gospel Radio Station. It’s hard to go wrong when you have a team that shares the same passion for our community. Thank you so much. This is such an honor. Thank you!”

WOKB is unique in that you will not only hear inspirational music but also sermons by local and national preachers, national programming, sports commentary; real talk on various topics, as well as helpful information on finance, real estate and the law. 

WOKB, with offices at 50 South Clarke Road in Ocoee, has been broadcasting in Central Florida since 1956.

Kudos to Persaud (who’s often seen out and about, along with team members, in the Central Florida community) and the entire WOKB team: Glenn Allgood, Brother Gerrille, Chris Shaw; Lady Drina, Lady D and everyone else who work at the station including those behind the scenes. Way to go to all of you who make up the WOKB family! God did that – with the team effort! 

© Orlando Community News, 2017

Editor’s Note: It’s February 2017 and Donald Trump is President of The United States. While many wish it was a dream and feel uneasy about his presidency, some are elated and anxious about his promised changes. As President Barack Obama prepared to leave office and conducted farewell speeches, audience members could be heard chanting, “Four More Years! Four More Years!” Once, he responded: “Can’t do that.” True and probably wouldn’t want to do four more years either because of obstruction from the majority Republican controlled Senate. One of the highlights of this online publication is its Guest Editorials – occasional thought-provoking editorials from people who live in the community or surrounding Central Florida area. Here’s one from Adele Doctor, who recently wrote on her Facebook page about the change in the U.S. presidency. Her perspective caught my attention so I am sharing. 

Feeling Proud

January 20, 2017 — My thoughts on this historic inaugural day 2017:

I have been watching tributes to the Obamas for the past few days and I wanted to express my feelings on his presidency. I have listened to people who assumed that all Black people supported Obama just because he was Black. Now, don’t get me wrong. I AM proud of my race but that is something that I would neither change or deny. I am proud of Barack Obama because he has always been strong and optimistic even ’til 11:59 a.m. on today. Eve-n in the midst of doubt, disrespect and sheer opposition, he remained strong. I didn’t say – right. I may have disagreed with some of his positions, but no man is perfect. I feel he did a lot of things right.

There are some people who will not even admit that he was a good president. Some still won’t admit he was “their” president. The truth and fact are – he was/is a good man and was a good president!

But, now I must accept the fact that Trump is now our president. I will pray that somehow, with God’s help, he will be able to fulfill the duties of the highest office in the free world.

The same awesome responsibility was bestowed upon Obama eight years ago and now history has a lot of accomplishments to add to his legacy.

I am so proud to have lived to witness a part of history that I was able to experience with my kids and grandkids. You cannot erase that from my mind or the history books! With God’s help, he made it through not only one term, but two – despite the people who opposed him from his Day 1.

With God ALL things are possible. This holds true for the years to come.

From this United States Navy veteran, I salute you Barack Obama and family. Fair winds and Following Seas President Obama!

Adele Doctor is a long-time Central Florida resident. She is known for her work with bone marrow transplant education and survivor support, along with other health initiatives especially for children. She’s retired from the Navy and currently works as the administrative assistant to the Dean of Math at Valencia College. She’s also a proud University of Central Florida alumni.

© Owrlando Community News, 2017

February 9, 2017 (Orlando) — If you don’t want it, turn it in – anonymously. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office’s gun safety – buy back event is underway today for anyone wanting to turn in a weapon.

It started at 7 a.m. and will continue until 7 p.m. at the Orange Blossom Trail Development Board, 2719 South Orange Blossom Trail.

This is open only to people turning in guns. The sheriff’s office plans to hand out $50 gift cards for guns turned it. (Real and unloaded)

Here’s what you need to do when you take your gun down there: make sure it’s UNLOADED and stored in a plastic bag inside your car. A deputy will remove the gun from the car for you. No questions asked, no identification required.

There will be FREE gun locks available on site for any additional firearms you may own, according to information from the sheriff’s office.

For more information contact: Brooke Eckenrod 407-254-7387 brooke.eckenrod@ocfl.net

© Orlando Community News, 2017