Two Gainesville non-profit groups host joint beautillion-cotillion ball

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) -Members of Wishful Thinking and 100 Black Men of Greater Florida Gainesville banded together to throw their second annual beautillion-cotillion ball to celebrate African-American high school seniors in Alachua, Bradford, and Levy County.

“In our community, we understand that our students need all the assistance they can get all the support they can get,” Lakendra Garrison, the event manager, shared.

Beautillions and cotillions are ceremonies seen as a rite of passage that formally re-introduce teenagers to society as adults.

Ray McKnight, the president of 100 Black Men of Greater Florida Gainesville, tells TV20 the honorees spent months learning various skills for life and college readiness.

“They go through a variety of classes everything on health and wellness, education, community service, financial literacy… so it’s actually a process that they go through to get to this point,” he stated.

The night included announcing scholarship winners, a full-course meal, and a live band.

The families of the honorees weren’t the only ones busting a move, as the night also included a formal dance performed by the beaus and debs.

Organizers say they’re already planning to have an even bigger venue next year.

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