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What does it really mean to create community? Is it the organizations we belong to, the titles we hold, or the rooms we're invited into? Or is it something much more personal?

On this episode of Schmooze with Suze, I'm reconnecting with someone whose leadership journey I've had the pleasure of following, Allishia Bauman, author of The Art of Space Making and CEO of the Women's Center of Jacksonville.

When I first interviewed Allishia, we explored how community helped shape her life. This time, we're talking about how she's using her life to shape community.

We get personal about leadership, identity, and the sometimes uncomfortable realization that the work we do can become so intertwined with who we are that we forget to make space for ourselves. We explore what it means to lead from the inside out, embrace the African philosophy of ubuntu, "I am because you are," and recognize that creating belonging requires more than simply extending an invitation.

Allishia also takes us inside the critical work of the Women's Center of Jacksonville, an organization providing essential resources for survivors of sexual violence, including crisis intervention, a regional rape crisis hotline serving four counties, forensic examination support, trauma-informed counseling at no cost, and community prevention education.

Throughout our conversation, we challenge what it means to truly show up for others, especially when the circumstances are difficult, uncomfortable, or far from glamorous.

We talk about curiosity over assumptions, trust over titles, and why clear communication is an act of kindness.

For me, this conversation reinforces something I believe deeply: Community isn't something we simply belong to. It's something we are responsible for building.

Whether you're a nonprofit leader, community advocate, professional navigating your own identity, or simply someone who wants to be more intentional about how you show up in the world, there's something in this conversation for you.

And if this conversation resonates, please subscribe, share it with someone who might benefit, and leave a review. Every listen helps amplify the people and organizations making Northeast Florida a stronger, more compassionate community.

Curate. Educate. Activate.

#SchmoozeWithSuze #CurateEducateActivate #ViewsWithSuze #NonprofitLeadership #JacksonvilleFL

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps more people discover these conversations and the remarkable people helping shape our communities and our future.
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Subscribe to the Schmooze with Suze Podcast for your dose of #Culture, #Values and #GlobalCitizenship... with a side of #chutzpah... 

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Why do some big downtown ideas become buildings, parks and neighborhoods... while others never make it past the rendering?

Jacksonville has never been short on plans for Downtown.

We have seen the glossy renderings. Heard the promises. Watched projects get announced, redesigned, delayed, revived and, sometimes, quietly disappear.

So what actually separates a beautiful picture from a ribbon cutting?

On this episode, I sit down with Colin Tarbert, CEO of Jacksonville’s Downtown Investment Authority, for a candid conversation about what it really takes to transform an urban core.

And spoiler alert: it is considerably more complicated than drawing a pretty skyline and putting some people walking dogs into the rendering.

Colin brings more than two decades of experience in economic and community development, including serving as President and CEO of the Baltimore Development Corporation and in senior economic development roles in Baltimore City government before coming to Jacksonville.

That means he understands cities not simply as collections of buildings, but as complicated ecosystems of people, money, policy, infrastructure, history, politics, patience and possibility.

We get into the part of downtown development that usually happens somewhere between the press conference and the crane. Colin explains why meaningful urban transformation is rarely one giant "catalytic" project. More often, it is ten smaller wins that begin creating confidence, density, activity and momentum.

We talk about what today's construction zones and seemingly disconnected projects could collectively become by 2028, 2030 and even 2040

And because this is Schmooze with Suze, we also talk about something bigger than development deals: What makes a city feel like a city? For Jacksonville, the answer may be found somewhere between the St. Johns River and its bridges, our neighborhoods and history, our arts and cultural institutions, our sports and entertainment district, and the people who are willing to imagine what Downtown can become while still being realistic about how long transformation actually takes.

The Jacksonville our children inherit may include parks, buildings, businesses and neighborhoods they assume have simply "always been there." But somebody has to do the decidedly less glamorous work of getting them built. Renderings are easy. Ribbon cuttings are earned.

About Colin Tarbert

Colin Tarbert serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA), Jacksonville's Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency and economic development agency.

