INTRODUCING the
GLI FELLOW CLASS of 2008
FELLOWS:
CESAR GOMEZ
Community Project:
To Be Determined
Born in Bogotá, Colombia a city of over 10,000,000 people. Studied in the Air Force Academy School for my elementary & middle school education. I went to a Catholic school during my high school years in Bucaramanga a city 200 miles north of Bogotá. I started to studied Law and Political Science 1997 in Bucaramanga. During that time I also became involved in International studies and social services through the College.
Since 1998, I have been involved with Real Estate Law, Health Services and Non Profit Organizations. In 2002 I was transfer to Bogotá, where I finish my studies in 2003. I started working in Sor Teresa de Calcuta a non profit organization that supports Human Rights and the re-insertion of rebels into civil life. After that wonderful experience I began work with FUNDES (Tomas Cipriano de Mosquera – Foundation for Economical, Social and Political Promotion) and in July 2005 I move to USA, became married, started studying English at MCC
I started working with the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce as Executive Director in March 2007. In July 2007 I was elected Vice-President of the Colombian Alliance, to represent the interest of more than 3000 Colombians in Sarasota and Manatee county. I recently joined the Board of Director of Human Relation of Sarasota.
KELSEY HITCHINGHAM
Community Project:
To Be Determined
Kelsey Hitchingham relocated to Sarasota, Florida after traveling internationally for two years teaching drug education through a non-profit based in Boston, MA. Kelsey moved to Sarasota from Indianapolis, to be closer to her father.
Kelsey has volunteered with chemically dependent adolescents in Indianapolis since 2000. Upon moving to Sarasota, she began to volunteer at Friendship Volunteer Center’s office, as well as mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters. Kelsey continues to mentor and volunteer, and is active in the international aid organization she founded from her travels in October 2006.
As an active member of the Sarasota community, Kelsey works with YES! Sarasota County Youth Council and sits on the board for Sarasota Young Democrats. She loves to cook and spend time at the beach, as well as run in her neighborhood.
Kelsey hopes to be instrumental in Sarasota’s growth into an inviting and culturally satisfying place to live. She believes that this community can grow through community service, arts promotion and cross-generational programs.
LEIGH LLEWELYN
Community Project:
"Poverty Day"
My name is Leigh Llewelyn. I was born in Carmarthen, Wales and grew up in the British Channel Islands. As of this year I have spent half of my life here and half in England, and I feel like this has given me some perspective on both places. There are parts of England that I dearly miss, but I know that I am home here, and this is why last summer I naturalized and became a US citizen. For the past four years I have been putting myself through college, and have earned degrees in literature and psychology while working at the Holmes Beach Police Department.
In the past few years I have noticed that our society seems to be more engaged by fear in general, and less capable of looking at people as people. Instead, people are regarded more by their background and socioeconomic status, and less by the common ground that binds us all. I know that if it were not for the opportunities and education that I received, my life would have turned out very differently indeed, and as such, I feel a personal obligation to reproduce these opportunities in my community. As a Christian I earnestly believe that, despite the horrors that might exist in the world, any person can transcend and change for the better. It is with this hope that I am motivated to change the community I live in, to close the gap between what I see and what I hope for. I know personally that sometimes all that is necessary to break a child out of generations of crime and hopelessness is education and a little faith in that child’s ability to change.
Joseph Conrad once said that “To be hopeful it is not necessary to think that the world is good. It is enough to believe that there is no impossibility of its being made so.” I hope that my sentiments echo your own, and that over the next year we can see this belief reflected in positive, practical change within our community.
SEAN McCARTNEY
Community Project:
"Poverty Day"
I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and moved to the United States when I was seven. I received a degree in mathematics and statistics from the University of Florida. I have experience in almost every aspect of construction, both management and hands-on work. Two of my best characteristics are empathy and compassion. I have volunteered at homeless shelters and Habitat for Humanity throughout the years. This has allowed me to not only realize but better understand the need for resources and opportunities for the less fortunate. I hope to bring more focus on these issues. I also hope our community will continue to inspire others to get involved and make a difference.
JOLENE SMITH
Community Project:
"Economic Self-Sufficiency Lecture Series with CYESIS"
My name is Jolene Smith-O'Connor. I am 23 years old. I was born and raised in rural Jamaica and am the fifth child of seven. Important to note is that I was the last child for 12 years- needless to say that I am often described as a "spoilt' child.
I am a hardworking, determined and conscientious individual with very strong family and community values. I graduated class Valedictorian from Clarendon College in 2002 and, in 2005, I attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics at the University of the West Indies. Shortly after graduating from the UWI, my family migrated to Arcadia, FL in the United States. Arcadia was my home for a little over a year until I made the decision to accept employment with the State Department of Revenue in Sarasota, Fl.
