Tune in Sunday, February 11, 2024 12N ET on #ConversationsWithCharito Join me and studio guest Mario Knapp, retired Major and 27 year veteran of Miami Dade Police Department. Knapp is promoting a track record of operational experience and exemplary leadership with a promise to uphold the values of honor and service. Is Mario Knapp the top candidate for sheriff in Miami-Dade county?
Major Mario Knapp (Ret.) is a 27-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Police Department with a track record of operational experience and exemplary leadership. Throughout his career, he oversaw both uniformed and specialized units, trained all levels of personnel, and was instrumental in writing our protocols for mass casualty events and active shooters. And, when tragedy struck, Mario served as Command Post Incident Commander at the Surfside building collapse.
Mario’s grandparents, mother, and aunt fled the oppressive regime of Cuba in pursuit of the American Dream. A Lieutenant in the Cuban army prior to Castro taking power, Mario’s grandfather started a piñata business, while his grandmother worked tirelessly in New York City’s garment factories. The sacrifices, bravery, resilience and hard work of his family members have been a guiding light for Mario, instilling in him the values of determination and service.
As Sheriff, Mario promises to uphold the values of honor and service. He is ready to use his wealth of experience to create a safe and thriving community, working alongside residents to build a future of justice and opportunity. Source: http://www.MarioforSheriff.com
Tune in Sun Feb 4, 2024 12N ET on @ConversationsWithCharito Join me and studio guest John Barrow, law enforcement expert and accomplished musician for our Law Enforcement Segment: Crime Prevention & Community Policing
John Barrow was born and raised in Miami. The son of Barbadian immigrants, he was educated in Miami-Dade, received his Bachelors from Oberlin College, and returned to Miami to serve his community. Today, with 17 years of experience working with the Miami-Dade Police Department, John has attained the rank of Major and currently leads the Personnel Management Bureau. While working with the Miami-Dade Police Department, John received a Master of Science in Public Administration, with a concentration in Emergency Management, from Lynn University, and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Florida International University. John has worked from one end of the County to the next, having served as a road patrol officer, a community service officer, an attained every civil service rank—sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. He has operational, administrative, investigative, and command experience. From solving and lowering crime, to serving as operational commander in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma and as the acting South Operations Division Chief during the Surfside collapse, to writing budgets and grants, and working with all employee unions, the County attorneys and departmental legaladvisors, John has the experience to get the job done. His mission is to serve and protect the public with professionalism, integrity, and compassion, while fostering a culture of excellence and diversity within the agency. John brings a unique and creative perspective to his role, as well as a strong commitment to community collaboration. Source: J.Barrow
Marlyn Paris-Lawson, President and Founder, CRAMS Consulting, LLC Photo: CRAMS Consulting, LLC
CRAMS Consulting is being led by industry veteran, Marlyn Paris-Lawson. Marlyn’s credentials include a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Florida State University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Barry University. She is a dynamic, passionate, results-oriented bilingual professional with over 18 years of combined experience in education, social services and human resources.
Mrs. Paris-Lawson is an open-minded leader recognized for her creative thinking, exceptional people skills, impeccable work ethics, and motivational abilities. Her inclusive approach to problem solving has resulted in establishing strong community partnerships. She is best known for her passion for motivating students to tap into their inner-selves, work to their full potential and earn their way to college. Her sound academic tracking strategies, coupled with innovative student advocacy and engaging motivational workshops are contributing factors which have resulted in over 800 at-risk students being accepted to the college of their choice in the last seven years. She is credited for her contribution in transforming a local drop-out prevention program into a leading college readiness and access program, whose best practices have been recognized and adopted at the state level. Source: https://www.cramsconsulting.com/experience.html
Photo: Sharron L. Henley, Min., M.A., receiving President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award on December 2, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Photo Credit: Yolande Daquin, B.S.
The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest level of recognition bestowed on an individual by the President of the United States to honor individuals in the nation that exhibit outstanding character, work ethic, and dedication to their communities.
Ms. Henley, 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree, was recognized on Saturday, December 2, 2023 by Dr. Joy A. Riley as an unsung hero and community leader for providing more than 4,000 hours to individuals, organizations, and local school districts while inspiring hope, empowering communities, and changing lives in South Florida.
