Pray with It from There On
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BULLETIN Serving Immokalee, Ave Maria and Eastern Collier County Vol. 51 No. 3 Thursday, January 18, 2018 Local comedian continues to grow his social media following By Travis Anderson at the community center. Special to the Immokalee Bulletin In 2014, the show did ex- In a special interview with the Immo- tremely well. I just stuck kalee Bulletin, local comedian Josh Pray with it from there on. opens up about his growing social media Me: Where do you presence, his life on tour, and what his plans draw your inspiration are 2018. from? With over 29,900 YouTube subscribers, Josh: I try to be diverse over half a million followers on Facebook, in everyday life. I try to in- and nearly 10,000 followers on Instagram, clude every culture in my jokes. I don’t like Josh Pray is gaining steam in the comedy divisiveness, I don’t like separation and being world with no sign of slowing down. In fact, from Immokalee you have black Americans, some of Josh Pray’s YouTube videos have Haitian Americans, Mexican Americans, and been watched nearly two million times. a small portion of white Americans and find Me: Thank you Josh for speaking that it’s funnier when you can include every- with me. Can you tell me a little bit body. I try to watch my language online and about your background? I include simple things. Josh: I was born and raised in Immo- Me: How was it filming your videos Submitted photo/Travis Anderson kalee and moved away when I turned 18 to with your mom? Ra’Moni Johnson cries at the candlelight vigil held in honor of his mother Sha- go to College where I studied education. Josh: My mother is a devote Christian in toria Brown and two siblings Ra’Majesty Johnson and Ra’Layah Johnson. Me: How did you get into comedy? Immokalee. She asked to be in the videos so Josh: Immokalee is a small community together we came up with the concept of in- that doesn’t have a lot, so I learned how to cluding my mom in certain videos because laugh a lot. I went into the education field she is naturally a very funny lady. after high school and found that it wasn’t re- Me: How did you get hooked up Candlelight vigil held ally for me. I decided to have my first com- edy show which was actually in Immokalee See Pray — Page 2 for crash victims Graduation rates By Travis Anderson something like this from happening again. Special to the Immokalee Bulletin Where traditional barricades once stood, Friends and family gathered for a candle- there are now two sets of concrete barriers climb in Collier County light vigil on Thursday, January 11, 2018 for and barricades in place to stop vehicles from Shatoria Brown, 27, Ra’Majesty Johnson, 5, progressing into the construction site from By Travis Anderson 6th out 9 schools in Collier County in terms and Ra’Layah Johnson, 3, who died when Eden Avenue. Special to the Immokalee Bulletin of graduation rates only. their vehicle went into a pond near Custer A family viewing will be held Friday, Jan- It’s important to point out that although The Florida Department of Education Avenue in Immokalee on Saturday, January uary 19, 2018 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Boyd the graduation rate in Collier County stands (FDOE) announced that high school grad- 6, 2018. Funeral Home located at 2966 Dr. Martin at 88.2 percent and Immokalee High uation rates in Florida are on the rise. At the site of the crash, attendees lit can- Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Ft. Myers. Visi- School’s graduation rate stands at 91 per- dles, prayed, sang songs, held each other Overall, Collier County’s graduation cent, those numbers do not include those tation will then be held the same evening rate climbed to 88.2 percent, which is an close, sent balloons into the air and even set from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Bethel Assembly of who complete GED programs. aloft several sky lanterns. increase of 1.5 percent over 2016. Since the “We appreciate the efforts of our dedi- God located at 1225 W. Main Street in Immo- 2011 school year, the graduation rate has The children’s grandmother, Latasha kalee. Funeral services will be held Saturday, cated teachers, staff, parents, and our increased by 15.7 percent. strong community partners in support- Tuff, helped organize the vigil and thanked January 20, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Bethel Assem- everyone for remembering Shatoria and her Immokalee High School has played a ing our students. With an increase in the