My Experience

The past three semesters with Professor Reisner have been some of the best and most trying times of my college experience. I went from being intimidated and petrified to comfortable and proud. Throughout the internship, I really began to understand why he's so hard on us. He wants us to do our best. And with me, he has been there any time I've panicked to encourage me and push me just a little bit more.
I've become a good reporter with time. There have been, and there still are times when i just want to give up, but somehow I've always managed to pull through. I've learned to be persistent and unrelenting when it comes to getting the information i need. I've lost that fear of speaking to people, and I'm starting to gain more confidence in my writing (although i know it still needs work).
With every pep talk, Reisner has emphasized the fact that he relies on me because he know i can deliver. He's proud of me, and in turn, I'm proud of myself. You have no idea how good that makes me feel.
I know this semester has been tough, with just a handful of us writing stories. It's been challenging and overwhelming at times, but I couldn't be more proud of those of us who have stuck around and done the work.
I was part of that group that started the Liberty City Link; an opportunity that i almost passed up. I'm so glad i didn't. I'm so proud to be a part of something so incredible.
Who would've thought that the Hispanic girl with pale skin and green eyes would've fit in in Liberty City? And the reality is, the people there have embraced me. All the times I've gone out and interviewed and shared with the people there, I've come away with great stories and great experiences.
We really are like the little engine that could. None of us ever dreamed it would become what it is now. I only hope to continue to be a part of this great experience, and i hope that those who come after will realize the importance of what we started and will give their all like we have.

Back To School Giveaway

Back to school event focuses on safety and supplies
Written by ERICA LORET DE MOLA
Florida International University

Children and youth from Liberty City and throughout Miami can stock up on free school supplies, get school vaccinations, play games and win prizes at the “Safe Summer Back to School Giveaway” Saturday, Aug. 21 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Charles Hadley Park, 1350 NW 50th St., in Liberty City.
The event two days before school starts is part of the “Safe Summer 2010” initiative started this year to provide children and youth in the area with supervised summer activities. It's open to students from throughout Miami.

“We want all children to participate, not just the ones in Liberty City,” said Lynda Roberts, a crime prevention specialist with the Miami Police.

The Safe Summer 2010 Coalition is comprised of the police department, the city parks department and the Model City and

Little Haiti Neighborhood Enhancement Teams. Concern about street violence and the budget cuts plaguing summer youth programs led the coalition to run a series of eight “Summer Safe” activities, which kicked off on June 4.

Past events have included a forum where teens could speak about violence and crime in their communities, a movie night, a skate day and a food-and-fireworks festival on the Fourth of July.

The back to school giveaway is the last event on the list. Sponsors for the event include the South Florida Youth Foundation, the Miami Heat and WMBM radio, which will provide the music.

But the giveaway event is not just about school supplies, it’s also about making sure the children are physically prepared for the new school year.

Jackson Memorial Hospital, the University of Miami Hospital and Children’s Hospital have teamed up to administer free vaccinations at the event. Free vision and dental exams will also be available. For further information, call Lynda Roberts 305-603-6095.

ELore006@Fiu.edu

Mock Trial Story

Youth to analyze “crime scene”
Written by ERICA LORET DE MOLA
Florida International University

This time, crime will have no victims. In an effort to provide youth with safe summer activities, a coalition of organizations is presenting a mock crime scene and ensuing trial, and teens will not only be the witnesses, but also the lawyers and the jury.

It is all part of the Teen Court Mock Crime Scene and Trial event taking place this Saturday, Aug. 7, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Charles Hadley Park, 1300 NW 50th St. Teens who attend the event will analyze mock crime scenes and play the roles of judge, jury lawyer and defendant in a trial.

“The children will come across different scenarios of crime scenes around the park, and try to analyze the situation,” said Lynda Roberts, crime prevention specialist with the Miami Police.

The event is the seventh of eight “Safe Summer, 2010” community activities designed to provide Liberty City youth with safe summer activities. But organizers say that teens from anywhere in Miami or Miami-Dade County can participate. Churches and youth groups have been invited to attend.

The Miami-Dade County Teen Court, a program to provide alternate punishments for underage, first-time offenders, will run the event. When offenders go through MDCTC, their punishments are determined by their peers in the program, rather than in the juvenile justice system. The goal is to decrease juvenile delinquency and crime.

For information, please call Roberts at 305-603-6095.

