Building for Good Celebrates Pro Bono!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first B4G Goes Virtual Event: Making a Difference in our Communities.
If you missed the live version, you can still catch the recorded video here anytime. See below to learn more about our guests and how to support the Black Bottom House of Prayer with restoration efforts. We’d also love to hear from you! Share your thoughts or contact us here to join our mailing list. Thank you for your support of our mission to Build for Good. We are grateful for all of you.
B4G friends, we’ve missed you!
Though we remain in our remote environments, the pause in our in-person gatherings won’t stop us from continuing our mission. When plans change, we change. And just because we can’t be together, that doesn’t mean we can’t still be together. Uniting in times of stress energizes us to keep moving forward. This year, we have connected new nonprofit projects with volunteer lawyers and their work has continued, despite ongoing challenges.
Now is the time to recognize the amazing work our nonprofit partners are doing and express gratitude for all of our volunteers and supporters. We are participating in the ABA National Celebration of Pro Bono to show our appreciation for those who give back in many ways, and we want you to help us celebrate!
Please join us for B4G Goes Virtual, Fall 2020:
Making a Difference in Our Communities
Wednesday, October 28 from 3:00 - 4:00 P.M. EST
When times feel tough, we need to come together more than ever. We hope you will join us and give your support so we can all keep Building for Good in this virtual world.
Thank you to our wonderful panel of guest speakers!
If the world feels dark, look for the light. The hope. The resilience and determination. The way to rebuild. Our guest speakers embody these qualities, and we are beyond grateful for their participation.
We are thrilled to feature one of our B4G projects, the Black Bottom House of Prayer in Orlando. Join us to learn about the work Pastor Dana Jackson is doing and the restoration efforts needed to repair and restore the historic landmark Black Bottom Church.
State Representative Geraldine F. Thompson of the 44th District of the Florida House of Representatives will share a history of the Parramore area of Orlando and her work to preserve historical monuments of African American culture.
Hear from B4G volunteer, Claramargaret Groover, who is providing invaluable assistance to the Black Bottom Church through her pro bono work.
And finally, hear a moving performance and celebrate the amazing musical talents of the students at the Mr. Keyz Music School.
We hope you will join us!
State Representative Geraldine F. Thompson
When state Representative Geraldine F. Thompson was elected on November 6, 2018, she became the first female, Democrat, and person of color to serve Florida House District 44. The district includes Oakland, Winter Garden, Windermere, Isleworth, Buena Vista, I-Drive, Gotha, Williamsburg, and part of Ocoee.
After receiving an undergraduate degree from the University of Miami in 1970 and a Master of Science Degree from the Florida State University in 1973, Geraldine F. Thompson served for six years as an Orange County Public Schools teacher. She later served for 24 years as an administrator at Valencia Community College where she established the College Reach Out Program, which enabled thousands of low income and disadvantaged students to fulfill their dream of going to college.
Rep. Thompson also developed a reputation as a respected historian for compiling the history of African Americans in Central Florida and authoring the book “Black America: Orlando, Florida”. She led the campaign to preserve one of Orlando’s unique landmarks, the Wells'Built Hotel which, during the days of segregation, provided lodging to some of America’s most prominent citizens including Justice Thurgood Marshall. Today that landmark is known as the Wells’Built Museum of African American History and Culture.
She previously served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 until 2012. She was elected to the Florida Senate in 2012 and served until 2016. Significant legislation which she initiated and saw passed included bills to exonerate the Groveland Four, provide compensation to James Joseph Richardson who was wrongfully incarcerated for 22 years, and outlaw discrimination against pregnant women in the workplace.
Geraldine F. Thompson was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and grew up in the South Dade town of Perrine, Florida, where members of her family worked in agriculture and construction. She is married to the Honorable Emerson R. Thompson, Jr. She is the mother of three children (Laurise, Emerson III, and Elizabeth) and the proud grandmother of four. She enjoys reading and traveling.
Claramargaret H. Groover, Esquire
Claire Groover has been a B4G volunteer lawyer from the very beginning and has generously given her time and support to help our mission. When the roof collapsed on the Black Bottom House of Prayer, she worked with Pastor Jackson to isolate the issues and help the Pastor in her repair plan. As Pastor Jackson continues to raise funds and determine a restoration path for the church, Claire will assist with the construction law components of the project and allow them to save on legal fees.
Claire is of counsel to the Becker law firm, specializing in construction law. She devotes her practice to complex project development, negotiating and documenting performance requirements on condominium, mixed-use, and lease-back transactions as well as public-private partnership projects, and coordinating the client’s construction and financing requirements.
Pastor Dana “Action” Jackson
Pastor Jackson is the founder and pastor of the Black Bottom House of Prayer. She purchased the church in 2015 with a mission to serve the community and meet the needs of at-risk children with ADHD through her National ADHD Foundation. Since purchasing the church in 2015, Pastor Jackson had been raising funds for the significant repairs that were needed. Simultaneously, she was trying to obtain a historical designation to preserve the civil rights history of the church. At the end of 2019, in the midst of historical preservation efforts, the entire church roof collapsed. Now Pastor Jackson holds Old Fashioned "Tent Meetings" in the church yard instead of modern day church services until restoration is complete. She brings hope and healing to her church community, while continuing with the challenges of fundraising to save her church. She is determined. She is resilient. And she needs our help. Pastor Jackson is praying for miracle money to be released to complete the restoration.
To support restoration efforts for the church, please donate through the Cash App at “$blackbottomprayer” or contact Pastor Jackson at P.O. Box 547882 Orlando, FL 32854/(407) 285-0415.
Mr. Keyz Music School
The Black Bottom House of Prayer is also home to the Mr. Keys Music School. Pastor Jackson founded the music school in 2017 to honor her late son with a mission “to continue [his] legacy by bringing the residents of Central Florida together to promote optimism and encourage resiliency within local musicians to withstand current social and economic hardships” Under the instruction of Bishop William Bridges, the school offers piano and drum lessons every Thursday evening. The first 24 students receive free lessons. The Mr. Keyz Music School provides much-needed support and music therapy to the children in the community, and they will graciously share their musical talents with all of us with a recital performance during our virtual event.
