The celebration of Black History Month is well underway in Osceola County, as proclamations and awards have been given in celebration of such an important segment of the area’s heritage.
Osceola County started Monday by honoring the Osceola County NAACP with a proclamation of Black History Month.
“Black history is American history,” County Commission Chain Viviana Janer said.
In accepting the proclamation, Nina Hill, president of the NAACP Osceola Branch, said, “When I look around, we’re all colored, and we’re all fighting injustice.”
Then, as part of its first Commission meeting of the month, honored entrepreneur and mainstay of public service LaVell D. Monger with the Lieutenant Lloyd Burton Jr. Service Award.
Monger, 33, is the successful co-owner of RTW Photography, but is known as much if not more for his public service to St. Cloud and the county. He is a member of the Osceola County Planning Commission, is a board member for the Education Foundation, and is simultaneously a board member for both the Osceola and St. Cloud Chambers of Commerce. In 2023 he became the youngest-ever and first African American to serve as chairman of the St. Cloud chamber. In St. Cloud, he was one of the driving forces to bring a Boys & Girls Club chapter to the city two years ago.
“LaVell’s leadership is a testament to the power of community and service”, Janer said. “He brings passion, purpose, and a commitment to excellence in everything he does. His efforts inspire those around him to make a difference, and we are fortunate to have him in our community.”
It’s been a swift and immediate impact Monger has made, as the St. Louis native came to the area in 2018.
“I’ll still getting used to getting these rewards. I had no idea people see the things I think I try to do,” he said. I wouldn’t be able to accomplish wouldn’t be without this community being able to really greet people where they are and bring them in with open arms and help them accelerate. If you want to work, Osceola County will work you and put you in the right position to succeed.
“Being someone who loves standing behind the scenes and just do the work, it’s great that, even in my hiding, there’s people who find a way to know what’s going on in the community, and we can make the changes for the better. Being the (Chamber) chair was a fun time, seeing the membership grow and a huge increase in African American-owned businesses.”
Monger said one of his current missions is to work with the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida to provide more area funding.
“We haven’t seen anyone (from BGCCF) in Osceola for a while, and if they serve Central Florida and keep Osceola in the dark, then we have to work raising money so our kiddos have a safe place to grow.”
Janer and Osceola County created the award in 2016 to honor Lloyd Burton, the first black deputy in the Sheriff’s Office and spent 30 years in law enforcement. Past honorees include local luminaries Anna Pinellas, Belinda Johnson-Cornett, Delores McMillon, Dr. R. LeWayne Johnson and Celestia McCloud.