ELore006@Fiu.edu

Updates

So i was unable to attend the workshop because i got really sick, but since then i have written two more advances. One was for an event that took place this past Saturday at Hadley Park, and the other is coming up the weekend before school starts...a free school supplies giveaway, which i plan to cover. I did the best writing so far with that advance according to my professor, so I'm really excited to keep the momentum going :)

Nasty Weather

Weather permitting, i'll be going to the workshop at the cultural arts center in Liberty City tomorrow...let's see what happens

Workshop Tomorrow

Workshop seeks to assist artists
Written by ERICA LORET de MOLA
Florida International University

Artists, non-profit organizations and business owners can learn how to map out their futures at a workshop Saturday, July 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, 6161 Northwest 22nd Ave. in Miami.


Sponsored by the Diaspora Arts Coalition, the workshop will focus on how to adjust to an ever-changing economy and how to use individual strengths to develop future business models.

“This is part of a workshop series we’ve been doing for a while, and this one in particular centers around the current economic climate,” said Johnny Sanders, the coalition president.

The Diaspora Arts Coalition, made up of more than 50 cultural organizations and artists of color, works to support the arts in the African-American community. It works to help artists and organization create joint marketing and advertising programs and to promote facilities such as the Cultural Arts Center and the Joseph Caleb Auditorium, which offer multicultural programming.

One workshop goal is to help African-American artists learn the skills to market and sell their work.

“We help them maximize their art and make a platform for themselves,” Sanders said.

The cost of the workshop is $10 for coalition members and $20 for non-members.

For more information or to RSVP for the workshop, call 305-244-2158 or email diasporaartscoalition2009@gmail.com.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

MCI

So my latest article was an update about one i had written before about the Miami Children's Initiative...I'm hoping to be getting a lot more information about that tomorrow after an important meeting that's scheduled to take place. I'm actually excited about this project. It seems really interesting and that it would really bring some much-needed help to the children and families of Liberty City (read previous posts). I hope it gets moving fast because it has the potential to make a huge difference

I also plan on attending a business/financial workshop being held at the cultural arts center on Saturday. Hopefully a good group will show up...let's see what i can get (fingers crossed)

Oh, and yes, i'm getting the hang of this :)

Dancing and Plagerism

So i waited to write this particular post because a string of events have happened since one of my articles was published. My article on National Tap Dance Day was by far one of my best reporting experiences up to now. I found a 2-line announcement about an event being held at the Liberty City cultural arts center that celebrated the art of tap dancing.
I decided to go...i had nothing to do that Sunday so i thought it might be a possible story. I got in contact with event coordinator Mary Archer, and after speaking to her, i got a little more excited about the event. She told me she had been tapping for 60+ years, so right away i was hooked.
I got to the small auditorium and sat in one of the back rows and just waited...
I ended up having a lovely time. Music and danced filled the room and the energy was joyful and exciting. I introduced myself to Mary Archer in the middle of the show and interviewed some very talented and wonderful people.
I'm extremely proud of my story, and all the work i put into it, so you can imagine how a felt when a week later i got about 7 google alerts about my story....it was exciting until i discovered the links led to a story in the Herald, which was almost word for word what i had written.
My heart stopped for a second, mind racing, thinking back to whether there had been a Herald reporter there that day. I knew there hadn't been, so what was i looking at? Had someone really plagerized my work? Could this be done? As far as I know plagerism is a Cardinal sin.
So i quickly e-mailed Reisner, and the next few weeks, everything hang in the balance. The South Florida Times executive editor got involved and i got a call from Reisner telling me they were ready to go to war. WHAT?? Me? My story? I couldn't believe it!
I had all my notes, photos and video to back it up, and i was ready for anything. Although the person who claimed it as theirs is very well-respected, I was infuriated. I didn't care who it was. I thought what if i had been the one to plagerize someone else's work? And the simple answer was, i'd be screwed. My career over before it's even begun!
Thankfully, the issue was resolved without any bloodshed, and all is well.

But as Brad Bennet put it in an e-mail he wrote me:
"This was an important lesson in the ethics of journalism, and I’m glad you came out on the right side of it. I’m sure you will be talking about this one for years to come."

Indeed i will

Follow Up Story

Miami Children’s Initiative moving forward
Written by ERICA LORET de MOLA
Florida International University

Health officials are scrambling to move forward on a program intended to bring kindergarten-to-college educational, developmental and health care programs to Liberty City children and youth.

The Miami-Dade County Commission approved the program in May, and now comes a complex process to turn the Miami Children’s Initiative into a fact on the ground.


“We are moving towards incorporation, and doing all the things to get up and running,” said Irene Taylor Wooten, special assistant for social services for Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess.

