A love for nature and science landed Natural Resources and Conservation Extension Agent II, M.S., Shannon Carnevale, her dream job. Now she spends her days researching, planning programs, hosting a podcast, and sharing that love with others. We chatted with Carnevale about her career, the “Naturally Florida” podcast, civic engagement, and small changes citizens can make to foster Florida’s wild spaces. Shannon Carnevale and her husband, City of Winter Haven Public Works Director M.J. Carnevale, hail from West Palm Beach. “M.J. and I both, because we were in Scouts, grew up camping and hiking and being outdoors,” said Carnevale. Her parents were Scout leaders, and her dad encouraged her to join a co-ed group in the program called Venture Crew. The Crew would travel across the country for summer camps and backpacking trips on high-adventures like white water kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking. Carnevale even did an eight-day hike over 100 miles through the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. “I grew up loving the outdoors, and I knew I didn’t want a traditional desk job,” she said. Shannon and M.J. became high school sweethearts and attended college together at the University of Florida. She initially studied Environmental Engineering in college, hoping to work in ecosystem management. After finding the field different from what she’d expected, she looked into forestry. Shannon was interested in how M.J., who’d switched to forestry, talked about the coursework and potential career paths after graduating. After talking to the academic advisor at what was formerly called the School of Forestry, Carnevale transferred her major. A seminar series in her senior year inspired Carnevale to go after her current job. Every other week in the class, a professional would speak to the students about what field they had gone into with their forestry degree. The term’ forestry’ might evoke images of a park ranger, but the field is much broader than that, including production forestry, habitat management, environmental lands, and beyond. Her professor spoke one week about the 30 percent of his job as an extension agent. He told the class, “All the research we do in school is only as good as we can communicate it with the people who need to use it.” His extension job entailed reading scientific journal articles, going to training, and perpetually learning. He would then relay that information to professionals managing land. “I just fell in love with it,” Carnevale said. “You’re telling me I can be a student (sort of) but get paid like an adult, and I still get to go outside and meet with land managers?” She was all in. In 2010, she began interviewing and was hired for her dream job as the Polk County Natural Resources and Conservation Extension Agent II, M.S., for US/IFAS. Her interview at the Bartow extension office was her first-time visiting Polk County, which she and M.J. now call home. NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION “The Natural Resources and Conservation program in Polk County is committed to improving the current state of our local ecosystems through natural resources educational programs,” according to their website. “By sharing science-based information to improve upon current management and land use practices, the Natural Resources and Conservation Extension Program will improve the function of our natural systems.” Carnevale’s job is different all the time. In an academic role, employed by both UF and Polk County, Carnevale is responsible for touching on Florida’s ecosystems in Polk and reporting back to the university. That academic reporting is what she’s working on this time of year – looking at engagement rates, surveys, and what people are learning from her podcast, “Naturally Florida.” Carnevale also plans engaging nature-focused in-person programming. She has several upcoming trainings, including Introduction to Backpacking and Camping (in-person and webinar), Leave No Trace webinars, a new multi-week water course for the public (in-person only) called Florida Waters Stewardship Program, and webinars about wildlife and wildlife safety for families over summer break. The extension program is a taxpayer-funded operation. “We’re not out to make a profit, which is different than a lot of places. We can be flexible. We can bring in experts, and we try to charge as little as possible.” Carnevale partners with businesses and parks around the county for events and programs held at the Bartow extension office, Circle B Bar Reserve, Bonnet Springs Park, and beyond. The Natural Resources and Conservation Extension Agent discussed an upcoming in-person event at Circle B Bar Reserve called the Heartland CISMA Invasive Species Workshop. Targeted toward anyone who works outside with plants – biologists, land managers, technicians – the April 12 program is a combination of classroom workshops and in-the-field training. Throughout the morning, speakers from across the state will give presentations, including an updated treatment plan for invasive plant species and an update on invasive mosquito species from Polk County BoCC Entomologist Jackson Mosley. After lunch, they will split into groups, with one group learning how to calibrate spray equipment on the lawn adjacent to the classroom and the other learning to identify plant species in the ‘Garden of Evil,’ a patio brought in by FWC with 125 different plants. The groups will switch after an hour to give everyone the opportunity to participate in both breakout sessions. Carnevale holds events for the general public as well. Several times a year, she guides a two-hour nature night hike. “We ask [participants] what do you want to see? What do you want to hear? What are you afraid of after dark? All we’re trying to do is get people comfortable being in a natural area after dark. One of the big barriers to people going out on their own and doing outdoor recreation like camping is because they’re scared of it.” Immersive outdoor events like Carnevale’s night hikes are an ideal way to show people how to become more comfortable in our natural spaces. The extension agent remembers a kayak trip she took with the City a few years ago – specifically, one terrified little girl. She said, “By the end of the one-and-a-half-hour tour, not only was she so excited and wanted to go kayaking that weekend, but she was jumping around in the water trying to catch fish with her hands. A dragonfly landed on her, and it wasn’t the end of the world. That’s a win.” THE “NATURALLY FLORIDA” PODCAST The “Naturally Florida” podcast hosted by Shannon Carnevale and Lara Milligan has a target audience of professionals who otherwise can’t or won’t come to an extension program workshop. Carnevale described the audience as busy people who are likely working, caring for children, or both – and are looking to learn a little bit about the natural world around them. One of the reasons they started the podcast was to “bottle up” all the fun facts they had to share. All about “Florida’s natural areas and the wild things that live here,” the podcast is brought to listeners by UF/IFAS Extension’s Natural Resources programs in Polk and Pinellas Counties. “One of our main objectives for our program is to increase science literacy related to our natural ecosystems,” Carnevale said. She and Milligan, both extension agents, touch on a broad swath of topics on the podcast. This includes individual species profiles (like the native Green Anole) and concepts like prescribed fire and the natural role of fire in our ecosystems, urban heat islands, and lake health. “It’s an introduction level to all of these different topics. My goal is that someone listens to it who otherwise wouldn’t come to an environmental program and is like, ‘Hm, that’s kind of cool. I want to go into the show notes and find those resources they shared. Maybe I want to go to an extension program. Maybe I just want to go on a nature hike at my park,’” Carnevale said. “Anything where we can try to help get people who maybe weren’t raised with a culture of hiking and camping outside to enjoy that natural area. [...] If people don’t have a connection to those areas, nobody values them, and if we don’t value them, we don’t try to protect them.” SMALL CHANGES “Small changes by every citizen can contribute to a brighter tomorrow for our natural environment,” reads an excerpt from the UF/IFAS Natural Resources and Conservation Extension Program webpage. What are some of these ‘small changes?’ “For Polk County residents, the easiest thing people can do is control their stormwater,” said Carnevale. “Stormwater is all the water that hits your home, driveway, or sidewalk and then runs into the street. If you can keep that water on your property and let it soak into the ground, you will help everything in Winter Haven. You’ll help our lakes and our drinking water.” She described our lakes as ‘sinkhole lakes,’ putting it simply, “They fill from the bottom. They seep up and from the sides.” Rain falls, and stormwater pipes dump water into them, but “water is filtered by the soil and the soil microbes that live in the soil. It helps reduce the over-nutrification of our water. (Think fertilizers, dog waste, cat waste, pollution from cars, brake dust, that sort of thing.) Having your water on your lawn, it can soak in, and it will be clean by the time it gets to our lakes.” For example, Carnevale noted that it only takes water that falls in downtown Winter Haven less than a minute to get to Lake Howard, “and everything it touches, it takes with it.” The City of Winter Haven implemented rain gardens downtown to trap that water. The water goes into the rain garden and has a chance to collect and seep. “If we get a really big gully washer, and we get a ton of rain in a short timeframe, it will do what we call ‘pop off.’ It’ll overflow the rain garden and then go into a drain. It gives it that little percolation area first.” Carnevale encourages citizens to turn their gutters away from the driveway and into their lawn. This tip applies countywide. Your yard may be a good candidate for a rain garden if you have sandy soil. If you have any questions about whether or not a rain garden would work in your yard, you can call the extension office for assistance. “If you happen to live lakefront, having emergent plants (plants that grow up out of the water) at least for part of your lakefront, that will help with erosion control and water quality,” she added. “That emergent vegetation’s root zone is where a lot of the nutrient cycling happens, which improves water quality and clarity over time. So not killing all the plants on your lakefront is a big thing.” Those living in an apartment complex or condo can work with their property manager to see if a Florida-Friendly Landscape can be planted around the complex. “Florida-Friendly Landscapes use less fertilizer, fewer pesticides, less water, and they also tend to highlight species that are good for our local area,” Carnevale explained. GET INVOLVED “If people care about green space, whatever form it may be – agriculture, parks, all these things – they need to get involved.” The community can make many ‘small changes’ to care for our natural spaces, but Carnevale emphasized civic engagement. “Get involved with your City government. Join those committees, show up at visioning meetings, participate in surveys they put out,” she said. “They want to know what the residents want as far as urban forests are concerned, park land, natural areas, and development.” To get the most from your engagement, get involved early. “With natural resources, people don’t care until they’re gone, and when they’re gone, it’s really hard to get them back,” Carnevale said. You can engage with US/IFAS by listening to the “Naturally Florida” podcast, attending workshops and webinars, and subscribing to the “Your Polk Yard” newsletter. The newsletter is composed by Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for the UF/IFAS Extension of Polk County, Anne Yasalonis, with contributions from other extension agents, like Carnevale. It covers everything from vegetable gardening, flower gardening, lawn care, wildlife you may see in residential areas, really anything to do with your yard. Find this email newsletter on their website (sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk). And if you have a stubborn plant problem, try the Plant Clinic (863-519-1057 or polkmg@ifas.ufl.edu). You can call, email, walk in, or video call with the plant clinic to troubleshoot plant problems; soil pH testing; insect, disease, and plant identification; Florida-Friendly Landscaping recommendations; and vegetable and fruit tree growing assistance. With more classes than we can count, the Extension Program hosts small farms programming, 4-H youth development, nutrition and budgeting, and more. “We have so much to offer,” Carnevale said. Those interested in Extension can visit the Extension Program Facebook page for various events or visit the website to read up on blog posts. Photography by Amy Sexson Natural Resources and Conservation UF/IFAS Extension Polk County 863-519-1051 TWT and IG @PolkNR FB @PolkExtension scarnevale@ufl.edu sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk

Grab your reading glasses and get ready to book-shop until you drop. It’s time for the 2nd Annual Lakeland Book Crawl! Presented by the Lakeland Booksellers, this weeklong event – featuring sales, surprises, and bookish bonding – runs from April 24 to April 29, 2023. The Booksellers were so encouraged by the community response to the inaugural Book Crawl, they decided to make it an annual event. Like last year, the Book Crawl takes place leading up to National Independent Bookstore Day on the last Saturday in April. “The Lakeland Book Crawl is a weeklong celebration for the book-loving community here in Lakeland,” said one Lakeland Bookseller, Pressed Books & Coffee owner, Christina Needham. “Each day of the week, we will feature a different local bookstore, each with their own daily deals and giveaways, all while highlighting literacy, small business, and our customers.” Here’s what eager readers can expect each day in this “six-day tour de force of books, books, and more books!” Day one kicks off at Bookend Used Books on Monday, April 24, from 10:30 am – 5:30 pm. 30% off *excluding classics. Tuesday – Inklings Book Shoppe from 9:30 am - 7:00 pm. Indie author signing, FREE kids book with any purchase, and 10% off all. Wednesday – Pressed Books & Coffee from 8 am - 6 pm. Free coffee with book purchase. Thursday – Crash Bookshop from 10:30 am - 6:30 pm.  10% off new books. Friday – The Unbound Bookery  from 10 am - 6 pm. 20% off all books. Little Bus Books from 10 am – 7 pm, 50% of proceeds of Spanish titles for No Covers – Free Mobile Bookshop. Lakeland Book Crawl bookmarks will be available for purchase at each of the six locations. One hundred percent of the Book Crawl bookmark proceeds go to the Children’s Home Society of Lakeland “to help promote the literacy and care of orphans and children in foster care.” Keeping with the local love, the Book Crawl hosts collaborated with Lakeland-based commercial artist and illustrator Josh “Bump” Galletta to create their adorable bookworm mascot. Local artist Tate Krupa of the pop-culture-inspired handmade gift shop Red Swan designed this year’s bookmark. According to the Lakeland Book Crawl website, “The goal of this annual crawling is to bring booksellers, book lovers, and the greater Lakeland community together for a bookish good time. We are a kooky collaboration bringing awareness to the community about local independent bookstores.” Pressed Coffee and Books owner Christina Needham noted how much the booksellers enjoy collaborating on the event throughout the year. “We think the more people we can reach to promote books and the importance of books in our community, to use them as a way to connect people, as a way to educate, as a place where people want to come and spend time – we find that brings great value to our city,” she said. “Even though the event does promote our stores, we also want it to be a celebration and appreciation to our customers who faithfully support us all year.” Needham sees the annual Book Crawl as a testament to the community’s commitment to its city. “I think it goes to show how much people in Lakeland love local business and enjoy working together for the greater cause of the city.” Don’t forget to tag your bookish posts with #lakelandbookcrawl and scan the QR code when you visit a participating bookshop to enter for a chance to win a gift card from all six stores. Visit www.lakelandbookcrawl.com for more information. Photography Provided

