This newsletter provides updates on the activities of the Treasure Coast Florida Chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) over the past quarter. It highlights the chapter president's message, milestones of various members, details of committee activities and community outreach events held. These include a Black History Month gala to honor trailblazers and celebrate black excellence, participation in Martin Luther King Day and Women's History Month panels, and a Habitat for Humanity build. The newsletter also shares information on new members and birthdays being celebrated that quarter.

1. The HAPPENINGS
What's Inside
PRESIDENTS CORNER 2
A Message from our President
MEMBERS ON THE MOVE 3
Milestones & Achievements
MEMBER MATTERSGHJHJ 5
Committee News
Membership Benefits
New Members & Birthdays
WHAT'S HAPPENIN'FD 8
Community Outreach & Engagement
Black History Month Gala
Women's History Month
SUPPORTGF 15
Donation and Sponsorship
LET'S STAY CONNECTED 16
Mailing Address, Email and Social Media
Platforms
Issue 03 - April 2022
One of the main keys to
being successful and
fulfilling your purpose is to
understand your unique
talents and to find the right
arena in which to use them.
John C Maxwell
Quote of the Quarter

2. President's Corner
A Message from Our President
Greetings, NFBPA Family:
Since the inception of the Treasure Coast Florida Chapter of the
National Forum Black Public Administrators, I have been excited about the
opportunities that lay ahead for us to build on relationships, support our
members in their career development, showcase the talented individuals
in our community, and engage within our community.
Sincerely,
Alphonso Jefferson, Jr.
NFBPA Treasure Coast Chapter President
Over the course of this quarter, we have delivered a fantastic Black History Month Gala, established a
partnership for an annual scholarship, hosted and partnered on events to celebrate Women History
Month, participated in community events, just to name a few. I am thankful for our sponsors and
partnerships that were established from the Black History Gala.
As members of this amazing chapter, I would like for you think about how you can get more involved in
your chapter. Share your thoughts and let’s put those into action and we'll continue to build a better
and stronger chapter that will serve this community. As public servants, we believe in uplifting all areas
of the community, and your contributions are needed. As we look ahead, we continue to focus on our
strategic framework to move the chapter forward. Look out for more networking opportunities,
community involvement projects and discussions on activities that affect our communities.
As a member of NFBPA for over 20 years, I am committed that our chapter, and I hope you will
continue to be committed as well.
The Happenings Newsletter - Issue 03 2

3. Members on the Move
Celebratory Milestones & Achievements
Caleta Scott Crystal Morris Alphonso Jefferson
Caleta accepted the American Heart
Month proclamation presented by
St. Lucie County Board of County
Commissioners.
As Health Equity Liaison, Caleta is
focused on highlighting and
reducing health disparities in the
black community. FDOH-St. Lucie
currently offers these programs that
are key to maintaining a healthy
weight: Eating Smart, Being Active,
National Diabetes Prevention
Program, Billion Steps Challenge.
Crystal was nominated for
weVENTURE Women's Business
Centers’ Excellence in Mentorship
Award!
This nomination is indicative of her
work ethic, passion and dedication
for educating, training and
mentoring throughout our
community and abroad.
Alphonso was appointed to the
Board of Directors for the Boys &
Girls Clubs of America of St. Lucie
County.
He is dedicated about improving his
community and fostering greatness
within the people around him. We
know that his passion and
dedication will serve the
commmunity well in his role as a
member of the Boys & Girls Club
Board of Directors.
The Happenings Newsletter - Issue 03 3

4. Members on the Move
Celebratory Milestones & Achievements
Lesley George
Sarah Smith
Sarah, Community & Business
Engagement Coordinator of St. Lucie
County BOCC, was nominated for the
Chamber Community Award by the
Haitian American Chamber of Commerce
of Florida (HACCOF), Treasure Coast
Chapter for her dedication and support
of the organization.
She was also featured as a special guest
on the HACCOF- Treasure Coast Show
on February 15th, 2022, to discuss the
important work being done in St. Lucie
County on behalf of its residents and
small business owners, namely, the
Upward Mobility Project.
Willie led the development of Lawnwood’s outdoor fitness court. This 1,024-
square-foot open-air court is comprised of seven stations that allow for
beginner level to Special Force Training giving you a full total body strength
challenge by leveraging your own body weight to give you a complete
workout experience. It is designed to develop your agility, mobility and
balance of core muscles and flexibility. Each individual station and concrete
pad are overlaid with rubber matting which allow for stationary, or body
weight, movements such as lunges, squats, and pull-ups.
Willie Redden
Lesley, founder of Mosaic, Inc,
accepted the Woman's History
Month Proclamation from St. Lucie
County Board of County
Commissioners, proclaiming the
month of March as "Women's
History Month" in St. Lucie County
The Happenings Newsletter - Issue 03 4

