NNB News

By Loretha Cleveland/Photos By Zachary Hall

On October 2, NNB hosted an hour-long community reception for 17 English-speaking journalists visiting from 13 African countries. The U.S. State Department through its Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists invited our guests to tour select American journalism schools. USF St. Petersburg administrators, city and community leaders, students and friends came together to share our journalism experiences and culture with the African journalists. Middle school students from the James B. Sanderlin Family Center recited poetry about black women and their strength to succeed. Elementary school students from a private dance academy performed to the tunes of Hannah Montana. High school students filled the room with exhilarating poetry and song about race, gender and the battle to overcome obstacles. And, our college students from NNB shared a moment by moment slide presentation of live interviews with residents of Midtown.

For the first time, the Midtown community, our visiting journalists, school administrators and students from all walks of life, shared an experience of oneness through the bond of journalism. Our story will go down in history as the first step to remove communication barriers, extending not only beyond city limits, but far reaching to the 13 represented countries of Africa.