 2022 Year In Review: Top stories I covered as a Multimedia Journalist in 20222022 Year In Review: Top stories I covered as a Multimedia Journalist in 2022 As the year comes to an end, I reflect on all the stories I covered as a multimedia journalist for the year of 2022. During my reflection, there were 15 stories I covered in 2022 that were impactful and I remembered reporting on stories full of trailblazers! Read my previous year-in-reviews from the year of 2021, 2019, and 2018. Continue reading as I share with you my top stories I covered for the year of 2022! Here is the list of the top stories I covered for the year: Honorable Mention I want to start the reading with an honorable mention of a mother and a daughter who created Divine Healing Ministry. Evangelist Gladys Ellis and her daughter Psalmist Charlotte Ellis-Colbert hosted the Back To Basics:The Rebirth Concert and awarded donations to help residents with rent, utilities and home repair in November 2022. Ellis, 73, last year was diagnosed with Myasthenia gravis, which is a weakness and rapid fatigue of muscles under voluntary control that is caused by a breakdown in communication between nerves and muscles. Ellis-Colbert said her mother underwent nine hours of surgery for doctors to remove the thymoma, malignant (cancer) cells, that was attached to her major arteries. Since then, Ellis has regained her vision, her ability to swallow and her ability to move swiftly again. Read more of this story here. #15 Exhibitions honor black history and culture In 2022, I covered three exhibitions that captured the history of an historic African-American community in Gainesville, a local Gainesville artist and a curator who travels across the South talked about the legacy of the Gullah Geechee. Read more about the history of a local Black community who presented a walking tour of the area that featured photos of homes and buildings in the Pleasant Street area of northwest Gainesville in November 2022 here. An exhibit titled "The Gullah Geechee and Their African Connections," and its owner is Willis Hakim Jones, a Gullah Geechee descendant who has owned the exhibit for at least 25 years spoke at The Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center in July 2022 here. The ‘Unapologetic’ exhibit is a result of the artistic expression fueled by the passion Gainesville artist Yvonne Ferguson has for Black culture and the people of the African Diaspora. Read more about the exhibit here. #14 The Inaugural Ultimate Hair Braiders Battle  The Beauty and Braids Salon and Supply and Attractions Salon hosted The Ultimate Braiders Battle. Braiders displayed their talent during the inaugural Ultimate Braiders Battle in March 2022.  LaKisha Turner, right, owner of the Beauty and Braids Salon and Supply, alongside Brandi Holmes, left, owner of Supply and Attractions Salon, created the event to to help braiders in the area to network and showcase their talent. LaKisha Turner, right, owner of Beauty and Braids and Brandi Holmes, left, owner of Attractions Salon, created the event to to help braiders in the area network and showcase their talent. Read more about the event here. #13 Love and Happiness: Two married couples celebrated marital bliss An epitome of faith, love and understanding was celebrated with family and friends witnessing once again the union of a resilient and loving couple.  The program began with a Christmas skit of the Turks' family with their two children, Andrea Turk and James Turk Jr., and their three grandchildren, Aaron Turk, Ariyana Larkins, and Summer Littles. James Aaron Turk Sr. and Rosemarie "Rose" King Turk celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in July 2022. Read more about their story here. Love and life were celebrated amongst family and friends for a couple that has shown commitment through their marriage and careers in education.  Dr. Leanetta McNealy of the Alachua County School Board presented a proclamation to the retired educators and thanked them for their hard work. About 250 people attended an event celebrating the 75th birthday of Philoron Wright Sr. and the 49th wedding anniversary of Wright and his wife Cottie Wright in November 2022. Read more about their story here. #12 Lincoln High School Class of 1962 celebrates 60th Reunion The legacy of former all-Black Lincoln High School was celebrated as about 140 people gathered to celebrate a class reunion honoring the 1962 graduating class of the beloved school.  About 140 people gathered to celebrate the memories and the unity of a high school class with history. Lincoln High School's class of 1962 celebrated its 60th anniversary. The school is still held with high regard in the hearts of those who attended the school and are otherwise affiliated with the school, as evidenced by the number of people who attended the reunion in September 2022. Read more about the history of the class here. #11 Clarence R. Kelly grand opening  The city of Gainesville Wild Spaces in public places program in the Parks, Recreation and cultural Affairs Department announced that the construction of the Clarence R. Kelly Community Center and park is near completion. "Clarence R. Kelly your legacy lives on," shouted residents and guests outside the renovated Clarence R. Kelly Community Center and Park that took place in June 2022. About 100 people attended the grand opening ceremony on June 19 to to see the completion of the building that honors a man who sacrificed so much in the Duval Community. Read more about his legacy here. #10 Gainesville For All Family Learning Center to address achievement gap  James Lawrence, the director of GNV4ALL, places a toy house on a table in preparation for the opening of the Gainesville Empowerment Zone Family Learning Center. James F. Lawrence, director of Gainesville For All, said more funding is needed to fulfill the mission of the center. The center will serve low-income families by providing high-quality early learning and childcare in an effort to prepare young children from challenged families for kindergarten, Lawrence said. Read more about the center here. #9 Former Eastside High School band members protest to have old style back  Members of the alumni band and the school's alumni association and other supporters attended the Alachua County School Board meeting to let their concerns be known that they wish to have the "show band" style of marching and performing be incorporated in band routines performed by Eastside's marching band. (Photo Courtesy of Cleveland Tinker) Restoring the culture and tradition of the Eastside High School band is the top priority for members of the Richard E. Parker Alumni Band.  