When communities come together to celebrate what makes those communities unique or special, memorable things usually happen. This October at Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland, just such an evening will take place – the 2023 Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame Gala presented by CORE Wealth Advisors. The event will feature live music, great food, and local artwork, but the highlight of the night will be the time spent honoring and celebrating the arts and cultural icons of Polk County by inducting the 2023 Class into the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was created in 2014 – its first inductee was visual artist, Richard Powers – with the goal of recognizing Polk County individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts and cultural community in Polk County or who have enhanced Polk’s national or international reputation as a county with a strong and sustained commitment toward the development of cultural excellence. Physically located within the Art & Culture exhibit on the second floor of the Polk County History Center in Bartow, the exhibit gives recognition to Polk’s arts & cultural individuals who have raised awareness of or made significant contributions that have enriched Polk’s arts and cultural community. Currently there are eight members in the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame, with the most recent being Meri Mass who was inducted last year as a Champion of the Arts for her work serving as the Executive Director of the Polk Arts Alliance. You can see all the members by visiting the polkarst.org website. This year’s event will also see the return of the annual arts and culture awards that had previously been used to recognize local individuals and organizations for their contributions to the arts and cultural community during the preceding year. These awards are specifically designed to honor the current work being done in our communities while the Hall of Fame designation is a lifetime achievement honor. Jennifer D’hollander, the current president of the Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance Board of Directors, is especially excited about the opportunity to pay tribute to those who are making Polk County a thriving arts and cultural destination. “It is so important to recognize outstanding individuals who have been paramount to the development of the arts and cultural field in Polk County and beyond. We are proud to be accepting nominations for both the Hall of Fame and the annual awards and look forward to announcing new inductees and award-winners this fall.” If the Hall of Fame and the Polk Arts & Culture Awards are to be truly representative of the entirety of Polk County, then the voices of Polk Countians must be heard. This is where the democracy part comes in. Starting on April 1, the Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance is asking for community input into both the Hall of Fame Class of 2023 and Polk Arts & Cultural Annual Award honorees. The nomination process, which starts on April 1, closes on April 20 after which the Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance will gather the nominations and then select the award winners. Nominees for the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame can be nominated in one of three categories: ARTIST: Artists of all disciplines are eligible: theatre, visual arts, performing arts, music, etc. ARTS & CULTURAL CHAMPION: Non-artist individuals who through philanthropy, advocacy, leadership, or all three - have championed the arts/cultural opportunities in Polk County. ARTS & CULTURAL EDUCATOR: Individuals whose primary lifelong contribution to arts/culture has been in the realm of arts/cultural education. If you are interested in nominating someone for the Hall of Fame, please consider the life-long community impact of the nominee’s work, contributions, leadership, etc. to arts/cultural initiatives in Polk County. Additionally, previous residents of Polk County (for a minimum of five years) who have gone on to make significant contributions to arts and culture on the national or international level are also eligible for nomination. Community members may also nominate individuals or organizations for the Polk Arts & Culture Awards in the following categories: ARTS/CULTURAL ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR: Honors an arts/cultural organization for their work in their respective communities AND recognizes outreach efforts that promote Polk as an art and/or cultural destination. Awardees could include nonprofit organizations, creative industry organizations, or local municipalities that meet the expectations of this award. ARTS/CULTURAL PHILANTHROPIST OF THE YEAR: This award is presented to an organization or individual whose philanthropic support of arts and cultural programming has advanced the status of Polk County as an arts/cultural destination. VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Honors an arts/cultural volunteer for their work within a specific organization – especially recognizes work that reaches beyond the specific organization for which they served to assist multiple arts and/or cultural organizations. ARTS/CULTURAL EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR: This award recognizes a local arts or cultural educator for their work with students. Awardees may be public/private school teachers, higher-ed teachers, or private art teachers. RISING STAR AWARD: Honors an individual who works to advance the arts/cultural community – specifically honors those who seek to expand Polk’s reputation as an arts/cultural destination. Awardees may be volunteers or paid staff of local arts and cultural organizations. With both recognition programs, it is important to make sure that award recipients represent all regions of our county. This means considering individuals and organizations from a variety of geographic sections of Polk. From Frostproof to Davenport and from Lake Wales to Mulberry, Polk is fortunate to have such vibrant arts and cultural communities throughout the county. Additionally, attention must be given to racial and ethnic factors when considering whom to recognize with these honors. Just like with the geographic diversity of our county, the arts, and cultural work being done by people of color is integral to Polk’s desire to be a “destination for arts and culture.” All the information regarding nominating an individual or organization can be found on the Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance’s website, polkarts.org. I’m confident that the citizens of Polk County will provide us with numerous individuals worthy of recognition for their arts and cultural achievements. In fact, we’re so confident of this that we’re keeping the nominations on file for three years – no need to nominate the same individual/organization next year as we’ll already have their info. I also believe that we will see the best of Polk’s arts and culture on display at the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame Gala. It’s my hope that the evening will be both a recognition of fantastic work and a celebration of why Polk is such a hub for arts and culture. More information will come in the following months about the gala itself, but in the meanwhile, please consider nominating someone – we want to hear from you!

When Geanie Folder walked into 801 E. Main, inspiration struck her like lightning. “I knew I could do something with the building,” she said. “I looked at probably 11 or 12 buildings in Lakeland, and I just know. I know when I walk in if I’m going to be able to make it happen.” Folder quit her job in 2016 and started a vintage market, the Beatnik Exchange, the following year. She opened Unfiltered Bartow in 2019 and adapted her business to ride out the pandemic. She launched Unfiltered Lakeland on February 25, 2023, in partnership with Wesley and Ashley Barnett and her son, Tray Towles. CHAMPAGNE AND GRAVY With their Lakeland location opening, it was a good time to rebrand and take the concept back to its roots – especially in Bartow – the way she’d first envisioned it. That vision means less emphasis on food and more on retail and art, crochet, and sewing classes. Unfortunately, the Unfiltered Punta Gorda store closed post-Hurricane Ian at the end of last year. “That was heartbreaking,” Folder said. “It just wasn’t meant to be down there.” In Bartow, Folder and company are curating a first-floor shopping experience with boho-style goods, vintage fashion, new merchandise, and the build-you-own-brim hat bar, Champagne and Gravy. Hidden Gem Consignment out of North Lakeland is opening another location on the second floor there as well. The custom hat bar is Folder’s baby and has opened its third location inside her marketplace and coffee shop, Unfiltered Lakeland. Folder described Champagne and Gravy as her “newest love.” She added, “It belongs to me solely, and I get to be creative. Other than designing the spaces, I’ve lost that whole creative part of me. I vowed going into this year I would try to niche out something for just me.” Inspired by her friend who owns the vintage shop, Echoes of Retro