Seminole Tribe of Florida Boys and Girls Club Hosts Open House

By Adelsa Williams

HOLLYWOOD — The Seminole Tribe of Florida Boys and Girls Club held an open house on March 5 on the Hollywood reservation. A continental breakfast was served to all attendees prior to the ceremonies and a light barbeque lunch afterwards, both compliments of the Seminole Police Department (SPD).

Robert North Sr. introduced Tribal citizen Dan Osceola for a word of prayer. He then handed over the microphone to his wife and Chief Professional Officer of the Boys and Girls Club Jo North. She took charge of introducing the guest speakers, but her oldest son and Boys and Girls Club member Robert North. Jr. stole the show.

He delighted the crowd with a solo guitar performance and song he composed himself. He introduced his master piece as a “spiritual song that talks about finding comfort and peace.” Following the inspiring musical presentation, Hollywood Council Representative Max B. Osceola, Jr. said a few welcoming remarks to the audience.

North then introduced guest speaker Leatrice “Chick” Big Crow, Executive Director of the SueAnne Crow Boys and Girls Club on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota.

“Today is a beautiful day and not only physically, but is beautiful in my heart because the Boys and Girls club will be serving more kids in Indian country,” said Big Crow, “Thank you to everybody for working together and think of the children because like I said, it takes a whole Tribe to raise one child.”

Big Crow is the mother of the late SuAnne Big Crow who was tragically killed in a car accident. It was SuAnne’s dream to build what she called “Happytown”–a place where young people could learn and be safe from drugs and alcohol, violence and gangs. After SuAnne’s passing, her dreams came true as the Boys and Girls Club of America opened the first club in Indian Country, dedicated in SuAnne’s name.

Currently there are more than 184 Boys and Girls clubs in Indian Country, Native Alaskan and Native Hawaiian communities. The Seminole Tribe of Florida’s being one of 21 clubs in progress.

Another special guest speaker was Lorraine Orr of the National Boys and Girls Club of America, representing the National Boys and Girls Club of America’s headquarters, located in Atlanta, Ga.

Orr presented Max Osceola with the Boys and Girls Club of America’s most prestigious award, the Helping Hand award. The award is given to individuals who go beyond the call of duty and work tiredly to help start a Boys and Girls Club.

“Every time I meet this gentleman I walk away inspired because of his commitment and passion for the Seminole youth,” Orr said. “He took the time to travel our country and look at other Boys and Girls clubs on Native American lands and came back and said he needs the same type of program for his young people. His leadership and passion is just contagious and we at Boys and Girls Club of America appreciate him. He serves on our National Native American advisory committee and it is our honor to present this award to him today.”

Even though not in attendance, Orr presented the same award to General Counsel for the Seminole Tribe Jim Shore.

SPD Chief Mike Floyd gave a brief speech and recognized one of his officers on staff and one of the Broward Sheriff’s detectives for their involvement with the Boys and Girls club.

“This is long time coming,” said Floyd. “It is an honor to be a partner with the Boys and Girls Club.”

Family Services department Director Crissie Carter also took stage and presented the Boys and Girls Club with an oil painting of young Osceola for display in their facility. Arrayed in Traditional Seminole wear, Tribal citizen Herbie Jim from the Seminole language and culture department rapped up the ceremonies with an impressive speech.

He began by telling a story about the ways his grandmother was raised and how his uncle thought him many of the traditional Seminole ways and culture. He praised his uncle for teaching him many things in life.

“[My uncle] thought me love because he loved to live,” said Jim. “That’s what we need to teach these children–love is power and strength–that is what reaches out to the children. That’s what they respond to. We need to show them home is where your strength is, this is home, the reservation is home and children are looking outwards, they are looking for something and they don’t know what they’re looking for, we’re here for you and that’s what we’re doing today, we said we needed to change something and we established the Boys and Girls Club.”

Vice President of Development from the Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota County Doug Kerr said a few words congratulating the Seminole Tribe of Florida for being the first Native Boys and Girls Club in the state of Florida.

He also shared a story about a young girl in his area that chose to go to the arts and crafts class instead of a street fight where the other two inviting friends died in result of the fight. She said to him “If it wasn’t for the arts and crafts teacher at the Boys and Girls Club, I would be dead too.”

In closing Kerr said, “Do we change lives, yes. Can we save lives, yes. Because of people like you and because of history like the history of Seminole Indians that need to be shared with other children in the state of Florida.”

Osceola gave the ceremonies’ closing remarks by first and foremost thanking everyone that helped make possible this project successful, especially to Robert and Josephine North. He presented Josephine North with a Pioneer Award in appreciation for her time and spirit.

The enlightening day capped off with a few special law enforcement presentations by the SPD. All who attended, especially the children enjoyed a staged school bus hijacking situation that was handled by the actual Seminole emergency response team, best known in other law enforcement agencies as the S.W.A.T. team. The children cheered as the team apprehended the bad guy.

There were also mini police cars that attracted the attention of the kids as well as the K-9 dog that everyone made a line to pet.