Perspectives

New initiatives and partnerships in North Florida are in place to help the victims and prosecute the purveyors of human trafficking as a new year gets underway. The discussion includes: Robin Hassler Thompson, executive director of the Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center; Marsha Crowle with Capital City Bank; Kristin Keen, founder of Jacksonville's Rethreaded program; and Leon County Sheriff's Detective Hanna Perry.

It began with a manuscript written by a mother who documents her family’s trials and tribulations under the two regimes of Stalin and Hitler. Her daughter then created hauntingly beautiful memory paintings from that era. The decaying art and manuscript were discovered decades ago under a rustic house outside of Greenville, FL. These works are being restored to form the heart of an impactful, educational initiative for Florida schools. TTo talk about the Project are: Mimi Shaw, discoverer and co-owner of the collection; Kelly Bowen, co-owner and collection’s curator; Eric Clark the Executive Director of the Foundation for Leon County Schools; Dr. David Gussak, FSU Art Therapy professor and author; and documentary filmmaker Doug Darlington of Winding Road Films, whose historically based factual film for schools forms the core of the educational outreach program which is free to schools worldwide.

Some activists, lobbyists and even local elected officials worry the upcoming Florida Legislative Session may not take all critical needs and voices into account. To talk about it are: Tallahassee community activist and advocate Stanley Sims; Leon Classroom Teachers Associations President Scott Mazur; and Tallahassee City Commissioner Jeremy Matlowe.

Despite the national designation of Emancipation Day as June 19th, Florida’s historic Emancipation Day remains May 20. A three-day conference focused on a deeper understanding of that day’s historic and contemporary impact on Florida and all its people happens in Tallahassee Dec. 5-7. To provide a preview are: Althemese Barnes, founder and director emeritus of the Capital City’s Riley House Museum; Florida A&M English Professor Natalie King-Pedroso; Punta Gorda City Councilman Jaha Cummings; and Sandra Rooks, African-American historian in Pinellas County.

With help from Leon County’s Office for Economic Vitality, many Tallahassee area businesses were not only able to survive, but even thrive in the course of the long pandemic. We talk with the Office’s Director, Cristina Paredes and Deputy Director, Drew Dietrich. We also chat with local business owners: Summer Calenberg of Drip Drop Fitness; Tony O’Brien of Shamrock Cleaners; and Barby Moro with Redeye Coffee to learn how they’ve weathered the storm and are back in recovery mode.

Even before the conviction of three people – including a former Tallahassee City Commissioner – on federal corruption charges this year, many Capital City residents had concerns about unethical behavior at City Hall. In addition to a formal ethics advisory panel, there is also the Citizens for Ethics Reform Coalition, which is researching and suggesting additional safeguards to ensure decisions are made transparently and ethically. To talk about the initiative are Coalition members: Former State of Florida Attorney Richard Herring; Integrity Florida Co-founder Ben Wilcox; and “Common Ground” Founder and NEBA President Catherine Baer.

Tallahassee filmmaker Kenneth Jones’ movie will receive its local premiere along with community conversations on Alzheimer’s and those who care for its patients Nov. 5-7. He speaks about the film and is joined by Frenchtown Activist Miaisha Mitchell and Alzheimer’s Project Executive Director John Trombetta.

The former rabbi of Tallahassee’s Temple Israel has penned an exciting and insightful historical account of his great uncle Richard Stern’s saga as a Jew fighting for Germany in World War I and then fighting against the Nazis as an American soldier in World War II. He talks about the book and the lessons it brings to our lives today.

The Holocaust Education Resource Council and Tallahassee Community College are joining forces for this year's Holocaust Education Week observance. The event, Nov. 8-12, will include speakers, performances and the annual Remembrance Dinner, with remarks from a Holocaust survivor. To provide a preview of the occasion are: Barbara Goldstein, executive director of the Holocaust Education Resource Council; Tallahassee Community College Vice President Heather Mitchell; and TCC History Professor Monte Finkelstein.

The latest medical developments may mean earlier detection and gentler, more effective treatments for breast cancer. To talk about it are: Florida Society of Clinical Oncology President Dr. Luis Raez; Megan Hall, senior director of medical Communications with GRAIL, a firm that's developed a multi-cancer blood test; Congressman Neal Dunn who is backing federal legislation to support such technologies; and metastatic breast cancer survivor Terlisa Sheppard who has also written a book about her experience.