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Ally Profile: Dr. Irvin PeDro Cohen

Image September 30, 2013 We Are Straight Allies 1 Comment

Dr. Irvin PeDro Cohen is the Executive Director of the New Town Success Zone, a community collaborative initiative largely based upon the work of Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children Zone.

PeDro is a Jacksonville, FL native and he received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Florida, his MBA from Pfeiffer University Charlotte, NC and a graduate from Nova Southeastern University, with a doctorate in Organizational Leadership and Urban Education. His dissertation title was “A Charge to Keep: The Role of the African-American Church Post Civil Rights.”

PeDro also serves on the advisory board of the Florida Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, the University of North Florida’s School of Education Dean’s Advisory Council, the University of Florida School of Pediatric Medicine’s CTSI Community Advisory Board, he is a member of the Jacksonville Chapter NAACP and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated Jacksonville Alumni Chapter.

His blog can be seen at www.irvincohen.com.

Why is PeDro a straight ally and supporter of the HRO ordinance?

I am an ally and supporter of the HRO ordinance because as an African-American male I uniquely understand what the sting of discrimination feels like. Furthermore, as someone who believes in the spiritual principles associated with LOVE and BEING I find it counterproductive spiritually to simply deny anyone service based upon their sexual orientation.

Finally, as a lover of people and the unique experiences they bring to my own personal growth and existence I would not want to deny myself an experience based upon some baggage brought on by discriminatory practices that involve sexual orientation.

Watch his video in support of his LGBT friends and community here.

Communities, Families, Friends

Ally Profile: Rachel Vitti

Image September 20, 2013 We Are Straight Allies 3 Comments

Rachel Vitti is the wife of Dr. Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent of Duval County Schools, mother of four, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, niece, grand-daughter, friend, teacher, education and social justice advocate. She is a former public school teacher who served students in Winston-Salem, NC and Harlem, NY. Rachel has spent the last ten years dedicated to nurturing and educating her four children ages 4-10. Aside from focusing on their development, she has also served as an advocate for exceptional-student issues within the public school system – namely students with specific learning disabilities. She has empowered parents with information and strategies to navigate the education system and improve access to appropriate resources for their children. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Wake Forest University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Salem College.

In her own words, Rachel describes why we must come out as allies in order to get the Human Rights Ordinance passed in Jacksonville:

The sobering fact is that less than 50 years ago, without the voice of allies, I would have been arrested and jailed for displaying my human right to love a man, who shares my heart, brings me to a poignant pause. Less than 50 years ago, without the voice of allies, my four bi-racial children would have been deemed to be illegitimate and would not have been given the protections and privileges afforded to the children of lawfully wedded parents.

Less than 50 years ago, allies stood to bring a voice to Mildred and Richard Loving and their three children, so they too could benefit from America’s Promise. The 1967 Supreme Court Case of Loving v. Virginia was a pivotal civil rights decision that invalidated laws prohibiting interracial marriage. That decision was a culmination of collaborative efforts of people around the nation.

Today, on the shoulders of those who have stood tall, and those still standing, I am coming out as a Straight Ally to expand the Jacksonville Human Rights Ordinance to include our LGBT families. As a mother raising four young citizens, it is essential that I exhibit a civic duty to ensure that all people can be open, honest, and safe in their home, school, work, and community, without fear. It is important to help victims of intolerance and hate, fight for their basic human rights.

Although I am a new member of this city, I expect Jacksonville to live-up to the motto of “The Bold New City of the South” and move towards full equality for everyone. To me, this matter is quite simple; afford the same justices and dignity to your neighbors for the betterment of our community. My responsibility to my community and to my family includes supporting those families that may not look like mine, worship the same as mine, or speak the same language as mine.

I challenge the greater Jacksonville community to reach out, join the coalition, and support their neighbors, regardless of race, gender, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital or familial status, pregnancy or ancestry, AND sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. In the words of Mildred Loving, “that’s what Loving, and loving are all about.”

Co-Workers, Communities

Ally Profile: Pat Geraghty

Image September 17, 2013 We Are Straight Allies Leave a comment

“I believe that engaged employees are a key ingredient for a business to be successful. Internal diversity within the workforce helps businesses better understand who they serve and allows the focus to be on the work and not on definitions that limit inclusion.” – Pat Geraghty

Patrick “Pat” Geraghty is chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer (CEO) of Florida Blue, the state’s largest health plan serving more than 7 million people in Florida and providing Medicare payment services to beneficiaries across 15 other states. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University and has participated in executive education programs at Harvard University School of Public Health and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He has three children; Sean, Briege and Kiera.

