HOLLYWOODSummer Work Teaches Valuable SkillsBY ELIZABETH LEIBAStaff ReporterHOLLYWOOD — For youngsters, summertimecalls up visions of everything from lazy days <strong>at</strong> thebeach to an extended vac<strong>at</strong>ion from school and homework.But this summer, more than 40 <strong>Seminole</strong> youthare particip<strong>at</strong>ing in the Summer Work Experience Programto learn about Tribal departments and develop jobskills for their futures.The program, established more than 20 years ago,provides an exposure to departments within the Tribe, aswell as outside organiz<strong>at</strong>ions. Participants have workedeverywhere from a kar<strong>at</strong>e school to a cemetery.But for program coordin<strong>at</strong>ors, the lessons learnedon the job are even more important than the loc<strong>at</strong>ion.Educ<strong>at</strong>ion Administr<strong>at</strong>ive Assistant MichelleElizabeth LeibaKelli Tigertail, 21, a participant in the Summer Work Experience Program,is working in the Educ<strong>at</strong>ion Dept. to learn more about a careerin educ<strong>at</strong>ion. She said she wants to one day become the director of theTribe’s Educ<strong>at</strong>ion Dept.Woods emphasized th<strong>at</strong> the customer service skills participantsgain are invaluable.“They’re constantly in contact with the Tribal popul<strong>at</strong>ion,so they are learning how to be professional aswell,” she explained.The Adult Voc<strong>at</strong>ional Program Office places youthworkers on all of the reserv<strong>at</strong>ions. Each department isencouraged to bring a worker on staff and this year sawthe largest number of youth in the program. The goal isfor a summer worker to eventually be placed for employmentwithin the Tribe.“The Summer Work Experience Program is a gre<strong>at</strong>way to network [and] get your foot in the door,” Woodssaid.Some participants, such as Jarrid <strong>Smith</strong>, have donejust th<strong>at</strong>. <strong>Smith</strong>, a <strong>Florida</strong> Atlantic University gradu<strong>at</strong>eand three year alum of the program, went on to secure aposition as the assistant to the Tribe’s Chief Oper<strong>at</strong>ionsOfficer Elrod Bowers. He credits theprogram for helping him become familiar withthe organiz<strong>at</strong>ional structure of the Tribe.“I became familiar with the employees,many of whom are still working for the Tribe,”<strong>Smith</strong> explained. “Overall, the program servedto give me a gauge with which I used to identifythe areas which most interested me.”Kelli Tigertail is enjoying her first year inthe program and hopes to particip<strong>at</strong>e again nextyear. The 21-year-old is in her junior year, majoringin elementary educ<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>at</strong> the Universityof Miami. Her ultim<strong>at</strong>e career goal is to becomethe director of the Tribe’s Educ<strong>at</strong>ion Dept.“I’ve learned a lot,” Tigertail said. “I’vegot an appreci<strong>at</strong>ion for the programs and reallywh<strong>at</strong> they do.”Woods believes the program is vital for careersuccess.“I would encourage them to get involvedbecause…you take away so much from theprogram,” Woods said. “It sets you up for yourfuture.”HOLLYWOOD — Sixteen gradu<strong>at</strong>es joined theranks of the <strong>Seminole</strong> Fire Rescue staff after their gradu<strong>at</strong>ionceremony held June 26 in the Tribal HeadquartersAuditorium.The department’s new members recently completedan intensive six-week training process <strong>at</strong> the BrowardCounty Fire Academy.“It has been a long and very tough process,” saidgradu<strong>at</strong>e Michael Mohorek, 27. “It was all different butwell worth it.”Chief Public Safety Officer Jerry Wheeler also <strong>at</strong>tendedthe gradu<strong>at</strong>ion ceremony. He commended thegrads and also their families for being supportive.