in Orlando, Folder started working with hats. Out of respect, she asked her friend permission to go forward with her own brimmed hat concept. “By all means,” her friend said. The pair took a trip to Texas to tour the Lone Star hat bar scene, and when they returned, Folder said, “I’m doing this!” She came up with the name Champagne and Gravy, which her friend now also uses. “I’ve expanded that brand to include anything that I love, that I would keep in my home,” Folder said. “While the hat bar is the focus, there is clothing, bath stuff, lots of fun things, and more fun things coming for that brand. THE SPACE In addition to Champagne and Gravy inside Unfiltered Lakeland, the property hosts three other micro storefronts: East of These, My Crazy Plant Life, and The Vintage Warehouse. Folder noted the location’s retail popularity. They have a waiting list of almost 20 stores that would snatch up a micro storefront immediately if space were available (and more space may be on the way). The Unfiltered marketplace is entirely her own. Sage walls contrast funky plush couches, mauve loveseats, knick-knacks strewn here and there in a way that just works, and a large mural encouraging patrons to “Live Life Unfiltered.” An antique Packard organ draws the eye as you enter, a remnant of the building’s former life as the Poor Porker. “I saw them build this, and I was saddened by the whole thing. I know what it’s like to lose a dream,” Folder said. “I vowed to pay homage to them, pay homage to Lakeland.” To Lakeland’s delight, she kept the beignet cart – and all of the Poor Porker staff. “These stores need to be the least commercialized as possible – every last detail,” Folder said of the Unfiltered concept. From the onset, she asked herself,’ Would I put that in my home?’ and ‘What kind of coffee cup would I serve if I had company over?’ “It was always built on people being able to be who they were,” she said. This individuality is the brand’s pulse. And though Folder is confident in her art and style, she was nervous about opening. “It was crazy,” she said. “I worried if we were going to be good enough for Lakeland – would Lakeland embrace us? […] There’s always that fear when you open, ‘Is anyone coming?’ and ‘Can we hold our own [here].’” To her relief, the community rallied around her business with a steady line of daily patrons. “So far, it’s been phenomenal,” she said. “I would be remiss if I didn’t say how many people come to bat for you, how many people stand up for you, how many people show you grace, how many people show you leeway. If you just reach out – how many people are willing to mentor and help you.” Folder said, “We house artists, we are a marketplace, and we are an experience. A coffee shop is just a portion of what we do.” Food and coffee may not be at the heart of the business, but they certainly weren’t an afterthought. Unfiltered Lakeland serves tea and various coffee drinks using Lakeland’s Ethos Roasters. Uncle Nick’s Bagels grace the menu, along with baked goods and beignets — traditional and “The Poor Porker” topped with maple syrup and bacon — along with soups, salads, and specials like the Waffled Grilled Cheese and Waffled Monte Cristo. A social media post mentioned plans to expand portions of the business in the future. Folder divulged ideas for quirky portable air-conditioned ‘houses’ in the courtyard during summertime. Unfiltered Lakeland is also looking to add more retail space in some capacity. Folder said they are in the process of obtaining their beer and wine license too. With that will come live music and woodfired pizza in the courtyard. Folder plans to bring the Beatnik Exchange to Lakeland at least quarterly (maybe even monthly). She started the bohemian vintage market in the middle of a field in Brooksville. The free-spirited event, gathering an eclectic union of artisans, was later hosted at Music Ranch and SUN’ n FUN but stopped for a time. Folder is excited to bring it back to platform artists and makers. ALL ABOUT THE STORY The Unfiltered brand is one of collaboration. That collaboration is rooted deep within founder Geanie Folder. “It’s all about the story,” she said. And, pushing through the discomfort of having the spotlight on her, she was ready to share hers. “I grew up homeless,” Folder began. She was the oldest of five siblings who lived with their dad, sometimes in a car or squatting in houses. “It sounds bad, but it was all I knew. I view the early part of my childhood as this beautiful, adventurous life, and that kind of set the pace for what I would do into adulthood.” Art is another central part of the Unfiltered brand. It’s an essential foundation in Folder’s life. There was a period in her childhood when she and her siblings were sent back to live with their mother and stepfather. “We lived in this old house, and there was a closet on the second story. He [her stepfather] would lock me in there for weeks,” Folder said. “My brother would shove me pencils under the door. By the time my dad came and got us again, I had taken a pencil and two crayons and completely muraled the entire closet. For me, it saved me. [...] The art portion of this comes from knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt how art is good for us and how art can save our lives. That’s why I never veer far from that.” She eventually adopted her brothers and sisters at age 16 and spent her whole childhood making a home for them. “It was always important to me that they felt loved, they had a place to go, they felt safe. Whatever shabby furniture we managed to get, we made it comfortable, and we made these places feel like home,” Folder said. When the last sibling left home, she knew, “I wanted to be able to provide a space that felt the same for people who wanted to come or needed to come or needed a space. That’s the bones of why we’re here. [...] I only know how to live that way. I don’t know what else to do to serve my community and serve others other than what I’m doing.” Photography by Amy Sexson Unfiltered Lakeland 801 E Main St., Lakeland FB: Unfiltered Lakeland IG @unfiltered_welcome_home

The couple behind Bandidas pop-up café, Gio and Gabriella Favilli-Vigoreaux, could teach a masterclass in self-expression. Everything about the brand they’ve created together is intentional, inimitable, and just plain good. The two-woman team operating out of the Catapult Kitchen Incubator started as Vicky G’s and Casita Verde. A Central Florida native and first-generation American, Gio would travel to Nicaragua several times a year to visit family growing up. She delighted in meals made up of fresh fruits, vegetables, beef, and chicken from her grandparents’ farm in Masaya, Nicaragua. That love of food translated to a pursuit of the culinary arts down the line. Gio moved to New York to study at the International Culinary Center and worked in restaurants and bakeries in the city after graduating. She also worked in food media and recipe development for Vice Media’s food department, Munchies. The pandemic prompted a move back to Florida, where she started Casita Verde as a creative outlet and a way to introduce Polk County to Nicaraguan food. Gabriella grew up in Winter Haven. After attending the University of Miami, she moved to New York for culinary school. She spent the next eight years working in restaurants, food media, and recipe development in test kitchens for Epicurious, Good Housekeeping, and Cherry Bombe before returning home in 2020. She pulled from her Puerto Rican roots and formal culinary training to start Vicky G’s, offering handcrafted empanadas with unique fillings and other “twists on Latin food.” About a year and a half ago, Gabriella and Gio joined their ventures to start a new pop-up café called Bandidas. They closed Vicky G’s (as they began offering their hand-formed empanadas through Bandidas) and continue to use Casita Verde as a subsidiary for provisions like hot sauce and kombucha. “It just made sense,” Gabriella said of the transition. “We knew we were going to get married. We’d gotten engaged, and we were spending all our time in the kitchen, side by side.” The couple’s love story intertwines with food from its genesis. They’d met initially when Gabriella was home from New York to visit family, and Gio was selling shave ice at a market. Gio reached out later for information about culinary school as she planned to attend the same school Gabriella had eight years earlier. Before moving to New York, Gio showed up unannounced at Smith Canteen in Brooklyn, where Gabriella worked as the culinary director and head baker. In what could only be culinary kismet, Gio remembered, “I didn’t