Perspectives (WFSU) on 88.9 WFSU-FM

For nearly a year, the entire WFSU Public Media organization has been laboring to assemble a series of long podcasts devoted to the frequently tense – and occasionally triumphant – history of race relations in Florida's Capital City. To preview those presentations are a number of people whose involvement in the project, either as interview subjects or consultant/editors, made this massive endeavor possible. Helping with the podcast editing were: Dr. Reginald Ellis, dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research at Florida A&M University; and Dr. Andrea Oliver with the Tallahassee Community College History Department. Also joining the conversation, two of Tallahassee's most active community advocates: Miaisha Mitchell, executive director of the Greater Frenchtown Revitalization Council; and Talethia Edwards, who is involved with the Housing Leadership Council of Tallahassee/Leon County and is community liaison for the Leon County Health Department.

FSU Art Therapy Professor David Gussak has written the definitive book on the strange connection between creativity and chaos: “The Frenzied Dance of Art & Violence.” He talks about how works of transcendent beauty can come from tortured, flawed personalities, while the creations of so many murderous psychopaths lack anything resembling human emotion.

Both Leon County and the City of Tallahassee have greatly increased their traditional and online resources to help residents be better prepared for hurricane season. To talk about it are: Kevin Peters, director of Emergency Management for Leon County; the county's EMS Chief Chad Abrams; Tony Guillen, City of Tallahassee Electric and Gas general manager; and 2-1-1 Big Bend Executive Director Tori Greer.

The Village Square and Leon County Government are co-hosting another in the “Created Equal” series of public forums at The Moon May 26 on the tender tap-dance between election integrity and access and how racial considerations figure into that equation. To provide a preview of the event are: FSU Law Professor Michael Morley; Eliza Chase from The Village Square; and Leon County's Royle King.

The pandemic, inflation, political turmoil are all factors adding to our anxiety levels nowadays. And when these stresses result in more serious mental health issues, there are a wealth of treatment options and resources available in the region. We hear about it from: Dr. Jay Reeve, president and CEO of Apalachee Center; Heather Lincicome, administrator for the Tallahassee Memorial Behavioral Health Center; Anita Morrell, manager of the Human Services Division in the City of Tallahassee's Dept. of Housing & Community Resilience; and Dylan McMahon, a counselor and trainer at 2-1-1 Big Bend.

May 14-22, the remarkable heritage and culture of Tallahassee's Southside neighborhoods will be in full evidence for everyone to enjoy. Originally part of the Florida Emancipation Day observance on May 20, the event has been expanded to a multicultural celebration featuring music and other entertainment, history, entrepreneurship and resilience. Festival organizers: Christic Henry, Nicole Everett, Darryl Jones and Joe Thomas talk about it.

After 5 years of planning, fundraising and the intervention of a pandemic, a project to build a special community for special people in Tallahassee's Southwood neighborhood is finally underway. To talk about Independence Landing are: Tallahassee State Representative and one of the original project proponents Allison Tant; Independence Landing board members Brett Ketcham; Brice Barnes; and Cindi Goodson; and project promoter Jon D. Brown.

City of Tallahassee staff members have a number of tools they've been using to address the community's affordable housing crisis. To talk about it are: Devan Leavins, special projects administrator; Jeremy Floyd, neighborhood and urban design administrator; Land Use Administrator John Reddick; and Abena Ojetayo (as the show began, her title was “Director of Housing and Community Resilience. As the program ended, the City was announcing her promotion to “Assistant City Manager.”)

Around 10 million Floridians are already signed up as organ donors, but the need for these lifesaving procedures far outstrips supply. To promote additional donors are: Kim Gilmore, public education for Donate Life Florida and LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services; the organizations' Donor Family Services Coordinator Pamela Rittenouse; Donor Parents Paul and Rebecca DeFrank, whose son Alex became a multiple donor upon his death in 2020; and Sarah Bender, whose mother Libby Smith was a heart recipient and passionate Donate Life ambassador.

After 2 years of COVID restrictions, the LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival returns to its historic grandeur on April 23 and 24 in downtown Tallahassee. To talk about this nationally-recognized event are: LeMoyne Executive Director Arielle Raff; Festival Chair Kelly Dozier; Festival Manager Powell Kreis; and one of the 150 participating artists, Tallahassee jewelry creator Quincie Hamby.