“Your family members are now a part of a new familyand one of the most unique family businesses theywill ever come across,” Wheeler said. “There is no betterplace to be whether it is your first or of many youhave had over the years.”Board of Directors President Richard Bowers Jr.and Big Cypress Board Rep. Paul Bowers Sr. were alsopresent for the ceremony. Both showed their supportand congr<strong>at</strong>ul<strong>at</strong>ions.“Thank you for serving our people and those in thecommunity as well,” President Bowers said to the gradu<strong>at</strong>es.“I can understand wh<strong>at</strong> you are going through [asa former trainee] and I hope all the best for you.”As a former Tribal Wildlands Dept. worker, Mohoreksaid he enjoyed being exposed to the differentpersonalities throughout his training.“I have enjoyed the different aspects of the trainingand seeing and hearing different views,” MohorekJuly 31, 2009 • The <strong>Seminole</strong> Tribune • 7AChris C. JenkinsMembers of <strong>Seminole</strong> Fire Rescue’s Class of 2009 take their O<strong>at</strong>h of Affirm<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>at</strong> the gradu<strong>at</strong>ion ceremony on June 26.<strong>Seminole</strong> Fire Rescue Dept.Holds Gradu<strong>at</strong>ion CeremonyBY CHRIS C. JENKINSStaff Reporterexplained. “It is all going to be a good process for allof us.”Gradu<strong>at</strong>e Lisa Kinchen of Lake Placid, Fla. said theexperience has been about fulfilling a dream she has hadher entire life. She finished the training as the only femalegradu<strong>at</strong>e in the class.“In the guy’s eyes, I am a firefighter,” Kinchen expressed.“Even though I am a girl, I was still one of theirbrothers. A few of the guys even called me mom andlooked up to me.”In spite of some height issues along the way, thefirefighter and emergency medical technician has persevered.The 5’2” former law enforcement officer, volunteerfirefighter and mother has also received a lot ofencouragement and support.“It all boils down to everyone just knowing you cando the job,” Kinchen said.Mohorek, Kinchen and their classm<strong>at</strong>es will beassigned to specific reserv<strong>at</strong>ions for a five week periodthen be assigned to rot<strong>at</strong>ing schedules every fourmonths <strong>at</strong> a different reserv<strong>at</strong>ion.The other new members of the <strong>Seminole</strong> Fire RescueDept. include: Sergio Acosta, firefighter and medic,Anthony Berger, firefighter and medic, Steven Eller,firefighter and medic, Alexander Fernandez, firefighterand medic, David Harshfield firefighter and medic,Francis Hogan, firefighter and emergency medical technician,James Kelley, firefighter and medic, Brian Lenhart,firefighter and medic, Donnie Murray, firefighterand medic, Michael Ondo, firefighter and medic, MiguelPerez, firefighter and medic, Kevin Pinkerton, firefighterand medic, Juan Salazar, firefighter and medic, andRichard Vann, firefighter and medic.HOLLYWOOD — The <strong>Seminole</strong> Fire RescueDept. made a lifelong impression on one of its biggestfans June 20 <strong>at</strong> the <strong>Seminole</strong> Hollywood Fire St<strong>at</strong>ion.In an act of teamwork, heroism, dedic<strong>at</strong>ion andpublic service, its members gave the Weiss family ofCoral Springs the gift of hope and perseverance.Justin Weiss, 9, was the main guest of honor <strong>at</strong> thefacility. He was made an honorary firefighter, receivinga badge and fire h<strong>at</strong> from the crew.Justin’s f<strong>at</strong>her, Dr. Jeffrey N. Weiss, said althoughJustin has been a quadriplegic for the past seven years,the spirited youth has shown an interest in firefighting.With the help of Dr. Gerald Gluck, Justin’s doctorand therapist, as well as the assistance of son and<strong>Seminole</strong> Fire Rescue Dept. Lieutenant Jon<strong>at</strong>han Gluck,and <strong>Seminole</strong> Emergency Medical Services Chief BrianBrown, a day the Weiss family will never forget becamea reality.