tell her I was going to be there, and we were actually wearing the same shirt when she came out of the kitchen.” The block-printed shirt was one Gabriella had purchased from Gio during her last visit home. ONCE A BANDIDA, ALWAYS A BANDIDA The name of their pop-up comes from a term of endearment. “As a kid, my parents used to call me a bandida because I was super mischievous and trying to make people laugh,” Gio said. “I was like a little rascal always showing up after playing outside, covered in dirt with scraped up knees – my bike chain connected to my jeans.” Gabriella said, “On the grand scale, it feeds into our desire to do things our own way and not go about anything in the traditional way.” The Bandidas babes are uninterested in the ‘traditional kitchen brigade’ setup. “We’re just doing our own thing,” said Gabriella. Her wife nodded in agreement. “Totally still identify with being a bandida.” Bandidas fare melds their Nicaraguan and Puerto Rican background, formal culinary training, and what they’ve learned working in the industry. “I think a lot of people assume that we only make Latin food, but that’s such a small part of what inspires us,” said Gabriella. “Of course, I grew up eating empanadas, and she grew up eating Nicaraguan food. We sell a lot of things that were taught to us by our mothers, our grandmothers, but we are both classically trained, so we did learn a lot of other types of cuisine along the way.” An excerpt from their website notes, “From pop-up markets to wholesale pastries, our menus are ever-evolving to highlight the seasons and our current inspirations.” And much of what they do now is inspired by their extended time living in New York. “The focaccia for me feels so Brooklyn,” Gabriella said. “There was definitely a focaccia sandwich moment there at one point.” The duo also draws from travels and techniques learned from their favorite cookbooks – always with credit to the source. “It’s really important to credit where you get your inspiration from,” said Gabriella. Both women remember the foundational food that solidified their confidence in cooking. For Gabriella, it was her chocolate chip cookies and hippie scones. “They represent a time in my life when I was working in food media and test kitchens. I got hired to be the baker at a café that was transitioning from getting their pastries wholesale to having an in-house pastry program,” she said. Kerry Diamond, owner of Smith Canteen, was also the editor of Cherry Bombe, where Gabriella worked years prior as the magazine’s first employee. “She gave me a few months to play, and in those few months, I tested a lot of things.” Baking the final iteration of that cookie and scone is marked in her memory for the sheer accomplishment and because Gio eventually worked at the bakery. “So it kind of represents us, too, in a weird way because we both had to make them there but never together, and now we’re making them together,” Gabriella said. Gio remembers developing sardine galettes – her first published recipe. She’s glad to have that same freedom to create treats that break tradition through Bandidas. With Casita Verde, she was firm on offering authentic Nicaraguan cuisine. “Now with Bandidas, if anything, it feels more ‘me’ because I’m not purely Nicaragüense – I’m all things. I’ve learned so many things and have so many relationships with different recipes and experiences I’ve had.” The guava and cream cheese layer cake stands toe to toe with her galettes as a touchstone treat in her repertoire. “I’ve recently gotten really obsessed with making layer cakes, and I knew that the guava and cream cheese one would be a hit,” she said. “I love making these cakes because they’ve sort of become a blank canvas where I get to design the outside of them however I want. Lately, they’ve been pretty whimsical-looking, and I love it.” Gilded galettes and pretty pastries are Gio’s domain. She’s always been into art and working with her hands. “I love it, and I think that comes out in the food,” she said. Her creativity doesn’t stop with decorating desserts. Gio drew the Bandidas logo and turned her handwriting into a font for the brand. She also produces a bi-annual zine called Paloma. Unstimulated after returning to Florida, she thought, ‘What if there was a zine where there were a bunch of different voices and representation?’ So Gio made it herself – a collection of photojournalism, recipes, art, and poetry. Gabriella called the hand-stapled, block-printed zine “very Rocket Power.” Look out for the next issue of Paloma on the Bandidas website. PUTTING DOWN ROOTS Gio finds her most joyous moments are thinking about the future of their business. “At times, it feels like it’s not getting here quick enough because I feel like we’ve been grinding for so many years,” she said. “I know we’re going to get there. A place where our kids can grow up and our nieces and nephews can work. We’ll have that place to express ourselves in every way that we want – through food and colors and branding.” The couple envisions Bandidas as a local bakery selling beautiful, seasonal pastries, among other things – a model Gabriella has admired elsewhere through her travels. “The charming irregularities of a homemade pastry versus a mass-produced pastry – that means a lot to me,” she said. “I always want to keep it feeling small even as we grow.” Though there is no set-in-stone timeline for a brick-and-mortar shop, the two say change is in the air. GIRL POWER Both say they feel lucky to have worked under women in New York. Gio’s first line-cook job was under head chef Kia Damon, who also hails from Florida. “I had a unique experience for New York in that I only ever had a female boss,” Gabriella said. Right out of culinary school, she was hired to help launch Cherry Bombe, a magazine focused on women and women-identifying people in the food industry. “I was always reporting to some badass lady with an extensive career from restaurants to publishing and beyond,” she said. “It really does help you,” Gio said. “Obviously, not every woman that leads a kitchen is perfect and supportive. I’ve had my fair share of women that tend to carry that patriarchal [attitude] probably because they went through it. But it does feel good [to work with women].” Not just women, she noted, but being around Queer folks or anyone who knows what they’re going through has been affirming. “You feel it and acknowledge it, and you never forget it.” Gio admitted to feeling more seen in New York, more impressive even in a sea of people. “Coming back here, it was hard to get people to trust that you know what you’re doing, and you’ve been doing it for a while,” she said. “It’s hard to know if it’s because we’re women or because we’re new faces (even though we both grew up here) or because we’re Latin, or if it’s because we’re Queer or a combination of a lot of things people aren’t used to,” said Gabriella. “If I had a dime for every time somebody told me how we should be making this empanada or why don’t we have Cuban sandwiches.” Along with continued mentorships from their time in New York, Bandidas named DOU Bakehouse owner Diana Cortes-Blanquicet as a guide in navigating their business. “She has been so accessible and transparent and honest about what she faced when she was starting out to where she is now,” said Gabriella, a quality she’s found rare in the local food scene. “We can all help each other. There’s room for everyone.” Gio called Cortes-Blanquicet “a mentor,” Gabriella added, “Everyone who works for her speaks highly of her, and when we’re lucky to have employees, that’s what you aim for.” Foodies can order online or find Bandidas on Saturdays at the Winter Haven Farmers Market and Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market. The pop-up café recently entered the wholesale market at Agape Agora in Winter Haven, offering goods like whole wheat salted chocolate chunk cookies, pear and pistachio galettes, and more. Check out their website below for catering packages. What advice do the Bandidas have for fellow women in the culinary space? “Help other women,” said Gabriella, not missing a beat. Gio added, “And it’ll come back to you.” Photography by Amy Sexson FB: @BandidasLKLD IG @bandidas_lkld www.bandidaslkld.com

