Hands down, it's Sherrone and David Jenkins who won our Thelma Award for the most inspiring south Floridians. They are the parents of Sherdavia Jenkins, the 9-year-old killed by a stray bullet in a shootout in Liberty City on July 1st. For those not aware of their story, please visit the Miami Herald's multi-media section the paper created based on a remarkably moving series by Audra D.S. Burch. Their story reminds us that for most people, for those below the radar, life is a struggle the moment they wake each day. As the year comes to an end we want to recognize and applaud the Jenkins' ability to keep the faith in the face of grievous personal lost, to respond eloquently and with dignity to tragedy, and for their general perseverance without fanfare and their noble struggle without complaint.
UpDate (1/29/09): The City of Miami renamed a mini-park for Sherdavia Jenkins. The Sherdavia Jenkins Peace Park at NW 62nd Street and 12th ave comes "as Liberty City bursts with outrage over the neighborhood's latest fatal shooting -- a weekend (1/23/09) bloodbath that left two teenagers dead and seven others wounded."
2 comments:
Thank you for the award, I would have never known about it if I wasn't reviewing the past articles. sencerily yours,
David Jenkins
You're more than welcome. We hope you, Sherrone, and the kids are prospering and that life has become easier.
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