According to Wooten, more clear and definitive answers about how things will proceed will be available after a meeting on July 20 with the Tallahassee-based Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida, the partnership in charge of managing the initiative.

The Florida Legislature has authorized similar children’s initiatives throughout the state, as well as a process to identify neighborhoods in which they would be based. The legislation allocated $3.6 million to pay for the first three years of the Miami program.

The project will be based in the state Department of Children and Families, and managed by the OPFF, the 20-year-old public-private partnership that supports community-based programs for at-risk children and their families.

Local officials are scheduled to meet with OPFF later this month, Wooten said.

The initiative is modeled after the successful Harlem Children’s Zone in New York. That program serves more than 17,000 children, providing them, as well as their parents, with developmental and educational programs from childbirth to adulthood.

#3!- National Tap Dance Day

Show celebrates National Tap Dance Day
Written by ERICA LORET DE MOLA
Florida International University

Tribal drums, gospel and the clicks and clacks of tap echoed through the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend as troupes of young people danced their way through black history to commemorate National Tap Dance Day.

Titled “Routes to your Roots,” the performances showcased African-American dance styles from their origins in Africa to present-day hip-hop.

The event was coordinated by Mary Archer of Breath of Life, Creative Arts, a long-time tapper who hopes to preserve and spread an art form she said is uniquely rooted in African-American culture.

“It’s not just about the tap dancing, it’s deeper than technique, said Archer, 73, who’s been tapping for 64 years. “When you get a group of people who love what they do, it creates a spirit of unity and love.”

Archer, who has a doctorate in performing arts and taught at the center 20 years ago, said she wanted to “tell the story of tap dancing.”

May 25, the birthday of renowned tap dancer Bill “Bo Jangles” Robinson, was declared National Tap Dance Day by Congress in 1989. It was first officially celebrated in South Florida last year.

Performers on Sunday danced to everything from old African tribal beats to gospel to hip-hop, and even Lady Gaga, in a program that included interpretive dance, ballet, swing and, of course, tap.

Children from schools and dance studios in Liberty City participated in the event.

Girls from Charles Drew Middle performed an interpretive dance in flowing skirts to a spiritual song.

Reanaldo Farrington entertained the crowd with four different tap dancing solos, to the beat of drums, a gospel handclap, an ode to Harlem’s Cotton Club and a
hip-hop number.

Dancers from the Next Generation Dance Academy on Seventh Avenue performed an African dance, tapped their feet to a 1930’s big band song called “Sing, Sing, Sing” and banged long wooden sticks to match their dance steps in a hip-hop number.

Third graders from Walker Elementary, a performing arts magnet school in Fort Lauderdale, donned top hats, red sequin tops and their tap shoes for their performance to “Dancing Machine” by the Jackson 5.

Enjoli Paul, who teaches dance at Walker, said she learned about the event after Archer taught a workshop to students at the school.

It took the children about six weeks to learn the routine, she said.

“Art feeds into so many walks of life,” Paul said. “If they have discipline for dance, they have discipline for school.”

Nevaeh Sanders’ parents could not have been more proud of their third-grader, whom Paul praised as her most accomplished student.

“She talks about the class every day,” said her mother, Leah. “It drives her to do good in school.”

Sherard Lasster, a Liberty City native who remains in the neighborhood, has been tap dancing for 22 years. Although he had recently retired his tap shoes to focus on his landscaping business, he said Archer convinced him to perform at the event.

“Dance to me is a way of community, a way of vibing with one another,” he said. “For me, tap was a way to escape. Tap is the beat of the heart.”

Committee approves Miami Children’s Initiative
Written by ERICA LORET DE MOLA
Florida International University

MIAMI — A 10-year project intended to enhance the lives of Liberty City’s young people has passed a key Miami-Dade County Commission committee vote, but was deferred at the full board of county commissioners meeting on Tuesday, April 20.
The Miami Children’s Initiative, a wide-ranging program intended to bring Liberty City kindergarten-to-college educational, developmental and health care programs to the underserved area, was approved by the county Housing and Community Development Committee last month.

Irene Taylor Wooten, a special assistant for social services in Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess’ office, was not available to explain the deferral. But her assistant, Sonia Grice, said the delay was probably minor, and that the plan would likely be taken up next month.

The program is modeled after the successful Harlem Children’s Zone in New York. That program serves more than 17, 000, providing them, as well as their parents, with developmental and educational programs from childbirth to adulthood.

The HCZ programs provide expectant parents, parents of toddlers, and children at all school levels, from pre-K to college.

One program, the nine-week “Baby College,” teaches parents of youngsters up to three years old effective discipline techniques, and encourages them to read to their children.

