Dino on the Wall by Ana Lopez Now halfway through its one-year-long display, David Collin’s Tapestries continues to add life to Lakeland’s buildings in the Dixieland, Midtown, and Downtown areas. This project is a first for public art in Lakeland. While the city does display art in public spaces, such as the Lemon Street Promenade sculptures, murals have long been off-limits. Collins, who has executed several public art projects in Lakeland over the past few years, Clearly People being the most recent, decided it was time to do a large-scale, collaborative project with local artists. The idea came to Collins after he received several used tarps that he then decided to paint on. He knew he wanted to hang them outdoors, but needed to know if they would even hold up in Florida’s hot sun. After doing several tests using Seal Krete and primer, the artist was confident that the paintings could withstand Florida’s brutal climate. At this point, Collins sent out a call to artists. 65 tapestries needed to be painted, and while he probably could have painted them all himself had he wanted to, this was meant to be a collaborative project that would show off the talent of Lakeland’s artists. In total, 43 artists created 65 tapestries; some painted just one, while others painted up to five. Artists who didn’t have a studio of their own worked in the gallery space of the Working Artist, Collins’ studio and gallery in Dixieland on South Florida Avenue. Collins said that working with 43 artists was hectic. “I’ll never work with that many artists again,” he exclaimed, though he did make sure to mention that the majority were great to work with. The benefit of working with over 40 artists is that it gives a chance to showcase all of the talent Lakeland has. “It lets people know we have high-quality artists in Lakeland,” Collins said, “It also works as a way to market other artists.” For a long time, Lakeland’s art community has largely been viewed as one-dimensional. Tapestries proves the opposite, displaying vast arrays of painting styles, subject matter, and ideas. Each artist represented a different side of the art community that Lakeland has. Tapestries has even had an effect outside of the visual arts community, reaching into the performing arts. Amber Grubb, founder of GRUBB Arts, found inspiration for plays in the tapestries hung around Lakeland. Abstract is her five-show series of performances based on 30 of the tapestries. Grubb already had experience turning paintings into performances prior to this. Several years ago, she directed a performance based on the Mona Lisa, and another on Jackson Pollock’s Convergence. Octopus’ Garden in the Ancient Sea by Roderic Brame “The Abstract series is just a revised version of one of my favorite show designs,” Grubb said. Some of the artists whose tapestries were used for inspiration include Gabriela Jaxon, Holly Scoggins, Aaron Adams, and David Collins. Originally, Grubb planned on making one full-length show featuring 12-15 paintings, but once she and her team began looking into each piece, they quickly realized narrowing down to a dozen or so would be difficult. Selecting 30 pieces and dividing them between five shows became the obvious way to execute the idea. So far, two performances have already been completed: La Femme on May 19th and Electric Youth on June 23rd. Grubb says the reception has been fantastic and that audiences are thankful for the opportunity to learn more about the pieces they have been seeing. Grubb also taught a workshop at Main Street Homeschool Auxiliary where students analyzed individual tapestries and wrote ekphrastic poetry based on their analyses. “The students really engaged in the process and had tons of meaningful insights to lend to the greater human conversation,” Grubb mentioned. Grubb stressed the importance of viewing the tapestries up close, not just through the car window as you drive past. She believes that there is great educational value in each piece, and that seeing them in person is an enriching experience. Overall, the response from the public has been overwhelmingly positive, the only backlash being against Aaron Corbitt’s The Fall of Dionysus, a therapy piece for the artist that tackled the subject of alcoholism. Corbitt took the criticism well, though, understanding that not everyone will get the intended message from a piece of art. “I made a killing on the prints!” Corbitt joked after mentioning that the criticism opened a dialogue about the piece and got more people involved in discussing art. To non-artists, the art world can come off as being a smug, intimidating space that isn’t very welcoming to outsiders. While this is not necessarily true, going to a museum and trying to talk about a painting made by someone who is considered a “master” can be difficult. On the other hand, a painting hanging on the side of a building invites anyone to stop and think in a casual environment, free of judgement. The tapestries bring art out of the museum and allow for everyone to see and discuss art in a setting they are familiar with. While Collins was fairly modest about the project, stating “I’ve already done the work, they’re up now. Other people probably have better insight than me,” it is clear that Tapestries has had a significant impact on the way Lakeland views and understands art. For a map of where tapestries are hung, go to davidnelsoncollins.com . For more information on Abstract, visit GRUBB Arts, LLC on FB. Photos by Amy Sexson

Since childhood, Lieutenant/ EMT Charlie Robles has been drawn to his profession. After joining the fire service, he came across a paper he’d done in kindergarten describing what he wanted to be when he grew up – a firefighter. Robles was born in Connecticut and moved to Florida twentysomething years ago. He wasn’t focused on firefighting until a friend of his talked him into going to school for it with him. He first became an EMT and then went through his Fire Standards. He was hired for his first job as a firefighter with Winter Haven Fire Department Station 1, eleven years ago in September. The married father of three says his children ages 14, 11, and one keep him pretty busy when he isn’t on shift. Like many in the fire service, the lieutenant also has a second job, marketing for a sleep study company. Lieutenant Robles says the most fulfilling part of his job is the ability to help people. He said that he’s found a sense of pride in the amount of time he’s dedicated to the service and in representing his department and the Winter Haven community. Always on Call Lieutenant Robles shed light on the misconception that firefighters have free time when they are not responding to a call. “We are one of the busiest stations in the county,” he said. “We run two of the busiest trucks in the county.” With the downtime they do have, everyone on shift is training or fulfilling station duties. “If someone comes in to tour the station, that’s the first thing they walk into – a big screen tv and recliners – that’s some of the misconceptions that we’re just kicking back watching tv all day long. That’s not the case at all,” he said. Often times when people see them out and about, at a grocery store, for instance, they’ll ask who’s watching the station. Robles said, “Even though we’re doing other things, we’re always subject to calls. We always have to provide the service.” A Lieutenant’s Responsibility The medical calls they run are handled with the same level of importance as a fire, but they are more routine, comprising the overwhelming majority of what they respond to. They hear the tone overhead and are given the address and nature of the call. “In route to that call, you’re reading the notes of what the call is going to be and you go through the steps in your head of what you’re going to lay out when you get there,” explained the lieutenant. “When fires come in, as a Lieutenant, you’ve got a lot more responsibility that you have to think of,” he said. It is his job to oversee the scene, make sure the firefighters are doing what they need to be doing, and, “Overall, the main thing is making sure that everyone is safe.” The responsibility he feels is made stronger by the relationships the firefighters develop. The lieutenant said, “Over an entire career, you spend one-third of your life with the individuals that are here – about just as much time as you spend with your family.” Outside of work, they attend each other’s kid’s birthday parties and social gatherings. “It’s a pretty strong bond that you develop with everyone,” he said. Dealing with Difficult Situations The mental demand of the fire service is strenuous. Day in and day out first responders are witness to and charged