“He is truly inspiring,” Lt. Gluck said. “Being inemergency medicine we come into people’s lives <strong>at</strong> theworst moments, but here was a child, my co-workers[from the Coral Springs Fire-Rescue] resuscit<strong>at</strong>ed.When I saw him working with my f<strong>at</strong>her [Dr. Gluck] Iwas just taken back.”“Several times on the visit he was able to smilethroughout and th<strong>at</strong> was truly amazing,” Lt. Gluck continued.Through the work of Dr. Gluck using a therapymethod called neurofeedback, Justin was exposed to aseries of pictures. His marked brainwave and oxygenresponse to firefighter rel<strong>at</strong>ed items sparked an idea forthe visit, Dr. Gluck explained.“For him to see other men around with all this ne<strong>at</strong>equipment, it was nice. Even I was excited,” Dr. Weissexpressed. “[Firefighting] is a nice, noble profession.Brian BrownMembers of the <strong>Seminole</strong> Fire Rescue Dept. with honorary firefighter Justin Weiss (C) and family and friends.Tribal Fire Rescue Team Gives Hope to YouthBY CHRIS C. JENKINSStaff ReporterBrian Brown(L-R) <strong>Seminole</strong> Fire Rescue Dept. Lieutenant Jon<strong>at</strong>han Gluck,Dr. Jeffrey Weiss, and son, Justin, show off a custom framedcertific<strong>at</strong>ion making the young Weiss an honorary firefighterwith the <strong>Seminole</strong> Tribe.These guys put their lives on the line everyday and hewants to help people himself someday.”“The visit was incredible. Wh<strong>at</strong> [the crew] did formy little guy, we will never forget,” Weiss added.“[Justin’s] motiv<strong>at</strong>ion is very important,” Dr. Gluckpointed out. “This is often times a long, tedious, boringprocess. I realized th<strong>at</strong> this was very motiv<strong>at</strong>ing forhim.”The doctor said neurofeedback and its techniquesenable a person to alter their brainwaves and are usedfor many conditions and disabilities such as Justin’s, inwhich the brain is not working as it normally would.Neurofeedback also helps control mood disorderslike anxiety and depression, or problems with the centralnervous system like conduct disorder, temper tantrums,certain learning disabilities, sleep disorders, epilepsy,cognitive dysfunction from head traumas, strokes,or aging.Dr. Gluck said each day since the Fire Rescue Dept.visit he has used it as a motiv<strong>at</strong>or for Justin in his recurringfive day a week therapy sessions.The story of Justin Weiss and his road to recovery,however, began on Memorial Day in 2002. At the time,the then normal 22-month-old quietly fell into his parents’home swimming pool.After nearly drowning, but being revived by CoralSprings paramedics, Justin suffered severe and traum<strong>at</strong>icbrain injuries.Dr. Weiss sought out the services of Dr. Gluck inMarch of this year based on his practice of neurofeedback.Justin’s progress remains steady according to Dr.Gluck, and will continue until he pl<strong>at</strong>eaus.Justin currently has some limited speech and limbmovement. His main source of communic<strong>at</strong>ion is blinkinghis eyes.“With a combin<strong>at</strong>ion of therapies I hope somedayJustin can speak and talk,” Dr. Gluck said. “We aremoving in th<strong>at</strong> direction.”According to Justin’s own official website, justinsclub.com,drowning is the second leading cause of injuryand de<strong>at</strong>h of infants and children younger than age15 in the U.S. <strong>Florida</strong> de<strong>at</strong>h r<strong>at</strong>es lead the n<strong>at</strong>ion in the0-4 year age c<strong>at</strong>egory.Available on Justin’s website, Dr. Weiss inventeda prevent<strong>at</strong>ive wrist w<strong>at</strong>ch called Aqua Alert. The onesize-fits-allelectronic gadget device emits a loud soundwhen submerged into any body of w<strong>at</strong>er. The w<strong>at</strong>ercompletes a circuit in the wristband of the w<strong>at</strong>ch andtriggers an alarm th<strong>at</strong> sounds similar to the piercingsound of a smoke detector. Designed to fit toddlers toteens, the band has a locking <strong>at</strong>tachment and fits snugglyon the child’s wrist.Aqua Alert is available commercially <strong>at</strong> amazon.com and a portion of the royalties will be don<strong>at</strong>ed toJustin’s Club.