bly of God followed by the internment at two children. significant role in Collier County’s increas- graduation rate, more students are ready to Although the family is still searching for Lake Trafford Memorial Gardens. ing graduation rate. In fact, for fiscal year pursue higher education and career oppor- answers, the Florida Highway Patrol has not A gofundme account has been estab- 2011, the graduation rate at Immokalee tunities. Increased graduation rates can be yet concluded their investigation into what lished to help the family offset the cost of High was just 64.7 percent. Today, that attributed to an ongoing strategic focus on may have actually transpired the night the the services. The family is hoping to raise number stands at 91 percent. student achievement, professional learn- vehicle crashed into the water. $15,000 and as of Sunday evening, just un- In 2011, Immokalee High School ing for staff, and an ongoing emphasis on After the incident, Habitat for Humanity der $10,000 has been raised. Those wishing ranked second to last with Golden Gate school readiness at all levels” said Dr. Pat- of Collier County took steps to secure the to donate may visit www.gofundme.com High School coming in last at 60.9 percent. ton, Superintendent of Collier County Pub- newly paved roadway in hopes of preventing and in the search box type Shatoria Brown. Today, Immokalee High School is ranked lic Schools. 2 Immokalee Bulletin January 18, 2018 Country Music Awards because of a review biggestI videos. Pray did with Carrie Underwood. Me: Will you be doing any local Me: With the video titled ‘5 things Ishows? Continued From Page 1 learned while camping with my bright Josh: At one point I was doing a show at To Reach Us friends,’ did that content come from New York Pizza and Pasta in Naples. Outside with Nick Cannon and end up ‘Caught personal experience? Mailing Address: P.O. Box 518 on Camera?’ of a few locations, our area is not a huge LaBelle, FL 33975 Video except: “Now I’ve known Brian for Josh: At the end of 2014, a video of mine beacon for comedy. For now, I’m booked Physical Address: 22 Ft. Thompson Ave. about 10 years now. Brian pulls out some went viral so Nick Cannon’s crew reached nationally. If things slow down, I may try to Phone: (239) 657-6000 rope. Now in my head, I was like listen out and wanted to fly us to California. I was find a mainstay locally. Fax:( 863) 675-1449 black people in the woods with rope...not able to talk them into coming to Naples in Website: www.immokaleebulletin.com gonna’ happen let me pack my stuff up and Me: Do you ever do anything in Im stead and we shot the episode in my house. let me go home because this is the end of mokalee? Me: Do you have anything coming our friendship.” Josh: I did have a homecoming event To Submit News up in the near future? Josh: I have a friend named Brian that I The Immokalee Bulletin welcomes submis in August last year. I will probably be do Josh: Yes, I currently do movie reviews.met in 2006. I try to be diverse as possible sions from its readers. Opinions, calendar ing something again later this year before Fandango and Rotten Tomato caught whimwith my friendships. When I went out it items, story ideas and photographs are wel school is back in session in August or early of one of my movie reviews for ‘Wonderwasn’t what I thought it was going to be. come. Call (239) 657-6000 to reach our Woman’. I now have a contract with Fan Me: What about the video titled “5September. newsroom. The deadline for all news items dango and Rotten Tomatoes so I may bethings to know before going to a whiteMe: Thank you Josh for taking the is 11 a.m. on Monday prior to the following going back to do some TV appearances. Ibarbeque?” With nearly 40,000 views time to speak with us and we hope to Thursday’s publication. have a tour in Hawaii in April. I will be at it seems like it was a great hit. see more of your great work. E-Mail: [email protected] the Dayton 500 this year and I will be at the Josh: Yeah, that was actually one of my Josh: You’re welcome! To Place a Display Ad Phone: (239) 657-6000 Community Foundation of Collier County and Richard The deadline for all advertising is 4 p.m. on Friday for the following Thursday’s publication M. Schulze Family Foundation to host Giving Day E-mail: [email protected] The Community Foundation of Collier The on-line giving campaign is designed event was a huge success - raising over $4 Billing Department County has partnered, once again, with the to transform the way local residents think million in 24 hours.