with helping in dire and traumatic situations. Lieutenant Robles discussed dealing with that stress, saying, “First starting out, there’s a process that you have to implement. It takes you a little bit to build that up. When I first started off, it wasn’t as easy as it is now to come back and eat lunch or continue with the day and not think about it.” Building that “tough skin” is a different process for everyone. “For me, for the most part, we’ll run a call and then as soon as we get back in the truck it’s done with. I’m ready for the next thing,” he said. For the more serious calls, they have something they can put into place called CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management). It is up to the lieutenant or chief to make that decision. Robles said, “We know each other really well, so we know when someone’s off or they come back and you can tell by their body language or things of that nature that they were bothered by that call. That’s when we go ahead and activate that.” The stress management debriefing allows the shift to sit together and go around the table to talk about the situation. Still Having Fun Lieutenant Charlie Robles is satisfied with where he is in his career. The next ascension in the fire service ladder for him would be battalion chief. He said, “You have to know a great deal of the job and all the different aspects of incidents that you can run into to be able to command an entire shift. I feel like I need to get to that point first before I even look at that aspect, and I’m also still having fun running calls.” Photo by Amy Sexson

It’s alive!!! But, in a good way. For Krazy Kombucha owner, Wendy Johnson, producing this fermented beverage for the community she loves is a way of life. Her family goes back 100 years in Lakeland – Wendy is the third generation here. She and her husband have three sons, two of whom are in the Marine Corps and her third still in high school. A nurse of over 20 years, Johnson’s first job was on the Digestive Floor of Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Looking for alternative options to some of the digestive issues she had seen and experienced in her own family, Johnson became certified in holistic medicine. “I saw the debilitating diseases in the hospital and I know twenty-something years later younger and younger kids are in there with chronic problems with digestion,” she said. She knew about kombucha through her holistic background and met a chiropractor who was making it locally. “The ginger kombucha is what helped my stomach so much, and I got her on it because she’s my best friend,” she said pointing to her BFF and Krazy Kombucha team member, AJ Jackson. Wendy and AJ met through a fitness class that AJ teaches. They started running together, but both dealt with stomach issues. When they came upon kombucha, they were addicted to its benefits. The chiropractor moved to Tampa and the business was no longer. Wanting the kombucha operation to continue not only for herself but for Lakeland, Johnson bought the company and the equipment to carry on Krazy Kombucha. AJ works for the City of Lakeland full-time and assists Wendy with the business during her off time. Wendy’s youngest son, Justin also helps his mom, opting to lend a hand with the heavy lifting. June 9 marked a year selling at the Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market. Wendy said as a nurse with no background in running a business, she needed a little help. She joined Catapult which allowed her to propel her business forward. In February the team spread their wings and branched out to a workspace of their own in Dixieland. What is Kombucha? “Kombucha is a fermented tea, it also contains a live probiotic culture in it. Each drink that you take in contains a live culture,” explained Wendy. “The live culture grows the good bacteria in the gut biome.” Issues with digestion, belly aches, bloating, acid reflux and the like, Wendy says are usually caused by an imbalance of the gut microbiome. “The gut biome is made up of many bacteria – good and bad. Sugar tends to feed the bad bacteria and you get an overgrowth of the bad bacteria. With kombucha, when you drink it on a regular basis, you’re able to put in the good culture which is going to help combat the bad guys, so they don’t overgrow,” she said. “When you tip the scales into the good bacteria – the acid reflux, the bloating, the gas and things like that – get better.” It’s all about the SCOBY, Baby It all starts with a “momma” SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) in a large glass contained tank. Wendy described the SCOBY’s like the “momma” that will eventually grow “babies.” Proud of their SCOBY children, AJ joked, “We grin as soon as we walk in and see them.” “We’re so proud of them,” Wendy added. The full process of making kombucha takes about three weeks. Wendy starts by boiling a blend of organic teas including green and white teas for added antioxidants. They add organic sugar and let it cool to around 80 degrees. Using a process called a “continuous brew” in their tanks, there is always about 2-3 gallons of starter liquid tea in the bottom for the next batch. They add the cooled tea and sugar into the starter liquid and add water to a certain level. Fermentation will take about a week at a steady temperature between 75 and 76 degrees. All the while they are testing it for alcohol and pH levels. Their kombucha is considered non-alcoholic containing below 0.5% alcohol and they keep the pH to approximately 3.3. After the week of fermentation, it goes into the keg for the second fermentation with whatever fruit will be flavoring it – taking about 24-hours. No more sugar is added other than the fructose from the fruit. The team concocts seasonal flavors like strawberry, blackberry basil, and pineapple with their staple ginger continuing to lead sales. Refrigeration slows fermentation down, where it will sit for a week and a half to two weeks. Now, the finished product is ready for distribution! They currently make their kombucha in three tanks, with each tank producing one barrel or roughly 30 gallons. The space they are in now offers room for expansion. They are in the process of building three new tanks to double their brew. Where to Find Them Krazy Kombucha’s bread and butter is the downtown farmer’s market. That’s where you’ll find them every Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm during regular hours, and 8 am to 1 pm in the summer. The market closes for a month in August. You can enjoy an ice-cold glass on its own or mix it with your favorite beer at Swan Brewing. Mango and berry flavors are usually on tap there which Wendy recommends with Swan’s Mango Mia or their Blonde Ale. The Lakeland CBD Wellness store on Kentucky Avenue has a kegerator where kombucha lovers can fill their growler or another container. Molly McHugh’s Irish Pub has picked up a few of their half gallons. “They’re really liking our ginger to put in with their Moscow Mules,” said Wendy. In fact, Wendy and AJ say their kombucha is the perfect additive or substitution in your favorite cocktail recipe (they are all good with rum). Instead of reaching for a sugary mixer next time, try using kombucha! The east side of the county will get a chance to sample the good stuff in the soon-opening Smoothie Squad in Winter Haven. Offering an Alternative Health and wellness are passions for both Wendy and AJ. As athletes, they’ve had their own issues with indigestion from overtraining to stress. The pair want to provide a healthy remedy to these issues to the greater community as well as the fitness comrades. From an athletic standpoint, Wendy said, “When you grow the good gut bacteria, it boosts your immune system, you’re boosting energy so it’s going to give you that power you need to perform.” She considers drinking kombucha a lifestyle choice, saying that it’s not a medicine you have to take, but rather something real that you can feel good about drinking regularly. It is alive after all and as Wendy said, “Living food is healing.” “It’s bigger than us,” said Wendy, “We’re trying to bring this into the community that we love because we know that each drop in somebody’s stomach can definitely benefit them.” Krazy Kombucha https://krazykombucha.life FB @krazykombucha IG @krazykombucha Photo by Amy Sexson