Before coming to Jacksonville, Colin served as President and CEO of the Baltimore Development Corporation and held several senior roles in Baltimore City government, including Deputy Mayor for Economic and Neighborhood Development. His career spans architecture, real estate, economic development, neighborhood investment and public-private development.

Colin holds both a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Master of Architecture from the University of Maryland and is a Certified Economic Developer.

Want to Learn More About Downtown Jacksonville?

Downtown Investment Authority (DIA)
117 West Duval Street, Suite 310
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
Main Office: 904-255-5302

Colin Tarbert, CEO
Phone: 904-255-5301
Email: [email protected]

Visit the Downtown Investment Authority

Read the Data and Dig Deeper

Want to see the numbers, plans and research behind the conversation?

DIA Community Redevelopment Agency Annual Report 2023–2024

For current budgets, audited financial statements and other public financial information:

DIA Northbank CRA Financial Reports and Documents

For independent land-use and development research, including Technical Assistance Panel work involving Downtown Jacksonville, the Southbank and other Northeast Florida redevelopment issues:

ULI North Florida Advisory Services and Technical Assistance Panel Reports

And for a snapshot of where Downtown stands right now, the 2025 State of Downtown Report tracks development, residential growth, visitation, investment, office activity, parks and other measures of Downtown vitality. The latest reporting identifies approximately $7 billion in Downtown's development pipeline, 9,228 residents and 19.7 million annual visits.

One Last Thought... Downtown redevelopment is easy to judge one empty lot, delayed project or construction fence at a time.

But cities aren't built one press release at a time. They're built through thousands of decisions, investments, compromises, risks and small wins that eventually begin connecting to one another.

So maybe the better question isn't simply, "Why isn't Downtown finished yet?"

Maybe it's:

"Are we finally building the pieces that will make the next generation wonder why it ever looked any other way?"

Listen, subscribe and share this episode with someone who cares about the future of Jacksonville.

And then tell me:

What is the ONE thing you hope Downtown Jacksonville has by 2040?

🎙️ Schmooze with Suze
Curate. Educate. Activate.

#SchmoozeWithSuze #DowntownJacksonville #DTJax #Jacksonville #JacksonvilleFlorida #DowntownInvestmentAuthority #UrbanDevelopment #EconomicDevelopment #Placemaking #CommunityDevelopment #PublicPrivatePartnerships #StJohnsRiver #JacksonvilleDowntown #MoreArtCulture

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps more people discover these conversations and the remarkable people helping shape our communities and our future.
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What if the most important infrastructure in a city isn’t a building, a bridge or a billion-dollar development? What if it’s connection?

This episode on Schmooze with Suze, I sit down with Kady Yellow, a social architect, tactical urbanist, civic entrepreneur, artist, educator and internationally recognized Placemaker who has built a career asking a deceptively simple question:

What happens when we treat the people who live in a place as the experts on what that place could become?

Kady is currently Vice President of Placemaking and Events at Downtown Vision, Inc., where she leads work designed to make Jacksonville’s public spaces more public. But Jacksonville is only one stop in a career that has taken her through New York, New Orleans, California, Alaska, Michigan, Texas, Canada and Western Europe.

Before coming to Jacksonville, Kady helped lead 120 pop-up projects in Michigan, activating riverfronts, parks, sidewalks, streets and alleys. Her work has included civic entrepreneurship, the creative economy, tactical urbanism, public-space activation and resident-led economic development. And the list of credentials is… very Kady.

She is a TEDx speaker, International Downtown Association Fellow, Jacksonville Business Journal Woman of Influence, Leadership Jacksonville Class of 2025 alum, Strong Towns Accelerator inaugural class member, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Research Fellow, PlacemakingUS Network Leader, Urban Land Institute member, Florida Main Street founding board member, former university adjunct professor and published author.

She holds a master’s degree in Arts Administration from the University of New Orleans and, because apparently one undergraduate degree wasn't enough, dual bachelor’s degrees in Mathematical Sciences AND Graphic Design from Binghamton University. Which actually makes perfect sense when you understand Kady.

