Every year during Black History Month, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) pays tribute to community leaders and during this year’s ceremony, she recognized local health heroes and champions. Rep. Castor’s written tributes to these community leaders will be memorialized in the Congressional Record and can be read here:

• Dr. Dana Glenn, Women’s Center Medical Director at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital
• Dr. Kevin Sneed, tenured professor and the founding dean of the University of South Florida (USF) College of Pharmacy
• Ms. Heddie Sumpter, tireless advocate who has brought a voice on behalf of the African-American community to organizations such as the American Cancer Society
• Dr. Patrick Vincent, retired pastor of Mount Calvary Seventh-day Adventist Church in East Tampa and chair of Calvary Community Clinic

Video from today’s event is available here.

“I’m grateful to come together with many of our neighbors this Black History Month to lift up some impactful leaders who come from our Congressional District. Our community is full of talented individuals who’ve devoted themselves to public service, and I hope that the stories of our health care heroes inspire everyone who hears them,” said Rep. Castor.  “I am particularly impressed by the students of Tampa Bay Tech who joined today and hope that they are emboldened to follow the examples of our honorees to continue to pursue careers in health care and bring positive change to our communities.”

Students from Tampa Bay Tech High School’s medical magnet program joined the event as attendees and had the opportunity to ask questions (viewed at the 51:04 minute mark of the video). These Academy of Health Profession students are learning skills that will help them enter the medical job market and are prepared for post-secondary, technical, or college/university education.  

Former honorees at U.S. Rep. Castor’s annual Black History Month event include:

2016: Thomas “Jet” Jackson, longtime St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation leader and Barbara Shorter, heralded educator and former principal of Gibbs High School.

2017: Theresa Manuel, trailblazer, educator, & Olympic Champion; Deborah Gano ,Vietnam Veteran and public servant; Alton White, a true pioneer of so many firsts at the state and local level and a member of one of Tampa’s legendary families; and Chloe Coney, who has had an extraordinary career serving Tampa’s community for more than 40 years in areas such as economic development, housing and community building, and 10 years serving our neighbors in Tampa Bay as U.S. Rep. Castor’s District Director.

2018: Joli Cooper-Nelson, former national president of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.; Carolyn House Stewart, Esq., former international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; and Paulette C. Walker, former President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

2019: Doretha Edgecomb, former member of the Hillsborough County School Board; former Florida State Rep. Betty Reed; Harold Jackson, a community leader; and Dr. Juel Smith.

2020: Ross Anderson, founder, Men of Vision; the Honorable Marva L. Crenshaw, 2^nd District Court of Appeals; the Honorable Perry Little, 13^th Judicial Circuit Court.