5. Committee Chair
Membership Committee - Responsible for membership recruitment, retention, and other matters pertaining
to the Treasure Coast Chapter's membership. Chair: Elijah Wooten
Program Development Committee - Responsible for the planning of programs, e.g., awards ceremonies,
fund-raisers, and speakers during membership meetings. Chair: Shanelle Tomlin
Public Information Committee - Responsible for providing information to the membership and the public of
the activities of the Chapter. Chair: Carlene Cidel
Finance Committee - Responsible for preparing a budget for the fiscal year and submitting it to the
membership and to NFBPA nationals. Chair: Johnna Morris
Community Engagement Committee - Responsible for fostering community engagements and provide
ongoing expertise, strategic counsel and guidance that will help increase community interest and participation.
Chair: Sarah Smith
NFBPA Treasure Coast Chapter Committees
Membership Matters
Committee News, Membership Benefits, New Members & Birthdays
Makeda Brome "Hello, my name is Makeda Brome. I am excited to join NFPBA and chair the scholarship
committee. I received my Bachelors of Science in Secondary Education from Indian River
State College, a Masters in Curriculum from University of Texas at Arlington, and a Masters
The scholarship committee presides over the publication, solicitation, and management of
NFBPA scholarship fund to ensure the timely and fair distribution of scholarship funds in
partnership with IRSC. Chair: Makeda Brome
in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University. I have had experience with all levels of the scholarship
process. As a student at IRSC, I worked for Student Support Services which served first-generation and/or low-
income students, students identified as minorities, and students with disabilities. A part of my job included helping
students apply for scholarships available through the IRSC Foundation. I was also the recipient of a full-ride
scholarship for my Bachelors Degree at IRSC. Currently, I am on the Board of the St. Lucie Education Foundation. As
a member of the Board, I review, and rate scholarship applications submitted by seniors in St. Lucie County Public
schools. I look forward to bringing this experience to the committee and joining with like-minded people to support
NFPBA's vision to support students as they enter college!" - Makeda Brome
To learn more about our committees, please email us at Nfbpa.treasurecoastflorida@gmail.com
The Happenings Newsletter - Issue 03 5

6. The Happenings Newsletter - Issue 03 6

7. TaWonna Johnson
February 11th
Caroline Sturgis
February 3rd
Elijah Wooten
January 9th
Would you like your birthday acknowledged in The Happenings quarterly newsletter and social media platforms?
Please fill out our membership questionnaire: https://documents.stlucieco.gov/Forms/NFBPA
New Members!
Happy
Birthday!
Makeda Brome
Village Manager
Howard Brown
Assistant Principal
Assistant Principal
Community Engagement
Coordinator
John Cesar
Assistant Principal
Financial Analyst
Marie Letin
Children's Services Council of
St. Lucie County
St. Lucie Public Schools -
Chester A. Moore Elementary
Village of Indian Town
U.S. Department of Education -
Historically Black Colleges & Universities
Capital Financing Program
The Happenings Newsletter - Issue 03 7

8. What's Happenin'
Community Engagement & Outreach
Black Health Panel
March 5, 2022
Dr. Martin Luther King
Parade
January 17, 2022
Members of the NFBPA Treasure
Coast Chapter participated in the
Martin Luther King Parade in Fort
Pierce, FL.
Members Crystal Morris and Caleta
Scott participated in a Habitat for
Humanity Build for a Lincoln Park
resident moving to her new home
in Fort Pierce on Saturday, March
19th.
Interested in helping future Habitat
homeowners move one step closer
to homeownership? Contact
Community Engagement
Committee Member Caleta Scott.
Habitat for Humanity
March 19, 2022
The Florida Department of Health
in St. Lucie hosted a Black Health
Panel at Incubate Neighborhood
Center on Saturday, March 5th,
2022. Member Crystal Morris was a
panelist.
The Happenings Newsletter - Issue 03 8