The proof was in the pudding, or CBD rather, for Areli and Tony Bryan of Lakeland. Their personal experiences with CBD impassioned them to open a store in efforts to extend to others the CBD benefits that changed their lives. “I was dealing with a lot of anxiety and my friend told me about CBD,” said Areli. She did some research and with promising results, decided to give it a try. She said, “It helped me tremendously.” At the time, she was taking one medication for heart palpitations and another for thyroid issues. When she went to the doctor for her 6-month checkup, her thyroid levels had improved, and her anxiety was all but nonexistent. “I’ve been off my medication for a year and three months now. I take CBD every day in the morning and afternoon,” she said. Her husband, Tony, had three knee surgeries. The resulting pain stopped him from being able to do things he loved like wakeboarding and coaching their son’s baseball team. He began taking the same water-soluble CBD Areli had been using and then a topical CBD cream. The relief he experienced left him feeling whole again and he was back to do those things he’d been missing out on. Areli thought, “Wow, this helped me. I know it can help others.” They opened their first Your CBD Store in Alabama before moving to Lakeland and opening their store here in November. Tony is originally from Tallahassee, Areli has family in Orlando and friends of theirs opened a CBD store in Bradenton. Looking for a place to settle back in Florida, Tony said, “We found that Lakeland was a big enough city but had a small-town feel.” They fell in love with the area and decided it was a prime location to start anew. “We love the Lakeland community, it’s a great place to be,” said Areli. Since their store opened late last year, the couple says they have been well received. What is CBD? CBD or cannabidiol is a natural compound found in the Cannabis plant. Hearing the word “Cannabis” might make you think of marijuana or getting high. The Your CBD Store Lakeland owners urge that this is not the case with CBD. Their line of products contains 0% THC, the compound in Cannabis that produces that psychoactive or “high” feeling. The goal is to give you “health without the high,” says Tony. “It turns on receptors in your body that should be working properly, and it helps our body go into homeostasis. When our body is in homeostasis, it’s functioning as it should. The reason it does that is because we have an endocannabinoid system,” he said. “This product used to be part of our everyday life. It was grown in the fields, it was in medicine cabinets, in the kitchen, people used it to cook with.” The owners prefaced that CBD does not prevent, treat, or cure, but is a powerful symptom reliever. Avid CBD users proport it to alleviate symptoms for everything from migraines, muscle aches, anxiety, stress, insomnia, arthritis, fibromyalgia, eczema, rosacea, and a seemingly endless list of other ailments. The owners told the story of one customer who had been suffering from fibromyalgia for years and wasn’t able to do even simple tasks like grocery shopping. Tony said, “She started using the product and came in and was very emotional about how much better she was feeling. She was able to do things around her house, she was able to garden, she was able to go grocery shopping and was able to do things that made her feel more whole again.” The Products Your CBD Store offers a multitude of products, all from the same product line, SunMed. “The reason we partnered with that company is because all of their products are third-party independently tested for pesticides, heavy metals, and all the solvents that can be in CBD. We use this product because every bottle has a QR code that you can scan and go directly to a third-party independent lab test,” said Tony. “We know the quality of the product, we know what’s in the product and it just gives us peace of mind that we are selling a product that we know is clean and beneficial and helpful to the consumer.” Not a one size fits all, the store offers CBD in a form for everyone. The water-soluble CBD which comes in different flavors and strengths can be mixed in your favorite drink. Tinctures are a sublingual product that is dropped under the tongue for 60 seconds with strengths ranging from 250mg to 3000mg according to Areli. They also carry capsules, a line of topical relief and beauty products. The CBD body lotions are useful for eczema, rosacea, and dehydrated skin. They also have different scents of 100mg CBD bath balms along with daytime and nighttime face creams. Humans aren’t the only ones that can benefit from the natural elixir. Patrons can pick up CBD treats and tinctures for their pets at Your CBD Store. Speaking about our furry friends, Areli said, “They have an endocannabinoid system just like we do. It [CBD] helps them with separation anxiety, thunder, lighting, loud noises.” Continuing to Grow The stores that the Bryans own are part of a growing nationwide brand that began with one store, 14 months ago. It has since exploded to 300 stores from coast to coast. Tony said, “The reason we’re growing so fast is because it’s so beneficial and we’re so transparent with the quality of our products, the third-party lab testing, and the experience when you come into a store is very soft and inviting. We’re not here to sell you something just for profit, we want to see you benefit from the product and have a better quality of life.” Tony Bryan describes their store as “a high-end CBD boutique” and encourages the community to stop in and learn about CBD and its uses. The summer has been very exciting for Your CBD Store, they wrapped up their Veteran’s Initiative in June and will open a new store in Winter Haven this month. “We can’t wait to be in Winter Haven,” said Areli. Be on the lookout for a grand opening date for the east side of the county! Your CBD Store Lakeland 3145 S FL Ave., Lakeland Lakeland.CBDrx4u.com Phone: (863) 937-3195 Photo by Amy Sexson

Dreamy Daylilies, a looming cascade of Downy Jasmine, and a bed of brilliant Impatiens can be spotted from the picnic blanket you’ve draped over a cushion of grass. The scent of sweet perennials drift past with the southern breeze – the vision competes only with the delicious turkey cranberry wrap you’re currently indulging in. No, it’s not a dream, it’s lunch courtesy of the Blue Palmetto Cafe. Have you considered going to Bok Tower Gardens for lunch this week? You should. The Blue Palmetto Café serves fresh and sumptuous dishes that stand on their own, but enjoyed in the lush Florida greenery is an experience unmatched. The building that houses the café opened in 1996 according to Chef Matthew Fulwood, though the café existed before that with fewer offerings at the Olmsted building. Prior to Chef Matt and his predecessor chef at the Blue Palmetto, there were talks of shutting down the eatery for lack of profitability. The decision to bring on a chef turned the café around with continual growth since. “The café is basically our number one source of revenue. One of our best ways that we keep the gardens growing is through what we do here at the café,” said Bok Tower Gardens Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Erica Smith. About the Chef After discovering his love for the craft, Fulwood enrolled in a Culinary Arts program at Johnson and Wales in Miami, graduating with a degree in Culinary Arts. He has been cooking for 18 years and has been with Blue Palmetto Cafe for seven. “I’ve never worked with a chef where everything has to be fresh, except for Matt,” said Smith, who was blown away by his commitment to quality. Where guests might expect to get quick concessions at the cafe, they are often surprised by what’s on the menu. Made to order salads and sandwiches are cafe specialties. “It really does delight our guests to have such a great meal,” said Smith. When Fulwood came on as sous chef under the previous chef, the two worked together to create new menu items and specials. At that time, they would sell ten to fifteen specials and consider it a good day. “Now we do the specials and sell out at 45 or 50 of them, which is my goal,” said Fulwood. Delectables like filet with smoked blue cheese and red wine sauce, which was the special when we sat down with the chef, speak to the reason for their popularity. The 200,000 visitors passing through the gardens throughout the year, specials, events, and catering keep Chef Fulwood busy. When we spoke, he was preparing the special for a dinner that night – stuffed flank steak with Boursin cheese, spinach, prosciutto, rolled and roasted, with mashed potatoes and charred broccoli served alongside. The chef has been featured several times in their Outdoor Kitchen events. For a recent dinner called Cork vs Craft, he developed a menu that a sommelier and beer expert then had to pair to. Wine Walk, another popular happening at the gardens saw 600 participants this year. Fulwood devised samples for all six stops of the event all while preparing the dinner special and running the