She lives somewhere between the shovel and the spreadsheet. Between creativity and data. Between the person standing on the sidewalk and the person writing the policy. Between what a city IS and what its people can imagine it becoming.

And somewhere along the way, this woman who is more than a decade younger than I am became one of my mentors. Because Kady doesn’t just practice placemaking. She practices people planning.

We talk about building cities from the sidewalk up, where artists, neighbors, entrepreneurs and small experiments can turn imagination into actual public space, economic activity and eventually policy.

We unpack social capital as a form of currency, and Kady’s idea that public space can function almost like a community bank. Every conversation, collaboration, relationship and moment of belonging becomes another deposit.

We get into people planning, where the resident is the expert rather than simply the person invited to give “input” after the important decisions have already been made.

Kady explains why she believes we should “pilot everything.” Pop-ups aren't just cute events or temporary activations- done intentionally, they become laboratories. They let cities test ideas, gather data, measure economic activity, learn what works and sometimes move from pop-up to policy.

And we talk about how Jacksonville doesn't need to become like any other city. It needs to become more authentically Jacksonville.

And we go into the messy stuff, too... What happens when “everything is for everybody” actually prevents us from creating meaningful spaces for anybody? How do you establish community standards without silencing disagreement? How do contracts, expectations and task forces create accountability when passionate people inevitably collide? How do we make civic participation accessible to people who don't know the vocabulary, don't know the people in charge and may not even realize they are allowed in the room?

That leads us to Placemaking School, a free on-ramp currenlty in YEAR 4, giving residents access to the skills, tools, technical assistance and office hours necessary to move an idea toward reality.

And then there are the artists who help create the identity, energy and desirability that make neighborhoods valuable, so why are they so often invited into development after the financing, design and big decisions have already happened? That conversation opens an even bigger question for Jacksonville: Do our creatives need a shared three-to-five-year vision for where we are collectively trying to go?

A city can have money... land... developers, master plans, renderings and very fancy words... And still feel empty.

The missing piece may be the thing we rarely think to put in the budget- Connection.

How do we turn emptiness into energy?

Isolation into connection?

Blight into bright?

Pop-ups into policy?

And neighbors into an actual community?

And maybe the most important infrastructure we ever build isn't made from concrete. Maybe it's belonging.

SOME MORE OF WHY KADY YELLOW IS A MENTOR TO ME: 

🎤 Watch Kady’s TEDxJacksonville talk, “How to Bring Your City to Life”
Kady explores why renewing downtowns requires more than brick and mortar, and how social architecture, resident imagination, underground culture and creative placemaking can help bring cities back to life.

Watch Kady Yellow’s TEDx Talk

🏙️ Read the 2025 PlacemakingJax Impact Report
This is where the philosophy meets the receipts. Downtown Vision’s report looks beyond traditional development metrics to measure small-business profits, direct payments to local creatives, creative workforce participation, social connectedness and belonging.

Read the PlacemakingJax Impact Report and explore Downtown Vision’s research

📊 Read Downtown Vision’s 2025 Annual Report
For the bigger picture of Downtown Vision’s work, programming, investment and impact across Downtown Jacksonville:

Downtown Vision 2025 Annual Report

💡 Learn more about Kady’s work at Downtown Vision

Kady Yellow at Downtown Vision

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps more people discover these conversations and the remarkable people helping shape our communities and our future.
Connect on Instagram @SchmoozewithSuze
 
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Accents taught me something I didn’t understand until much later: people don’t just “sound” different, they carry different histories. That lens is why I’m obsessed with the storytellers behind the stories, the directors and producers making choices that shape what our community remembers and what gets left out of the frame.

Filmmaker and City of Jacksonville Film Production Coordinator Adam Madrid joins me to talk about the long cut of becoming a creative professional: the early DIY films, not getting into film school, the persistence it takes to keep going anyway, and the moment local work turns into real recognition. We dig into Jacksonville’s film community growth, why building within matters, and how projects like the 48 Hour Film Project create pressure-cooker opportunities where talent gets seen, sharpened, and supported.

