My inspiration: Royal is Florida’s Oldest African-American community and one of only two African-American communities in the nation that was formed at the end of the Civil War. My family, the Andersons, were one of the founding families. Today, I am inspired by the community’s elders and seniors as my mother, the late Evangelist Flossie Sesler and Mr. Maitland Keiler, 91, Royal’s most prominent community activist. They taught me to never put my hand out to receive unless there’s something in my hand to give.

Most don’t know that: I am a fabric artist and a dancer as well as a businessperson. As a fabric artist, I learned that a print on a piece of fabric can make you smile and think, as well as depict culture and heritage.

The younger generation needs to know: How important it is for them to recognize the achievements and challenges of history, culture, and the history makers, like Mr. Maitland Keiler, who paved the way for the freedoms of the experiences that younger generations can now enjoy. Our younger generation has become ‘the instant culture’ because of social media and other societal identifiers.

What success looks like: We have a young dancer alumnus who starred in Broadway’s last season of The Lion King, an enrichment and historical programs alumnus who is a banker, and a young musician alumnus who won a Dove Award as Hip Hop Gospel Artist of the Year. For Royal, it will be impactful when it is recognized as historic at the local, state and national levels.

Most rewarding moment: Out of graduating with honors at all levels, becoming a New York City corporate manager who handled a $10 million department before the age of 30, business consulting for 36 years and a not-for-profit founder for 26 years; caring for my mom, who was 102 when she died last Thanksgiving, is and will be my most rewarding moment.

Best advice: Stand the test of time and put hope in God.

Hopes for the future: My hope for Royal’s future is to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places with recognition of its historic 3,500+ acreage boundaries, achieving national significance and the continuation of recording and preserving its rich history. For my organization, I want to continue using the arts as a catalyst for enriching and empowering. 

Photos: Nicole Hamel