Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, Nattacha Wyllie, also known as ``Fanm Lakay,'' meaning ``Traditional Woman,'' is a mother of three, a sister, a friend, a humanitarian activist, and a social-cultural-art ambassador/ activist. She is the founder/CEO of Haitian American Art Network, Inc., a not-for-profit community-based organization started in Brooklyn, New York, in 1998 with the mission to erase stereotypes and embrace diversity through ART. She currently resides in Orlando, Florida, serving a diverse community, with its main office in Orlando.

Miss Wyllie strongly believes in the traditional ways but is a bit modernized. She currently serves on the Orange County Advisory Arts & Cultural Affairs and chairs the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee. Her past commitments were to the Greater Haitian American Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Unitary Status Board, Orange County Disability Advisory Board, and Seminole County School Board SAC president.

Ms. Wyllie's educational background is in human services, early childhood education, and radio-television production. Ms. Wyllie hosted a TV talk show that she started on the radio in Brooklyn. When she moved to Florida, she signed up with Spectrum TV, formerly known as Brighthouse. Then, she landed on Tele Anacaona Television Broadcasting Studios, where she spent 12 years hosting a talk show, producing and organizing cultural events informing, educating, and feeding the community through a collaboration with Second Harvest and Farmshare. Haitian American Art Network, Inc., is ``A Cultural Mix; A Diverse Bunch'' ``Erasing stereotypes, and embracing diversity through Art.''

From 2009 to 2024, Ms. Wyllie has produced the ``I AM'' movement, a women empowerment event of women celebrating women, honoring, recognizing, and celebrating women's achievements in different categories. Over 100 women in leadership have been honored and celebrated from the Sanford and Orlando areas, including international women from Haiti, Jamaica, Paris, and French Guyanne.

Her calling started while working as a community health educator for a community-based organization that targeted the Caribbean community, specifically the Haitian community. She found her true purpose after her first trip to Haiti in February 2000 for a Haitian carnival. There, she discovered the desire to assist the less fortunate and fell in love with her Haitian culture all over again. Her motto is, ``While going up the ladder, I will pick up one person at a time.''

Mr. Speaker, Olive Gray's dedication to serving her community stems from her upbringing in Jamaica, where she learned the importance of sharing from her mother. This passion for helping others became her legacy when she began running food pantries in Central Florida over 30 years ago.

Today, Gray leads one of the largest food pantries out of Apopka, Florida, serving 1,500-1,800 families every two weeks in Orange County. Her leadership at the Mt. Olive SDA Worship and Education Center food pantry is bolstered by the co-leadership of her husband, Elder Lenworth Gray. Their tireless work has been recognized by the Second Harvest Food Bank's 2017 Feed Award and featured in the DailyMail and local news stations such as WESH 2.

Gray's commitment goes beyond her role at the pantry. A Jamaican immigrant, she embodies the spirit of the Caribbean community. After immigrating to the United States in the late 1980s, she balanced entrepreneurship with social work, supporting people with special needs. Since moving to Florida in the mid-1990s, she has consistently dedicated herself to serving her community through her church. Motivated by her desire to see people happy and well-fed, particularly children, Gray has always volunteered her time in food service, she has never received a salary. She firmly believes that no one should go hungry, and as long as she has the ability to share, she will-following the example of her mother, who did the very same for her Jamaican community.

Mr. Speaker, Pastor Rosemarie G. Roth is the mother of Richard John, Rachel Melissa, and Rebecca Anne and the grandmother of three. She volunteers at OurLegacy with Advent Health, which is dedicated to raising awareness about organ donation within Caribbean and Latino communities. She was the president of the Organ Donation Foundation in 1991 when the organ donor designation was placed on Florida driver's licenses.

In June of 1994, along with her grandmother, Lydell C. Dawkins, she founded Alpha Point, Inc., as a Christian Center. It now functions as a resource connector, where she and other community advocates offer resources to the community. They distribute free groceries and hot meals, and develop relationships with local churches, schools, and small businesses to organize outreach events to keep the community engaged. She offers free pre-marital counseling for the state of Florida and officiates weddings and funerals at no cost.

Additionally, she serves as an end-of-life doula, providing meals, housing referrals, and supplies to patients with unfavorable prognoses. Her wealth of information has allowed her to author 17 non-fiction books. She writes with passion about cultural and life experiences for the Caribbean American Passport News Magazine monthly.