In recent years, attempts to capitalize on hemp as a commercial farm crop are floundering in Florida. But advocates hope that will change in the wake of the “850 Hemp Conference” in Tallahassee April 27 and 28. To provide a preview, are Leon County Commissioner Kristin Dozier (speaking in her role as chair of the Apalachee Regional Planning Council;) Ryan Kelly of Mobile Hemp Drying Company; and Travis Green of New Green Organiks/North Florida Hemp Farms.

A coalition of nearly 20 Tallahassee faith communities have joined forces to address the issues of youthful gun violence and affordable housing. To talk about that – and an upcoming meeting with local elected officials – are: the coalitions co-presidents, Rev. James Houston, pastor of Bethelonia AME Church; and Temple Israel Rabbi Michael Shields; Rev. A.J. Mealor, pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church; Bob Apgar, member of Faith Presbyterian; Fr. Hugh Chapman, pastor of St. Michael's Episcopal Church; Sister Sentoria Houston, member of Bethelonia AME; and Elder Maurice Allen from Life Changers Church of God in Christ.

The Tallahassee/Leon County Office of Economic Vitality and Big Bend Manufacturing Association are working to jump-start additional opportunities in this area for both out-of-town and home-grown makers-of-products. To talk about it are: Cristina Paredes, director of the Office of Economic Vitality; the offices Business Development Director Kevin Gehrke; Christina Chancey, senior HR manager for Danfoss Turbocor; Tracey Cohen, president of Target Print & Mail; and Marsha LaPete, owner of Greater Depths Distributing.

For the first time, the Capital City will have an open-air festival celebrating the past and its impact on the present on Saturday, March 26 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Kleman Plaza. To talk about it, as well as the larger implications of today's controversy about history and how it should be taught, are: David Proctor, head of TCC's Department of History; TCC History Professor and President of the Tallahassee Historical Society Bob Holladay; and TCC English Professor Teresa Paliwoda.

For months, the Tallahassee community has been roiled by a proposal to allocate $20 million in Blueprint funding for repairs and “enhancements” at Doak Campbell Stadium. Now, on the day of the Intergovernmental Agency vote on whether or not to proceed with a bond issue for the money, the pros and cons are discussed by: Tallahassee NAACP Chapter President Mutaquee Akbar; and Leon County District 5 Commissioner Kristin Dozier (both opponents); and project advocate Jared Willis, vice president of Grow Tallahassee.

With each passing year, the story of Florida's first human residents reaches back earlier and becomes more fascinating. The Jefferson County-based Aucilla Research Institute has been tracing that story for years and will present its latest findings during an open-to-everyone in-person and online conference, March 4 and 5 at the Monticello Opera House. To provide a sneak peak are members of the Institute's leadership team: Tim Dunbar; Jack Carswell; and Andy Hemmings.

Colorful tracings of thousands of little hands once again adorn the Florida Capitol Rotunda, signifying Children's Week during the legislative session. The occasion also means honors for outstanding children's advocates and activists. The winner of this year's “Chiles Advocacy Award” is Doug Sessions, Jr., president and CEO of the Ounce of Prevention Fund Florida, while the Youth Advocate of the Year, Lauren Page – a Miami high school sophomore – founded the “Page by Page Book Drive Program.” It's now handed out nearly half-a-million books to kids in the United States and beyond. They are joined by Dr. Phyllis Kalifeh, president and CEO of the Children's Forum.

Since the pandemic arrived nearly 3 years ago, Florida A&M and Florida State universities have combined resources to mitigate the impact of the virus, for students, staff and the community at large. To talk about the hundreds of thousands of people who have received testing and vaccines through those efforts are: Tanya Tatum, director of FAMU's Health Center; and Emily Pritchard with the FSU College of Medicine.

More traffic enters Tallahassee through the U.S. 27/North Monroe Street gateway than anywhere else. But the corridor has slid downhill in recent years, prompting a push by Leon County to address the issues that contribute to those problems. Leon County Commissioner Rick Minor, whose district encompasses the corridor, appears with some members of the citizens' task force that worked on the project over several months: former FSU Transportation Expert Jo Penrose; Big Bend Continuum of Care's Johnna Coleman; and former state government staffer/now entrepreneur Ron Goldstein.

Since 2015, more than 750 refugees from all over the world have relocated to Tallahassee. Settlement in their new home was made possible by International Rescue Committee Tallahassee. To talk about it are: Committee Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator Karen Duncan; Committee Site Manager Leann Halsey; and John McBride, an agency volunteer whose local rental property is now the home for a family from Afghanistan.

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.