“I am overwhelmed with gratitude to have been selected as a 2023 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree. I would like to congratulate all honorees and organizations being honored this evening for their relentless efforts of innovative change and solutions of progress in our urban communities. I am humbled and honored to have my work recognized by Tylisha of Tye Live Entertainment presented by Dr. Joy Riley of Cream Colored Sisters. This accomplishment is not something that I did alone, and there are many others who deserve to share in this prestigious honor. Firstly, I would like to thank God, my heavenly father, for I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. I would also like to thank my family, friends, colleagues, Urban Community Connections, Inc. family, Urban League family, Excitement Radio station family, National Council of Negro Women Metropolitan Dade County Section, and most importantly, my Liberty City community”, said Henley.
Sharron L. Henley, Min., M.A. 2023 Presidential Volunteer Service Award Announcement.
As an educator, ordained minister, and non-profit program management specialist, she possesses more than 25 years of experience in working with minorities on educational attainment and self-sufficiency in South Florida.
She continues to embrace her Black and Hispanic cultures, by bringing awareness via her non-profit organization; Urban Community Connections, Inc., managed by Conversations With Charito, LLC.
As a journalist on her radio show, Conversations With Charito at Excitement Radio Station, she specializes in topics related to Anger Management, Effective After-School Programs, Breast Cancer Awareness, Child Care, Education, Elder Abuse, Etiquette, Financial Literacy, Identity Theft, Public Policy, Grant Writing, HIV/AIDS Awareness, Human Trafficking Awareness, Non-Profit Management, Parental Involvement, Peer Pressure, Self-Esteem, Work Ethics, and Single-Parenting.
Ms. Henley is an active member of The National Council of Negro Women Metropolitan Dade County Section serving as the Corresponding Secretary. She also serves as a dedicated board member for North Miami Beach Police Department’s Police Athletic League (PAL).
For more information about Ms. Sharron L. Henley, Min., M.A. visit https://cwcnews.org
Officers and members of National Council of Negro Women Miami Dade County Section (NCNW-MDCS) attending awards ceremony with member/honoree on December 2, 2023 in Miami, FL. (L-R) (Shaquelia Holmes, President) (Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, M-DCPS School Board Member-District 2, Lifetime Member) (Sharron L. Henley, Honoree/Corresponding Secretary) (Tishria Mindingall, Parliamentarian) (Dr. Angela Thomas-Dupree, Lifetime Member)
Brielle Archellus, a sixth-grade honor roll student from Liberty City, Florida faced classroom bullying. Her parents encouraged her to share her experience in an interview to encourage others to stand against bullying. Archellus was determined to tell her side of the story and give advice to other school-aged children.
Interview with Brielle Archellus
During the interview, a quiet, shy, and beautiful melanin-skinned young girl entered the building and nervously shuffled her feet under the table while adjusting her microphone. Then, in a soft-spoken voice, she said, “Hi, my name is Brielle Archellus, and today we are going to talk about bullying.” Archellus, while describing the bullying incident, nervously expressing how it was making her feel, brought her anti-bullying message to life.
“I just don’t understand why they want to bully someone; I just want to go to school and get good grades so that my mom and dad will be proud of me,” said Archellus.
“Sometimes people have problems at home that they don’t want to talk about. My mom, dad and brothers love me. They show me that they care. Sometimes kids don’t have that, so they get mad at you because you are happy. I’m not going to let them make me mad all the time, but I’m not going to let anybody just keep hitting me,” said Archellus.
The bullying incident that Brielle experienced is a prime example of why a self-defense K-12 Curriculum to combat bullying is vital in the local school district.
Self-defense classes, such as martial arts or karate, are usually offered by private companies or provided through an advocate diversion program after a person becomes a victim of bullying or the aggressor.
However, fees and costs associated with participation or certification of the classes mentioned above may pose a problem for minorities residing in low socio-economic areas in urban school districts, like Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS). They have limited incomes or are receiving public assistance on a fixed income.
M-DCPS is the largest school district in Florida, and the third largest district in the nation. A diverse population of minorities, from low-income to middle income, with more than 35,000 employees, 340,000 K-12 students, inclusive of Title I Schools; whereas Title I provides federal funding to support effective, evidence-based educational strategies that close the achievement gap and enable the students to meet the state’s challenging academic standards. (M-DCPS Statistical Highlights 2019-2021).