café. To say he takes his job seriously would be an understatement. Mouthwatering Mentions The “fresh, farm to table, down to earth flavors” of the café’s ever-evolving menu, as described by Fulwood, are a reflection of the native beauty abounding at the gardens. We had the opportunity to experience these fresh flavors for lunch. One of their most popular menu items, the Chicken Blueberry Salad is a must-try. The crisp and vibrant artisan mixed greens were a stunning background to a scoop of homemade chicken salad, blueberries, feta cheese, candied pecans, and strawberries, all dressed with a blueberry pomegranate vinaigrette. The savory chicken salad was well complemented by the tart fruitiness of the berries and sweet crunch of candied pecans. Along with the salad, the chef prepared their Avocado Tuna Wrap which was as visually vivid as our surroundings. The tomato basil wrap was filled with a generous portion of tuna salad comprised of high-quality tuna with sprouts, tomato, and plenty of avocado slices. Both dishes felt filling, but not heavy – perfect for a walk around the gardens after. Smith expressed, “The gardens are definitely the spotlight, but I think that our café is closely rivaling with the experience that they have here.” Summer is the perfect time to enjoy a meal in the gardens. Bok Tower will be a bit quiet during their 3-million-dollar expansion of the exhibit hall. The visitors center will be closed due to renovations until the expansion’s completion in fall with a promising lineup of events and fun. Blue Palmetto Cafe 1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Wales, FL 33853 (863) 676-1355 Open daily 9am - 5pm boktowergardens.org FB: The Blue Palmetto Cafe Photo by Amy Sexson

Tim Bryant has given himself the freedom to pursue everything that interests him. This decision took him from an industry he didn’t enjoy, to living the life he wants, at a place where he likes the person he has become. From Dayton, Ohio, Bryant’s family moved to Haines City when he was six to develop Grenelefe. Starting as a sophomore in high school in the DCT program, his first profession was in finance. This career took him from Haines City to Tampa, Orlando, and Miami in different banks. Although it wasn’t work he particularly enjoyed, Bryant said, “I learned a lot. I’m a firm believer that you can learn something from everything you do.” When it began to feel like everything at his job was just a number, he remembers, “I said, ‘Enough is enough,’ and I got in touch with the human side of life again.” This life-altering decision stemmed from a bad car accident he had in 1987 and the loss of his best friend. “It made me start thinking about life. Do I want to be miserable for the rest of my life or do I want to try to be happy? It’s a choice you make every day.” Giving Himself Permission In this new chapter of his life, Bryant started working for a doctor who treated patients with AIDS and terminal illnesses free of charge. Bryant helped the doctor develop the operation into a full clinic. He found value in the time he spent sitting with patients, mixing medicines, and looking for holistic cures for the doctor. “I gave myself permission to do the things that mean something to me,” he said. Granting himself permission gave him the internal freedom to start painting again – something he hadn’t done since he was nine years old. The first work he did when he’d started painting again, a scene from a bike ride in Provincetown, is framed on the wall of his shop. The culinary arts and interior design were interests he also began investing in. Bryant credits Laura Covington of Lakeland for being instrumental in his cooking. He said of Covington who owned Park Place Café, “She taught me everything I needed to know about cooking and I just fell in love with how you could get people to enjoy things. It’s like an art form to me. It’s the way it’s plated, the way it tastes, it’s the layers of flavor.” Contemplating his passions, Bryant remarked, “There are a lot of facets to my life and each one makes me, me.” The Push He learned a lot in the 18 years he’d lived in Tampa. Bryant had helped two of his best friends grow companies. They would always ask him if he could do it for them, why not for himself? Sometimes you just don’t have enough faith in yourself he said – sometimes you need a push. He returned to take care of his father who had cancer and ended up staying. “I was a little fish in a big pond over there, I’m the big fish in a little pond over here. That helped give me my push that I needed to know that I can do this,” said Bryant. He opened a 2000 square-foot store called Bryant Home Gallery on the Park from 2010 to 2013. In February of this year, the interior designer opened Bryant Home Gallery Marketplace in Winter Haven. Bryant hand selects vendors for his home furnishings gallery. “If you have a passion for what you do, then I will back you one hundred percent. If you’re just slapping paint on something to sell, there are other stores for that,” he said. Everything in his store is intentional and artisan. He creates his own pigments, stains, and develops lighting and fabrics. You can see his attention to detail and artistry during a stroll through his store – from lighting he created from antique wooden table legs or a bookcase from the 1970s Princess line of furniture that he sandblasted and stained with ash from an oak fire and denatured alcohol. A painter and creative himself, art is important to Bryant. He uses his space to highlight the works of local artists like Tinia Clark and Morgan Boyette. In 2012, Bryant started the Art Walk in Winter Haven showcasing local artists in a pop-up gallery. Every month he hosts the community at his gallery (last month was Martinis and Mid-Century). Be on the lookout for his next event on the store’s Facebook page @BryantHomeGallery. Interior Design His retail store is only a piece of what Bryant does. As an interior designer with clients from here to Tampa, he helps people develop their style and make their house uniquely their own. He grew up in construction. His father and grandfather were custom home builders. Bryant would consult with their clients to pinpoint what they want and draw up the floor plans and the exterior. He said, “I enjoy learning and getting to know what makes people tick and to make them feel like it’s their home.” When consulting with a client, the first thing he tells them is to go through magazines, Pinterest and other forms of inspiration to collect concepts or elements they like. This collection of ideas is how he helps develop their style for a space. The furniture he sells, restores, and creates are unique. “When I get furniture or design a piece of furniture, it’s taking an old piece and giving it a new life and making it appealing to that demographic, so they can appreciate the architecture, the construction, what it is that they’re getting instead of just ordering it online, it comes in a box and you put it together.” He has started to see this in the younger generation. He said, “They’re getting back to some of these values that we’ve lost along the way and I’m very happy that I see that.” A Diamond in the Rough “You have to give yourself permission to like what you like,” Bryant said. “I think that’s important to know that we’re like a diamond in the rough and every time that you want to give it a cut to bring out the brilliance, that’s an aspect of your life – that’s one part of your life, but it takes many of those to make that beautiful stone.” Like the cuts of a brilliant stone, Bryant considers painting, cooking, interior design, and being in the LGBTQ community only some of the many aspects that make him, him. “Not one thing defines you,” said Bryant. “Being gay [or] lesbian, that is just a facet of who you are. If you let one thing define you then you’re not living your life.” He concluded, “I think it’s more important to look at the human side of life and know that you are part of this society because you are human first. What you do after that, how you affect people on a daily basis is up to you because if you give respect to other people, you’re going to get the respect back.” Photo by Amy Sexson

