As we move into the new year, we are also taking a step forward with our first digital issue of The Councilor being posted on the FCCD website. We also sent it to our membership via email to their address of record. I believe you will enjoy the convenience of being able to read The Councilor at your leisure anywhere you connect to the internet. Many of our chapters have submitted articles about local activities and there is an update about the statewide project of honoring and assisting veterans in Florida. And don’t forget to check out our advertisers and the products and services they provide. Our mantra this year is respect those who risk all for our freedoms, rights and privileges, the active service personnel and veterans of Florida.

Michael F. Page

Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency
State President 2019

Please see attached newsletter for more details. 

Please see attached Chapter 20 3rd Quarterly Newsletter.

Chapter 20 has been busy this quarter. See attached for more information.  

Please see attached newsletter for Chapter 1.  

Chapter V, led by President Stephen Starling, Sr., participated in an event which involved the collection of gifts for almost 200 children for the Guardian ad Litem Program of the Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida.  Kim Adams, of the Guardian ad Litem, personally thanked the chapter in a letter for efforts this and previous years.

See attached thank you letter.

For more information about the Guardian ad Litem program, please visit http://guardianadlitem.org.

Each November, in celebration of American Education Week, the Foundation for Orange County Public School brings business and civic leaders into the classrooms in a fun and engaging way to talk with students about academics, careers and the future. At this year’s Teach-In, FCCD Chapter 7 visited Evans High School, and spoke with Dr. Chisholm’s 3rd period students about the long-term effects of youth incarceration in our community.

Orange County Corrections Department Corporal Orlando Roman and Officer Leonia Thornton engaged students in a positive dialogue about the emotional, societal, and financial effects of youth incarceration within the local community. 

Officer Thornton, an alumnus from Evans High School, spoke about her personal experiences overcoming adversity, and how she was driven to the field of corrections. When a student asked Officer Thornton about why she was inspired to participate in the Teach-In, she responded “The way our children are raised today, will determine our future generations. 

As I look around your classroom, I see hope. Hope that each student will be prosperous, and rise above all obstacles you encounter.”

Corporal Roman shared with the students the many challenges at-risk youth are faced with after an arrest, as well as the long-term effects incarceration has on youth within the community. He shared his personal experiences growing up with adversity as well, and how positive mentorship and role models inspired him to give back to his community. “I believe there is a tremendous responsibility for those of us who have shared a similar path to give back and mentor our students to become the future leaders of tomorrow.” 

Sharing their personal experiences from working within the community and the Orange County Jail, Corporal Roman and Officer Thornton aimed to have a positive impact on the students of Evans High School while advocating for continuing education and positive social behavior. This is just one example of how FCCD Chapter 7 remains committed to furthering the organizations mission. They are driven to serve as a catalyst for the prevention and reduction of crime and delinquency for all Central Floridians.

Cpl. Orlando Roman

Orange County Corrections Department

FCCD Ch. 1 has donated and will continue to provide necessities through collaborative efforts to locate, collect, and deliver needed items.

Allen’s Home of Hope, Inc. is a non-profit faith-based organization that was founded by Arlene M. Allen-Griffin, a selfless woman who devoted two decades of her life working within various sectors of criminal justice/community safety. She started her career in 1990 with Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in the Classification/Records Department, later accepting a position with the Florida Department of Corrections where she held several positions including Senior Clerk, Inmate Records Supervisor and Classification Officer. She also worked at Bridges Work Release Center and the Alpha House – a facility for homeless pregnant females. 

Her determination to help the females in prison drove her to put passion into action through taking a collaborative approach to help empower the women in order for them to become self-sufficient, contributing members of their communities. To attain these goals, Allen’s Home of Hope, Inc. offers housing for up to eighteen months (or more if needed) while the participants complete personal development and vocational training, substance abuse counseling, interpersonal and independent skill building, mentoring, and GED prep. 

Residents receive three meals a day, personal hygiene items, and referrals to social service agencies.

Contact Ms. Allen-Griffin directly for additional information:

allenshomeofhope@outlook.com

ph. 813-850-4917

Thank you to all the Vendors, Sponsors and my awesome Team for an outstanding and very successful 2017 Institute! The 88th Criminal Justice Training Institute was a major success and accomplishment for the Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency.

My sincere Thanks to each of you for your generous support, commitment and dedication to making the Institute one of the BEST ever! The Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista was the site and was directly across from Downtown Disney. This afforded our attendees an array of opportunities and options for after hour activities. During the institute, our attendees enjoyed a number of high-quality educational workshops and networking opportunities over the course of the Institute. Many members have commented very favorably and positively on the Institute experience.

It was my vision to educate, inform and provide a networking forum for our attendees to discuss our theme, Transcending Race and Crime in our Community through Education, Empathy and Engagement in a thought provoking manner that would inspire us to take action in our local communities. Thank you for making this happen!

Linda A. Brooks

Past President

Chapter 4 achieved Chapter Effectiveness again this year at the 88th Annual Criminal Justice Institute in Orlando, Florida. Our nominee for the Judicial Distinguished Service Award was Judge Michael A. Robinson. He was selected to be the award recipient and Chapter 4 accepted the award on his behalf. We hope that everyone has recovered from Hurricane Irma. The storm put a lot of our September functions on hold but our chapter has resumed our charitable activities.

We had a busy month in October. We donated a large amount of clothing to the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation. We will be continuing to collect newspapers throughout the year for Faith Farm Ministries.

Chapter 4 raised $500.00 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Light the Night Walk. We held a garage sale and used the proceeds to buy food for the women’s shelter.

During Domestic Violence month, we held a food drive that resulted in the collection of 15 large boxes of food to restock the AVDA pantry. Our chapter is continuing to sell jewelry to raise money for scholarships for  the 89th Annual Criminal Justice Institute at the Boca Raton Resort Club.

We plan to have a lot of interesting training selections at this year’s Institute and hope that we have a large attendance. Please contact any of our board members to purchase jewelry items.

Tammy Marcus is the President of the State Board and she has chosen autism as her community service project for this year. At the first board meeting, Robert Ahlness, Director of Event Operations from the Dan Marino Foundation brought one of their students to the meeting to speak about their program. We are collecting used computer equipment, cell phones and school supplies to benefit their students. At the meeting, Chapter 4 was able to donate some equipment and school supplies for this great cause. The state board will be selling Autism themed pins and bracelets to raise money for this organization.

Please see Tammy Marcus to help support this great organization. We will continue to fund raise for the Dan Marino Foundation throughout the year. We have many projects planned for December such as Wreaths Across America, Kids in Support of Soldiers, a toy drive and a Christmas food and clothing drive for Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse. 

Please visit our FCCD Chapter IV Facebook page for updates, newsletters and announcements. Please share the Councilor with your friends, family, coworkers and neighbors and encourage them to join our great organization. New  members bring new ideas and expand our charitable goals. 

Sherri Cole

Chapter 4 President