Joining forces to give Florida A&M University students the opportunity to see what a day in the House of Representatives is like, Rep. Terry Fields, D-Jacksonville, and brothers Yusuf and Mike Mosley, CEO’s of Motivating Minority Minds, sponsored “College Day on the Hill at the Capitol,” Monday afternoon.
According to Mike Mosley, this event was something desperately needed among black people.
“Minorities need to get involved and take action within the government. The reason most people aren’t active is because of a lack of knowledge. Having students go down there is just one step in the process to getting them involved,” Mike Mosley said.
During College Day, students were allowed to participate in a mock legislative session where they were given a fictitious bill relating to re-enacting the draft for the U.S. military.
Students were also allowed to select an amendment they had to present before the group, defending their reason for the bill and why they think their amendment should be passed.
The group, consisting of 15 FAMU students, was not only allowed to participate in the mock session. They met and talked to state Reps. Fields, Matt Meadows, D-Fort Lauderdale and Yolly Roberson, D-Miami.
According to Fields, events like College Day on the Hill are what he wished the media focused on more when covering black youth.
Fields, who spoke with the group about his political career, encouraged them to always dream big. “Dreams do come true and this is what the American dream is all about. It’s 15 years later, and I never dreamed I’d be here.
“Never let anybody have you think inside a box; Always think outside the box. If you believe in you and your abilities, no one can tell you what you can do,” Fields said.
The mock session, which first started out with just the representatives and interns speaking to the group about possible careers with the House, developed into more than an idea after Fields spoke at an event organized by Mosley.
Noticing the lack of black presence, Fields’ intern, Shereyll Brooks, a 21-year-old, criminal justice student from Washington D.C., came up with the idea to do a mock session.
Mike Mosley said College Day on the Hill is what his business is all about.
“We try to find ways to get minorities involved with society,” he said. “We try to also do events that get them, not only involved, but gives them opportunities to network, so that they can use those contacts from networking to achieve their own personal goals.”
According to Brooks, the inspiration came from her high school days, where she was given the opportunity to participate in a mock legislative session.
“We definitely don’t see too many of us here that look like us. I see students from (Florida State University) or from other schools in Florida. Rarely (do) I see students from FAMU or black people in general for that matter,” she said
“People look at what they do in the legislature from afar, but they don’t get the opportunity to actually participate. When they do, they have a better understanding of what goes on,” Brooks said.
For the students who did not get to attend College Day on the Hill, the Mosley brothers have more community enhancing events in the future.
The Mosleys are working on a television show and a campaign that helps re-introduce first-time felons back into the community by offering job and educational support.
Contact Amber Vaughan at famuanopinions@hotmail.com