Her legacy will be her love for people and the joy it brings her to bring hope through information. Her presence is welcomed by Chambers Park in the City of Kissimmee, where she coordinates a sewing class and a book club, thus fostering a nurturing and educational environment for children. Her community involvement includes being the former president of Jamaican Cultural Connection, Inc., secretary of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce, Inc., co-host of ``Life: Raw & Real'' on CRRFM Radio Network, outreach director for the Global Jamaica Diaspora, covering 13 southern states, and president of Citrus Ridge Merchant Association, Inc.

Pastor Rosemarie G. Roth's commitment to serving her community exemplifies the true spirit of being a community builder through advocacy.

Mr. Speaker, Pastor Alexis Wallace is a bridge builder. Throughout his ministry, he has been dedicated to developing uncommon and challenging relationships in a wide variety of areas.

He is the founder and president of the Jewish Christian Network, which has members from every continent. Pastor Alexis is also the president and founder of Hagiazo Healing Outreach, a ministry with the unique mission of bridging the gap between faith and science to address sickness from a spiritual perspective.

Pastor Alexis is the founder of Global Evangelistic Center, co- pastoring this church in Kissimmee, Florida, with his wife, Evelina. The couple has two children a daughter, Alexia, who is a federal attorney, and a son, Sydney, a recent radiography graduate and practitioner.

Global Evangelistic Center was at ground zero in Abaco, Bahamas, with a medical mission shortly after Hurricane Dorian devastated the island. GEC coordinated the mission with a team of doctors and much-needed medical supplies that impacted the lives of many.

Pastor Alexis attended Oral Roberts University. He has been a publisher of newspapers and magazines, as well as the executive producer of international Christian TV programs that focused on Israel and the Caribbean and reached millions.

Mr. Speaker, Armando ``Curtis'' Hierro is a 36-year-old Cuban-American. He is the national field director for the Communications Workers of America with years of experience organizing for workers and human rights in Florida.

Curtis has a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Central Florida and a certificate in leadership, organizing, and action from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Organizing is a deeply held passion for Curtis. Curtis was born in Miami, Florida, into a single-mother household where his family faced immense economic challenges, poverty, and homelessness. Through a strong work ethic, a belief in the power of community, and a commitment to education passed on by his mother and grandmother, he was able to be the first person in his family to attend and graduate college. While at the University of Central Florida, Curtis organized students to stand up for campus custodial staff in contract fights and support immigrant workers from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.

From 2012 to 2016, Curtis was a founding member and the first field director for the organization Dream Defenders--a community organization in Florida led by young people of color building power and organizing local and statewide campaigns to address issues of poverty, for-profit prisons, and accountable policing. Moving on to the Central Florida AFL-CIO as organizing director, Curtis led the AFL-CIO's efforts to directly support the contract fight for fair wages by Disney workers represented by Unite Here and helped organize workers forming their union for the first time with the Communications Workers of America. Additionally, Curtis co-led the fight to make Orlando the first city in the southeast United States to adopt a Trust Act to safeguard immigrant communities in 2018.

Curtis now focuses his efforts on supporting CWA members in Florida and across the country in developing their leadership and taking action to build worker power.

Mr. Speaker, Cheryl Reid-Payne was born on the beautiful island of Barbados, immigrated to London, England, and eventually moved to New York. There, she pursued a career in the medical field and obtained her certification as a nursing assistant.

After over 20 years of living in New York, she moved to Central Florida in 2002 and continued her passion for helping people by working at several nursing facilities. Cheryl, a champion of serving the community, also sought opportunities to do so by becoming a member of the CFAFCC, NAFCC, NAACP, and the Caribbean and Floridian Association, known as CAFA. She has been an active member of CAFA for the past 23 years serving in many capacities, such as chaplin, corresponding secretary, and co-chair of the Service Activities/Education Committee, for which she is currently the sole chairperson. In this capacity, Cheryl enjoys planning, shopping, and delivering Christmas giveaways to residents at Central Florida nursing facilities. During Thanksgiving, she also hands out turkeys at several locations in Kissimmee to families in need. At CAFA's biggest annual community event, Caribbean Fusion, held in Kissimmee, you can find her by the medical tent taking blood pressure as she is also on CAFA's Medical Committee as a nursing assistant.

Additionally, Cheryl and her team fundraise for and provide college scholarships at CAFA's yearly scholarship awards ceremony to Osceola County high school students with impeccable GPA scores. Students also receive special gift bags, which Cheryl shops for and donates to the students with great pleasure.

Keeping in line with her passion and love for children, Cheryl officially opened Cheryl's Daycare, which was opened in the Poinciana area for 18 years. Beyond Cheryl's social and professional endeavors, she finds comfort in serving as an usher at her local church in Poinciana.