9. NFBPA Members attended IRSC's Black
History Month event, saluting The
Divine Nine - the original U.S. Black
sororities and fraternities.
Our Black History Month Spotlight is Mr. Willie C. Reagan, an
original Highwaymen!
In the early to mid 1950’s, a group of African American
landscape artists, the Highwaymen, emerged from Fort
Pierce, Florida (Treasure Coast) area!
The Highwaymen paintings gained popularity and were sold
along the highways in and around Vero Beach and Fort
Pierce, and carried into local Florida Businesses!
Celebrating Black Excellence
In celebrating Black History Month, we honor our ancestors and historical figures who blazed the arduous trail for us to
experience many of the freedoms we have today. We also honor individuals, groups, and organizations that, despite
opposition, continue the trajectory that supports the celebration of Black History, the uplifting of the Black
Marginalized, and the advancement of Black Excellence!
The ability to gain strength, courage, and resilience from reading the stories of our ancestors is one of the many reasons
why celebrating Black Hisory Month is empowering!
Black History Month
The Happenings Newsletter - Issue 03 9

10. SANAH MITCHELL SHIRLEY ANN FELDER
PANELIST PANELIST
KATE PRIEST
PANELIST
DR. TAMARA HILL-BENNETT
PANELIST
HOST
LESLEY GEORGE
MODERATOR
SARAH SMITH
PANELIST
WENDY CONRAD
PANELIST
INDIRA CEVILLE-BORGELLA
PANELIST
LESLEY GEORGE
International Women's Day Panel Discussions
Women's History Month
The Happenings Newsletter - Issue 03 10
The Women's First panel discussion was moderated by NFBPA
Parliamentarian, Sarah Smith, St. Lucie County Community and
Business Engagement Coordinator. The Panelist included Lesley
On International Women’s Day in Celebration of Women’s History Month NFBPA members, Lesley
George and Sarah Smith brought together a panel of women to discuss their journey to
entrepreneurship and the many experiences they faced to get where they are today. The discussions
talked about biases women face in business ownership, the courage to create change, and never
underestimating the power you have women have to create change.
The Break the Bias panel discussion was hosted by NFBPA member,
Lesley George, Founder of Mosaic, Inc. The panelist included Shirleyann
Fedler, NYC- grossed over $65 million dollars in her sanitation
Panel Discussion
Break the Bias
Panel Discussion
Women First
company, Kate Priest, Fl. Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice, 2x Amazon Best Selling Author
& speaker Sanah Bittaye Mitchell, ATL Savvy Technology ImpleMENTOR & Strategist here to Rock Your Tech
& Rock Your Biz so you can connect, communicate & Get Paid from your audience. Dr. Tamara Hill Bennett,
PA creator of Logic Eye care an eye care line.
George, Founder of Mosaic, Inc., executive coach, 4x Amazon best selling author, international speaker, &
award-winning Diversity & Inclusion Thought Leader. Wendy Conrad, work culture strategist, founder of
Your Happy Workplace, Indira Ceville-Borgella, CEO and Director of Video Production and Better Living &
Marketplace Magazine Publisher, Treasure Coast Communications and Marketing.

11. Thank you
Thank you
to our
to our
Sponsors!
Sponsors!
Celebrating Black Excellence
Black History Month Gala
Black History Month provides us all an opportunity to celebrate the incredible historical contributions of Black
Americans in every facet of life. This year NFBPA Treasure Coast introduced its Inaugural Black History Month Gala
to celebrate Black Excellence and to honor the incredible contributions of five outstanding community leaders in
St. Lucie County and the Treasure Coast. With over 320 guests, members and honorees in attendance, to
recognize, celebrate and support black excellence, the event was an amazing success! Doors opened at 6pm on
Feb 12, 2022, to welcoming messages from our City Mayor, Linda Hudson and County Commissioner Sean Mitchell.
Performances begun with Ms. Tunisha Hill who did an incredible rendition of the black national anthem. Hosted by
City Commissioner Curtis Johnson, supporters were treated to a night of elegance including cultural arts,
performances, award presentations, and a fashion show. The evening concluded with a night of dancing. A special
thanks to our sponsors, our community and to everyone who played a part in the success of this year's Black
History Month Gala.
The Happenings Newsletter - Issue 03 11