We also get practical and timely about AI in filmmaking and creative technology. Adam breaks down what tools can speed up and what they can’t touch: heart, soul, empathy, and a director’s vision. From short films as proof of concept to the magic of a packed theater reacting together, this conversation is a love letter to independent filmmaking, creative mentorship, and the idea that cities become what they choose to celebrate.

Get Set to Make a Movie!

Register Your Team: https://www.48hourfilm.com/jacksonville

Regular: $178/team ends Tue, Sep 8, 2026

Late: $198/team ends Fri, Sep 18, 2026

When? 18 - 20 Sep 2026
Goal? Make a FILM in 48 hours and attend its PREMIERE SCREENING!!

From Film Weekend Kickoff… to Screening… to Awards… Gather Teammates – Friends/Colleagues/Family! Write, shoot and edit a short film based on the genre you draw at The Kickoff and the required character, prop, and line assigned for your city.

Premiere YOUR film! Celebrate with Awards, including Audience Award. The winner of Best Film goes to Filmapalooza in March 2027, and is eligible for a spot in our screening at the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner!

Try something new, level up your filmmaking, and join our community.

If you care about Jacksonville, storytelling, film festivals, short films, or the creative economy, hit subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

#SchmoozeWithSuze #JacksonvilleFilm #JacksonvilleFilmmakers #48HourFilmProject #IndependentFilm #Filmmaking #CreativeEconomy #JacksonvilleCreatives #ShortFilm #FilmFestival #AIandFilm #CreativeTechnology #JaxFilm #904Creatives #CurateEducateActivate

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps more people discover these conversations and the remarkable people helping shape our communities and our future.
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You can fly to Europe for a history fix, or you can turn down a Jacksonville road you’ve driven a thousand times and realize the best stories have been sitting behind a garden gate all along. This episode we talk with Brittany Cohill, executive director of the Mandarin Museum, about why local history matters, how a small “boutique museum” can feel bigger than its square footage, and what it means to welcome people so they actually feel like they belong in the story. If you’ve ever said “I’m not a museum person,” Brittany has a gentle challenge for you.

We dig into what’s new and nationally significant at the museum, including the Maple Leaf Civil War shipwreck exhibit and how artifacts only become meaningful when you attach the human story. Brittany shares how volunteers and community partners help bring history off the wall and into real conversation, including opportunities to meet the divers connected to the shipwreck and learn why the St. Johns River is more than scenery, it’s a main character in Mandarin’s past and present.

Then we get practical for families looking for free things to do in Jacksonville, Florida. Mandarin Museum and Walter Jones Historical Park offer scavenger hunts, adventure backpacks for nature exploration and plein air painting, Reading Dragons with the Jacksonville Public Library, and space to picnic under the tree canopy, with manatees sometimes showing up as a bonus exhibit. We also talk about the Untold Story of Black Mandarin and why preserving Black history and community identity must be permanent, visible, and built with the people whose stories are being told.

If you care about Jacksonville history, Florida culture, museums, volunteering, or affordable family activities, hit play. 

Mandarin Museum & Historical Society

Nestled along the banks of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville's historic Mandarin community, the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society is dedicated to preserving, sharing, and celebrating the rich history, culture, and natural heritage of one of Northeast Florida's most unique neighborhoods.

 11964 Mandarin Road, Jacksonville, FL 32223
 Phone: (904) 268-0784
 Website: www.mandarinmuseum.org
 Email: [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps more people discover these conversations and the remarkable people helping shape our communities and our future.
Connect on Instagram @SchmoozewithSuze
 
Subscribe to the Schmooze with Suze Podcast for your dose of #Culture, #Values and #GlobalCitizenship... with a side of #chutzpah... 

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The fastest way to lose a city is to stop listening to it.

That's the topic at the heart of this conversation with Mike Hightower, Mike Miller, and Mike Tolbert- the hosts of Three Mikes on Mic Podcast. We examine what podcasts can do that much of today's media cannot: restore context, reward curiosity, and create space for thoughtful civic conversation about Jacksonville, Florida.