Life has a funny way of taking us in a direction unforeseen. You may go to places you’ve never been or come back to somewhere you never thought you would. Winter Haven resident, Joel Carrier has learned to clasp life’s leading hand and embrace being present – wherever that might be. Born in California, Carrier’s family moved to Iowa when he was just a baby. They made their way to Polk County when Joel was a teenager. Starting out as a Political Science major at Florida State, Carrier instead opted for a degree in Communications. Following college, Carrier moved to Michigan where he would live for the next 30 years. He spent five years with a public relations agency, then in the promotion department of a Fox affiliate. Joel came to the decision that he either wanted to live in a major market or become a freelance writer by the time he was 32. Taking the freelance writing route, Joel wrote for the Grand Rapids Press and its sister publications in Michigan. He flourished as a contract writer for Amway, becoming the lead writer in North America for their Artistry Skincare line, the fifth leading prestige brand in the world at the time. His portfolio includes the likes of fashion journalism, home and design writing, features, and human-interest pieces. Carrier opened his 3400 square foot vintage home furnishing store in Grand Rapids, in 2000. He owned and operated the store for 13 years. Life pulled Joel in an unexpected direction seven years ago when he came down to care for his mother who was having a medical procedure. He traveled from Michigan with intentions to stay for one week. That week turned into the first year caring for his mom. She had a live-in caregiver, but Joel wanted to be there for her. When it became apparent he was going to be in Florida for a while, he decided to get a job. As a wine consultant for ABC, he was able to earn a living and have time to spend with his mother. She passed away two years ago. “The five years I spent with my mom, I would not exchange those for anything,” expressed Joel. The Next Chapter Ready to invest in a different career, Joel decided to give real estate a go. “It has worked out beautifully,” he said. “I am absolutely loving this next chapter in my life.” A creative person with an affinity for interacting with people, Joel has found a dream profession as a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty in Lakeland. Smoothing out difficult transactions and working tirelessly at the last minute to bring a transaction to close allow Carrier to tap into his creativity and love for people. Last year, he was working with a buyer who wanted a home for himself and his mother at a price point of $70K. Joel remembered, “It was tough finding him the right place at a very difficult price point. It took months, but we found it. I came home to a card that simply said, ‘Thank you for making my dream come true.’ I keep that card on my credenza in my hallway, so I see it every day when I walk in.” Motivated to continue making his clients’ dreams come true, Carrier aims to close 48 units this year. “This decision to join my particular team, Florida Spotlight Homes Group at this particular office has been a life changer for me because there are so many good people,” he said. “The leadership and the culture is all from the heart – all about family and helping people and giving back.” Passion for Politics News and politics have always captured Carrier – he joked that he considers himself somewhat of a politics nerd. He has volunteered on political campaigns and belongs to Rainbow Ridge, a local LGBTQ political organization. Discussing what he would like to see for the country in the future, Joel said, “What I’d like to see happen in this country is for the divisiveness to just end.” He continued, “It’s not Democrat versus Republican, gay versus straight, black versus white – we have become so incredibly divisive that there is no conversation anymore.” One way to change this divisiveness in everyday life, Carrier says, is “To encourage people to not judge someone until you’ve walked in their shoes.” LGBTQ in Polk When Carrier first lived in Polk County as a teenager, he wasn’t a fan. When he returned, he didn’t anticipate staying. “At first I was vehemently opposed because I was hanging on to my, what I know now, are misconceptions of Polk County.” Over the last 35-40 years, the area has really changed according to Joel. “There are a heck of a lot of damn good people here,” he said. In terms of being gay in Polk County, he said it’s no different from anywhere else. “Being gay is a part of who I am, but it doesn’t define me.” He tends to gravitate towards people who are open-minded and nonjudgmental, even if they don’t share the same views on everything. He has happily managed to find those people here. Enjoying Right Now Joel Carrier has made an impassioned effort to live in the moment and be present. This is rooted in his informal studying of Tibetan Buddhism in Grand Rapids. “The philosophy speaks to me […] because it’s so internal based and it holds us to be accountable to ourselves and to society – to be good and do good,” said Carrier. “The past two years have been a real transition point for me in my personal life,” he noted. Though his one week in Florida turned into a permanent stay wasn’t what he had planned, Joel said, “That’s not a negative by any means, it’s been a wonderful journey.” Now getting into a flow and settling down, he plans to get back to the things he enjoys in life – yoga, cycling, reading (literary nonfiction is his favorite), writing, and soaking in each moment with his friends and loved ones. Prior to this period of readjustment, Carrier practiced yoga for some twenty years and even taught it. He also spent 20 years riding his bike, five nights a week, 12-15 miles a night. A highlight of his life was accomplishing a ride across the state of Texas for an AIDS fundraiser. About another happy piece of his life, Joel said, “I am dating the most remarkable man in the world and at this point in my life to have been so lucky to meet someone like that has just been an amazing experience,” said Joel. The two are currently renovating their house. “I’m perfectly content just slowing down and enjoying. Some of my favorite times are with Billy, sitting on his front porch, talking and watching the sunset and drinking wine, hanging out with my friends at the pool on Sundays, and being completely irresponsible at my age,” he smiled. Photo by Amy Sexson

June is LGBT Pride Month – a time to celebrate and support our fellow humans for who they are and whom they love. Not just in June, but every day let us celebrate love in every form for all that it brings to the world. Love is support, love is recognition, love is pride in yourself and others, love is a kind word, love is acceptance, love is community, love is affirmation, and to quote Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love.” Polk Pride will hold its Pride festivities June 8 through 15 to celebrate the LGBTQ community. Polk Pride alongside LYA and PFLAG of Polk County have made it their mission to be a resource for local LGBTQ individuals, a community with open arms, and to provide them a “safe and supportive environment.” We spoke with members from the Polk Pride Board to discuss their initiatives, goals, and community impact. Why Polk Needs Pride The positive impact Polk Pride, PFLAG of Polk County, and LYA have on LGBTQ youth and underserved members within Polk County truly reaches somewhere over the rainbow and contributes to an overall more successful community. “As I reflect in the past years of our events, the sole thing that I think moves and motivates all of us, especially in an area like central Florida is to see the safe space that gets created for the youth,” said Dustin Shay. “They sometimes don’t have an outlet for who they are as an individual, for who they want to love, sometimes those things feel a little sheltered for all kids, but even more so for LGBTQ kids.” He encourages LGBTQ youth and allies to get involved. “For them to be involved is drastically important, not just for them but for the future of our group because they are going to be our future leaders, coworkers, business owners, and to instill something like that in them at this age within this critical time is great, and that’s why we do it.” To support any of these three organizations, you can become a sponsor, volunteer, donate, join their initiatives or simply like and share their social media. “More importantly than that,” said Shay, “we need the development of the idea. We need people to be participating, we need people to come out, we need people to show support. It’s the message really that we’re trying to flourish through the community.” Prior to the inception of Polk Pride, LYA (Lakeland Youth Alliance) and PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) of Polk County were strong resources for LGBTQ individuals and their families. An executive board member of Polk Pride, Dustin Shay explained that Kristine Lally, now president of LYA, and Scott Guira, founder of Polk Pride, both previously sat on the LYA board. From their perspective working with youth, they had