The recollections of a mother and daughter who witnessed the death camps of both the Nazis and Soviets in World War II later found powerful artistic expression in the daughter's paintings and sketches, which were based on those experiences. The art works, discovered decades ago under a house in Greenville, Florida, are being restored to form the heart of a powerful educational initiative for Florida schools. To talk about it are: Mimi Shaw, discoverer and co-owner of the collection; Kelly Bowen, also a co-owner and the collection's curator; Foundation for Leon County Schools CEO Eric Clarke, whose organization is helping fund the project; Dr. David Gussak, FSU Art Therapy professor and author; and filmmaker Doug Darlington, whose documentary about the collection forms the core of the educational outreach.

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.

A small group of intrepid kayakers embarks on a 100-plus mile paddle trip in early October. They'll be traversing the Apalachicola River in Northwest Florida from Chattahoochee to the coastal community that bears the river's name. Some of this year's paddlers talk about it: Georgia Ackerman, Apalachicola Riverkeeper; Martha Haynes; Lee Rigby; and Rob Diaz de Villegas who is also a video producer and environmental reporter for WFSU Public Media.

On Oct. 14, Tallahassee's LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts will open an exhibit featuring giant photographs of 17 outstanding women from the local community, all 65 and older. Each photo will be accompanied by a revelatory haiku. To talk about the exhibit and its significance are: Project originator Eleanor Dietrich; Cherry Alexander, one of the portrait subjects; Powell Kreis, programming director of LeMoyne; Becki Rutta, the project's photographer; and Mary Jane Ryals who authored the portrait haikus.

A community conversation on human trafficking in the Capital City area will take place October 15-16 at St. Peter's Anglican Cathedral. To talk about that and how human sex and work trafficking in our area is such a pervasive issue are: Carolyn LeBoeuf, prime organizer of the upcoming Summit; Robin Hassler Thompson, head of the Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center; Wendy Strickland, executive director of Anglewing; and Second Judicial Circuit State Attorney Jack Campbell.

For more than two decades, Leon County voters have approved charging themselves a bit more sales tax in order to fund public infrastructure and beautification projects under the Blueprint label. Currently, 31 active projects totaling more than $515 million are underway. To talk about it: Blueprint Director Autumn Calder; Design and Construction Manager Dan Scheer; and History and Culture Trail Project Manager Tatiana Daguillard.

Three years ago, Leon County's Sabal Palm Elementary School became the area's first Community Partnership School. Under that designation, long-term partners provide a multitude of ancillary services so that a school's teachers and administrators can focus their efforts on education. To talk about how that concept has been working at Sabal Palm are: School Principal Anicia Robinson; Director of Community Partnerships Anna-Kay Hutchison; Dr. Daniel Van Durme, chief medical officer of the Florida State University College of Medicine; FAMU College of Education Dean Dr. Allyson Watson; and Gil Ziffer, now a board member with the Children's Home Society.

Even before the pandemic, America's suicide rate was rising. In Tallahassee, the 2012 suicide death of 31-year old Brook Bowers prompted her parents - Mary and Bill - to start a yearly event to raise awareness and resources for local mental health providers. To talk about this year's Labor Day happening at the Alford Greenway are: Mary and Bill Bowers; and Cindy Foster with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Florida.

Leon County has five constitutional officers as prescribed by Florida law: the sheriff, supervisor of elections, clerk of court, tax collector and property appraiser. Representatives from those last 3 offices will talk about their function and how they provide needed services to local government and residents, even during a pandemic. The guests are: Leon County Clerk of Court Gwen Marshall; Property Appraiser Akin Akinyemi; and Alethea Jackson, Chief of Tax Administration for the office of Leon County Tax Collector Doris Malloy.

The days of young offenders being treated as hardened, adult criminals may be over. But there are still too many cases in which teens are tarnished for the rest of their lives as a result of relatively minor offenses. To talk about new approaches and initiatives in the field of juvenile justice are: Tom Olk, co-founder and former CEO of DISC Village; Current DISC Village CEO John Wilson; and Christian Minor, executive director of the Florida Juvenile Justice Association.

The 15th president of Florida State University talks about his nearly 7-year tenure, including what he considers his biggest accomplishments, his hopes for the school's future and even some gentle criticism of state lawmakers' efforts to micromanage universities' political leanings and course offerings.

As circumstances change almost daily, some of Leon County's leading public and private school administrators talk about what they are doing to ensure students can have the benefits of in-person education in safety. To talk about it are: Cornerstone Learning Community Director Jason Flom; Leon District Schools Superintendent Rocky Hanna; and Maclay School Head of School James Milford.