In this episode, we explore:

•  Why long-form conversations create nuance in a short-form world. 
•  How Three Mikes on Mic was built around a shared love for Jacksonville. 
•  What has changed in journalism, and why audiences increasingly expect information in smaller, faster bites. 
•  Why civility, trust, and respectful disagreement still matter in politics and public policy. 
•  The difference between giving people what they want to hear and what they need to hear. 
•  Why transparency. Accountability. And "turning on the light" remain the best disinfectants. 
•  The JEA scandal, and the public servants whose integrity often went unnoticed. 
•  What gives these three community leaders hope for Jacksonville's future, from mentoring the next generation to emerging civic talent. 
•  How the St. Johns River and Jacksonville's expanding riverfront parks are reshaping the city's identity and quality of life. 
•  A thoughtful discussion on the proposed homestead exemption amendment and its potential impact on local services, infrastructure, and the future of Florida communities.

If you care about Jacksonville's future, local politics, public policy, civic leadership, and the power of informed conversation, this episode is for you.

Mike Hightower is a longtime civic leader whose career has focused on education, public policy, and strengthening Northeast Florida through collaboration, research, and community engagement.

An award-winning broadcaster, veteran journalist, and longtime political observer, Mike Miller has spent decades covering Jacksonville's government, elections, and civic life. He is the founder and co-host of Three Mikes on Mic, bringing historical perspective and journalistic insight to every conversation. 

Mike Tolbert is a respected political strategist, communications professional, and veteran of Jacksonville government who has advised leaders across administrations. Known for his deep understanding of local politics and public policy, he brings practical experience and thoughtful analysis.

Learn more about Three Mikes on Mic: MikesOnMic.com

You can also listen on:

• 🎧 Apple Podcasts: Mikes on Mic on Apple Podcasts
• 🎵 Spotify: Mikes on Mic on Spotify
• ▶️ YouTube: Mikes on Mic YouTube Channel
• 📘 Facebook: Mikes on Mic Facebook Page

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps more people discover these conversations and the remarkable people helping shape our communities and our future.
Connect on Instagram @SchmoozewithSuze
 
Subscribe to the Schmooze with Suze Podcast for your dose of #Culture, #Values and #GlobalCitizenship... with a side of #chutzpah... 

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Jacksonville doesn't have a culture problem. It has a visibility problem.

If you've ever said, "There's nothing to do in Jacksonville," this conversation may completely change the way you see our city.

This week, I'm joined by Diana Donovan, Executive Director of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, for a fascinating conversation about why arts and culture aren't simply entertainment. They're economic development, workforce development, tourism strategy, neighborhood revitalization, and community identity all rolled into one.

We explore what really happens when someone buys a ticket to a show. It's never just about the performance. That one evening supports babysitters, restaurants, bartenders, parking garages, security teams, local vendors, stage crews, marketing professionals, and hundreds of small businesses that make Jacksonville work.

Diana explains why the creative economy deserves the same attention as any other industry, how public-private partnerships stretch taxpayer dollars, and why cultural organizations should be viewed as businesses creating measurable returns for our community.

We also dive into:

• Why Jacksonville's arts community is far larger than most residents realize.

• How murals, sculptures, and public art strengthen neighborhoods.

• Why exposure to the arts creates tomorrow's audiences, artists, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders.

• How financial literacy, networking, and professional development help artists build sustainable careers.

• Why placemaking isn't about decorating a city. It's about helping people feel connected to where they live.

The Cultural Council's recent reporting shows that Jacksonville's Cultural Service Grant Program transformed a $3 million public investment into approximately $143 million in economic impact, supporting thousands of jobs, local vendors, and small businesses across our community. 

Because once you begin to see the creative ecosystem... you can't unsee how much it shapes the future of Jacksonville.