Elementary, middle, and high-school level children involved with the HCZ are enrolled in “Promise Academy” schools, offering longer school days and a longer school year.

Middle-school students receive free medical and dental care, healthy meals and an after-school program.

The “College Success Office” gets students involved in community-service projects, and places them into internships. HCZ brags that it has sent some 600 students to college, and that graduates starting school last fall garnered more than $6.3 million in scholarships.

The Florida Legislature enacted a measure two years ago authorizing creation of similar children’s initiatives throughout the state, and creating a process to identify neighborhoods in which they would be based. The legislation allocated $3.6 million to pay for the first three years of the Miami initiative.

The project will be based in the state Department of Children and Family Services, and managed by the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida, a 20-year-old Tallahassee-based public-private partnership that supports community-based programs for at-risk children and their families.

It's real

So yes i got published! Twice! It's extremely exciting to see my name on a byline, i can't even explain how happy i am.

This class and professor Reisner have given me an opportunity unlike any other. We, as a class, got the chance to put Liberty City back on the map, and i just heard from Reisner today that people are actualy reading and paying attention!

My stories have gotten a lot of hits on the website, and i'm just really excited that this little project, that some thought would just fizzle, has actually turned into this huge, incredible, actual thing!

T he focus now is to continue with stories throughout the summer. I'll be starting an internship in which we act as guides and editors for the newcomers, and also get to write stories assigned to us from the staff at the South FL Times.

I've come a long way this semester. From struggling so much with my first story, I learned a lot along the way. I learned to be persistant and stay on top of things. I got really good at turning stories around quickly. I think i became an actual reporter! It's kind of crazy and wonderful all at the same time.

I've struggled and also been really successful with my stories. I hope this is just the beginning, and i'm excited to see what's next.

PUBLISHED!

Company treats employees like family
Contributed by ERICA LORET de MOLA
Florida International University


A Liberty City company that once struggled to stay afloat has become

one of the most successful health-food growers, manufacturers and

processors in the southeast, turning its success to helping the

community.
Leasa Industries employees produce bean and alfalfa sprouts, snow peas

and other vegetables; such Chinese food items as egg roll and won ton

wraps, fortune cookies and tofu; and stir fry soup mixes. Clients

include Publix, Winn-Dixie, Wal-Mart, Sedanos, Sysco Food Service,

among others.
Not bad for a company founded in 1977 with $15,000 in money borrowed from friends and family by a man who
emigrated from Jamaica with his now deceased wife Einez, three children and $50 in his pocket only a year earlier.
Today, Leasa founder George Yap repays the opportunities he enjoyed by reaching out to the community. The 65-or-so
employees at Leasa’s 30,000-square-foot plant in the Poinciana Industrial Park, who mostly hail from Liberty City, Little
Haiti and Overtown, include ex-convicts, high school dropouts and mothers dependent on government aid.
One recent hire was an ex-con who spent 20 years in prison, Yap says.
“I was rich in Jamaica, but I lost everything so we came here for a better life. I was jobless, and my wife had to work two
jobs to support the family,” Yap says. “Everyone makes mistakes, but everyone deserves a second chance. I got a second
chance when I came to this country.”
The Yaps’ community commitment does not go unnoticed,
“I have known about Leasa Industries for 18 years and George Yap has always been very sensitive to the community in
ensuring that the people that work for his organization are successful,” says Elaine Black, president the Liberty City Trust.
“He has grown his business and has allowed for his employees to grow with it.”
Leasa – the company name comes from the first initials of the family’s first names: L. George, wife Einez, and children
Andrew, Sean and Allison – has been recognized by the Florida Regional Minority Business Council, Inc. Magazine,
Harvard Business School and the U.S. Department of Commerce, among others.
Employees say the fact the Yaps respect their workers is part of their success. Employees, for example are allowed to
take time off if they need to take their children to the doctor or have a court appearance, as long they arrange the time off
in advance.
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One of those employees is Charles Mims, a Liberty City resident and U.S. Air Force veteran who’s been with the
company for about 17 years and supervises the vegetable department.
“They treat everyone the same way here. They give people opportunities that most people don’t give,” says Mims, recalling
a time when the Yaps loaned him $1,500 when he needed to tend to family matters in Georgia, imposing no repayment
schedule.
Mims says the Yaps’ emphasis on discipline and worth ethic helped him, as well.
“I have learned to be patient,” he says. “I like to teach people, and show them how to do the work.”
Sabrina Williams, who makes sure every stage of production – planting, growing and packaging goes smoothly recalls
how the Yaps gave her a job - even after they fired her.
Williams, who also lives in Liberty City, worked for the company in the early ‘90s, but was let go after an altercation with
another employee. She returned in 2008 and asked for her job back. Two years later she’s a supervisor.
“They understand that everyone deserves a second chance. I love my job, and I don’t plan on letting it go,” says Williams.
Joyce Missick, an 11-year veteran, simply calls the Yaps family.
“They try to help you out and keep you out of trouble. Mrs. Yap was like everybody’s mother, Mr. Yap is the dad, and that’s
my big brother,” Missick says, pointing to Andrew Yap, who became company president five years ago after the same
year his mother died.
The younger Yap, also an adjunct professor of business and marketing at Florida International University, carries on his
parents’ values.
“We are bringing economic diversity into Liberty City,” he says. “The only thing some have here is a bicycle or a bus. We do
what we can to help them out.”
Elore006@Fiu.edu

