Black History Month — how am I making a difference?
Dear Editor:
While Black History Month is a time to honor the men and women who bravely and boldly paved the way for the African Americans who came after them, it’s also an opportunity to look to the future and ask yourself: How am I making a difference?
Personally, I see the answer in my kids’ generosity and kindness towards others—but I’m one of the lucky ones who can see it in my work as well.
As a 15-year Duke Energy employee involved with the African American Association of Blacks in Energy, I have the privilege of sharing the energy industry with young people from all across Florida.
Every summer, my colleagues and I host Youth Energy Academies, hands-on programs designed to expose often underserved students to the inner workings of electric utilities, while encouraging them to consider pursuing careers in STEM.
They participate in fun activities and demonstrations; engaging conversations with line workers, control room engineers, and more; and tours of towering facilities housing complex equipment that they’ve likely never seen, or even heard of, before.
The Youth Energy Academy concept was conceived by three Duke Energy employees in 2011 and has since grown from one location with a handful of students to seven sites with roughly 60 attendees each.
And with several of these students coming back year after year, and some even going on to succeed in the industry— including at Duke Energy— we know it’s helping create a better, brighter tomorrow for underrepresented groups in our communities.
Derick Farfan
Florida Large Accounts Manager, Duke Energy
Not government’s job to make everyone rich
Dear Editor:
Isn’t it funny the kind of things that happen when voters vote against their own interests—you get nonsense and stupid decisions that don’t help anyone but the politicians.
You get higher taxes to support illegals with housing, food, spending money, free phones, and the list goes on.
When will people start to vote for Americans FIRST. At least some Republicans want to lower your taxes a little and make people more responsible for themselves. It is not the government’s job to make everyone rich. It is your responsibility to improve your life.
This is why we are a Republic and not a democracy. Irresponsible people will always vote for someone that says they will give them something. Look at New York, California, Illinois and Hawaii for examples.
If you believe any politician from any party cares about you, then I guess you get what you deserve: bad politicians who put forth bad legislation that only supports corporations and big money lobbying groups. Remember, lobbing groups write policy, laws and such. Politicians don’t do anything but vote how they are told and ask for money for the next election. These politicians do not care about you. Please wake up—they care about themselves and how much money they can get, with you the citizen as their cash cow.
David Searcy
St. Cloud