It has been and remains her honor to serve the community and she looks forward to continuing to do so with passion and care, with a goal of becoming a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Currently, she is happy being a wife and mother of four children and five grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, Ismael Rivera is a senior organizer for the International Amalgamated Transit Union. He assists transit workers in learning the importance of joining a union among all the great benefits the union brings. He organizes the unorganized workers throughout Central Florida who are looking for a voice. Ismael served as vice president of ATU Local 1596 in Orlando and then was later voted in to become the first Latino president of the local. In 2013, Ismael established the ATU Latino Caucus, where he organized Latino workers in the workplace to be a voice for the Latino community at large as well as in the workplace. Ismael served as the southeast representative for the ATU International Latino Caucus from 2013 to 2016 and then became the ATU International Latino Caucus president from 2016 to 2024.

Ismael was a bus operator for 27 years from 1997 to 2004. He started his career in transit as a bus operator in New York City. Ismael than moved to Central Florida in January 2004 and continued his career as a bus operator with the Central Florida Regional Transit Authority for the past 20 years.

In 2017, after Hurricane Maria hit the Island of Puerto Rico, Ismael shipped a 53-foot container filled with food, water, and necessities for the people on the southern part of the island--a small town in the mountains called Tibes. This was made possible with the assistance of ATU International who paid for the shipping of the container.

Ismael served on the Central Labor Council in Central Florida from 2013 to 2024. Ismael represents ATU on the national board for the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. On this board, he engages with members dealing with immigration issues in the workplace and abroad. Ismael and his wife, Maira, have been married for 36 years and have three children, Jose, Christina, and Daniel, as well as 12 precious grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, Lenna Donna Cadogan hails from Guyana, South America. Lenna received an academic scholarship from the government of Guyana to attend the Dental Auxiliary School in Jamaica, where she pursued advanced studies and graduated as a dental nurse. In 1980, she migrated to the United States and resided in Brooklyn, New York. She continued her studies at New York City Technical College, where she graduated as a dental hygienist. In 1988, she relocated with her family to Orlando, Florida, and was employed as a dental hygienist. She is currently retired after 30 years of service. Lenna has been married to her husband, Noel, for over 46 years and has two amazing children and four grandchildren, as well as a son-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Lenna has been a member of the Caribbean and Floridian Association, Inc., since its inception 34 years ago. She has been a member of the Medical Committee serving the community in health fairs, and the Education Committee, which provides scholarships yearly to graduating students in Central Florida. She is currently the chairperson of the Fundraising and Entertainment Committee, a position she has held for many years. She is instrumental in coordinating one of the largest festivals, the Caribbean Fusion Festival, which is held annually in Kissimmee and attended by over 7,000 people who contribute greatly to the economy of the City of Kissimmee. She also organizes yearly bus rides to Fort DeSota Park, as well as the annual holiday party at Christmas for family, friends, and members of the community.

Lenna is a woman of faith and is an active member of Solid Rock Community Church in Kissimmee. She is also the leader of the Greeters Ministry.

Mr. Speaker, Maira Rivera is a certified educator employed as the dean of an elementary school in Orange County Public Schools. She is in the 30th year of her educational career, which began in New York working with students with special needs for 10 years. She then moved to Orlando in 2004, where she has taught kindergarten, was an exceptional student education staffing specialist, and a district program specialist.

Maira earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Master of Science in Early Childhood Education, and Master of Education in Educational Leadership. In 2006, Maira was the recipient of the Lehman Urban Teacher Education Award in recognition of her achievement as an outstanding educator and alumna of Lehman College who exemplifies the ideals of their education programs in promoting justice, equity, and caring in urban education. That same year, Maira was also named as an Orange County Public School's Teacher of the Year.

In addition to her passion for helping students achieve academic and social-emotional success, she is also a member of many organizations that focus on helping the community with issues surrounding immigration, voter registration, affordable housing, fair wages, and better working conditions. Maira is on the executive board of the Florida AFL-CIO and the AFL-CIO Central Florida Labor Council. She is the treasurer of the Central Florida Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. Maira serves on the governance board of the Florida Education Association and is the vice president of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association. She is a fierce advocate for all OCPS staff, students, and families.

Maira was also a member of Vamos4PR and helped establish the Language Line Phone Interpreting Services, which provides translation in over 240 languages for the diverse families of OCPS to be able to actively participate in their child's education. Maira's most treasured accomplishment is being married to her forever love, Ismael, for 36 years. Together, they have three amazing children, Jose, Christina, and Daniel. They also have 12 precious grandchildren and enjoy spoiling them every chance they get.