a vision of something that kept young people from having to travel to Tampa or Orlando for LGBTQ activities. With this vision in mind, Guira launched Polk Pride in 2014, with their inaugural event the following year. “He came to a few close people that he thought would be proactive, smart, hardworking, beneficial, already involved in the community and kind of pieced together a little team – and we were all on board,” said Shay. Polk Pride is now made up of six Executive Board Members: Scott Guira, Kerri McCoy, Kristine Lally, Patrick Patterson, Dustin Shay, and Nick Sotolongo. Polk Pride, LYA, and PFLAG of Polk County aren’t formally affiliated, but do share resources and work together to put on Pride. “It’s easier for us to pool resources whether it’s events, communications, marketing, social media. We kind of share across these different platforms so we have maximum reach with the same message,” said Shay. This year, the multi-day Pride festival will include the Pride Launch Party on June 8, Pride for Youth on June 12, Pride in Faith on June 13, Pride Kickoff Cocktail Party on June 14, and Pride in the Park on June 15. Up to 5000 people and around 100 vendors attend their free, family-friendly anchor event, Pride in the Park. “This isn’t a festival just for LGBTQ. We have businesses, allies, family, friends. It is a Pride, but it’s so much more than that,” said Shay. “It’s really about celebration.” The concerted efforts and reach of the three organizations span beyond Pride week. “We found that having PFLAG, LYA and Pride served an area of our community that had not yet been served through other resources – essentially, that’s why it’s here. That’s why it’s valuable,” said Shay. An ultimate goal of Polk Pride, according to Shay, is to have something larger than a festival format. “In a perfect vision, we’d love to have a Lakeland Pride parade or even a larger venue than what we have now at Munn Park,” he said. Pride events are seasonal, happening only in June, but Polk Pride has monthly board meetings and hosts networking and social events throughout the year. In the 2019-2020 year, the group also plans to open some of their meetings in what Shay described as a “town hall format.” In these meetings, Dustin said, “We’re going to invite community individuals to come to some of our board meetings which will offer some delegation of volunteer opportunities.” He added, “While the executive board will still maintain the direction and the vision of the process, we’re going to start involving a little bit more in hopes that we will eventually develop future board members.” 21 A chapter of the Orlando Youth Alliance, LYA started in 2008. Current LYA president, Kristine Lally discussed what drew her to the organization as an ally of the LGBTQ community. “I grew up in this county and saw many friends kicked out of their homes and treated horribly by their families, I wanted to do all I could to support the LGBT youth in Polk County,” said Lally. Lally went on to voice their mission which is shared with their parent organization OYA, “To provide a nonexploitative, safe, drug and alcohol-free, social outlet for youth ages 13 to 20 who are grappling with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning issues. / To be proudly diverse by opening membership to youth without regard to sexual orientation, gender, religion, race or background. / To serve as an educational and referral service for LGBTQ youth of Central Florida. / To educate parents, academia, health care workers and other human service professionals about the development and diversity of sexuality and sensitize them to the reality and needs of the LGBTQ community. / To facilitate in the development of the LGBTQ youth and to empower them to become leaders in the community.” Along with monthly support meetings and special activities, LYA holds an annual Prom event and are included in the Polk Pride events in June. Lally shared LYA’s vision for the future, saying, “Our long term vision is to continue our growth as a resource and advocate to LGBTQ and ally youth within the local school systems. We have a goal to be a single source advocacy group for the community of students and educators within Polk County.” A step towards this goal, the Polk County School Board has approved their Pride week proclamation for the past two years, with 2019 being the third. Any LGBTQ youth or ally that would like to get involved with LYA can go through their social media or website listed below. Help spread the word! Lally concluded, “We want to be a common thought for those who need the support we offer.” For 25 years, the Polk County chapter of the national group, PFLAG has been a support group for anyone in the community with an LGBTQ family member or friend. The group is there to help answer questions, show support, and offer resources to these families. Shay remarked, “Sometimes the process for the youth or the individual coming out is their own struggle but it’s also a completely different struggle for the parent or the friend or family member – so we provide a lot of materials for that.” PFLAG of Polk County president, Kerri McCoy found out about the group through her aunt who is a lesbian. When McCoy’s son came out in high school, her aunt suggested she get involved with the group. McCoy had no qualms about her son being gay, she fully supported him. “I don’t understand, I don’t need support,” she told her aunt. Her aunt replied, “No, so you can help others.” After three years of working with the group, McCoy became its president. “When people come to us and they do need help, we can provide them with websites to go to, we have a list of counselors that are LGBTQ-friendly that can help them, if it’s a religious issue, we have several pastors and churches that we can point them to, doctors for anybody who may be transgender,” McCoy explained. The group has monthly support meetings and are also a part of Pride week. To find out more about PFLAG, information about attending a meeting, or to get involved, check out their website and social media listed below. Polk Pride See their website for a full list of dates and times of Polk Pride 2019 events. www.polkpridefl.com FB: @PolkPrideFL IG: @polkpridefl LYA lakelandyouthalliance.org FB: @LakelandYouthAlliance IG: @oya_cfl PFLAG of Polk County pflagofpolkcounty.org FB: @PFLAGofPolkCounty

On the night of the Oscars in 2014, Lakeland resident Kevin O’Brien made a personal goal to write and produce a full-length feature film. That night, he bought a website domain and wrote a blog post committing to do something every day to bring him closer to his goal. The product of that initial dream, a movie titled, “At the End of the Day,” has become a piece of a larger conversation surrounding the LGBTQ and Christian communities. The film featuring Stephen Shane Martin, Danielle Sagona, Tom Nowicki, Chris Cavalier, and Susan Steele Mulholland, follows 30-something Dave Hopper who has just lost his wife and counseling practice. He lands a position as a part-time professor at his Christian college alma mater. Conflict ensues when the dean of the college wants to develop a piece of property that was left to an LGBTQ support group. The support group want to open an LGBTQ homeless teen shelter if they can raise the money for the property in time. At the dean’s behest, Hopper goes undercover as a gay man in the group in an attempt to halt their progress. “The awkward and emotional experiences that follow lead Dave on a journey of truth, revealing that life and love are not as black and white as he first thought,” reads the film’s synopsis. Since its premiere in the summer of 2018, “At the End of the Day” has received acclaim from film festivals globally. Jordan Weiland Photography About the Writer/ Director O’Brien moved to Lakeland from Virginia to attend college at Southeastern University. Growing up in the Assembly of God church is part of the reason O’Brien attended the university – to become a youth pastor. He described church as a big part of his life, reflecting on his previous career path, “Looking back on it now, I think that was the only option I could see for my life.” He found filmmaking in his 30’s. Until that point, he wasn’t aware that filmmaking could be a viable career option. He joked, “Movies were just this magical thing that happened somewhere else and showed up at Blockbuster.” He fell in love with making movies and knew that was what he wanted to do with his life. For the last ten years, he’s been taking steps to make it his full-time profession. For the last 8 of those years, O’Brien has been making some 150 plus short films with his company Journey Box Media. A Change of Perspective