Newton Sanon named president of OIC’s National Presidents’ Association

Newton Sanon named president of OIC’s National Presidents’ Association

Submitted by Linda Badreddine

      Newton Sanon was elected  president of the Executive Directors’/Presidents’ Association of OIC of America, Inc. (Opportunities Industrialization Center/OICA)  on Feb. 25, 2013 with a unanimous vote of his peers consisting of OIC Execs throughout the country.  OICA has 44 affiliate organizations in 22 states and the District of Columbia.

     Sanon is the current president/CEO of OIC of South Florida, Inc. (formerly OIC of Broward County, Inc.). During his 12 years of stewardship, services to the South Florida area have been greatly expanded; OIC of South Florida’s annual budget has increased from an original $125,000 to currently over $5.5 million. He will now have the opportunity to bring his experience to bear on behalf of all OIC affiliates nationwide, specifically providing leadership with the organizations national strategic plan and governmental relations development efforts.

     Under Mr. Sanon’s leadership, OIC of South Florida’s flagship programming has remained that of working to provide quality self-help skills and employment opportunities to individuals who are re-entering society after being incarcerated, and OIC is the leading provider of job training and placement for ex-offenders in the area. OIC’s Reentry Program has been highlighted on CNN and was instrumental in securing OIC the “Honor of Hope” award from the White House Office of Faith and Community Based Initiatives. OIC has also been highlighted at the annual United Way Celebration as “Program of the Year”; and has won numerous grant solicitation awards from the State, Federal and local level.  As a result of Mr. Sanon’s efforts, along with that of his dedicated staff, over 8,500 former welfare recipients and or ex-offenders have received job training and placement support over the past several years.  Adult services also include vocational rehabilitation supported by Florida’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA) and Green Jobs vocational training initiatives in association with the DOL’s Green Jobs initiatives. .

     Mr. Sanon has also continued to expand youth services at OIC of South Florida, which provide academic tutoring, career awareness and planning, and health education programming to thousands of south Florida youth by way of: the Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) and Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) initiatives funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; the 21st Century Learning Initiative, through the Florida Department of Education; YouthFORCE, an academic and social support program in affiliation with the Children’s Services Council (CSC) and ProjectEDGE, a career planning initiative funded by Workforce One.

     A proud member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Sanon has also been recognized as one of the 40 Most Influential & Prominent Black Professionals of South Florida Under the Age of 40 by Success South Florida Magazine; a Broward College Non-Profit Leader of the Year at the BankAtlantic Non-profit Academy Awards; one of the Most Accomplished Black Community Leaders at the 2012 ICABA Awards; and the 2013 Community Service Honoree in the JM Family Enterprise’s African American Achievers Awards.