Meet the ELDERS

I am a “Believer in Impossibilities.” 

Objectives:

To disseminate to  communities the wonders of  the “Black Diaspora”, Meditation , Centering Prayer, and the practice of Intercultural Fluency.

Education:  

B.S. Florida A&M University, 1967, Tallahassee, Florida, MS Multicultural Education , 1990, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, Cornell University, Post master’s education in Multicultural Education.

Professional Experience: 

Consultant/Storyteller for Bridges

Consultant /Analyst for African and African American Books for Children and young adults, Pyramid Books, Boynton Beach Florida 

Co-Coordinator of African and African American Studies for the School District of Palm Beach County 1998-2006

Middle School Teacher, School District of Palm Beach County 1977-1998

Hard and Soft Skills:

Meditation/Centering Prayer , C.R.T. Interpreter, Black Children’s Storyteller, Intercultural Fluency practitioner,  Meditation Speaker for groups and individuals, , Listener, Focused, Self- Manager, Team Player, and  trained in the practice of emotional intelligence.    

Volunteer Positions:

President of the Sankofa Study Group, Inc., committed to the investigation and study of people of the Black diaspora. 

Founding member of the Sankofa Securities Group An investment company dedicated to investing in Black companies. 

President  of the Episcopal Church Women ,St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Delray Beach, Florida 

Member of the Steering Committee for Healthier Boynton Beach, Inc.

Member of The Association for the Study of African American Life and History 

Financial Supporter of the “S.D. Spady Museum”, Delray Beach, Florida  

Member of the Boynton Beach Mental Health Committee

Member of the Social Connection & Meditation Group – Merrell Family Foundation 

Member of the National Association of Black Storytellers, Inc. 

I was born in Kingston, Jamaica.  I have resided in the UK, US, Spain, Jamaica and currently in Ningo in Ghana.

I am the father of three biological children and one adopted child.  All my children are girls and I love them, faults and all.

I am an educator.  I’ve spent most of my life in one learning institution or another from elementary to university.   

I am qualified to teach a wide variety of subjects, from Business Education to Special Needs.  I am also qualified to teach Adult and Continuing Education. 

Before education, I had a life in marketing.  I was a photographer.  I facilitate meditation.  I teach Kemetic Yoga.  I have been the Chairperson of the KHEPRERA AF am the Board President of our Condominium Association.  I have been a Board RIKAN HISTORY STUDY GROUP for the past twenty years.  In South Florida I have been involved in many of the initiatives that are Afrikan Centered and designed to raise cultural awareness.   

Shango Ra is a community activist, tactical operations specialist, real estate builder and baron, and Esteemed Elder. He became a builder by following the example of a carpenter that introduced him to the art, and advocates for children to learn it. He is a retired military officer and corrections officer, and a survivor of the Jim Crow era. He operates House of Kuumba, a cultural and community center in Dania Beach, FL.

Valerie Hendrix born to Lee and Lillie Hendrix in Ft. Lauderdale- Providence Hospital (Dr Sistruck and Dr. Mizell, African owned hospital) 

Mother of two wonderful women of God: Tayossi Johnson-Muse of Atlanta, Ga. and Adrienne McMillan of Broward County. Two grandchildren: Otis and Martayia. Great-grandmother: O’Mari

Valerie was drawn to church at a young age of 10 to joined/baptism Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church(MMBC). 

Received Bachelor of Science Degree Business Administration/ Economics/Education (Lane College- Jackson, TN.)

Valerie served in MMBC as Youth Director. Sunday Morning breakfast committee. Youth choir. Upon Joining FGCLG: Admin Deacons, Sunday School teacher, Youth department. Women of Faith, New Image in Christ Evangelism outreach, FGC choir, FGC prison/jail ministry. 

Community leadership:

National Association of Christian Church Leaders. Community Workers for Christ (Haiti outreach/ school). Missions for Christ(Savannah, Ga/ Israel/Egypt). Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration committee. NAACP Youth Council Advisor/ Delegate.

Aglow International Area Vice-President of Ministry Development & Resources of Miami-Dade, Monroe and  Broward County.

Victims Advocate Florida Attorney General.

Chaplain Dr. Valerie Hendrix: DD Florida Theological University current services as FTIM Executive Director

Director FTIM Chaplains Chapel, Sunday Communion/Prayer

Facilitator: The Work of a Chaplain-FTCA

VP: Ambassadors for Jesus Christ. 

Chaplain: Sickle Cell Association of Broward County

Edner A. Jean is the Executive Founder of Foundation Lumiere et Vie, Inc.

Haitian decent immigrated to the United States since 1985. Lived in three different States: Connecticut, New Jersey and Florida.

Educator and Family Therapist by training, actively involved in working with faith-based and civic leaders for over thirty years to

encourage community involvement, social justice, voter’s education, and resource development. Designed and implemented Weed and

Seed family empowerment program for Little Haiti.

Core values:

Commitment, Passion, Teamwork

Civic engagement, Honesty

Open-mindedness, Human rights and

Respect for individuals, Rule of law

Social Justice, Stewardship, Tolerance

Currently working as an Adjunct Faculty of Psychology at Miami Dade College and Academic Interventionist System-Wide at Miami

Dade County Public Schools.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & CERTIFICATION

Certified Mental Health Professional, State of Florida

Crisis Counseling, Community Organizing

Clinical Application of Relaxation and Stress Reducing Techniques; Improving Self-Esteem

Children’s Functional Assessment Rating Scale (CFARS)

Leadership/Management

Adult’s Functional Assessment Rating Scale (FARS

Project management certificate Harvard edX Online

Earned a BA from Lynn University in Boca Ratong, FL

MS. Laws (L.L.M.) from ST. Thomas University in Miami, FL

MS. Psychology from ST. Thomas University in Miami, FL

I was born in New York and

relocated to Florida then Jamaica WI where I lived for 10 years before returning to

Florida. My husband & I share 10 children, twenty seven grandchildren & seven

great grands.