Historical accounts say there were four lynching deaths in Leon County between 1897 and 1937. Those tragedies will be formally recognized with the placement of a memorial near the site of the old county jail on Saturday, July 17. To talk about that and the hope that awareness will lead to deeper understanding and empathy are Remembrance Project members: Byron Greene, Blan Teagle, Maxine Jones, Brant Copeland and Penny Young.

Two years ago, Leon County's annual Veterans' Stand Downs had been so effective in reducing the incidence of veteran homelessness that only about 100 people took advantage of the service showcase. But the intervening pandemic has meant an increase in both the number of homeless veterans and incidence of those at risk of homelessness. So the Veterans' Stand Down returns this year on August 6 and 7 at the Al Lawson Center on the FAMU Campus. To talk about it are: Event Coordinator Bill Eichhofer and Stand Down Founder Col. Washington Sanchez.

Too many young people have no father with which to celebrate Fathers' Day. But in the Capital City area, there are multiple organizations that work to provide positive fatherly role models for kids. To talk about it are: Jack Levine, award-winning Florida children's advocate and founder of the 4Generations Institute; and Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil.

As with most everything else, the pandemic took its toll on the construction industry. But even as COVID recedes, supply chain interruptions, rising construction material prices and worker shortages are still afflicting the industry. To talk it over are: Jay Bostwick with Tallahassee's Sperry & Assoc. who chairs the Association of Builders and Contractors of North Florida; and Kim Anderson with Pensacola's Comfort Systems USA, the association's vice-chair.

In a surprising number of cases involving non-violent criminal convictions and even simple arrests without conviction, court-ordered record sealing and expungement can help prevent a lifetime of trouble when it comes to getting a job or securing a place to live. Now the Legal Aid Foundation of Tallahassee is hosting a number of community seminars to explain the process and who might be eligible to avail themselves of it. To talk about it are: Carrie Litherland, executive director of the Legal Aid Foundation; Second Judicial District Public Defender Jessica Yeary; and Tallahassee Attorney Ginny Dailey.

Tallahassee's Wanderlust Theatre is out to capture the amazing heritage of the Frenchtown community with a multi-media presentation featuring some of the area's most creative voices. To talk about it are: The Theatre's leading light, Laura Hope London; Nationally celebrated singer, songwriter and music producer Royce Lovett; Keith Rogers, founder of Black on Black Rhyme; and Poet Jakaila Scaife.

The incidence of Alzheimer's and other cognitive disorders is increasing as the population ages. The Alzheimer's Project helps those impacted by these diseases in Tallahassee and surrounding North Florida communities. To talk about it are: Executive Director John Trombetta; Rob Wicker, Project board member and long-time caregiver for his mother; and Brian Delaney, another Project board member whose father had Alzheimer's.

Despite much harsher penalties in recent years, people still operate motor vehicles while impaired by alcohol or drugs. To talk about the potentially deadly consequences are: Sharon Hall, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Florida program manager; Claudia Machado, MADD program specialist for Northwest Florida; and Tallahassee Police Officer Henni Hamby.

A felony conviction does not have to carry a life sentence. There are many programs and partnerships in the Capital City area that help those who have served their time find employment, housing and a positive purpose in life after lockup. To talk about it are: Rebecca Kelly-Manders, founder of the REfire Culinary Program for former offenders; Larry Bourdeau, director of re-entry programs for the Leon County Sheriff's Department; Don Papania, owner of Carver's Discount Dry Cleaners; Anne Meisenzahl and Rashad Simon, both board members of the Big Bend AFTER Re-entry Coalition; and Freddie Rouse from Disc Village.

New generations of American military veterans, beginning in the Vietnam era, have seemed less and less inclined to join traditional veterans service organizations, such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and AMVETS. Yet these groups still provide many kinds of services and resources that aren't really available anywhere else. To talk about the efforts of those groups to educate and recruit these veterans in North Florida are: Frank Roycraft, affiliated with Tallahassee VFW Post 3308; Gordon Lightfoot, who's a member of the Marine Corps League and AMVETS; Tom Carney with the Air Force Association; Jim Burke, Marine Corps League and head of the Young Marines organization; and Stuart Scott, a USAF veteran who is the district commander of the American Legion.

Since 2007, KCCI (Knight Creative Communities Institute) has been marshalling teams of volunteers to enhance the Capital City's "sense of place." To talk about those initiatives are: KCCI Executive Director Betsy Couch; current Community Catalyst team members Shannon Colavecchio and Dan Taylor; 2020 Community Catalyst Member Patrick O'Bryant; and Ryan Sheplak whose team turned the "I-Heart-Tally" hashtag into an iconic sculpture at Cascades Park.