Mr. Speaker, on May 8, 2024 we lost my father, Lou Soto. He was an amazing dad, loving husband, and joyful grandfather. He was a Navy veteran, computer programmer, as well as a football, baseball and basketball fan. He had a calm, loving, and amiable demeaner, one that inspired peace in others. He had many friends, loved to dance, grill, host BBQs and listen to music.

His story embodied the American Dream. Born in Manati, Puerto Rico, he traveled to the mainland at nine years old. He then served in the Navy as a young man during the Vietnam era. He and my mother, Jean, bought their first home thanks to a VA Loan and attended college thanks to the GI Bill, where he took night classes to finish his degree while working in the day and raising his young family. He worked in computers and information technology for many years. He now leaves behind his wife Jean, son Lou, grandchildren LJ, Mateo, and Sabrina, and myself as well as many other family members. The imprint he has left on our lives, we will carry with us forever.

He was a Catholic and man of faith. Our family will miss him dearly, knowing he now joins the angels, and is finally at peace.

Mr. Speaker, it was 8 years ago today, June 12, that a gunman came into the Pulse nightclub, and we suffered one of the largest mass shootings in America's history. Eight years ago today, we lost 49 angels, 53 others were injured, and our happy little town of Orlando, Florida, was shattered.

We thank the first responders who came to their rescue, our law enforcement, our firefighters, our EMTs, the nurses and doctors who did everything they could to make sure so many others were able to survive.

This tragedy was not how we responded to be defined as, but more by responding with love over hate. The term ``Orlando Strong'' became a moniker that most of us used throughout this region.

We had folks by the hundreds coming into blood banks to help donate, folks helping at our LGBTQ center, folks helping the families, many of which were of Hispanic descent because it was Latin night. Of course, we came together as a body here to pass the National Pulse Memorial.

I ask that we join for a moment of silence for 49 seconds in honor of those we lost.

Mr. Speaker, Magnolia Anual Forde was born on December 28, 1964, in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines, and is the daughter of Remy and Thelma Anual. She graduated from West Negros College with a Bachelor of Arts in English.

On August 25, 1988, at the age of 23, Magnolia immigrated to the United States with the help of an American veteran couple from Florida whom she was a caretaker for. They sent her to nursing school and helped with her room and board. During her free time, she used to volunteer in the school's cafeteria during lunchtime. She also was a volunteer server for the South Venice Firefighter Spaghetti Dinner, which raised funds for the local fire department.

In 1990, Magnolia met her husband and has been married to him for 33 years and counting. She is a member of the Central Florida Filipino Helping Hands Association, a community organization that helps Filipino families in the Central Florida area get back on their feet when facing hardship. In her free time, Magnolia volunteers at the Osceola Council on Aging. She also volunteers at Commissioner Viviana Janer's food distribution events throughout the year. Currently, she is working at the VA Hospital in Lake Nona as a mid-institute instrument tech, preparing veterans for cardiovascular evaluation. In her role, Magnolia has received numerous outstanding performance evaluations and accolades for her care of veterans. She is very proud to serve those who served and advocates for timely care.

Magnolia remains a proud resident of Osceola County and overall enjoys her time assisting her community and partaking in various festivals and activities around the area.

Mr. Speaker, Prayong Deeying was born in Surin, Thailand. He received a full scholarship, ``Krome Pra-ya Dhumrong,'' from the Thai Royal Family to study fine arts at Silpa Korn University in Bangkok, Thailand.

After receiving his BFA in sculpting, he was employed by the United States Army as an art instructor and did freelance work as well. Prayong is recognized as an accomplished artist in Thailand. He was honored by having four life-sized sculptures placed on permanent exhibition in the Ancient City Park in Bang Poo.

Prayong moved to the U.S. in 1974 and received a master's in painting from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. After graduating, he taught art for 10 years at St. Mary's High School in Natchitoches. He received numerous juried art show awards. In 1985, he was one of 17 artists selected for Louisiana Limited Edition 1, a publication from a non-profit organization supporting the arts in Louisiana.

In 1987, he relocated to Orlando, Florida, where he worked as a preparatory artist and senior preparatory artist at Walt Disney World. As a cast member, he was an active VoluntEAR.

Once in Florida, he became close to the Thai community through his association with Wat Florida Dhammaram in Kissimmee. He has honored his parents' tradition of community service, as his parents and aunt and uncle donated the land to build the primary school and a Temple in their hometown of Surin by assisting in organizing ceremonies, fundraising, and supporting his fellow congregates.