I was actively involved in the Jamaica Red Cross Society, UNESCO and Tourism Action Clubs. I was inducted in the Dean's Breakfast Club, now Social Sciences Honor Society, at the University of the West Indies. I was also programmes Coordinator for my prior community's youth club, ensuring that the youth in that community could realize their dreams and ambitions.
It is my vision that the Sarasota/ Manatee community will benefit from greater community cohesion, improvements in Economic Self sufficiency among young adults and also higher levels of high school graduation. It is with this vision, that I anticipate directing my skills and abilities towards achieving these goals.
JAE LANGSTON WILLIAMS
Community Project:
"Foster Care Boarding House"
Born in Trenton, TN; December 6th 1980; son of Robert D. and Judith L. Williams. Graduated from Booker High School, where he was a part of the Visual Performing Arts program (VPA); Mass Media, Chorus, and band; Tenor Saxophone was his instrument of choice. Mr. Williams graduated Magna Cum Laude from Johnson & Wales University with a degree in Business Administration and Business Management. Although JWU was not his first choice for schooling, he chose to attend because he liked the principles that the school conducted itself: a set path to graduate with a job at a rate of 99% employment by graduation and giving people who had made mistakes a second chance for a future. JWU is a uniform school where your professors know you by name. It was not until a week before he was to leave for college that he had discovered that he was accepted into four state schools he applied for – during the course of his senior year in high school, his social security number had been deleted several times out of the school system, while applying for college. Mr. Williams has no regrets: “Since attending JWU, I am proud to be graduated of such a school of prestige, that’s where I learned that anything is possible, who would have imagined me studying abroad in France, Switzerland, and Italy.”
Mr. Williams is also active in his church: St. John First Baptist Institutional Church of Palmetto, FL; Dr. Fred D. Brown, Pastor. Mr. Williams has been a member for over 15 years. He has served in many capacities: President of the Junior Usher Board, Vice President of the Young Adult Ministry (YAM), currently elected as the Sanctuary Choir directory, Praise team leader (YAM), Activities coordinator and music teacher for the Junior Church. Mr. Williams also serves as editor and chief of the Church newspaper. In his recreational time, he spends with friends or family at the movie theatre, karaoke, Livingston’s game center, or writing his poetry. Mr. Williams is a published author under the International Library of Poetry known for his poem: “I am what I am,” a poem dedicated to the underdog and his mother.
ASHLEE WORTHAM
Community Project:
"Fitness Fair"
My name is Ashlee Wortham. I am a native Floridian; born and raised in Manatee County. I attended junior college at Manatee Community College and received my Bachelor’s Degree in Wellness Leadership/Exercise Science from the University of South Florida. I am currently employed with the Manatee County School District as a Physical Education Teacher at Palmetto Elementary School.
For the past two years, my community involvement has been with my past place of employment and my church, including the Salvation Army Canned Food Drive, March of Dimes, Breast Cancer Awareness, Men’s Health, and the elderly.
My passion is health and fitness – not simply physical fitness, but psychological, spiritual, and social health and fitness. My family, past educators, and past coaches helped me develop values in physical fitness and health that I continue to live up to. I enjoy working with adults and with children to help them achieve and maintain a healthier lifestyle. I’ve done this by visiting homes and writing exercise programs for the self-motivated. In the future, I hope to offer exercise classes and group training sessions for adults and children in the Manasota area at local community centers, homes, and churches.
CARLOS YANCY, SR.
Community Project:
To Be Determined
I’m a 3rd generation resident of Sarasota. I was raised in a single family household along with my brother sister headed by our mother. I was formally education in Sarasota County school system. In the second grade I was diagnosed with dyslexia. I received a full athletic scholarship to the University of Georgia, however I had trouble passing the SAT therefore I had to go to attend preparatory school in North Carolina. I started school at the University of Ga. in 1990. I was drafted to the NFL in 1994 just before graduation. I played two years of professional football with the New England Pat. Then I was traded to Green Bay in 1997 and released that same year. I headed back to the University of Ga. in order to complete my degree. I graduated from the University of Georgia in 1997 and returned to Sarasota with my wife Vanessa. We settled in Sarasota and started a family. With no work experience I accepted a job at a Detention home. While at the detention home I saw first hand the need for change in Sarasota/Manatee counties.
My inspiration is my mother who I feel has satisfied her life in order to make my life and others richer. She has worked two full time jobs most of her life while attending church and reaching out to others.
My community involvement within the last 2 years has been primarily at Miss Sarasota Softball. (MSS is the largest all girls athletic organization in South West Florida). I have been involved with MSS since 2002. I’m currently on the board of directors at MSS. I also served as the President of the North Kiwanis Club. We were involved in community activities like book reading and helping with feeding kids at the Boys and Girls Club.
My hopes for Sarasota/Manatee communities are to see both communities start to work closer together. I feel that both communities have opportunities that the other could benefit from.
What I hope to accomplish in my community would be to change the mind set of the young generation. Because a lot of young people in the Newtown community haven’t seen life outside Newtown therefore their expectations for life are low.
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