Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1016288
B M & T ••• July/August 2018 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 22 receive his college education at two well-known Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); the Bethune-Cookman University and The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. When Lawson's grandfa- ther was seeking college opportuni- ties, African-Americans were not able to go to Florida State University because of segregation. Lawson's grandfather dreamed of the day when one of his family members would attend. Being the eldest grandson, that dream was realized by Ken Lawson as he also attended Florida State and there received his bache- lor's and law degree. For the business traveler, Visit Florida has it all. On Call International, a provider of travel-risk management for corporations, included Tampa and Orlando on their list of the top 10 best U.S. cities for business travel. Among the other bests in Florida the Four Seasons Hotel in Miami; the Hotel Beaux Arts, Autograph Collection in Downtown, Miami and The Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood, Curio Collection in Downtown Miami have received high commendations. When planning a visit to the Sunshine State, take a look at Visit Florida's web- site for a monthly calendar listing of Festivals & Events. Throughout the year, visitors can schedule to attend celebra- tions like the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival; Jazz in the Gardens; the American Black Film Festival and the Miami/Bahamas Junkanoo Festival, for- mally known as the Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival. This event saturates the Grove with the flavors of Bohamian culture and a diversity of people from all walks of life. There is Caribbean food, Bahamian drinks, gospel services, and music featuring Miami's finest Junkanoo Bands. Lawson invites all to visit their web- site at www.VisitFlorida.com for a list of Florida's Black History and Heritage sites including the finest Soul food restaurants, shopping locations and his- toric churches. On the A-A Memorial site you'll learn about the Clarence Fort Freedom Trail: The Freedom trail is a memorial to Clarence Fort, a 21-year-old president of the Tampa NAACP Youth Council in 1960, who organized and par- ticipated in the city's first lunch counter sit-ins at Woolworth Department store. After a week of sit-ins and months of imprisonment, it was in September 1960, that the city's lunch counters were integrated. There is the Wells Museum of African-American History and Culture. Williams Monroe Wells, one of Orlando's first Black doctors, built a hotel in 1921 for African-Americans barred from Florida's segregated hotels. Next to the hotel, Wells built the South Street Casino, one of the most popular venues for African- Americans in the South. The casino also had a basketball court and skating rink for young adults to utilize during the day. Now housing memorabilia and African art from Orlando's Black com- munity, the museum includes a 1930s period hotel guestroom with authentic furniture, beading and decorations. In the year 2000 the museum was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Lawson speaks for the Visit Florida team as he welcomes BM&T readers to look to Florida for their next leisure or business travel experience. "Come to Florida, it has great locations, great diversity, small, medium and large great cities; we have restaurants, shopping and culture for everyone to enjoy. Florida is open for business." Family enjoying there visit at Daytona Beach Pier