Through his twenties and thirties, O’Brien began reevaluating his religious and political stances. Relationships he and his wife had formed within the community and the process of adopting their three children were catalysts for this reassessment of his views. On the adoption process, the father of three said, “The whole experience educated us so much on the world we live in and people in our own backyard, how our society works and functions, and misconceptions we had.” He continued, “As they were getting to ages where we’d want to explain things to them and talk about faith and life and what matters – we thought, ‘What do we even believe and why do we believe this?’” Around the same time, he and his wife were friends with a newly engaged lesbian couple at their church. The O’Briens knew they wanted to celebrate their friends and struggled with why their religion historically wasn’t affirming of their love. This, coupled with viewing “For the Bible Tells Me So,” a documentary following five families with openly LGBTQ kids, evaluating the homophobic stance of the conservative Christian church and how these families are affected, added to the shift in O’Brien’s thinking. “Both of us were so heartbroken at the end of that documentary. It struck me in a way that I hadn’t been before,” said O’Brien. The rejection that many of the individuals faced in the documentary really spoke to him. That night, he told his wife that he didn’t know what the story would be yet, but that he was sure this was the conflict he wanted to explore in his film. Making the Movie He landed on the storyline in the summer of 2014 and spent 3 to 4 months outlining it. He shut himself away in a lake house for three weeks and wrote the movie. He came back from writing, launched a website, began raising funds for the project and sought out feedback on his script. It was filmed in the early months of 2017 and premiered in June of 2018. Throughout the making the film, O’Brien and his family immersed themselves in the local LGBTQ community, joining PFLAG of Polk County. “They really kind of became our family,” he said. With this new found family beside them and the support of the Lakeland community, “At the End of the Day” came to life. “We were blown away on the big scale of Lakeland and how much support there was for the movie,” said O’Brien. In support of the movie and its message, people allowed them to use filming locations for free and a whole team of people donated food every day for the cast and crew, along with others donating time and energy to the film in different ways. Around 700 people turned up for the one-night premiere of “At the End of the Day” at Polk Theatre. “It was probably the most magical night of a screening that I’ll ever experience,” he recalled. Joining the Conversation Seeing the film from conception to the big screen was a significant personal accomplishment for O’Brien. “I forget that. If you asked me ten years ago, I would have never imagined that I would have a movie – that I made, wrote, directed, and produced.” Aside from his personal filmmaking dreams, O’Brien wanted to join the ongoing conversation that led to his own reformation. “I don’t think any one story, any one thing like this will do it for anybody. It’s years of ideas and relationships, thoughts and questions and then maybe something catalyzes that,” he said. He continued, “That’s definitely what I wanted to do in the movie was show the story of someone whose ideas about the world shifted and allowed people to ask the questions that they can’t.” To watch the movie or host a screening, check out the website, www.endofthedayfilm.com , where you can also find a podcast of the same name continuing the Christian/ LGBTQ conversation. “At the End of the Day” endofthedayfilm.com FB: @endofthedayfilm IG: @endofthedayfilm

Through her law practice, Foley Immigration Law and nonprofit The Red Tent Initiative, Lakeland attorney, Alison Foley-Rothrock is using her voice to bust stigmas and give power to victims as a survivor, advocate and leader. Alison grew up in the northeast and went to school in Rhode Island where she graduated with her bachelor’s degree and attended law school. “I wanted to be involved in law because I see it as an extension of politics. I’ve always been very political and motivated by ideas of justice and human rights,” said Foley-Rothrock. She has been dedicated to practicing immigration law since 2004. Prior to her law career, Alison looked into teaching and the arts, two things she loves, but decided she wanted to do something that would use her talents in a more impactful way. Starting Her Own Practice In 2006, a year and a half out of law school, after just finding out that she was pregnant with her first child, Alison’s position at a nonprofit she’d been working for was cut. The more she had been immersed in immigration law, the more she felt that helping immigrants, especially immigrant victims of crime, was exactly where she needed to be. The only way she could continue to do that and provide for her growing family was to go into private practice. Foley-Rothrock started her practice, Foley Immigration Law that year. When Alison found herself going through a divorce with a toddler and another on the way, it the security of a steady paycheck led her to take a position at a nonprofit she had volunteered for. In 2010, Alison was offered a job to be in private practice, that would move her family to Clearwater, Florida. “The opportunity both to move south and to go back into private practice […] was too good to pass up,” she said. In November of 2011 when the attorney who had hired her, closed her firm, Foley-Rothrock continued in private practice for herself. She met her husband in 2014 and then fell in love with Lakeland shortly after, moving her family and practice. The Red Tent Initiative In 2015, motivated by her work with nonprofits and her own experiences, Foley-Rothrock started the Red Tent Initiative. “One of the reasons I had always stuck with nonprofits was because I have a real passion for helping survivors of domestic violence and other types of crime, abuse, and exploitation,” she explained. In working with clients at her practice, Alison realized one of their biggest needs was someone they could talk to who could relate to what they had been through. As a child, Alison herself grew up in an abusive home. In adulthood, she found herself in a series of toxic relationships. “Part of my recovery from that was to learn to talk about it with other people and sort of shake off the shame and stigma that comes with being a survivor,” she said. “Statistically speaking, domestic violence happens across all spectrums. The one group who are actually more vulnerable are people who are born in foreign countries and move to the U.S.” She noticed all of the overlaps within the immigration work she was doing. “I was seeing people who were having these layers of vulnerability and disadvantage – having been born in another country, maybe being undocumented, or not having U.S. citizenship yet, or maybe not speaking the language.” “It was only when I experienced it myself and I tried to access services with all of the advantages that I do have – I speak the language, I’m a U.S. citizen, I’m educated, I had the main income in our household – still, it was really hard to pull myself away and find support,” she said. “When I did find support services available, I felt like the attitude of the people who worked in these services tended to be kind of condescending. They asked those same questions that made me feel like it was my fault,” Foley-Rothrock explained. To Alison, this was a gap that needed to be bridged. When working with clients who were facing similar circumstances, Foley-Rothrock lifted the detached, inhuman veil that traditionally exists between lawyer and client. She discovered, “If I would tell them, ‘It happened to me too. I understand what you’re going through because I’ve been there,’ it really changed the whole dynamic between us.” The Red Tent Initiative came out of that idea that sharing survivor stories is a powerful thing. “It defies this idea that this is stuff that we don’t talk about, that the shame and stigma are for the victim to bare going forward, that they’re the ones who have to work through it, the totally false idea that victims are people that you don’t run into every day.” The first Red Tent event was held on March 31, 2015. The date fell at the end of International Women’s History Month and the eve of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. “We felt like it was kind symbolic of how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go,” said the organization’s founder. Foley-Rothrock invited influential women in the community to speak. She was surprised to hear survival stories from all of the women she had invited. Business owners, people who ran nonprofits, community leaders – they each had stories about domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. This inspired the attorney. “If they could just talk about the fact that they’ve been survivors more, it might change the way we all look at survivors and change the way that people who are in situations where they are being victimized think about their own possibilities.” The Red Tent Initiative has since turned into a monthly event, showcasing local artists, musicians, spoken word poets, and visual artists to do a themed show telling the stories of survivors, and giving the floor to survivors to share their own stories.