October 11, 2019
Today: stand with Deandre Somerville
State Senator Bobby Powell (District 30) will be joined by other elected officials and community leaders at a 10:30 a.m. press conference today in front of the main Palm Beach County (PBC) courthouse in West Palm Beach (WPB). Don't know the story? Click here to read a community invite; young Mr. Somerville will be there, too. Plus, below, lots related to ex-felons--like, can you say poll tax?--and options to pitch your business.
A 'Poll Tax' for Ex-Felons? Some say yes. Like the Alphas.
On Oct. 18, join state elected officials, PBC’s state attorney and public defender as well as a host of active, progressive statewide organizations and community leaders who will discuss the right of Florida’s nearly 1.5 million ex-felons to vote once they complete their sentences. After Amendment 4 passed last year, the state essentially came up this year with a poll tax: ex-felons have to pay all fees and restitution first, before they can register. The event purpose is simple: to equip, educate and organize community leaders to register ex-felons to vote anyway as the legal pushback continues against the new state law. The event is free and open to the public and part of a statewide Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity conference that will be held in WPB Oct.18-20, 2019. Read more, here , about why the Alphas are doing the ex-felon event.
Job Fair for Ex-Felons, Information for Companies
On November 1 at the Sago Palm Reentry Center in Pahokee, there will be a laser focus on providing jobs for ex-felons and benefits available for doing so. There will be a jobs listing and companies there interviewing candidates as well as discussions about those hiriing-related benefits, such as bonding programs and tax incentives. For more information, call 561-355-2370 or send an email here.
Another Job Fair, also in the Glades Area
The organizers primarily use one single phrase to describe this job fair: Expanding Opportunities for Pre-Apprenticeship Trades for Men and Women in the Glades Region . Those men and women can be students or grownups. The event is a job fair, yes, but it's also about networking and education--it's students and tradespeople and educators and construction companies, together, at West Technical Education Center in Belle Glade. In other words, this is the event to attend if there's any interest in the construction trades--carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and welding. It is free and open to the public and will be held on October 29. For information, call 561-681-2406 or send an email here .
Did You Know: there could be a student-athlete law here similar to the one that just passed in California?
Not long after the California governor signed into law last month a bill that would allow college athletes to  be paid for the use of their names, likenesses and images, Florida Rep. Kionne L. McGhee (District 117) filed a similar bill for the 2020 Legislative Session. House Bill 251 aims to prevent the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) from blocking student-athletes in the Sunshine State from receiving compensation for the us e of their likenesses or names. If passed, the bill would take effect July 1, 2020; California's law will take effect in 2023. Follow the Florida bill's progress here and learn more about Rep. McGhee, who represents part of Miami-Dade County, here . Interesting.
Come Meet the New WPB City Police Chief
When former WPB City Commissioner Keith James was elected Mayor in March, one of his first actions was to name Frank Adderley the city's new police chief. Come listen to Chief Adderley, who had previously been Fort Lauderdale's chief law enforcement official, discuss his plans and ideas for keeping the city safe. Especially its neighborhoods. The discussion will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on next Saturday and is part of a series of Community Information Forums held at the Third Eye Bookstore in WPB, the only black-owned bookstore in PBC. Learn more about it here . The event is free and open to the public. Information? Call 561-856-7722.
Vendor Opportunities--some with a Caribbean vibe, all in Riviera Beach
TikiMarket at the Marina
The season-opener will be October 20 and there will be lots there: live performers, a VIP tent, a raffle-based Bahamian relief effort and, of course, vendors! Spaces are just $25 per week; more information is available here . Launched in 2018, TikiMarket is a Caribbean-themed outdoor market that occurs from 4 to 7 p.m. every Sunday at the recently redeveloped Riviera Beach Marina Village. Learn more about it, and its big plans for the season opener here . The market runs through May 2020.
GoomBay Splash
The second annual all-things-Bahamas event will happen November 9 at the Calloway Amphitheatre. The Miami-based Florida Junkanoo Gawds will perform again, as will others, and the food, drinks and people of the recently devastated nation--thanks to Hurricane Dorian in August--will all be there again too. Vendor spaces are $250 for food, $100 for merchandise and sponsorships are still available too.Ticket information? Here . Event information? Here . And, for vendor information, call 626-755-3690 or send an email  here .
Promote Your Business, Go Shopping
The Community Commerce & Flea Market started in March, closed over the wet and hot summer and continues on the last Saturday of each month. This month: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 26, still at the Judge Edward Rodgers Center for Community Development. All vendor spaces are just $20 and benefit the Alpha Educational Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Delta Delta Lambda chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Learn more about the event and pay for vendor spaces here .  And remember the event’s main focus: support of small businesses.
So, What's Going On?
Best place to look: the cocowire.net calendar!