Pace Center for Girls’ mission is to provide girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training, and advocacy. The organization is guided by nine values and principles: Honor the female spirit; Focus on strengths; Act with integrity and positive intent; Embrace growth and change; Value the wisdom of time; Exhibit courage; Seek excellence; Create partnerships; and Invest in the future. This mission statement and guiding values drew Pace Center for Girls of Polk Executive Director Ellen Katzman, ACSW, to the organization in 2016. “I learn from them every day,” Katzman said of her Pace girls. “I learn from them that it’s not easy to walk a mile in somebody else’s shoes.” Katzman, also the executive director for Pace’s Pasco Center, earned a B.S. in criminal justice from Indiana University College of Arts and Sciences, a master’s degree in social work from Indiana University School of Social Work, and is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW). Katzman’s career focus has been community organization, planning, and management, and she’s been in the non-profit sector for over 40 years. “I have loved, and still love, every minute of it,” she said. Perhaps Katzman’s fire to change lives was lit by the women who inspired her. She named former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir – the first woman to hold that post – as an influential figure growing up. “She made a difference, and she made a difference being female,” reflected Katzman, who is arguably doing the same. “I also come from a line of strong women in my family, and I think I’ve had really good role models.” HISTORY OF PACE Founder Vicki Burke launched Pace with ten girls in Jacksonville, Florida. “Vicki had an idea, rooted in facts, that girls were entering the juvenile justice system as a response to delinquent behavior often caused by trauma.” Between 1989 and 1998, Pace opened 13 new locations in Florida. The organization has since expanded into 23 communities across the Sunshine State, Georgia, and South Carolina. Since serving those first ten girls in 1985, the program has cared for over 40,000 girls and young women – over 3,000 each year. Pace Center for Girls of Polk County opened its doors in 2001 and has served more than 1,500 girls through its academic Day Program and Pace Reach therapy program. The Day Program provides year-round education, counseling, and life skills training for middle and high-school-aged girls. Pace Polk served 126 girls through their day program in 2022, with enrollees seeing marked improvement academically and socially and re-engaging in their communities. In 2009, Pace piloted its Reach Counseling Program, providing services to girls outside their Centers. In partnership with local schools, community organizations, and court systems, the Reach Program offers social, emotional, and behavioral health and support services for girls ages 11-17 and their families. Seventeen Reach locations have been established across Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Last year 55 girls were served through Pace Center for Girls of Polk County’s Reach Program. A MEASURABLE IMPACT “We’re an evidence-based organization,” Katzman said. The organization offers small in-person classes; individual academic planning and support; personal guidance, counseling, and goal planning; and career and college preparation. “You’ll see how kids improve academically, [...] how they’re engaged in their own home life and school.” These results are observable through statistics collected by the non-profit. For instance, 9 in 10 girls were failing school six months before attending the Pace Day Program in Polk County. Nine in 10 girls improved academically, measured by Florida STAR testing, after attending Pace. A measurable testament to their Reach Program, 7 in 10 girls were feeling sad or hopeless, including thoughts of self-harm before attending Pace Polk, with 8 in 10 exhibiting improved healthy social relationships with peers and family members after time spent in the program. The proof is in the pudding at Pace – or on their Board of Directors, rather. Pace Polk alumnus Jasmine Decelle, owner of Jasmine Decelle Branding & Design, serves as the board’s secretary. Last year the impact of Pace rippled far beyond the southeast United States. Pace President and CEO Mary Marx wrote in a letter published in the organization’s 2022 Impact Report, “This year marked the first global application of our approach, partnering with IREX through a Community Collaboration Impact Grant sponsored by the U.S. Department of State to share our model with girls in Bhutan.” EMPOWERING YOUNG WOMEN Pace approaches its mission to support and equip girls through three pillars: gender-responsive, strength-based, and trauma-informed. According to Katzman, potential enrollees meet with an intake counselor for an interview. To be accepted into the program, a girl must have at least three risk factors. These could include truancy, incarcerated parents, physical or mental abuse, or sex trafficking. “Most of our kids are at six or seven [risk factors] – that’s overwhelming,” she said. “Needless to say, they’re unsettled, and a lot of them don’t want to be in an all-girls school.” But, that all-girl environment, especially one that is trauma-informed, is to their benefit, says Katzman. She evoked founder Vicki Burke. “She saw boys and girls going through the system and realized they needed to be treated separately. They learn differently. Girls that have been traumatized learn much differently than boys and much differently than girls who haven’t gone through trauma,” Katzman said. Pace Center for Girls “creates an environment that responds to the needs of the girls,” according to their website, “so they can feel safe to develop meaningful and trusting relationships and embrace their capability, strength, and autonomy.” The Pace Day Program, driven by its three pillars, operates year-round. Katzman says the job isn’t always easy, but it is rewarding. “There’s not a day that goes by that you don’t realize you’re changing the trajectory of these young women’s lives,” she said. “Today’s young women in our program are tomorrow’s moms, so this trajectory goes on and on and on.” Girls are provided breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday and take regular academic classes in smaller class sizes (14 students per teacher) following the Polk County School System curriculum at Pace. Where the organization differs from public school is unfettered access to social services – an imperative for girls who have endured trauma. This department is headed up by Social Services Manager Michelle Brown, who oversees a team of counselors and therapists. The girls can speak with a counselor as often as they need. The Center offers a “May I see you” form that girls can fill out to meet with someone promptly. Katzman noted how access to these resources affects students as they progress at Pace. “They start to open up, to articulate, to self-advocate. They start to have social skills, peer skills – getting along with others,” she said. Students presenting risk factors who don’t require extra academic help can be referred by guidance counselors, teachers, and school staff to join the Reach Program at participating Polk County schools. Pace provides a licensed mental health therapist in these schools to further support local girls. When Katzman first took charge seven years ago, she wanted to get to know each of the girls. She decided to sit in on weekly Care Reviews, in which staff, teachers, and counselors meet to discuss a student’s progress. Not ten minutes into her first Care Review, it struck the 40-year non-profit veteran, “The staff that have chosen this, to work here, it’s got to be in their DNA. It’s hard, it’s challenging, it’s difficult – but it’s so rewarding. They get to see the fruits of their labor.” Those fruits manifest in higher grades, happier days, and brighter futures. Support for Pace girls is comprehensive. Beyond grades and therapy – it’s life-changing. Organization leaders and staff work diligently for holistic growth in their girls. President and CEO Mary Marx wrote in that same 2022 Impact Report letter, “Our work and the future of our girls remains grounded in celebrating not only empowerment, but real, lived power. Our girls must not only benefit from policies but also use their voices and lived experiences to design those policies. In 2022, our advocacy work gave young people the ability to have their record expunged, removing a substantial barrier to college admission and employment for some 26,000 Florida youth.” SANDRA’S STORY One thriving Pace girl is 16-year-old Sandra. The high school junior has been attending Pace Center for Girls of Polk County for nearly a year and has found refuge at the Center. “Pace has helped me a lot, just learning how to self-advocate and finding my voice,” she said. “I struggled a lot with my self-worth before I came here, and I can honestly say it’s improved and helped me achieve a lot of my goals.” The women Sandra most admires and who have supported her are her mother and her Pace Spirited Girls teacher, Michelle Taylor. “She looks after me a lot and notices when I’m having a bad day,” said Sandra. Asked what she liked about attending Pace, she noted, “I love the environment, the people, it’s open, everyone’s warm. No one’s shut off. You don’t feel out of place. You feel like you belong here.” Once a year, Pace Polk sends two girls to Tallahassee for Pace Day at the Capitol. Sandra earned the coveted spot, an incentive for excelling socially and academically, and will be attending this year, where she’ll have the opportunity to meet legislators and other Pace girls from across the state. Executive Director Ellen Katzman described Sandra as sweet, articulate, compassionate, and a model student. “Every girl that comes here comes with challenges. We call them ‘at-risk factors.’ They are obstacles in the young women’s lives, and they have to overcome them. [Sandra] is strong – she’s resilient, and in overcoming those, she’s learned to have her own voice, to advocate for herself,” Katzman raved. “When she leaves here, I have all the confidence in the world that this child is going to be an incredible young woman. She’s going to make her own path, her own future.” The executive director noted that she most admired Sandra's inner strength and adoption of self-advocacy, something Pace empowers all girls to do. “When there’s someone like Sandra who grasps it so easily and well – it was there all time, we just helped bring it out.” Sandra, who spoke with the poise and self-assuredness of a young woman destined for success, beamed from within. In the future, she hopes to shine that light on others as a substance abuse counselor, helping people with addictions better their lives. SUPPORT PACE GIRLS Those interested in supporting Pace Center for Girls can volunteer or make monetary, supply, and clothing donations. Consider involvement in committees, board membership, and events, like their upcoming Ten Story Challenge on May 5, 2023. The annual peer-to-peer fundraising event takes place at the Lakeland Electric building, where community members raise a minimum of $500 to rappel from the towering structure. Pace Center for Girls transcends the current day and the current girls they serve. The program blazes paths for generations of girls to grow into women of integrity and self-worth, ascending their circumstances to claim the inherent, inalienable power they each possess. As Pace Center for Girls, Polk Board of Directors Co-Chair, Lakeland Electric’s Interim General Manager Mike Beckham wrote, “Pace Polk provides a safe space where girls feel like they matter. […] The staff focuses on positive affirmation and advocacy to build empowered women with strong voices ready to face the future. Our community is fortunate to have an organization of this caliber to support our youth.” Photographs by Amy Sexson Pace Center for Girls of Polk County 213 Tyler Ave, Lakeland, FL (863) 688-5596 FB: Pace Center for Girls IG @pacecenterforgirls pacecenter.org/locations/florida/polk

The man, the myth, the Eric Crump. Who is he? What is going on at the Aerospace Center for Excellence in Lakeland? Are there aliens hidden away at the Lakeland Airport? Eric Crump, the Director of the Aerospace Center for Excellence in Lakeland, gave us an exclusive tour and behind-the-scenes look at what’s going on there. I left inspired, and after you read this, I hope you are encouraged to venture out there as well. A licensed pilot with years in the aviation field and previous director of the Polk State College aviation program, I’d say Eric Crump is the right person for the job. “Kids and inspiration, it’s why I do this. I used to be that kid,” Crump said. Eric is fueled by the inspiration he creates for anyone who walks through that door. His goal is not only to provide a fun learning experience for kids but to leave them motivated and continue learning about the aviation field. “If they leave motivated, I think we’ve done our mission,” he said. The Aerospace Center for Excellence, also referred to as ACE, is remarkable — a campus filled with world-class facilities sought by students and people worldwide. The ACE Campus includes the Florida Air Museum, the Central Florida Aerospace Academy (CFAA) High School, Elevate Aerospace & Logistics Incubator, The Lakeland Aero Club – a high school flying club, the Ramus Skylab Innovation Center, and even a full-size Boeing 727 classroom. These are just some of the many facilities they house on their vast campus. “We live our mission,” said Crump. ‘Engage, educate, and accelerate the next generation of aerospace professionals’ are the words that every staff member lives by on the ACE campus, and it’s why they exist. The center has tons of programs that educate and inspire new pilots. Weekly free storytime readings, summer camps, and multiple scholarships are just some of the things they have to offer new pilots. They’ve had 159 people attend the scholarship program and receive their private pilot’s certificate. RAMUS SKYLAB LABORATORY One of the many unique things housed in the Ramus Skylab Innovation Center is the Redbird Flight Simulation Lab, where people have the opportunity to fly a simulation plane. With this simulation plane, students have a chance to learn how to make an airplane take off and land. They are even introduced to four fundamentals through the simulation: straight-and-level, flight turns, climbs, and descents. From personal experience, don’t attempt a barrel roll on your first simulation run. It will end badly. The Drone Lab is another part of the Ramus Skylab, where students can learn basic aviation terminology and practice simple controls using a mock flight simulator. Other drone opportunities include drone search, where students are taught how drones can be helpful in disaster situations by practicing aerial photography and conducting a simulated disaster relief mission. My favorite part in the Ramus Skylab was the NOAA Science on a Sphere Lab which I was told there are not many of these in the world. Such a powerful sphere, in an instant, it can show galaxies, planets, weather patterns, the sun, and more. Such a powerful tool to teach how hurricanes are formed and how climate change impacts severe weather formation and the planet. SUN ‘N FUN While this is all going on 51 weeks out of the year, there is one week you may have heard about it’s the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo. If you plan on going for the first time, you’re in for a loud treat. It’s one of the biggest aviation fly-ins in the world that welcomes over 200,000 people annually. It’s also the biggest fundraiser for the Aerospace Center for Excellence and its programs. “That one week of the year helps fund what we do 51 weeks of the year, which is our mission,” said Crump. The Aerospace Expo runs from March 28 through April 2 this year, and you don’t want to miss the excitement. The week-long event contains hot air balloons, Warbirds, fireworks, vintage aircraft, and a 5K race where the proceeds benefit the Lakeland AeroClub (a high school flying club that teaches high school and college-age students how to build, restore and fly airplanes, as well as the Women in Aviation, Heart of Florida Chapter). Catch the United States Navy Blue Angels performing stunts and demonstrating amazing teamwork in the air. The Expo is packed with talent and loud entertainment. THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT Does the ACE campus have any UFO aircraft stored away in one of their secret warehouses? Of course, I had to ask. “That’s classified,” said Crump as he laughed. What I did find out is that new events and projects are on their way to the ACE campus. A new speaker series will be introduced, inviting people like NOAA hurricane hunters, so kids can learn and ask questions about what it’s like to fly through a hurricane. Wings and Waffles, a Saturday program, is geared toward the adult audience in which you can listen to various people and hear about their impact on the aviation industry. The future for the ACE campus is bright, and the leadership there is just a part of the reason. The volunteers, staff, and mission all come together to help keep the operation going in the right direction. “Our goal here is to increase opportunities in aviation for everybody,” Crump said. They want to share this campus with everyone and introduce students and kids to a new career they have yet to learn about or maybe even a new hobby. Inspiring and creating possibilities is what the Aerospace Center for Excellence is all about, and I hope you go check them out. Photography by Nate Schaller Aerospace Center for Excellence 4075 James C. Ray Dr., Lakeland aceedu.org FB @AerospaceCenterForExcellence IG @aerospacecenterforexcellence SUN ‘n FUN flysnf.org FB @FlySNF IG @flysnf