“Providing evidence-based instruction that promotes preventive self-defense while incorporating character building, conflict resolution, and social-emotional skills, will decrease the number of victims affected by bullying and deter bullying in K-12 educational settings in Florida.” (Gage, Lee, et, al 2019) explained that utilizing the School Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports program solely may not have a long-term effect, but by integrating evidence-based bullying prevention and intervention programs has the probability of producing positive outcomes with anti-bullying and behavioral bullying.
PSA:Stop Bullying with Jamari Bell
In an interview with Jamari Bell, featured in the “Stop Bullying” PSA, Bell shared his perspective and personal experience regarding a recent bullying incident. “I didn’t do anything to him. I am new to the school, and he thought that he could push me around. The first time it happened to me, I didn’t tell the teacher or my mom. He was bigger than me, but I wasn’t afraid to tell the teacher. I just wanted to handle it myself, so he would not bother me anymore,” said Bell.
“Bullying is not right, because they could hurt people’s feelings. It’s not nice to bully. Being a bully is not good because it can make people commit suicide. I think schools should have classes for people who get bullied and people who bully people so they could learn how to stop bullying,” said Bell.
“When people bully other people, sometimes that makes them commit suicide, and I don’t think that they should bully people,” said Bell.
Jamari’s mother, Mahoghaney Bell, expressed her concern about the way the principal handled the incident. “The principal called the school police on my son, and he was the victim. They need to do better with children that are victims of bullying,” said Bell.
#BullyingFacts
According to the CDC (2019), “1 in 5 youth ages 12-18 reported being bullied in the past year”. Victims of bullying may endure name calling, threats, and intimidation over an extended period, while many incidents go unreported out of fear or embarrassment.
“The bottom-line of the most current research findings is that being involved in bullying in any way—as a person who bullies, a person who is bullied, or a person who both bullies and is bullied (bully-victim)—is ONE of several important risk factors that appears to increase the risk of suicide among youth.”
According to the CDC (2019), “Students who experience bullying are at an increased risk for depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, lower academic achievement, and dropping out of school.
Interview with Anthony Harris, Dean of Students
In an interview with Anthony Harris, Dean of Students, known for his raspy voice, at Excelsior Charter Prep Academy, of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, also known as Coach Harris, proudly discussing his anniversary of serving as a disciplinarian, mentor and coach to impressionable youth in urban areas of South Florida, showing considerable concern regarding the notifications of recent threats, and possible weapons on several campuses across the local school district.
“In the past 17 years I’ve served over 12,000 students, many whom were either victims or aggressors of bullying. However, most students, whether they’re victims or aggressors, don’t realize they’re bullying someone, on and off social media. This is behavior is not tolerated in the school district or at my school sites,” said Harris.
As a former athlete, Harris reluctantly recalls using bullying tactics, a common practice during his adolescent years, to members of the opposing team in high school. Harris recalls seeing the effects of bullying in his hometown community of Ft. Myers, Florida.
Overwhelming outcomes and experiences of becoming a college student, adjusting to changing behaviors as a professional athlete, transitioning to an NFL player, became a life changing decision for Harris to improve and expand his community involvement efforts to save troubled youth in urban school districts, experiencing bullying.
During the interview, Harris stated that, “Students should be able to come to school without worrying about bullying, gangs or illegal drugs on campus.”
“Students oftentimes become used to the behaviors of bullying, as victims, they become reluctant to report the incidents for fear of retaliation, but we have a zero tolerance for bullying, threats of school violence, or any other at-risk behaviors at our schools,” said Harris.
“Serving as a Dean of Students comes with an array of responsibilities, but first and foremost it is my responsibility to create a safe environment where the teachers can teach without distractions and the students can learn without distractions. I am only one individual, I believe that a curriculum focused on bullying prevention, delivered as a required course during school hours, would be beneficial, since after-school programs concentrate on sports, intervention should occur before they get on the field, just like the NFL,” said Harris.
In an interview, Lynda Roberts North Miami Beach Police Department Athletic League (PAL) and Florida State-Wide PAL Coordinator, discussed the importance of providing enrichment and prevention activities for youth ages 13-18.
“Offering a safe environment and cultural enrichment activities provides a diversion for bullying. When youth are engaged in meaningful and stimulating activities, they don’t have time for bullying. To show the seriousness of bullying in schools, it is worth putting some statistics into perspective,” said Roberts.
“Our job is to protect and serve as law enforcement officials, but we also have to consider the fact that some bullying incidents end in school shootings and homicides. We have to ensure that the youth served in our programs receive bullying prevention education to prevent incidents from occurring in our schools,” said Roberts.