Alumni who bleed the orange and green represented the Ram Nation during Eastside High School’s Alumni Night 2022 at Citizens Field. Members of the alumni band and the school's alumni association and other supporters attended the Alachua County School Board meeting to let their concerns be known that they wish to have the "show band" style of marching and performing be incorporated in band routines performed by Eastside's marching band. Read more about the protest here. #8 JETS Beauty Supply Store Grand Opening  Maria Moise is the founder and owner of JETS Beauty Supply store located at 6250 NW 23rd St. Unit 7 in the Oakwoods Common Plaza. Maria Moise turned her struggles into success by using her determination to open a beauty supply store to take care of the personal needs of the community. Moise, founder and owner of JETS Beauty Supply store, held a grand opening in January 2022. Read more about the store here. #7 St. Peter Cemetery ceremony in Archer, Florida  The unveiling of the historical marker was led by St. Peter St. Paul Community Council officer Connie Lee, right. The dedication ceremony of the St. Peter Cemetery Historical Marker was held at St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church. Archer residents and others celebrated a treasure in the rural southwest Alachua County town as they turned out for the dedication ceremony for the unveiling of the St. Peter Cemetery Historical Marker. About 100 people attended the ceremony on the grounds of St. Peter Baptist Church in October 2022. Read more about its history here. #6 Caring and Sharing maintains spirit of excellence  Queneesha Ross teaches a room full of fourth grade students at The Caring and Sharing Learning School. The "A" grade earned by it's students success on the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking test last school year is the latest indicator of how much officials at Caring and Sharing Learning School are committed to the academic and overall success of the students the school serves. As it has begun its 25th year of educating students, the charter school at 1951 SE Fourth St. continues to have high expectations for it's students so much so that the principal, faculty, staff and parents all are determined that each student reaches their full potential. Read more about the school’s success here. #5 Black-owned nonprofit serves cancer patients, survivors at new 'Blooming Retreat' location  Blossoming Butterfly, Inc. is a black-owned 501c(3) nonprofit organization which was founded in January of 2018 by founder and CEO Nicole Miller. The grand opening of a facility in Gainesville is one of the first of its kind in the nation to help cancer patients and survivors and their families. In celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Blossoming Butterfly Inc. on Friday hosted the grand opening in October 2022. Not only is the facility the headquarters of the Black-owned non-profit organization, it is home to Blooming Retreat that will offer services to breast, ovarian and uterine cancer patients under one roof during and after treatment. Read more about the ‘Blooming Retreat’ here. #4 Precyse Coding Solutions meets medical needs of community  LaToya Dawson, chief executive officer of Precyse Coding Solutions, launched PCS in March 2020. LaToya Dawson is using her skills in the medical field to help bridge the gap with healthcare disparities. Dawson, chief executive officer of Precyse Coding Solutions, has over 10 years of experience in the medical billing and coding field. She is certified with the American Academy of Professional Coders and is a certified professional coder, certified in-patient coder and a certified professional medical auditor. Read more about the medical company here. #3 Trinity's Day Spa expands to 2 new locations in Jacksonville and South Carolina  Trinity's Day Spa South Carolina Franchisee Latoya Counts, left, poses with a child alongside Trinity's Day Spa Founder and Owner Edwennia Moore, right, at its Rock Hill, SC Walmart location at 2377 Dave Lyle Blvd. during its grand opening. (Photo Courtesy of Edwennia Moore) A local business owned by a Black woman is expanding her day spa franchise to two other cities.  Trinity's Day Spa Founder and Owner Edwennia Moore poses behind desk of the spa's Jacksonville, FL location at10251 Shops Lane inside of Walmart. (Photo Courtesy of Edwennia Moore) Trinity's Day Spa, which is owned and operated by its founder Edwennia Moore, has opened two more locations in a Walmart in South Carolina and one in Jacksonville. Read more about the business here. #2 Family members, community react to police K-9 attack that cost fleeing suspect his eye  Photo Courtesy of Lawren Simmons Roughly 100 people clogged the streets of Gainesville on a Sunday evening in July 2022 during a "Stop Brutalizing Black People" rally in honor of Terrell Bradley, a Gainesville man who lost his eye last week from a K-9 attack while being arrested by police. Demands to fire the officers involved in Bradley's arrest rang through the air, as well as calls to release all unedited footage during the arrest. Protesters marched through the city before ending up at the Gainesville Police Department headquarters. Read more about the protest here. #1 LaVern Porter-Mitchell, a pioneer in the dance community in Gainesville, dies at age 72  Photo Courtesy of The Gainesville Sun Known as a performer with grace and poise, LaVern Porter-Mitchell gave it her all on the dance floor and as she taught hundreds, if not thousands of young people to dance in the Gainesville area. Her loss was felt by many in the community and her passion for dancing continues to live on in the students she taught. Read more about her legacy here. Thank You For Reading!
That's a wrap for the top stories I covered in 2022! I am excited for my multimedia journalism journey in 2023! To never miss a story or event I'm covering, stay connected with me on my social media accounts: YouTube: bit.ly/voleer-videos Twitter: https://twitter.com/voleerthomas Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voleerthereporter/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/voleerthomas/ Website: https://www.voleerthomas.com Have A Great Year!
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