Throughout his career, Geraghty has been active in community and professional organizations. He is a board member for a diverse group of organizations, including the National Institute of Health Care Management (NIHCM), Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, Prime Therapeutics and the Oliver Wyman Innovation Center Advisory Board. He is a member of United Way’s Tocqueville Society and, in 2011, was appointed to the Florida Council of 100. He received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from Kappa Alpha Psi for Florida Blue, the American Values Award for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the community from the North Florida Council Boy Scouts of America, The Jefferson Award for Public Service for BCBSMN, the 2012 Game Changer Award from Politic365 for Florida Blue and the Gold Standard from the CEOs Roundtable in support of the American Cancer Society with BCBSMN and Florida Blue.

Geraghty has been featured in Florida Trend magazine and interviewed on Bloomberg TV’s Street Smart program and the Nightly Business Report which airs nationally on PBS. Additionally, he has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Florida Times Union, Miami Herald, Tampa Tribune, Tampa Bay Times and Orlando Sentinel, among other publications.

Pat has seen discrimination in many forms throughout his life, amongst family members and in the workplace. He learned about discrimination early on when his grandfather, an Irish immigrant. was denied employment. “When we discriminate against others in our everyday lives, people pay a price.” he explains. “Discrimination in any form is wrong.” As Chairman and CEO, Pat wants employees to fully experience the opportunities they have available, both at work and home.

Pat is proud to be a Straight Ally, working to build a more inclusive, more fair, community for everyone to live in. “Florida Blue stands for inclusiveness and for passing the Florida Competitive Workforce Act. We will also be supportive in the efforts to work on the changes in Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance.”

Communities, Families

Ally Profile: The Hamiltons

Image September 12, 2013 We Are Straight Allies 1 Comment

Pastor Vicki Hamilton and her husband, William, are both 2002 TEEM graduates from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkley, California. She was ordained in April 2002. They were called to St. John’s in January 2000 while membership was on the decline. The congregation has changed dramatically and has become ethnically diverse. They shepherd a community, proud to be a congregation striving to love and respect one another.

Pastor Vicki has served within the church, and the Jacksonville community, for many years. Her service includes: member of the taskforce for the formation of the ELCA race, ethnicity and culture social statement, planning committee member for the new women’s organization, two-term executive board member for Women of the ELCA, and church-wide board member of the African American Lutheran Association (AALA). She has served as small group leader at region 9 Bishop School, Assistant to the Bishop for the African American Strategy, synod’s leadership task force, outreach committee, anti-racism team and candidacy committee. She has also served ecumenically as keynote speaker with Church Women United, the Via De Christo movement, Beat the Odds (a community program helping and encouraging young teen parents to finish school) and has conducted numerous workshops on self-esteem and empowerment.

William and Vicki wrote this beautiful letter to the Jacksonville community, urging the importance of why we all need to join the LGBT community and pledge our support for the passage of a comprehensive Human Rights Ordinance.

Greetings,

We are the Hamilton’s, William and Victoria. We have been married for 44 years. Our family consists of three adult children and five grandchildren. We have worked hard at raising them to be compassionate and caring people. We try our best to set examples for them, and others, by holding integrity and care for God’s creations above all else.

For twenty years as a military family, we sacrificed long separations to insure that Americans could be treated fairly and just. That personal safety and the ability to live your life in freedom were paramount. That Justice in being able for all to work and make a sustainable livelihood matters to my family.

After retirement my family continued to fight the causes of injustices. We exchanged our military uniform for a new one. We where chosen to put on the collar and yoke of ordained ministry. Still called, equipped and sent to help fight for those same protections to insure no one is living on the margins of our society.

We could not in good conscience stand by while there is the slightest possibility that one of our LGBT Sisters and Brothers can face discrimination in jobs and housing. No matter what your belief system says, this is a Human Rights Issue. Everyone has the right to make a sustainable living and not stand in fear of loosing their job for who they are or perceived to be in their sexual orientation. Qualifications should be the determining factor.

A quote from The Rev. Martin Luther (1483-1546): “There comes a time when one must take a position that is not safe nor political nor popular but he must take it because his conscience tells him it is right”.**

We are out of the closet on this issue, won’t you join us?

Rev’s William and Victoria Hamilton, Pastors

St. John’s Lutheran Church, ELCA

** Editor’s Note: While we most often associate this quote with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in his speech, Delivered at the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C., on 31 March 1968, his writings and teachings were often influenced by those of his name sake, thus the Hamiltons choose to give rightful credit to the originator of the thought.

Ally Profile: The Hamiltons (livefromjacksonville.com)

Families, Friends

Ally Profile: Brennan Campa

Image September 10, 2013 We Are Straight Allies 1 Comment

My name is Brennan Campa. I am a 14 year-old who attends Paxon, School for Advanced Studied in Jacksonville, FL. I enjoy playing soccer, basketball and being with my friends. This effort is important because I believe no matter what race, gender sexuality etc. someone is, people should all have equal rights and they should be treated with respect. Everybody should have equal opportunities and unfortunately in our society today, that just is not the case. I am a straight ally because I want my mother to have the same rights as everyone else.