Learn More About the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville at the official website:

Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville

Explore:

• Grant opportunities • Art in Public Places • Community events calendar • Public art map • Volunteer opportunities • Newsletter signup • Ways to support Jacksonville's creative community

Follow the Cultural Council:

• Instagram (@moreartculture)

• Facebook

• LinkedIn

Learn More About Diana Donovan

• LinkedIn Profile

See how the Cultural Council is helping shape Jacksonville through:

• Artist Grant Pilot Program • Public Art initiatives • Arts Awards • Community partnerships • Creative economy research • Arts advocacy

CCGJ News & Media Center

To better understand the Cultural Council's work, explore its impact reports, research, grantmaking, and economic development initiatives:

Arts Research & Impact Resources

Highlights include:

•  $143 million in economic impact generated through the FY24-25 Cultural Service Grant Program from a $6 million public investment. 
•  More than 4,000 local vendors and small businesses supported. 
•  Investment in public art, artist grants, cultural nonprofits, and creative workforce development throughout Jacksonville. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who still believes there's "nothing to do" in Jacksonville.

One conversation can change a perspective. One perspective can change a city.

Question:

What piece of art, neighborhood, performance, mural, museum, or Jacksonville place makes you feel like you belong?

Hashtags

#SchmoozeWithSuze #Jacksonville #DTJax #ArtsMatter #CreativeEconomy #PublicArt #Placemaking #JacksonvilleArts #CulturalCouncil #MoreArtCulture #SupportTheArts #CreativeCities #EconomicDevelopment #CommunityDevelopment #Leadership #Culture #JacksonvilleFlorida #904 #VisitJax #CreativeCommunity #TPA #JaxDanceTheater 

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps more people discover these conversations and the remarkable people helping shape our communities and our future.
Connect on Instagram @SchmoozewithSuze
 
Subscribe to the Schmooze with Suze Podcast for your dose of #Culture, #Values and #GlobalCitizenship... with a side of #chutzpah... 

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Some truths don't arrive wrapped in comfort.

They arrive through heartbreak. Through discipline. Through music. Through the quiet decision to become someone better than your circumstances.

Hate can be ancient, loud, and deeply personal. Yet every morning we still have to answer one question:

Who are we going to be today?

This episode on Schmooze with Suze, I sit down with Reese the Poet. Marine Corps veteran, composer, storyteller, spoken word artist, mentor, and living proof that our deepest wounds can become our greatest purpose.

If you've ever wondered what authenticity actually means in a world that rewards performance, this conversation goes straight to the nerve.

We begin with music. Reese shares his earliest memory of sitting at a grand piano, learning entirely by ear, and the unforgettable Marine Corps Band audition that humbled him in ways success never could.

From there, we explore how speeches, church, hip hop, and Def Jam Poetry shaped his voice. Why slowing down helped people actually hear his message. And why performing before hundreds of strangers can sometimes feel easier than being vulnerable with one person who truly knows you.

Then the conversation shifts toward survival.

Reese opens up about joining the Marine Corps during one of the hardest seasons of his life, learning that "time waits for no man," and confronting one of the most difficult lessons of adulthood.

You cannot do everything alone.

We also discuss youth mentorship, mental health, loneliness hiding beneath "bad behavior," the healing power of nature and music, and one unforgettable perspective.

What if we treated every person like a piece of art we're trying to understand instead of a problem we're trying to solve?

It's one of the most moving conversations we've had this season.

Whether you're an artist, veteran, educator, parent, mentor, or simply someone trying to make sense of the world, this conversation reminds us that healing rarely happens by accident.

It happens one honest conversation at a time.

About Our Recording Partner

This episode was recorded at The Performance Academy (TPA), a Jacksonville nonprofit dedicated to helping young people discover purpose, confidence, and opportunity through the performing arts. TPA offers programs in music, theater, podcasting, film, visual arts, dance, fashion, creative writing, and leadership, creating safe spaces where creativity becomes a pathway to healing and transformation. Learn more about their mission, youth programs, and ways to get involved at jaxtpa.org. 

