Some may say otherwise, but I’m here to say that the City of West Palm Beach did a good thing by instituting the “Community Chats for Action.” It will be an even better thing if the project yields tangible results. I’m not alone in this sentiment: The small group in which I participated came away committed to continue meeting, and trying to make a difference, as individuals and together.
West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel during the Community Chats kickoff.
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Kimberly Charles of Palm Beach Gardens High School, shown with her mother earlier during auditions, tied Kaena Hood of St. Lucie West Centennial High School for first place in PBABJ's second 'Words Not Weapons' competition, Nov. 14 at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach. Each scored 29 of 30 points and won a new laptop computer.
I’ve rarely been more proud of the Palm Beach Association of Black Journalists, of which I also am a proud founding member, than for having pulled off another outstanding “Words Not Weapons” poetry slam competition.
Students are the best.
My answer to the “What are you doing these days?” question continues to be: Everything I can.
So what have I been up to? Way too busy. Working and studying hard. Conducting interviews for and/or writing recent or soon-to-appear freelance articles. Completing or researching other projects. Consulting. Networking. Giving thanks.
And speaking.
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Some of you have asked for the compilation in one place, provided chronologically below, of links to my reporting on the first two Dunbar Village trials for whataboutourdaughters.com. This was as sobering an assignment as I can remember, balanced somewhat by my commitment to provide a straight if nuanced accounting of what I was seeing and hearing, after more than two decades as an opinion writer and editor.
Attorneys confer during break in courtroom as crime scene investigator waits to continue her testimony.
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Angeleta Gray says she will “continue to meet with people, listen to their views and bring all the players to the table. I think that will be instrumental in helping us to continue to move forward.” There’s agreement that her fellow Delray Beach commissioners helped advance the city by appointing her to Seat 4 that was vacated by Mack Bernard. Citing the former Community Redevelopment Agency board member’s longtime involvement with the city, commissioners chose Gray from among five candidates Sept. 10.
The view from here is: Yes. But I’m biased. It was my privilege to participate on the recent “Racial Profiling: Has Anything Really Changed?” panel hosted by Toward a More Perfect Union. The hope is that TMPU’s initiative provided an opening for ongoing public discourse, and resolution, on this and other concerns.
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Professional awards and other recognitions always are special. Although not the biggest, this Excellence in Journalism Award from the Florida Press Club is especially so. Not only for having been bestowed by my journalism peers, and in a time of unprecedented change in our profession. But also for coming in a new venue, The Coastal Star newspaper, as well as in a new arena of writing: on matters of faith, and, because I didn’t know my work had been entered.
My editor, Mary Kate Leming did that. Here’s an excerpt from her email citing the results:
That was the exact subject line of an email forwarded me by one of the foremost advocates for education in my local community, Dr. Debra Robinson of the Palm Beach County School Board.
The originator of the message had gone on to say:
“Save this site on your favorite hard drive or flash drive. This is incredible. Enjoy.”
I agree, and can’t recommend it enough.
Kudos to Lawson State Community College:
http://www.ls.cc.al.us/blackhistory/blackhistory.html
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Many of you are aware of my recent assignment covering the first Dunbar Village trials (verdicts reported here and here) for whataboutourdaughters.com. It was an assignment that consumed my life, and that helps explain my recent absence here.
For more than two weeks, reporting that 24/7 story demanded almost all of my attention: 11-hour days spent in the courtroom or courthouse, generally first to arrive and last to leave. Evenings, nights and weekends talking with principals who often would speak only on background. Lining up, conducting and transcribing interviews.
And of course, writing.
That sad story is not over.
But for now, here, I want to express thanks to WAOD, and its followers and supporters, for the opportunity to serve them and others by reporting as many nuances of this story as possible.
Also, my gratitude to all of you who kept up with the story at WAOD. Who connected and followed on Twitter. Those who sent your encouragement and support. And so many others whom I could feel following the developments along with me. A special thanks to my son, Nazim, for all the love.
Thanks for your prayers that helped keep me balanced throughout.
And as I turn to other assignments, and return to HanifOnMedia, I ask your prayers for all the parties who continue to suffer the pain of that incomprehensible tragedy.
Your reporter, following interview with former Dunbar Village resident Karen Stephens, at her Karma Studio.
Heading back to Courtoom 11H to chronicle the Dunbar Village gang-rape trial for http://www.whataboutourdaughters.com, including on Twitter (cbhanif), as youngest participant’s riveting testimony resumes this morning, and victims may take witness stand later today.
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