“I hope this product can also be of use to the Tribeand its members as well,” Weiss said.Justin’s Club is a nonprofit corpor<strong>at</strong>ion establishedto help prevent childhood drowning and near-drowningincidents, providing tre<strong>at</strong>ment for children whosefamilies cannot afford tre<strong>at</strong>ment costs, and for researchthrough nonprofit fundraising.
8A • The <strong>Seminole</strong> Tribune • July 31, 2009(L-R) Arissa Cypress and Aniya Cypress draw and write about themselves in a self-worth exercise.ORLANDO — For the ninth year running, Tribalcitizens young and old g<strong>at</strong>hered for the annual Hollywood/FortPierce/Non-Resident Youth Conference, heldJuly 6-11.The Walt Disney World Contemporary Resort hostedthe event which addressed several issues throughoutthe week including culture and language preserv<strong>at</strong>ion,educ<strong>at</strong>ion, health and finance.“The main things I wanted [the youth] to focus onwere prevention, taking care of their bodies and moneymanagement; we want to teach them <strong>at</strong> an early age toinvest also,” said Hollywood Boys & Girls Club LanguageCoordin<strong>at</strong>or and conference organizer Jo MotlowNorth. “Mainly we just want to educ<strong>at</strong>e, educ<strong>at</strong>e, educ<strong>at</strong>e.”North said with enrollment numbers <strong>at</strong> more than450 this year – 130 more <strong>at</strong>tendees than last year – theyouth conference saw the largest turnout in its history.“Make the most of opportunities given to you andit will reward you in the end,” said keynote speaker andHollywood Board of Directors Rep. Marcellus OsceolaJr. to the families and guests in <strong>at</strong>tendance. “The timeyou all spend this week will make memories you willnever forget.”“Prosperity Through Perseverance” was the themeof the conference, which focused on consider<strong>at</strong>ion,kindness and respect. To reinforce this point, the “randomacts of kindness” concept, as in years past, onceagain allowed youth the chance to earn paper money, orTribal dollars, for completing simple acts of kindnesstoward others.For every act and completed class the youth wouldearn a dollar. The money could then be spent every evening<strong>at</strong> a fully supplied canteen store stockpiled withgames, movies, toys and other popular items including a$50 Walt Disney World gift card to be spent <strong>at</strong> a Disneystore.Youth Conference committee members said thegoal of the arrangement has remained each year todemonstr<strong>at</strong>e the importance of saving, investing and redeemingthe funds for a gre<strong>at</strong>er value.Tribal youth Hunter O’Donnell, 7, said he enjoyedmany things about the conference. He has <strong>at</strong>tended withhis family for several years.“I liked carving with the soap and making spearsand tomahawks,” O’Donnell said. “I also liked buyingthe dinosaur toys and playing in the arcade.”Fort Pierce Chupco Youth Ranch Director and conferenceinstructor Shamy Tommie was among manyavailable throughout the week teaching culture and languageto the youth.As an instructor in the traditional Tribal custom ofcarving for the last four years, Tommie began <strong>at</strong> the ageof 17 making weapons and animals. His grandf<strong>at</strong>her,Jack, passed down the tradition to him. Tommie stressedth<strong>at</strong> age, p<strong>at</strong>ience and concentr<strong>at</strong>ion are very importantin learning and perfecting such an art.TAMPA — Brighton/Tampa TribalCouncil Represent<strong>at</strong>ive Andrew Bowers Jr.formally addressed the Tampa community onJuly 14 <strong>at</strong> Floyd’s restaurant inside the <strong>Seminole</strong>Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa.