Perspectives

From Zoom meetings to YouTube videos and virtual reality journeys, the latest technology is helping older folks stay connected and involved, even in the age of COVID-19. Among this region's greatest resources in promoting, teaching and leveraging those tools is Florida State University's Institute for Successful Longevity. We talk with Institute Director Neil Charness and Dr. Dawn Kerr, associate professor of Sociology about these developments and trends.

Planning for and responding to hurricanes are a yearly exercise in Florida. But this season, which began June 1, now includes the added challenge of dealing with COVID-19 and the need to protect evacuees and first responders from infection. To talk about those challenges are: Kevin Peters, director of Emergency Management for Leon County; Sharon Tyler, executive director of the Capital Area Chapter American Red Cross; and Dr. Karen Cyphers, who is part of a statewide public perception project to help policymakers craft more effective emergency response.

The Capital Region's mental health professionals are seeing an increase in depression, anxiety, substance abuse and other symptoms related to the stresses stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet they all agree the true impacts may last far longer than the current crisis. To talk about it are: Jay Reeve, president and CEO of the Apalachee Center; Nancy O'Farrell, executive director of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Tallahassee; Randy Nicklaus, president of 211 Big Bend; and Dr. Sally Karioth, faculty member, Florida State University College of Nursing.

Many parts of North Florida were already plagued by hunger before the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the situation is even worse, although there are many organizations and individuals working to ease the deprivation. Our virtual panel consists of: Carmen Connor, principal of Oak Ridge Elementary School; Oak Ridge Elementary Principal Jasmine Smith; Laurye Messer, a founding organizer of the Full Summer program; and Second Harvest of the Big Bend CEO Monique Ellsworth.

Working from home can sure work up an appetite and for too many stay-at-home workers, those regular trips to the kitchen for “inspiration” have resulted in excess poundage. To talk about painless, easy ways to slim down and get back into shape are: well-known physical fitness buff and Leon County Commission Chair Bryan Desloge; Mary Jean Yon, race director for the Gulf Winds Track Club; Gregg Patterson, head of Move Tallahassee; Tonya Little, program developer and communications specialist for Premier Health and Fitness Center; and Premier’s Nutritionist Annie Justmann.

The pandemic has certainly changed almost everything. But those changes, whether on the job or in personal life, aren’t necessarily all bad. The challenges posed by change can also be leveraged into opportunities for growth, as well as new and better ways of coping with future change. To talk about it are: Terrie Ard, president and chief operating officer of the Moore Agency and that organization’s senior vice president Jordan Jacobs who have been providing online seminars on these subjects.

Many of the Capital City's not-for-profit service organizations face both a declining fiscal situation and a rising demand for services.

The Capital City's local governments are in full response mode to the COVID-19 crisis.  We receive updates on those responses in separate pre-recorded Zoom interviews with Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey, Leon County Board of County Commissioners Chair Bryan Desloge, and Leon School Board Chair Dee Dee Rasmussen.

Noted entomologist, author and speaker Dr. Doug Tallamy is due to visit Tallahassee on March 19.  His talk will focus on how everyone can support the return to a more natural environment by removing invasive plants from their yards and replacing them with native flora that supports all indigenous life forms.  With an advance discussion on that presentation are: Jody Walthall and Rob Williams with the Apalachee Audubon Society, which is hosting Tallamy’s visit.

There are more than 100,000 people in Florida’s state prisons and thousands more in county jail.  The vast majority will be released into society and what programs and initiatives are available to help ensure they don’t wind up re-incarcerated?  Speaking on the subject are: Assistant Leon County Sheriff Steve Harrelson; Lucretia Shaw-Collins with Bethel Empowerment Foundation, Inc.; Dr. Carrie Pettus-Davis, founding director of the Institute for Justice Research & Development at FSU; Anthony Scott with the Innocence Project of Florida; and Suzanne Printy with the Mercy and Justice Core Committee at Tallahassee’s Good Shepherd Catholic Church.