Political Quotes

“In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Twanna Dewdney. Twanna Dewdney is a Winter Haven resident and proprietor of Salon Ashanti. She has proudly operated her salon in Winter Haven for over 13 years and considers it a vital resource to the community. As a community activist, Twanna advocates for HIV and AIDS education and prevention. Her salon is an HIV testing site for the Polk County Health Department. Salon Ashanti also serves as a location for voter outreach, registration, and school supply drives. Children within the neighborhood utilize Salon Ashanti as a place of refuge, and she prides herself as a mentor to young women. Her ministry extends beyond her local community, as she also organizes toiletry drives for women's and men's prison ministries. Twanna began Project Park Bench as a drive where warm items and food could be brought to the salon for donations to the homeless. Items are then donated to the Mission of Winter Haven. Further, she also uses her salon to promote other entrepreneurs. In 2010, Twanna received the Community Service Award from the Jewett Alumni Association and the Bringing Your Business Back Award from the NAACP. In 2011, she received her associate of arts degree from Polk State College and bachelor of applied science in supervision management in 2013. Twanna is an usher, president of HIV/AIDS Ministry, and member of the Willing Workers Committee at Hurst Chapel AME Church. She was the 2014 recipient of Girls Inc.…”