12. The Experience
Black History Month Gala
The Happenings Newsletter - Issue 03 12

13. Trailblazer Award Recipients
Black History Month Gala
Pastor Hazel Hoylman
Marcus Dixon
Medina Yasin
Dr. Wilhelmina Lewis-Lyons
Jabari Williams
Founder & Executive Director of
Multicultural Resource Center
for Children & Families (MRC)
Founder and CEO of Treasure
Coast Elite, Inc. (TCE)
President & CEO of Florida
Community Health Centers, Inc.
(FCHC)
Founder and CEO of Medina
Yasin Solutions, LLC (MY
Solutions)
Founder of In the Image of Christ
and Pastor of House of Prayer
for All People
The 2022 NFBPA Black History Month Gala Trailblazers Awards recognized and honors incredible
servant leaders in our community. Community leaders that has demonstrated exemplary level of
leadership and community engagement to positively impact the quality of life for residence in St.
Lucie County. Trailblazers throughout history have been people who wanted to push the envelope
and make a better world for everybody else.
This years recipient of the NFBPA BHM Trailblazers Awards are five such community leaders that
exemplifies the true definition of a Trailblazer. Congratulations to Marcus Dixon, Jabari Williams, Dr.
Wilhelmina Lewis-Lyons, Medina Yasin and Pastor Hazel Hoylman who were presented this years
Trailblazers Awards by Alphonso Jefferson Jr., president of the NFBPA Treasure Coast Chapter.
The Happenings Newsletter - Issue 03 13

14. Sponsor Spotlight
Acknowledgements
Black History Month Gala
NFBPA Treasure Coast would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to members of its Executive Board,
and Event Specialist, Decreta Meely, for their hard work, expertise, leadership, and commitment
especially with the execution of the 2022 Black History Month Gala, celebrating black excellence. We
would be remiss if we did not recognize your significant contributions to this year's Gala, the success of
the 2022 BHM Gala is due in large part because of your hard work. Thank you!
Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor, Information Consultants Inc. Without
the support and generosity of their sponsorship, it wouldn't be possible to
host our first signature event, the BHM Gala! Their Sponsorship dollars
made an immediate and direct impact on the production of this event.
Information Consultants, Inc. is a minority certified Laserfiche Solution
Provider based in Florida. We have over 24 years of experience in helping
organizations go paperless using a simple, structured, and secured solutions.
Our team of Laserfiche certified experts have implemented solutions for
government, higher education, Fortune-500 and non-profits companies in
the US, Canada, and Latin America.
The Happenings Newsletter - Issue 03 14

15. The Treasure Coast Florida Chapter of the NFBPA serves Saint Lucie, Indian River, Martin, and
Okeechobee Counties, to include all municipalities and public and non-profit agencies. Our
mission is to actively support our communities and local businesses by recruiting, educating,
training, and providing scholarships and mentorship programs for minorities interested in Public
Administration.
As a community partner, you too are positioned to influence the lives, neighborhoods, and
communities of the Treasure Coast for future generations. We invite you to leverage your
influence by joining the Treasure Coast Florida Chapter and the mission of the National Forum for
Black Public Administrators (NFBPA), our principal organization.
CHECK OR MONEY ORDER CASH APP GIVELIFY
NFBPA Treasure Coast Florida Chapter
P.O. Box 13436
Fort Pierce, FL 34979
$TreasureCoastFLNFBPA NFBPATreasureCoastFloridaChapter
Support
Donations &
Sponsorship
3 Safe & Convenient Ways to Give!
NFBPA is a 501(c)(3) organization, your sponsorship or donation is tax-deductible. If you have any questions
regarding sponsorship opportunities or donations, please contact Johnna S. Morris, Finance Chair at
nfbpa.tcffinance@gmail.com or (772) 979-4835.
The Happenings Newsletter - Issue 03 15

16. @NFBPA Treasure Coast Florida Chapter
We take pride in celebrating our members achievements! If you are a member and would
like to be featured in our quarterly newsletter, please do the following:
1. Fill out the Member in the Spotlight Form (this form is emailed to all new members);
2. Complete the Membership Questionnaire: https://documents.stlucieco.gov/Forms/NFBPA;
3. Keep us informed of your accomplishments by tagging us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn
@NNFBPA Treasure Coast Florida Chapter, or by emailing us at Nfbpa.treasurecoastflorida@gmail.com.
Let's Stay Connected
P.O. Box 13436 Fort Pierce, FL 34979
NFBPA.TreasureCoastFlorida@gmail.com
www.NFBPATreasureCoastFlorida.org
The Happenings Newsletter - Issue 03 16