In 1994, Phra Tepvaraporn, the founder of Wat Florida Dhammaram, and Phra Wijitdhammapani, the abbott of the Temple, honored him by requesting he act as president of the congregation, a role he continues to fill today.

From 2000 to 2003, he voluntarily sculpted, cast, and installed two 16-foot Giant Guards to grace the exterior of the Temple, sharing traditional Thai art with the community.

In 2014, he was recruited by the Asian-American Heritage Council to represent the Central Florida Thai community. He served a term as chair of that organization and continues to support the council by assuring Thai representation continues.

Since retiring from this role in 2007, he has continued his support of the Temple and the Asian-American community, as well as participating in several ``Walks for Peace''--an event organized by Buddhist monks across the U.S. in which groups walk from Key West, Florida to Niagara Falls, New York.

Prayong lives in Ocoee, Florida, surrounded by friends and family, including his daughter Gibb, his son Michael, his granddaughters Faith, Grace, and Ellie, and his wife Cindy.

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Ya Lan Chien, a Taiwanese American who holds a Ph.D. from National Taiwan University, is a prominent figure in Florida's Taiwanese community. As the president of the Taiwanese American Association of Greater Orlando, she is deeply committed to fostering unity, community bonds, and cultural understanding.

Dr. Chien is also known for her altruism, serving as an executive member of the Florida Taiwanese Emergency Assistance Association for seven years. Additionally, she holds executive positions in the Global Federation of Chinese Business Women Orlando. Since relocating to the U.S., Dr. Chien has been a tireless advocate for cultural exchange and environmental stewardship. In 2019, she led Team Taiwan's adoption of South Econ Community Park, a project that not only enhances local green spaces but also serves as a gathering point for community engagement and cultural activities. Through her leadership, the park has become a symbol of the Taiwanese community's dedication to environmental and social well-being in Florida's Ninth Congressional District.

Dr. Chien's efforts extend beyond environmental initiatives. She is also passionate

about integrating Taiwanese cultural values into the broader American fabric. By organizing cultural events and educational programs, she strives to bridge the gap between Taiwanese traditions and American society, enriching the multicultural landscape of Central Florida and enhancing Taiwanese-American visibility and integration.

Balancing her influential public endeavors with her roles as a devoted mother to two daughters and partner to her supportive husband, Dr. Chien embodies the resilience, generosity, and communal spirit of the Taiwanese American community. Her enduring dedication makes her a commendable honoree during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, underscoring her significant impact on community cohesion and cultural understanding.

Mr. Speaker, originating from a proud Taiwanese heritage, Matthew's academic Journey culminated in the attainment of a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey. Although he was brought up in the United States, Matthew possesses a remarkable fluency in Mandarin Chinese, a skill that has proven invaluable in his dedication to aiding the AAPI community.

Matthew's professional trajectory commenced in the medical field, where he first served as an emergency medical technician before advancing to the role of paramedic at Atlantic Health Systems. During his 14-year tenure in emergency medicine, he spearheaded the establishment of the Disaster Response Team and lent his expertise to several disaster deployments in collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Notably, his compassionate care extended to the pediatric emergency room, where he witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of sex crimes and human trafficking on individuals, igniting within him a resolute determination to transition into law enforcement.

In 2020, Matthew embarked on a new chapter as he joined the esteemed ranks of the Orange County Sheriff's Office, assuming the role of deputy sheriff in an area marked by heightened incidences of violent crimes. His exemplary service led to a subsequent promotion to detective within the Orange County Sex Crimes Unit in 2023, where he tirelessly works to prevent such heinous acts and ensure justice for victims.

In 2022, under the leadership of Sheriff John Mina, Matthew played an instrumental role in the inception of the OCSO Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Liaison Group. Accepting a pivotal role as liaison, Matthew dedicated himself to bridging the gap between the AAPI community and law enforcement. In Orange County, Florida, where the AAPI community comprises approximately 7 percent of the population, Matthew's contributions have been profound. His adeptness in Mandarin Chinese has facilitated communication in numerous investigations involving the AAPI community, including offenses of violent crimes, sex crimes, human trafficking, economic crimes, and property crimes. Matthew has also assisted outside agencies such as the Army Criminal Investigative Division, the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement with investigations pertaining to the AAPI community. Through his efforts, Matthew ensures that victim's voices are heard and their stories are duly recognized.

Matthew Chiang embodies the spirit of excellence and unwavering dedication to public service. His profound impact on the law enforcement, medical, and AAPI communities exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism and compassion.