Follow The Performance Academy

Website: The Performance Academy

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePerformersAcademy

#SchmoozeWithSuze #ReeseThePoet #Poetry #SpokenWord #Authenticity #MentalHealth #HealingThroughArt #MarineCorps #Veterans #Leadership #YouthMentorship #Hope #Resilience #Jacksonville #CreativeCommunity #ArtsMatter #ThePerformanceAcademy #CommunityLeadership #Culture #Purpose #ChooseHope #ViewsWithSuze

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps more people discover these conversations and the remarkable people helping shape our communities and our future.
Connect on Instagram @SchmoozewithSuze
 
Subscribe to the Schmooze with Suze Podcast for your dose of #Culture, #Values and #GlobalCitizenship... with a side of #chutzpah... 

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Freedom is easy to celebrate. It's surprisingly easy to outsource in our minds until you meet the people who actually stood watch for it.

This episode on Schmooze with Suze, I'm joined by Jonathan Richmond, a retired Navy officer whose service didn't end when he hung up the uniform. Today, Jonathan leads Mission United at United Way of Northeast Florida, helping veterans, active-duty service members, and military families navigate one of the most challenging missions they'll ever face: coming home.

Leaving military service isn't simply changing jobs. It's leaving behind an identity, a structure, a language, and a community that has shaped every aspect of daily life. Jonathan shares what that transition really feels like and why purpose doesn't disappear. It simply has to be rediscovered.

Together, we explore the invisible challenges facing thousands of veterans across Northeast Florida. Housing instability. Employment. Transportation. VA benefits. Mental health. Traumatic brain injuries. Depression. Family stress. We discuss why having hundreds of available programs still leaves many veterans asking the same question:

"Where do I even begin?" That's exactly where Mission United steps in.

Rather than creating another program, Mission United serves as a trusted navigator, connecting veterans and their families with peer-based care coordinators who understand military culture and can help them access the benefits and community resources they've earned. The program works alongside community organizations, the VA, and local partners to remove barriers and simplify what can often feel like an overwhelming system. 

Whether you've served, love someone who has, employ veterans, or simply want to become a better citizen, this conversation is a reminder that honoring service doesn't end with applause. It begins with showing up.

We also talk candidly about suicide prevention, the warning signs that someone may be struggling, and why asking one difficult question can save a life.

If you're facing an immediate mental health crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Florida Lifeline. For non-crisis support such as housing assistance, food, transportation, financial resources, veteran services, and connections to Mission United, simply dial 211. United Way's trained specialists connect callers with local resources every day across Northeast Florida. 

About Mission United

Mission United, an initiative of United Way of Northeast Florida, launched in Northeast Florida in 2019 to connect veterans, active-duty military members, National Guard and Reserve members, and their families with coordinated health, human, and social services. Rather than duplicating existing resources, Mission United helps individuals navigate them through personalized case management and peer-based care coordination. 

Mission United assists with:

•  Housing and homelessness prevention 
•  Employment and career transition 
•  VA benefits navigation 
•  Mental health and behavioral health referrals 
•  Transportation assistance 
•  Financial stability resources 
•  Legal assistance referrals 
•  Family support 
•  Community resource coordination 

Learn more:
 Mission United

About United Way of Northeast Florida

United Way of Northeast Florida works to connect people, resources, and ideas to build a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Through partnerships across Northeast Florida, the organization focuses on improving financial stability, health, youth opportunity, and community resilience while operating several vital community services. 

Programs include:

• 211 Information & Referral 
• 988 Florida Lifeline
• Mission United
• RealSense Free Tax Preparation 
•  Community grantmaking and partnerships 
•  Volunteer engagement 
•  ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) initiatives 

Need Help?

988 Florida Lifeline

•  Immediate mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts. 
•  Call or text 988 anytime, 24/7. 

United Way 211

•  Food 
•  Housing 
•  Rent and utility assistance 
•  Transportation 
•  Veteran services 
•  Mental health resources 
•  Child care 
•  Financial assistance 
•  Community referrals 

Dial 211, call 904-632-0600, or text HELLO to 211904 to connect with a trained specialist. 

