As we continue to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his message of freedom, justice and equality for all, I encourage all of us to recognize the contributions of our nation's courageous and trailblazing African American men and women during Black History Month.
From the early civil rights movement led by abolitionist and author Frederick Douglass, to Rosa Parks, the mother of the freedom movement who refused to segregate herself on a public bus in Alabama, to the historic teachings and peaceful protests of Dr. King, the legacy of hope and social change they championed continues to inspire us and future generations.
Let us also recognize the
scholarly contributions of Maya Angelou, the sportsmanship and talents of baseball player Jackie Robinson, and the notable literary accomplishments of author Zora Neale Hurston, who lived in Eatonville. The achievements of these and other African American leaders have most certainly had an enormous impact on our history.
In Orange County, equality and inclusion are at the core of our culture of collaboration and unity. Locally, our path to equality was evident early on when Arthur "Pappy" Kennedy took the oath as Orlando's first African American City Council member in 1973. He served two terms until 1980. An advocate of higher education, Kennedy was the organizer of the Orlando Negro Chamber of Commerce and worked with many organizations, including Meals on Wheels, the United Negro College Fund and the NAACP. Recently,
I was honored to speak at the 27th Annual "Pappy" Kennedy Prayer Breakfast honoring the legacy of Dr. King and Mr. Kennedy.
Through advocacy, and by serving as an unrelenting voice for its members in Central Florida, the African American Chamber of Commerce has helped create an environment in which minority businesses can thrive now and for many years to come. I recently had the privilege of attending the Eagle Awards Gala, hosted by the African American Chamber, which recognized the achievements of local African American entrepreneurs. The Chamber has worked for many years to develop business programs to support the goals and achievements of our forefathers.
The community also held several parades honoring the legacy of Dr. King in the cities of Orlando, Ocoee, Apopka and the town of Eatonville. Additionally, Orange County hosted the latest installment of "Art in the Chamber," highlighting a collection of works by African American artists. These celebrations play an important role in our region's history and the cultural fabric of our community.
For many years, our community shared these celebrations with the town of Eatonville's former Mayor Bruce B. Mount, who served from 2009 through 2015. My heart was saddened by the loss of this dear friend and public servant on January 29. Mayor Mount dedicated his life to his community and improving the lives of Eatonville's families, children and senior citizens,
all of whom he loved so deeply
. Orange County Government and our extended community send our sincere condolences to his family and friends, as well as the citizens of Eatonville. I am going to miss him and know our entire community will feel his loss.
As always, I thank you for staying connected with your local government and for making Orange County the best place to live, work and raise a family.
