Karran Harper Royal an Education Advocate in New Orleans with Ancestral Roots in Amite, LA.

Karran Harper Royal

Karran Harper Royal works as an Education Advocate in New Orleans. She is the Assistant Director of Pyramid Community Parent Resource Center and the Training Coordinator for the New Orleans Parent Organizing Network.  Her work at Pyramid involves providing one to one support to parents of children with disabilities and conducting workshops to help parents understand their rights under federal special education law.   In addition to working with Pyramid and New Orleans Parent Organizing Network, Mrs. Harper Royal is a contributor to Research on Reforms and provides a parent voice to the work at Southern Poverty Law Center.  Mrs. Harper Royal currently serves as the Chair of the Steering Committee of the Greater Gentilly High School as well as the chair of the Gentilly Civic Improvement Association’s (GCIA)  Education Committee.  Her work on the GCIA Education Committee lead to the creation of the Greater Gentilly High School, one of five new schools to be rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina.

1870 United States Census

Karran is the great grand daughter of Shelton Harrell, Sr., of Amite, Louisiana. My grandfather Jasper Harrell, Sr., and Shelton were brothers. It was in 2000 when I first published the Harrell Family History book that I met Karran.  She read about the genealogy research that I did on our Harrell family, she purchased a copy to learn more about her Harrell family lineage. Although Karran didn't travel to Amite, Louisiana as a little girl growing up, but her paternal grandmother Marion Harrell Harper and her siblings did visit with their parents uncle Shelton and aunt Ada on the weekends.

Shelton Harrell, Sr. (Sitting)

"Cousin Marion was a city girl and the country life didn't set so well with her". She was the kind of girl that loved her makeup, long finger nails and she enjoyed dressing up. So the country life wasn't the life she wanted. Although her father Shelton Harrell, Sr., made sure that cousin Marion and her sisters and brothers visit Amite, Louisiana to visit their grandmother Emma Mead Harrell, their aunts, uncles and cousins. 

It was a pleasure meeting one of the great grand daughter of uncle Shelton. The Harrell's are proud to have Karran as a family members. Once again the offsprings of Robert Harrell, Sr., is making a difference in the lives of others. Karran will be a guest on "Nurturing Our Roots Blog Talk Radio with host Antoinette Harrell on Tuesday: January 7, at 8:00 CST. Please tune into the show tomorrow night. 

                 http://www.blogtalkradio.com/antoinette-

harrell/2014/01/08/karran-royal-improving-the-new-orleans-public-schools

"Africa's Forgotten Empires" by Author Seager Godson

Seager Godson
Author

Seager Godson is the great grandson of Palmer Harrell of Amite, Louisiana. He wrote the book "Africa's Forgotten Empires" at the ages of 14 years old. His book can be purchased on amazon. At a very early age Seager enjoy studying history. To him history is the greatest story that mankind can write. It is an ongoing saga that has no end, and we all are given a chance to play a part in it.

A few week ago through facebook his mother reached out to me. Veronica and I use to play together as children while growing up in Amite, Louisiana. She would come and visit my family with her grandparents, Palmer and Manilla McCoy Harrell. Veronica's grandfather Palmer and my grandfather Jasper Harrell, Sr., were brothers.

  It wasn't long after that Veronica moved to Chicago and we lost touch   with each other. I was very happy to have her contact me through the social media. When she did she wanted to know more about the Harrell family history and where in Africa did they come from. She asked me to talk with her son about our family history because he wanted to know more. "I was eager to help and teach him about his own personal history". At the end of our conversation he was so happy and I was too. Whenever the youth want to learn about their family history that is truly important.

Through our conversation, I learned of about the book that he wrote and published. Seager will be a guest on "Nurturing Our Roots Blog Talk Radio" soon.

Carla Harrell Native of Amite, Louisiana Gave 623 Kids Coats this Winter

Carla Harrell

Carla Harrell is the founder of "Give A Kid A Coat" an organization based in Dallas, Texas. She grew up in Amite, Louisiana and later moved to Dallas, Texas were she currently resides. During the winter months, there are many kids who may not own a a coat. This is where Carla Harrell makes the difference in a child life. What some people make take for granted, others are in desperate need of.

Her misson was inspired by a young girl walking to school during the winter months without a coat. After she observed the young girl walking to school. She set out to find the child to purchase a coat for her and couldn't find her. At that point she decided to give coats to the entire school to ensure she got the right child. Carla knew that she had to make a difference by getting involved to make sure children in need of winter coats get a coat in order to stay warm in the harsh winter climate.

Carla and all the participants who collected 623 coats are people who are making a difference.  If you would like to get involved and help her organization next year please follow her on Facebook. Gathering of Hearts wishes to thank Carla Harrell for her love, hard work and dedication for making difference in a child life. Her example of caring and sharing is inspiring. But she couldn't do it without the help of all the people and volunteers who shared the same vision. What is your vision? Are you doing something to make that vision become a reality? Why are you procrastinating? Are you making a difference?

623 collected by Give A Kid A Coat with Founder Carla Harrell

  https://www.facebook.com/carla.harrell1?fref=ts

Tangipahoa Parish Educator Monteral Harrell Climmons Give the Gift of Reading to Webb, Mississippi

Monteral Harrell Climmons

Can you imagine living in a town or city were there isn't a library or community resource center? Well that's exactly what you will not find in Webb, Ms., a small rural town in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi. The population was 587 at the 2000 census. There are 225 households out of which 26.2% has children under the age of 18 living in them. (Source) From Wikipedia

Gathering of Hearts set out to collect books, art supplies, computers, printers and furniture for the upcoming library/community resource center. A very special thanks to educator Monteral Harrell-Climmons for her generous donation of books for the library. "She is a strong advocate for tutoring children in reading in Tangipahoa Parish".  As an educator her love for reading and teaching has reached beyond the boundaries of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. She understand if we are going to help our youth reach their success, reading is the basis fundamental to achieve that success.

When you give the gift of reading you are encouraging creativity while also enhancing reading, comprehension, communication and enrichment skills at all levels for all age groups. Her commitment to education speaks volumes in her actions. Most summers you can find her mentoring young girls through cheerleading and encouraging them to become activity in the communities they live in. If you would like to donate books, a computer, printers, art supplies to this project. Please contact Gathering of Hearts at 504.858.4658 or email us at afrigenah@yahoo.com.

Books donated by Mrs. Monteral Harrell Climmons
Educator for the Tangipahoa Parish School System

Please follow us on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/WebbMsneedsalibrary

Gathering of Hearts wishes to thank Monteral Harrell Climmons for her generous donation once again. It is people like her who are truly making a difference. What a great way to kick the New Year off by giving the gift of reading or become involved with some other causes in your community.