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Community Chronicles

July 2019

Working together to build strong families, safe schools, and healthy neighborhoods.

Honoring Community Heroes

For the third year, Safe & Sound Hillsborough and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Tampa Division’s Citizens Academy Alumni Association partnered to honor extraordinary individuals in Hillsborough County that have gone above and beyond to uplift and transform their communities through public safety initiatives.

Each recipient received a mini-grant of up to $750 to continue their positive efforts in partnership with a non-profit organization of their choice. At the conclusion of the Safe & Sound Hillsborough’s monthly Leadership Council meeting, a special presentation was made by FBI Community Outreach Specialist LeShanda Williams and Lon D. Guarino, President – FBI Tampa Citizens Academy (FBITCAAA).

Honorees gave a brief presentation on their future community projects and how the mini-grant will help them to implement it. This year’s honorees include Jacqueline Coffie Leeks, Ricky Coronado, Bethany McNeil, and Brian NeSmith. Their upcoming projects will include a seminar on “Redirecting Children’s Behavior for Stronger Resilience, Sweaters for the Cold – Homeless Initiative, East Bay High School & South County Community Block Party, and “One Bag, One Dream Block Party” in the Robles Park Community. In addition, a Youth Community Champion Scholarship in the amount of $1000 awarded

to a high school youth that has demonstrated outstanding volunteerism, with a minimum 3.0 GPA, and plans to pursue a degree in law, health, or public safety was presented to Kierra Jenkins, a recent graduate of C. Leon King High School.

P ARTNERS IN MENTAL WELLNESS

Safe & Sound Hillsborough Awarded Mental Health Grant

Simply Healthcare Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Anthem, Inc., awarded Safe & Sound Hillsborough with a $30,000 grant in support of mental wellness initiatives to be implemented within the next 18 months starting with Mental Health First Aid Training including

Train the Trainer. Addressing mental wellness is one of 18 strategies deployed from Safe & Sound Hillsborough's strategic plan. This grant will help community leaders, residents and peers become Mental Health First Aid trained on identifying, understanding and responding to signs of mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders.

The goal is to be a catalyst in entire communities playing a part in supporting people with mental health problems.

We are excited for the opportunity to partner with Anthem, Inc. and Simply Healthcare Foundation to implement mental health solutions and resources that support healthy neighborhoods.

MBK Tampa 6-Week Academic Credit Recovery Program

The My Brother's Keeper (MBK) Tampa Summer Institute, a Safe & Sound Hillsborough initiative, is well under way. Fifteen male students from Blake High School are enrolled in the 6 week institute that focuses on academic credit recovery in Math, English, Science and Social Studies. Teachers from Blake High School are working alongside the students as they work through Edgenuity to get back on track with their studies. In addition, a collaborative of male mentoring organizations have partnered together to provide financial literacy, mentorship, career exploration and sports training to the youth while involved in the institute. The collaborative includes: Men of Vision , G3 Life Applications , B.U.B.B.A. , and Iota Beta High School Fraternity . We look forward to seeing these young men continue on to greater achievements!

Executive Director Freddy Barton to Speak at Annual Florida Recreation & Park Association Conference

Executive Director Freddy Barton will participate as a panelist at the 2019 Florida Recreation & Park Association' Annual Conference to discuss how Safe Routes to School can help in creating Safe Routes to Parks through the 6 E's: engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, equity and evaluation. Click the button below for more information about the conference or to register.

Calendar of Events

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June 11- July 19

MBK Summer Institute 6-Week Academic Recovery Program with Blake High School | 9:00 AM | Sandra Perrone Recreation Center

July 8

Finance Committee Budget Workshop | 3:30 PM | Children's Board

July 9

Faith & Wellness Planning Committee | 2:00 PM | Children's Board
Family Health & Well-being Committee | 3:00 PM | Children's Board

July 19

SafeSummit'20 VPC Planning Meeting | 3:00 PM | Children's Board

July 25

One Bag, One Dream Block Party with Community Builder Bethany McNeil and XO Factor, Inc. | 10:00 AM | Robles Park Village

August 2

Boys Night Out in partnership with B.U.B.B.A. | 6:30 PM | Kings Forest Recreation Center

August 26-29

Florida Recreation and Park Association Annual Conference | Championsgate, FL

All meetings are open to the public and are held at the Children's Board of Hillsborough County unless otherwise noted. For more information on how to get involved, contact our office at info@safeandsoundhillsborough.org.