Palm Beach Perspective

Talked with Michael Riordan, Director of Communications, Compass Community Center. The Compass' mission is "to engage, empower and enrich the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people and those impacted by HIV and AIDS." The community center offers various services including rapid HIV testing, treatments, HIV/AIDS counseling, HIV prevention education along with medical services. Compass has mental health, health services along with social groups and supports groups. They have youth services for LGBTQ teens and allies including the drop in center, youth group, transgender youth group, mentor program, all tea, no shade therapy group, authentically youth, and Q chat. The mental health department offers individual/relationship counseling, youth mental health, support groups, therapy groups, LGBTQ+ Mental Health collaborative, profession development, suicide prevention and internships. Compass is very active in the community with outreach, education and events. They host one of the largest Pride events in March. For more info on services, volunteering, scheduling an outreach class, making a donation, listeners can go to www. compassglcc.com

Talked with LaShaundra Highsmith, Mgr, Marketing & Events and Liz Cabral, Sr. Mgr, Hunger Relief from Palm Beach County Food Bank. PBC Food Bank is raising awareness of food insecurity issues in our county. September is Hunger Action Month and they have a lot of events/programs planned. Their key fundraiser is Empty Bowls in the Gardens on Saturday, September 17 from 11am-2pm. Tickets are $30 and VIP are $50. Listeners can get tickets and www.pbcfoodbank.org/ebgardens. The theme is to "Eat Simply so others can Simply Eat". Guests will be served soup and artisan roll with a dessert and bottled water. The gift bag will include a souvenir hand painted bowl. The community can come out prior to the event and help paint the bowls for free at Craft Haus in Palm Beach Gardens. They are open 10a-8p Mon-Sun. Listeners can also help by volunteering either at the food bank or their events or by making a monetary donation. For more info, listeners can go to www.pbcfoodbank.org or call 561-670-2518.

Talked with Meredith Gregory, Director of School and Teacher programs at the Norton Museum of Art. They offer a wide variety of programs for students/teachers. (free admission for teachers) K-12 grades can explore art at the Norton that connects with Florida State Standards. There are guided tours, virtual tours, home school tours, self-guided school tours. Some of the themes tours are, "learning to look", stories in art, steam tour along with two new exhibitions, A Personal View on High Fashion & Street Style: Photographs from the Nicola Erni Collection, 1930s to Now and Joseph Stella: Visionary Nature. To get info teachers can email [email protected]. The Norton also has tours of the sculpture garden, Art After Dark, Drum Circle, Yappy Saturday (guest can bring their dog outside) as well as lots of exhibitions in addition to the main Norton collection. They are also doing a promo with Brightline (you can use your ticket stub for free admission - limited time offer). For more info on programs, membership, donations, volunteering, hours, etc. listeners can to go www.norton.org

Talked with Antoine Miller, Founder/Band Director, Sounds of Success Marching Band and Willie Spence, former contestant on American Idol season 19. Sounds of Success's mission is: "to create a musical community that is rich with cultural, social and intellectual diversity while preparing each student with a solid foundation in music and expansive education in the liberal arts." SOS is open to anyone ages 10-23. Students sign up and have practice M-Th after school. They pick them up, they do homework first and then band practice. Sounds of Success Marching Band has been invited to come perform in London in June 2023. Willie Spence will be performing with them in London. In order to go they need to raise approximately $3k/band member. They currently have 62 members. Listeners who would like to help can do to their website at www.soswarriors.com. They can donate, sign up to become volunteers. Students who are interested in joining can click on the enrollment tab and fill out the form. Students can also get community service hours throughout the school year. Businesses/Individuals who would like to be a major sponsor can contact Hey Sandy PR at www.HeySandypr.com or call 561-386-5262. Donations are tax deductible.

Talked with Kathryn Rudloff, Executive Director, WeVenture WBC. WeVenture is an SBA and offers programs and services from business education workshops, online entrepreneurial modules, and seminars that assist entrepreneurs and business owners to launch and grow their businesses. They have Ignite 360, and Athena Leadership just to name a few. To find out/sign up, folks can go to www.https://weventure.fit.edu/. They are participating in the upcoming 6th Annual Minority Business Expo on August 20th at the Fenn Center from 9am-3pm. Admission is free. There will be free Life & Business coaching. Lots of speakers on topics from financials, motivational, marketing. Attendees can network/shop in the vendor hall. Listeners who are interested in becoming a vendor or want more info can reach out to Angela Brazell at [email protected].