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Ups and Downs

So the first story i was assigned is part of a package having to do with this year's Census. I got assigned to cover the Census workers. I started researching the Census website right away and got some helpful information, but i knew i needed way more. So i started by calling the local Census office that covers liberty city and to my great frustration, it took me about a week to get in contact with the person in charge of recruiting. I called and left so many messages that they must have hated me. Once i finally got through, she was really excited about what i was doing, and what the class was doing as a whole. She promised to get back to me, and find me someone who could help me with my story

Hours turned into days, and to my great disappointment she told me she was not allowed to speak to me. But by some miracle, or maybe just out of the kindness of her heart, she gave me a tip. She told me there would be some recruiting and testing going on the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center in Liberty City that Friday.

When i got to the center that morning, i had no idea what i was going to do. I wasn't sure if anyone would be willing to talk, or if they were just going to give me the same run-around. As i started walking toward the center i heard voices calling to me, i looked up, and standing outside a trailer were three ladies asking me if i was there to take the test. I said no, but that i was there to interview them. I got great quotes from them, and i started feeling a bit more confident at that point. I was also able to talk to a recruiting agent who was extremely helpful, and answered all my questions.

I just hope my story is good enough. I was really desperate at the start of the whole process. I thought for some reason it was going to be a lot easier. This was the first time I've had to really struggle to get the information and actually get a story. It taught me to be persistent and to not lose hope, somehow, there is always a way, if you have enough determination. I felt like I was the only one struggling, but knowing that my classmates are facing similar issues and obstacles, makes me realize I'm not alone. It's hard work, but i know i can do it.

Liberty City Link

I had professor Reisner last semester for print news workshop when he told us abou his idea for his print news reporting class in the spring. He told us he was thinking of starting up an online newspaper, but the kicker was, he wanted to cover Liberty City. All I remember was the faces of terror as I looked around the room in contrast with the enthusiasm in the professor's voice. The whispers began immediately, many were afraid of the idea, and when the professor said it was going to take time out of class to be able to pull it off, that was their ticket out.

I remember being really interested in the idea. It was scary and intimidating in a way, but I knew I had it in me to do it. I knew because at the time I had also taken professor Reisner's Multi- Ethnic class, so the idea of covering a place where I've never been before intirugued me. For the multi-ethnic class I had gone to interview men at a barbershop in West Park called The Purple Palace. I knew that after that experience, I could do anything. That class taught me that fear and nerves can be a good thing. It taught me that most people just want to talk, want to be heard.
I mulled it over during the break I knew in my gut I wanted to take the class because I was never going to get an opportunity like this again.

First day of class, everything was still in the air, but I rusted things would fall into place. Since then, I have gone to Liberty City on a few ocassions. Once to drive around and see where things were and the next time as with my classmates. We all went to Jumbo's. I drove with my classmate Alexandra Martinez,and since I hadn't been able to go with the others to the MLK parade, I was excited to see what would happen. We were the first to arrive. We turned the corner and saw a group of guys hanging out across the street, next to the market..."what are we getting ourselves into?" I thought. We walked toward the front door, and Bobby Flam was standing in the parking lot with a big smile and an extended hand. I immediately felt at ease. He was so welcoming, and everyone inside was just a nice.
The whole experience was great, from the food to the conversation to all the things we learned about the prominent people in the community.

News about us partnering up with the South Florida Times made everything that much more real. I can't remember the last time I was this excited about something. This is really happening! Our stories are really going to get published! I cannot wait to really start going into the community and finding stories. This'll be the most challenging thing I have ever done, it's going to take a lot of work and dedication, but if we can all do it, then that makes me that much more confident that I'm doing the right thing.