Follow United Way of Northeast Florida

Website: United Way of Northeast Florida

Mission United: Mission United

Facebook: Facebook

Instagram: Instagram

LinkedIn: LinkedIn

YouTube: YouTube

Hashtags

#SchmoozeWithSuze #MissionUnited #UnitedWayNEFL #Veterans #MilitaryFamilies #Navy #Leadership #Purpose #MentalHealthMatters #VeteranSupport #Transition #Community #Service #Jacksonville #NortheastFlorida #HonorOurVeterans #988 #211 #CultureValuesIdentity #ThankYouForYourService 

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps more people discover these conversations and the remarkable people helping shape our communities and our future.
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As a Gen X mom born in 1976, I've had a front-row seat to one of the greatest transformations in human history: a technological revolution. I grew up in a world where advertising was something that happened to me. Companies bought television commercials, radio spots, billboards, and full-page newspaper ads, planning for us to know what was coming. Today, anyone can create a video in their kitchen, wearing sweatpants, and reach millions before dinner. This isn't just evolution; it's a complete rewriting of the rules. My generation remembers both worlds—rotary phones, encyclopedias, and film that had to be developed. We became digital natives, learning technology well enough to teach our boomer parents.

But then, our kids arrived, and suddenly we weren't the experts anymore. They navigate apps I've never heard of and communicate through platforms that seem to appear and disappear overnight. I've watched social media evolve from a digital yearbook into one of the most powerful communication tools ever created. Every generation thinks they're living through unprecedented change, but Gen X actually did. We are the bridge generation, old enough to remember life before technology ran everything.

Today, I'm excited to discuss the difference between those who use social media to get attention and those who use it to direct attention. I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Eric Dunn, who has spent over a decade defining communication in this new era, not through traditional advertisements but through storytelling and authenticity. Eric amassed over 3 million followers on Vine, where he learned a critical lesson: attention is easy to earn, but trust is much harder.

Eric's story is fascinating because he could have remained in the world of viral moments but chose to evolve. He became a marketer, a strategist, a nonprofit co-founder, and importantly, a storyteller. Today, we're diving deep into the themes of influence, authenticity, community, and the future of media, exploring what happens when someone uses a camera for something bigger than themselves.

Eric currently sits at the intersection of creativity, entrepreneurship, and community pride in Jacksonville. He's navigated multiple iterations of digital media, from Vine to today's creator economy, while also elevating Jacksonville's parks and businesses.

Join us as we unpack Eric's journey, his thoughts on the evolving digital landscape, and how he harnesses his platform for meaningful impact. We'll explore the importance of taking risks, the value of community, and how to build authenticity in a digital age. This conversation is not just for content creators; it's for anyone looking to understand the nuances of communication in our rapidly changing world.

Whether you're a content creator, entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, marketer, or simply someone wondering how to use your voice for good, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and honest perspective.

Connect with Eric Dunn

🌐 Website: EricVDunn.com

Instagram: @ericvdunn_

Facebook: Eric Dunn

LinkedIn: Eric V. Dunn

Learn More About Jax Parks

🌳 Website: Jax Parks

Instagram: @jaxparks

Facebook: Jax Parks

Whether you're looking for hiking trails, community centers, summer camps, fitness programs, family events, or hidden gems throughout Jacksonville, Jax Parks has something for everyone.

Learn More About H.E.A.D. On Youth Impact

Visit Eric's website to learn more about the nonprofit and ways to support its mission of serving children and families throughout Northeast Florida.

Because at the end of the day...Your platform isn't defined by how many people are watching. It's defined by where you lead them.

#SchmoozeWithSuze #Jacksonville #JaxParks #EricDunn #CreatorEconomy #DigitalMarketing #Community #PersonalBranding #Leadership #DigitalAmbassador #SocialMediaStrategy  #JacksonvilleFlorida #PurposeDriven #Marketing #Storytelling

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Connect on Instagram @SchmoozewithSuze
 
Subscribe to the Schmooze with Suze Podcast for your dose of #Culture, #Values and #GlobalCitizenship... with a side of #chutzpah... 

Don’t forget to leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!