“An innocent life lost to senseless gun violence is never acceptable to any family member. No one ever reaches a level of understanding, they only seek closure and someone to be convicted or take responsibility in the loss of their loved one, especially if it was caused by bullying, which can be prevented,” said Roberts.
“Youth enrolled in our Police Athletic Leagues across the state of Florida have a better opportunity in becoming productive citizens in our communities through prevention efforts and programs, designed to deter youth from at-risk behaviors,” said Roberts.
Roberts continued by saying, “PAL programs across the state of Florida continue to work tirelessly, and collaboratively with local school districts, social service organizations, and law enforcement groups, to deter at-risk youth behaviors. We have more work to do, if we plan on eradicating the effects of bullying on youth and their future.”
In an interview with Garry Graham owner of Graham Counseling & Consulting, LLC from New York, a licensed mental health counselor and therapist, he discussed counseling services for a few adults who were victims of bullying.
Interview with Garry Graham, Mental Health Counselor
“About 35% of the adults that I work with were bullied in their childhood, the remaining percentages possibly never admitted their experience, due to embarrassment. Those who have been bullied experience depression, or even feeling inadequate, or less of a person,” said Graham.
According to Sandee LaMotte of CNN adults serving as bullies, are the likely victims of childhood bullying, troubling childhood experiences, and adolescent bullying.
Based on a study in the Journal of Child and Family Studies by Ellen DeLara of Syracuse University, the need for expanded research by health care providers, supporting the impact of childhood bullying, and the effects of behaviors lasting into adult life is essential.
“A lot of people like to think that you have to put anti-bullying information in a K-12 curriculum. That’s the easy part. The identifying and most important marker for me is to identify the bully,” said Graham.
For more information on suicide prevention, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) or visit http://www.stopbullying.gov
Click on the link below to view or download a copy of “Should Miami-Dade County Public Schools include self-defense instruction for K-12 Curriculum to Combat Bullying?” by Sharron L. Henley (2022)
Do you remember your favorite childhood Coca-Cola commercial? Well, Coca-Cola has been in business since 1886 so no matter what age group you’re in, you’ve probably had a coke and a smile.
Coca-Cola commercials have evolved over the years while promoting diversity and inclusion, as the company began creating new products promoting culturally sensitive advertisement and marketing strategies to satisfy consumer demands that dates back to 1955.
According to Coca-Cola Company, Mary Alexander, the first African American woman appeared in a Coca-Cola advertisement, sparking diversity and inclusion during the American Civil Rights Movement. Suffice it to say, Coco-Cola showing consistency of promoting diversity, recently received a perfect score on Human Rights Campaign’s corporate equality index.
Coca-Cola brands have expanded from the single “refreshing drink” to dairy, coffee, tea, juice, sparkling soft drinks, water, and plant-based products.
“Although our merchandise is sold in bulk and discounted prices, the current pandemic has forced our department to set limits on bulk purchasing in an effort to preserve the supply”, said Clarke.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug administration February 18, 2021 press release, Janet Woodcock, M.D., acting commissioner of food and drugs announced that there was no scientific evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted through food packing, prompting Coca-Cola distribution centers to heighten COVID-19 safety measures while ensuring efficacy of supply and demand for consumers, and wholesale centers.
Clarke, while sharing his experience and 23 year anniversary in the industry, began offering his favorite uses of the Coca-Cola beverage.
“It’s one of my favorite drinks that I use for chasers if I’m drinking an adult beverage, or just on a hot sunny day, just sipping on some coke with some ice.”
Coca-Cola’s brand is more than just a beverage company, it’s a Coca-Cola System coupled with a Coca-Cola Foundation that supports equity, inclusion, diversity while supporting communities and families in their time of need, offering employment opportunities, scholarships and philanthropic giving.
According to Market Line Industry Profile on Soft Drinks in the United States, “As of December 2020, Coca-Cola operated 32 owned principal concentrate and syrup plants, 97 owned and 12 leased principal beverage manufacturing/ bottling plants and 120 owned and 154 leased distribution and storage warehouses. As of December 2020, it also operated 1,743 leased retail stores. The company distributes products in over 200 countries and territories through distributors, independent bottling partners, wholesalers, retailers, and its owned or controlled bottling and distribution operations to two billion customers per day.”
CWC News 