Perspectives: Recent Episodes
WFSU Public Media
Join WFSU Public Media and host Tom Flanigan for the live, listener call-in program Perspectives. It's the perfect forum to discuss the issues that concern listeners in the North Florida and South Georgia regions. Tom invites local guests for a one-hour discussion about timely social topics while encouraging listener comments and questions.
WFSU relies on listener contributions to make this program an interactive platform for community discussion. There are several ways to get in touch with us to share your questions and comments.
By phone: 850-414-1234
E-mail: perspectives@wfsu.org
Twitter: @wfsuperspective
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 Edwards, 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.
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.
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.