I graduated from Harlem Hospital School of Nursing in New York as a Registered

Nurse in 1975. I graduated from Barry University in Miami Florida with a degree in

Public Administration

I retired from Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Fl. In 2007after working 26

years. My nursing career includes medical surgical internship, adult medical

surgical, pediatrics, pediatric special care, new born special care as a Staff II

Nurse. As an Associate Head Nurse I worked in Mother Baby/ New born Special

care unit then as Nurse Manager/Head Nurse in the same unit. I retired from

nursing as Case Manager.

I’ve traveled to many places in the US, Europe, the Caribbean and Africa. In Africa

& the Caribbean I worked with other health care workers doing medical missions.

I gained knowledge, respect and admiration for several cultures. While working in

Africa it became very apparent to me that we in the Diaspora have lost (through

no fault of our ancestors) site of the importance the role our elders held in our

culture. I’ve tried with some measure of success to lead by example for my family.

The Rastafarian culture incorporates the concept of elder respect and leadership

which is the paramount symbol of our African culture in my opinion that was

deliberately eradicated when we were enslaved and removed from our home.

In 2017 I received the Ruth Prescott Community Service Award from Rootz

Foundation Inc. for my contribution to the Rasarfari Pan-African Community.

In April 2023 I received the Empress Menen Community Service Award from the

Haile Selassie Ist Learning Center & the South Florida Rastafarian Community.

My ultimate passion and goal is to settle with my husband in Ghana, West Africa

and assist the underserved with health issues. I have been involved for several

years working with a nursing colleague in a Ghanaian village providing educational

resources for the children..

My life roots are native Floridian, embedded with Bohemian, Georgian, and African seeds. My family resided in the Dania in Hollywood area through youth and adulthood. I graduated from Crispus Attucks high school and remain as an active alumnus. I am married and have one daughter and one grandson. I have resided in the Fort Lauderdale area for the majority of my adult life. God‘s purpose for me has taken me through many challenges. I am retired and my time is spent volunteering in areas to help others enjoy life and see their potential. I’m making every attempt to live my best life as well. I am a volunteer community activist with my homeowner’s organization, and AARP volunteer driver safety instructor, and the American Legion Auxiliary volunteer and member, ALA girls state advisor. Other volunteering and memberships that have been fruitful and meaningful are the Guardian ad Litem, PTA, president, Girl Scouts, USA, and a WBL, Broward Chapter board member, Baptist Church member, ministry leadership. I have a BA degree in early childhood education and family life studies. I’ve been a business owner of Professional Photography and Event Planning, Director in a private Christian school, airline in-flight person retail management. Currently I’m seeking certification as a Mental Health Community Advocate. My passions are to always encourage others to achieve until they leave this place, establish reasonable values to lead others into a better life. God has blessed me with a creative mind, and to use my hands, and extend them to others. you need.

Shamele is the Executive Director & Immediate Past President of Miami Dade County Foster & Adoptive Parent Association (“MDCFAPA”). Shamele served as President for almost 11 years before resigning that post and becoming Executive Director in 2019m  Shamele fundraises, creates special events and training workshops where foster, adoptive and relative caregivers can hone their parenting skills while being kept up-to-date on Florida laws that directly impact their families. She seeks & creates educational & arts scholarship opportunities and takes both the youth and caregivers to conferences in and outside of Miami and the State of Florida. Shamele is a single parent who was a foster parent for over 32 years licensed in New York and Florida. She adopted 5 youth and has raised more than 300 – many of which remain in contact with her even in their adult lives. She has have received numerous awards and recognition but most noteworthy are Volunteer Award from Florida Department of Juvenile Justice 2020; United States Congressional Angels in Adoptions Recipient 2017; Florida Governor’s Volunteer Award 2015. Shamele is also a professional public speaker with an emphasis on foster care, time management, domestic violence and personal care! During the pandemic 

Shamele is the Founder & President of The Nubian Sistahood (TNS) which is a 16 year old women’s organization. Their primary mission is to empower women and children. They do community work with foster youth, women in transition, women in prison, girls in juvenile detention.  She has now developed “The Miami Garden Golden Poets” who perform and let everyone know voices do not die at 55!

Shamele is also an internationally recognized touring poet/spoken word artist, storyteller and author who brings her gift of gossip and gab to the masses. She has performed and lectured throughout Africa's Benin, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Togo, through Australia, Europe's England, France, Germany and Ireland, South

America's Brazil, Chile and Dominican Republic, to the Caribbean Islands of Jamaica, Haiti, in Canada and most of the states in the USA. Shamele is the founder and artistic director of “Lip Tongue & Ear Poetry Productions” which is a 29 year old multi-cultural poetry/spoken word/storytelling/ theatrical guild with over 300 members. She is the author of five books of poetry and short stories and her work has appeared a numerous periodicals and anthologies. Shamele is also the recipient of many literary awards including the “International Storyteller’s Liar Contest – 1990, 2005 and 2008”. Shamele has been noted as “poet laureate” in many cities where she has tenured throughout her career.

She is also the Board Chair for Victory For Youth/Share Your Heart!