Honoring Black History Month – Our Family

Warehouse Associate

Q: Tell us about your heritage.

A: I’m straight from Miami, Florida. Miami is emerged with different cultures from different places – a melting pot. I grew up here, went to school here, went to college here, and learned my languages here. 

Q: How are you celebrating black history month?

A: I’m glad you asked that because I decided to do a 30-day fact check, even though February is only like 28 days. I figure every day; I can get a fact about Black inventors like contributors to the Black community. I learned that the Black community has a lot that they contributed to America, to society and you know it’s very rarely talked about.

Q: Ending hunger is hard work, how do you recharge?

A: I would say calm, cooling cardio. Especially the treadmill on incline. Most people won’t think of cardio as calm or cooling, but it is for me. Once you build up that adrenaline and you get moving – you keep going. I find it easier to clear your mind, you know, and it’s kind of like multitasking – you’re problem solving and you’re getting an awesome workout in at the same time. I love it. 

Nutrition Educator

Q: Tell us about your heritage.

A: My mother and my father they grew up in Jamaica from there they migrated to the US, New York specifically, which is where I was born. I was born in Brooklyn NY; I lived there until I was about five or six years when my dad wanted to go somewhere where it resembles more of Jamaica and that would land us in South Florida. 

Q: How do you plan to celebrate black history month?

A: I try to lead by example, so I just try to go all in with everything that I do. Always remembering the efforts that Dr. King made, Malcolm made, Sojourn Truth, and Rosa Parks. So, I just try to use that. Keep that at the forefront of my memory and that helps me.

Q: Ending hunger is hard work, how do you recharge?

A: I like to say that I have a PhD in relaxation. I can literally sit and lay down and watch several movies or TV all day long on any given Sunday – my favorites are Family Feud and Dateline.

AVP of Philanthropy 

Q: Tell us about your heritage?

A: I started tracing my ancestry several years back, there’s quite a bit of French creole. I’ve gotten as far back as New Orleans in the early 1800s. My immediate ancestors are from the South by way of Tennessee and Kentucky. They migrated to like Northwest Indiana where I grew up.

Q: How are you celebrating black history month?

A: I celebrate Black History Month all year by showing up every day and giving my best to everything that I’m blessed to be a part of. That means being the best friend, the best team member, the best mom, the best poo-poo, the best customer, and all those things that I participate in. My blackness is always with me and always on display – negatively or positively. I honor my black heritage by always operating in excellence and the highest level of integrity.

Q: Ending hunger is hard work, how do you recharge?

A: I love dancing and singing, not good singing, just singing anything with lyrics. I’m addicted to lyrics and knowing the words to songs. One of my favorites to belt is Hi Five by The Kissing Game. I love karaoke, concerts, and live music.

Driver

Q: Tell us about your heritage?

A: I’m from originally from Liberia, West Africa. I was in Europe and Asia for nine years and then went back home. I met my wife and eventually got married, lived in Africa for a while, and then came to America. We’ve been married over 30 something years now with two kids.

Q: How are you celebrating black history month?

A: By being a person who cares about other people, love other people, don’t put nobody down. Serve them, work with them. I have a very good neighbor and he would even take my garbage out; I would take his garbage out put it back. I try to live a life that is serving and being a good neighbor. Being very friendly to everyone you meet and if you can make someone laugh – you had a good day.

Q: Ending hunger is hard work, how do you recharge?

A: I take part in the song leading in church, so practicing with the song. Having a peaceful home. I love cooking, so I take a lot off my wife. I try to balance, just be there for her.

Partner Agency Coordinator 

Q: Let’s talk heritage. Tell us about yours.

A: Well, I don’t necessarily consider it my heritage; I consider it as all of our heritage. To me, it’s really about our parents, ancestors, and forefathers who all paved the way for our success. Embracing all of it is important to me.

Q: How are you celebrating black history month?

A: Black History Month to me is every day. It’s not just this month. I celebrate every day because I eat different types of foods, I wear the colors of the flag all different times of the year – black, red, green, or gold. Those are all the colors in the African American flag. So, with that I think the celebration for me is a reflection on the entire year.

Q: Ending hunger is hard work, how do you recharge?

A: I think it’s the reverse. When I see myself out in the field at [food] distributions, seeing people connect – just by seeing the smile on their face and the gratitude that we receive. No money can replace that. It’s all the gratification I need. I can go home at night and say, ‘Oh my God, I saw that little child’s expression on their face.’ Nothing can replace that moment and that’s how I recharge.

Volunteer Coordinator 

Q: Tell us about your heritage

A: My father’s side is of Cuban descent and my mother’s side is of Haitian descent. I grew up right here in South Florida and went to college at UCF. 

Q: How are you celebrating Black History Month?

A: I’m in the master’s program, I know not even that long ago, my grandmother and people who look like me didn’t have that option. I stay appreciative that I have these freedoms because of the sacrifices and hard times other people went through.

A: Ending hunger is hard work, how do you recharge?

Q: I’m getting my master’s in social work, so I try to take advantage of my days off. I’ll listen to music, which always puts me in a good place. 911 by Wyclef Jean always puts me in a good place. There is always a song for any mood or anything that you’re feeling. 

Staff Accountant

Q: Tell us about your heritage.

A: My mom and dad are both from South Carolina. I’ve been in Florida my whole entire life. I lived in Martin County for the first ten years and then I’ve been in South Florida ever since.

Q: How are you celebrating Black History Month?

A: Well, February 25th my daughter is participating in the Sistrunk Festival. She’s dancing in it, so we’re going to be out there to support her.

Q: Ending hunger is hard work. How do you recharge?

A: Family. I’m always around family; you know whether it’s my kids or my grandkids. Just being around them and seeing them smile makes me happy. It gives me life!