Talked with Tom Pearson, CEO, Armory Art Center. They provide art classes for all ages. Coming up there are three deadlines with "call to artists" to apply for upcoming juried events. For the 6th Annual West Palm Beach Arts Festival with runs December 3-4, the deadline to apply is August 31st. Catagories include: 2-D (drawing, painting, photography. printmaking, mixed media) or 3-D (ceramics, scultpure, fiber, jewelry, glass, furniture). The next event is Regional Printmaking, September 30-October 20th and the deadline is September 15th. Categories include: collage, mixed media, Textiles, silkscreen, intaglio, printmaking, relief printmaking, lithography, etching, engraving and more. The 3rd event is Verdant Bodies: A Contemporary Art Jewelry Exhibition running October 27th-November 18th. The deadline for artist is September 16th. There's an artist showcase on August 12th at 5:30pm and donations will go to Education Foundation of Palm Beach County. Listeners can go to www.armoryart.org to find out more info, sign up for classes, to be a volunteer, sponsor or artist. Or call 561-832-1776.

Talked to Tara Moreno, Multicultural Liaison Librarian, Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach. We talked about the upcoming school year. They've been part of the summer food program and will continue with a weekend food via Lois' Food4kids. Pickup is in kidspace and is for kids ages 5-12. They are doing a Back to School event on August 15th at 4pm where kids can come meet some of the Homework Center Teachers who are available to help with their homework throughout the school year. And in their Community Resources section, families can get free one-on-one case management, therapeutic support and advocacy with a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. For an appointment call 561-868-7750. Tara is coordinating the ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) program. They are offering ESOL board game mornings on Tuesday at 10am in the Iris room. They'll resume Spanish/English conversation sessions in the fall. To find out about these and other programs, to become a volunteer, make a donation, listeners can go to www.wpbcitylibrary.org.

Talked with Mike Durkee, Executive Director, Wounded Veterans Relief Fund (WVRF). They are a 501c3 that provides emergency financial support to qualified disabled veterans living in Florida. 85% of funds donated goes directly toward veteran assistance. They help with shelter, utilities, transportation and just recently started another branch to help with dental care for veterans. Veterans who want to know if they qualify can reach out to their case worker at the VA hospital. Once WVRF receives the paperwork they usually have a 24-72 hour turnaround. Wounded Veterans pay the service providers directly. To help raise funds they are putting on their 10th Annual Treasure Coast Bonita Blast Fishing Tournament sponsored by RP Funding. It's being held at Pirate's Cove Resort and Marina 4307 SE Bayview St., Stuart FL 34996. To sign up, vets, boat owners can reach out to www.wvrf.org. They can also sign up there for a monthly $6 donation as part of the wounded veteran's "Got your Six" program or to become a volunteer or sponsor.

Talked with Laurel Dalton, Executive Director and Health Chair, Dr. Kitonga Kiminyo from the
T Leroy Jefferson Medical Society. They are celebrating their 75th anniversary of providing medical care to the community. TLJ has multiple classes, mentoring programs, professional educational programs and every summer they hold their Annual Back-to-School Community Health Fair. The Health Fair is being held at the Max Fisher Boys and Girls Club, Riviera Beach from 9am-2pm on Saturday 7/30. They offer Free back to school physicals, medical screenings, dental screenings, health and education resource. Plus there'll be free school supplies including backpacks. They will also have Covid vaccines/be available to answers questions, have a private discussion area for men and another area for mental health questions all staffed with professionals to help provide info, services and access. Pre-registration is requested. Listeners can go to the website to get info on all the programs, get info on the webinars/podcasts, become a sponsor, become a volunteer or to pre-register. www.tljmedicalsociety.org or call 561-318-0814

Talked with Ann M. Berner, CEO Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network. They are a managing entity that coordinates mental health services for 5 Florida counties including Palm Beach and Treasure Coast. They work in conjunction with multiple agencies including 211 to help connect people with the services that meet their individual needs. They are working with 988 it's a suicide prevention hotline. Listeners can go to the website, https://sefbhn.org and see all the different services that are available. They also offer training for folks with "lived" experience who want to work with others to help them navigate the system since they've been successfully through the process. Listeners interested in that, can find the training info on the website. We talked about the gun violence, the overturning of roe vs. wade and the anger it's creating. Also, "See something, say something". If you see a friend/family member struggling ask if they are okay. Have them call 211/988 or call with them. For listeners who are feeling upset, angry, fearful, or extreme frustration over their current situation, she encourages them to call 211 or 988 and they can great free help regardless of their insurance status.