“We couple it with art to make it more impactful and to show the beauty of being a survivor and the strength of survivors and hopefully inspire people to take action,” said the Red Tent founder. Funds collected by the organization are used to fill gaps in which social services aren’t able to meet – needs like assistance with safe houses, groceries, and car insurance. The Red Tent Initiative is a radically inclusive network made up entirely of survivors and allies. If you or someone you know is an exploitative or abusive situation, you can contact the Red Tent Initiative at (813) 424-0652 or through their website at redtentinitiative.org . CityMaker Alison was recognized by the City of Lakeland as a CityMaker in November 2018 by Mayor Bill Mutz for her work as an attorney and advocate. She admitted she felt a little cautious moving to Polk County, an area known for being conservative. Alison explained that she doesn’t fall within the borders of what might be deemed “socially acceptable” to a conservative community. She identifies as queer, her husband is transgender, she has multiracial children, practices immigration law, and advocates for awareness of topics that are uncomfortable for some to acknowledge. “To get an award that to me kind of symbolizes acceptance – not just acceptance but being embraced by this community – it was way more than a pat on the back,” she said. “That really meant a lot to me.” Loud and Proud As a queer-identifying person, Alison voiced that she thinks Polk County is moving in the right direction in regard to embracing the LGBTQ community. “I think it’s important for everyone to realize that everyone who might otherwise be seen as outsiders as not having potential, often become leaders in our communities. It’s important to me to be loud and proud as both someone who is in the LGBT community and a survivor because these are things that a lot of times carry shame and stigma, especially in conservative communities, it’s all the more important for me to put that out front,” said Foley-Rothrock. “If you want to be my friend and my supporter, you have to embrace the whole package. You can’t compartmentalize who I am in your mind, to make me more acceptable.” Photo by Amy Sexson

As we gear up to celebrate Pride Month here in Polk County, I can’t help but think about how lucky I am to have spent a good portion of my life volunteering and working in a theater. I am the Producing Director at Theatre Winter Haven, but the first play I ever did was a production of THE KING AND I at age 5. Most of my life has been informed by the values I learned in a dark theater. Because I was a theater kid, I have been blessed to know and love members of the LBGTQ community long before I knew how to shave. One of the lessons I learned is that a theater is a safe place for those who society hasn’t always embraced. I learned that people I loved and admired inside the theater could be victimized outside of it, just for being who they are. I wish the whole world could be more like a community theater. Because theater, especially community theater, is the one place in the world where being different, being weird, being strange is considered an asset instead of a reason to be bullied or ridiculed. The people I work with are wonderfully odd, magically bizarre, and absolutely march to the beat of their own drummer… (but we ALWAYS clap on the 2 and 4… we are weirdos, not barbarians). In Community Theater, we don’t care about race, sexual orientation or identification, if someone is on the spectrum, or even your age. ART transcends all that other stuff. HECK, we don’t even care if you can act, sing, or dance – because there are a hundred other ways to be part of our community. Sets need to be built, costumes need to be made, tickets need to be sold, and patrons need to be seated. There is something for everyone. Community Theater is a safe place, especially for those who don’t fit in easily. We are a band of misfits. All are WELCOME. In fact, theater has ALWAYS been the home of the disenfranchised, the outcasts, the marginalized. Theater has ALWAYS been an island of acceptance in a frequently cruel world. And the world has often been disproportionately cruel to members of the LBGTQ community. The first Community Theaters were in ancient Greece. And, like the community theaters of today, they attracted the quirky, the different, and those who lived outside the mainstream. The comedies of ancient Greece championed the underserved… the butt of the jokes were always the rich and famous and powerful. At the same time, they celebrated those who were, well, fabulous. Long before there was a RuPaul’s Drag Race, Greek comedies were exploring nuances of gender roles and homosexuality. Then, like now, the theater welcomed and embraced the gay community. I think it takes a similar type of courage to be openly gay or transexual as it does to be successful in theater. There is a fearlessness to embracing one’s true self and being comfortable with that. I contend it is that same brand of fearlessness that makes one shine on stage. The charge of a Community Theater is more than just putting together pieces of entertainment. Our higher purpose is to make our communities better places to live, to work, and to play by making our citizens – especially our underserved citizens – the focus of everything we do. We are black, we are white, we are gay, we are straight, we are Christian and not; we are young and old we are liberal and conservative and we couldn’t be more eclectic or different. But we are a family. We genuinely care and love one another. THE TRADITION CONTINUES AT THEATRE WINTER HAVEN. The world is a different (and better) place than it was when I was a kid, but we still have a lot of work to do. I am proud that we continue to be a safe place for members of the LBGTQ community. Especially for young gay people throughout Polk County. It warms my heart to see the unlikely friendships that are built on our stage and know that these kids are learning the same lessons that I learned as a kid in a theater. I am equally proud that we have role models for these kids who have unimpeachable character, warm and kind hearts, and would walk through fire to protect them. Many of these role models happen to be gay. For those times one needs an escape from the harsh realities of the world, theater offers an opportunity to pretend to be someone else and somewhere else every single day. We get to create worlds that are free from prejudice and full of grand adventure. Within our walls and on our stage we get to drop our labels and be whoever the script dictates we be. For a few hours each day, we get to leave the outside world behind. The fact is, Community Theater is a place where people who are not yet comfortable in their skin can find a home as easily as those who have already learned to celebrate what makes them different. In theater, we love people to be unique. No one ever got a starring role by being just like everyone else at an audition. Part of the job description for an artist – especially an actor – is standing out, and that doesn’t happen by fitting in. We admire the differences in each other and, in time, those who struggle with who they are realize that’s what makes them unique also makes them great – both as actors and as humans. The best part about community theater is that, not only are we welcoming and accepting, we are an antidote to loneliness. There are some problems in our world that are too big and too complex to comprehend. But if isolation and loneliness are part of those problems – then more people need to find a community theater and play with us. I promise there is a friend somewhere in the wings of a theater – and that friend won’t care if you are gay or not. I invite all members of the LBGTQ community to come and work with us. I am sure you will find a welcoming home.