I submit Beverly Steele, CEO of The Steele Organization, LLC and Founder of Young Performing Artists (YPAs), Inc. for recognition in the Healthy Youth Area; YPAs, Inc. has been involved with your MLK Day of Service. She was named the 2011 Business Person by the Florida Alliance For Arts Education (FAAE) and the 2011 Sumter County Community Hero by the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. Steele is a local hero because she is active or has been active in almost every Sumter County organization, club, church, school, city or community that provides services to children and their families. She has served as Director on many boards locally, state and national i.e. the Boys & Girls Club of Lake & Sumter Counties, District 13 Juvenile Justice Board where she served as the Chair and American Advertising Federation (AAF) Equity Board. Through her statewide organization, YPAs, Inc., they are or have presented or co-sponsored many children focused programs, including MLK Day of Service programs, with our district school system, Head Start and projects within the Community Of Royal, etc.
Royal was formed in 1865 by former slaves from the Old Green Plantation by the Withlacoochee River, Sumter County, FL. Royal is one of Florida's oldest African American Communities, has a state issued historic marker and has a Governor's Point of Light project. One major accomplishment is that Steele's organization helped to get a community historic building renovated and the main focus of this submission. This building once served as the Royal School cafeteria during segregation and is now, serving the community once again as the Alonzo A. Young, Sr. Enrichment & Historical Center. Having this building, allows the community to provide summer & afterschool programs, while helping our community children accept, understand and embrace their culture, history and future. Plus, the center is filled with Royal's rich history. The Royal Historical Enrichment & Art Program (RHEAP) after school and summer program where professional artists, history professionals and others are helping to enrich the community children lives and capture the rich history of the Community of Royal is housed at the Young Center. Even though her organization has a statewide focus, she never forgets her roots in Sumter County. She is an educated, experienced business woman who will get down and dirty to help children. For example, she has been seen cleaning the restrooms at the Young Center.

Children are aware, future generations will become aware of their heritage and will have healthy futures because of Steele and YPAs, Inc.