“I would like to thank all of you whovoted for me and I look forward to servingthis community for the next two years.” Rep.Bowers said.He also <strong>at</strong>tended the Tampa Field Officestaff meeting earlier in the day where he informedthe staff th<strong>at</strong> he had no intention ofgetting involved in the daily oper<strong>at</strong>ions, aslong as things continued to run smoothly.“You all are experts <strong>at</strong> your jobs,” Rep.Bowers said. “I’ll let you be the experts andI’ll step in only when it’s necessary.”“Getting to them <strong>at</strong> the right age is key because theywill listen to you,” Tommie said of the Tribal youth. “Ifyou do not have the p<strong>at</strong>ience you are never going to getit right.”Second year conference <strong>at</strong>tendee Tomi Motlowbrought her two children to the conference includingBaylee, 11. She said the experience taught her a lotabout wh<strong>at</strong> youth face today on and off the reserv<strong>at</strong>ions.“Before, I never thought about my children gettinginto the things th<strong>at</strong> they have to face now,” Motlow admitted.“I like for [Baylee] to hear and know about theconsequences of doing wrong out there. I am also tryingto shield her from th<strong>at</strong> kind of life though.”Intern<strong>at</strong>ional N<strong>at</strong>ive American artist Sam Englishof the Turtle Mountain/Red Lake Chippewa Tribe alsomade his first appearance <strong>at</strong> the conference as a guestand instructor.“Anything th<strong>at</strong> has to do with the arts and inspiresis important for [N<strong>at</strong>ives],” English said. “Our youngpeople are looking for a way. There are a lot of neg<strong>at</strong>ivethings going on in N<strong>at</strong>ive Country.”“You need to learn to love, forgive and respect eachother,” English expressed to the youth.The <strong>Seminole</strong> Police Dept. also offered their usualinsight on community issues such as peer pressure andInternet safety.<strong>Seminole</strong> Police Department Training Coordin<strong>at</strong>orRichard <strong>Smith</strong> and Police Chief William L<strong>at</strong>chfordspoke candidly to both parents and youth on a host oftopics affecting all Tribal communities includingonline pred<strong>at</strong>ors, truancy, passwordand identity safety, parental responsibilityand accountability.“The Internet is a gre<strong>at</strong>, gre<strong>at</strong> thing, butit can also be very, very dangerous,” <strong>Smith</strong>pointed out to the 8-11 year olds. “There aresome tremendously good amounts of peoplein the world but there are also some bad onestoo.”L<strong>at</strong>chford advised the parents to take anactive role in their child’s safety, as well asthe safety of the community they live in.“I encourage you to take positive peerpressure and influence and change yourcommunities,” he said.Allied Health Program Manager SuzanneDavis agreed, stressing the importanceof parents.“Remember you are the most importantteacher your kids will ever have,” Davissaid. “I want to help these youth form theirvalues for the future.”The week ended with the youth andfamilies enjoying the Walt Disney World facilitiesand w<strong>at</strong>er parks.Council Rep. Addresses Tampa CommunityBY RYAN WATSONStaff ReporterChris C. JenkinsCommunities Enjoy <strong>Annual</strong> Youth ConferenceBY CHRIS C. JENKINSStaff ReporterChris C. Jenkins(L-R) Tribal citizen Diane Snow teaches K<strong>at</strong>rina Bowers about traditionalp<strong>at</strong>chwork design in culture class.Chris C. JenkinsMariah Bowers shows off the pillow she sewed in class.Photo Credit(L-R) Brighton/Tampa Council Represent<strong>at</strong>ive Andrew Bowers Jr. talkswith Tampa Liaison Richard Henry <strong>at</strong> Floyd’s in the <strong>Seminole</strong> Hard RockHotel & Casino on July 14.
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