Remembering Helen B. Bentley: The Nurse and Activist Who Built a Health Legacy in Coconut Grove

The name Helen B. Bentley resonates not only as a distinguished resident of Coconut Grove but as the powerful force behind some of the community’s most vital institutions. As a dedicated Public Health Nurse and tireless community activist, Mrs. Bentley spent her life ensuring that the historic Grove—particularly its Black Bahamian population—had access to the fundamental resources of health and education.
​Her legacy is etched into the very fabric of Miami-Dade County, defined by two major pillars: healthcare and civic service.

 A Vision for Accessible Healthcare
​Helen B. Bentley's most enduring monument is the Helen B. Bentley Family Health Center, which she founded to serve the poor, medically needy, and underserved people of Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, and South Miami.
​At a time when quality healthcare was often inaccessible, Mrs. Bentley stepped forward, demonstrating a deep conviction that "patient care comes first." Under her visionary leadership, the center grew to become a founding member of the Health Choice Network, a collaborative effort among community health centers to improve access and reduce health disparities.
​"She was someone that Thelma Gibson deeply admired. We heard that when she wasn't nursing, Nurse Bentley was also a community activist," noted a local historian, recalling her presence in the community.

​While the original center has since closed, its mission lives on through the efforts of Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI), which operates health centers in the area and continues to honor the commitment Mrs. Bentley forged.

 Shaping Future Generations
​Beyond the clinic walls, Mrs. Bentley was a pillar of the community's social and educational life. In 1957, she co-founded the Coconut Grove Negro Women's Club, Inc. (CGNWC), alongside a group of extraordinary women.
​The club was dedicated to the core principle of service, primarily focusing on providing scholarships to young ladies and rendering service to the broader Grove community. Through this organization, Mrs. Bentley helped cultivate the next generation of leaders, echoing the spirit of other community pioneers like E.W.F. Stirrup who encouraged residents to build a lasting financial and social legacy.

 The Enduring Tribute
​Helen B. Bentley's commitment to the nursing profession is honored annually through the Helen B. Bentley Family Health Centers/CHI Foundation Nursing Scholarship Fund. The fund awards scholarships to aspiring nurses from the Coconut Grove area, ensuring that her vision of compassionate, skilled healthcare is carried forward by new community leaders.
​A true local legend, Helen B. Bentley was not only known for her professional dedication but for her active role in nearly every aspect of civic life—from being a great worker in the community to diligently keeping the local cemetery clean. Her life serves as a powerful reminder that the greatest legacies are built through selfless service and an unwavering commitment to one's neighbors.
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Meet Dr. Nashlie Sephus of Black Silicon Valley

​Jackson, MS – In a city brimming with history and heart, a visionary is quietly yet powerfully shaping its future, one line of code and one aspiring mind at a time. Dr. Nashlie Sephus, a proud daughter of Jackson, Mississippi, is not just a leading figure in the world of artificial intelligence; she's the architect of a burgeoning "Black Silicon Valley" right here in her hometown.

​From the halls of Murrah High School to the cutting-edge labs of Amazon Web Services (AWS), Dr. Sephus has forged a remarkable path. Armed with a Bachelor's in Computer Engineering from Mississippi State University and advanced degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology, her expertise in machine learning and a keen focus on identifying algorithmic bias have made her a sought-after voice in the tech industry.
​Many will remember her as the brilliant CTO behind Partpic, a visual recognition startup that caught the eye of Amazon and was subsequently acquired in 2016. This pivotal moment brought her immense recognition, but for Dr. Sephus, success was never solely about personal achievement. It was about impact, especially for the community that nurtured her.

​This deep-seated commitmentl manifested in the creation of The Bean Path, a non-profit organization that has become a beacon of technological empowerment in Jackson. "We wanted to provide a place where people could come for technical advice and guidance, where they didn't feel intimidated by the world of tech," Dr. Sephus explains. "It's about bridging that digital divide and showing folks that technology isn't just for Silicon Valley; it's for everyone, everywhere."
​The Bean Path is a vibrant hub offering a range of services: a crucial Tech Help Desk, insightful Tech Talks, and engaging engineering and coding programs designed to spark interest in younger generations. It provides scholarships and grants, actively dismantling barriers to entry into the tech landscape.
​But Dr. Sephus's vision extends beyond individual support. She is the driving force behind the ambitious Jackson Tech District, a transformative initiative aimed at revitalizing downtown Jackson into a thriving innovative and technological hub. This district, an expansion of The Bean Path's mission, envisions a community where tech education, entrepreneurship, and innovation flourish, creating jobs and opportunities for local residents.

​Imagine a future where state-of-the-art tech companies rub shoulders with bustling community spaces, all powered by local talent. That's the future Dr. Nashlie Sephus is meticulously building, piece by innovative piece

​Dr. Sephus embodies the spirit of resilience, intelligence, and unwavering dedication to community upliftment. Her work at AWS tackles complex issues like AI ethics, while her passion project, The Bean Path and the Jackson Tech District, addresses fundamental needs on the ground. She is proving that the next wave of technological innovation and inclusion isn't confined to traditional tech capitals but can be cultivated and championed from anywhere, especially in places rich with untapped potential like Jackson, Mississippi.

​As the Jackson Tech District takes shape, Dr. Nashlie Sephus stands as a testament to what's possible when brilliance meets purpose. She's not just building a district; she's cultivating a dream – a true Black Silicon Valley – that promises to inspire generations to come.