“I’m of the opinion that if my creative work is making people feel anything – I’m doing it right,” said Lakeland-based visual artist Sara Savannah Jones. Emotion is the nucleus of the 28-year-old’s work. Her pieces are engrossing and cool, and mystifying. Working primarily with acrylic paints, Jones uses found objects, photography, drawing, painting, and recycled materials. She notes in the ‘About Me’ on her website, “I find that using recycled canvas and “found” surfaces are an essential technique to convey humanity in my work.” Born and raised in Lakeland, Jones is a resident artist at ART/ifact Studios, serves as the vendor coordinator for Buena Market, and is a K-12 teacher at the Cygnet School, heading up their art department. Jones’ Instagram bio reads in part, “World’s greatest hotdog artist,” an inside joke she said has gone too far. But she’s not wrong – her hotdog paintings are superior. In addition to originals and prints, Jones accepts commissions for album covers. “It’s a lot more fun than people asking me to paint their dog’s portrait,” she joked. Jones has created album art for a number of local bands and musicians, including her sister, Emily Ledford, Rover, Revel in the View, Bobby Hawk, Kevin Sumner, Joe Black, and most recently, Liquid Pennies, out of St. Pete. Jones is inspired by New York-based artist Kehinde Wiley and noted an affinity for the vaporwave aesthetic. “My dad’s a graphic designer, and that had a huge impact on what I do,” she said. Her style heavily emphasizes color theory. “With my acrylic paintings, I’m not blending my colors – I’m layering them,” Jones explained. She even has tattoos depicting CMYK and RGB color theories. These elements and influences have culminated into her present style, and “I hope it keeps changing,” she said. BACKGROUND Photography was an early preoccupation for Jones. She would fill up the disposable cameras gifted to her by her parents. A homeschooled student until the ninth grade, she hoped to go to Harrison School for the Arts for photography but wasn’t admitted into the visual arts program. She instead attended Lakeland High School. “The art teachers there absolutely changed my life,” Jones said. She sunk her teeth into the school’s art offerings, taking classes in graphic design, art history, digital and film photography, ceramics, painting, and beyond. In high school, Jones met surreal photomontage photographer Jerry Uelsmann. She said of the film photographer, who passed away last April, “His work is layered. It looks like they’ve been Photoshopped – the base of a tree that turns into a house – but he’s done all of it in the darkroom.” Hopeful and hungry, Jones asked Uelsmann for any advice he had to give. “He told me to always work from an emotional basis.” The advice was somewhat of an epiphany. At the time, Jones approached her art through the lens of what would work aesthetically. “I started thinking about how I could turn a thought or an emotion or something that I was going through into something that was represented abstractly in a visual way.” Small-scale acrylic works remained central after she graduated. When the pandemic hit, Jones explored a larger format, something she has gained traction with in the last few years but found herself still looking to ‘break in’ to the art scene. “I noticed in Lakeland, especially after Covid, that there was nowhere for artists to go after they graduate,” she said. After participating in a show at ART/ifact, Jones was offered a resident space at the studio. She shares her spot with studio roommate, florist Bethany Lynam of Golden Wild. ART/ifact founder Eli Hults asked Jones if she wanted to do a solo show shortly after she took up residency at the studio. “But then Roe v. Wade was overturned, and I was feeling very much like not wanting to talk about myself. So, I put on the Punks for Planned Parenthood show.” The art show fundraiser amassed nearly $3,000 to donate to Planned Parenthood. The show also introduced new artists to the studio, and like Jones, they wanted in. “I love love love Lakeland. I can see myself living here forever, and I want to see the scene change,” Jones said. “It’s been dominated for a while by a lot of the same artists. And that’s great; I want everyone to find success. But I want everyone to have a chance for that.” So, she partnered with VOLUME Art Collective to produce another show called ‘BREAKING IN!’  The exhibit boasted over 50 visual artists of varying mediums, many of whom had never publicly displayed their work. Pursuing art seriously since age 14, Jones finds herself 14 years later, finally established. “It often can feel like the arts community is something you can’t break into unless you attach yourself to someone else,” Jones said. That sentiment catalyzed the BREAKING IN! art show at ART/ifact. “I love the underground arts community. A lot of the artists came to me and told me that they didn’t feel welcome to display their art because it wasn’t what you see around here traditionally. I want to uplift those people and give them more opportunities.” A NETWORK OF WOMEN The BREAKING IN! art show was orchestrated almost exclusively by women. Asked about her experience as a female artist on the local scene, Jones prefaced that she didn’t have a bone to pick with the arts community and certainly didn’t think she had the correct or only vision for its direction, but that it had been tough, especially in Lakeland. “It’s been a male-dominated arts community for a very long time. All the galleries were owned by men, all of the successful artists were men, most of the murals were painted by men,” she said. “It’s been a challenge. Other male artists love to give me unsolicited advice. I’m happy that you want to help, but I’ve found a level of success that I want, and I’m not trying to pursue anything greater than that.” “I try to keep myself close with women,” Jones said. She called her mom, Tracy Jones, “the most beautiful feminist I know,” adding, “She always inspired me to be myself, whatever that looked like, and it looked like a lot of different things growing up.” Women like Buena Market creator Stephanie Bernal and Art Crawl founder Ellen Chastain have also been influential to the artist. Bernal empowered Jones to start putting on events, and of Chastain, Jones said, “She’s always given me constructive criticism and talked to me about how my art has grown.” She is surrounded by other creative, powerful female forces like her studio roommate, Bethany Lynam, sister Emily Ledford, and VOLUME Art Collective founder, Sunny Balliette. Jones said of fellow ART/ifact resident artist Morgan Patterson of Patterson Tattoos, “I call her the best business bitch I know because she’s extremely intelligent and has a huge focus on making a safe and accepting space to get a tattoo.” And, of course, she would be remiss not to mention Cygnet School Director Dr. Wendy Bradshaw. “She’s fed me, housed me, given me a job. She’s a powerhouse.” QUEEN OF CMYK A large, bright piece demanding space and attention in Jones’ ART/ifact studio sits unfinished, ready for the next element to be painted. When asked about approaching her work from an emotional basis, as advised by Jerry Uelsmann, this is the painting that came to Jones’ mind. She fished the heavy 4x4 wooden canvas from a dumpster and got to work on what has become an homage to her support system. The painting features a magenta background (one of her favorite colors) with CMYK along the left side and a melange of painted objects given to her by a friend or acquaintance or left at her house. “Each item exists in real life and represents a person in my life or someone who has passed through my life,” she said. “I’ve been working on it for years because I keep meeting new people who mean something to me.” Asked if the work had a title, Jones replied, “It doesn’t. I feel like maybe I’ll title it once it’s done, but I also don’t think it will ever be done.” When browsing her portfolio, one painting that caught my eye was entitled “Big Fish Boy,” depicting a shirtless man holding a fish. As absorbing as the painting is, its backstory is even more so. Jones used to live in a historic duplex in Dixieland. The house had a detached garage in the backyard full of personal things left behind by previous tenants. The artist decided to poke around and found a gallon Ziplock bag of old family photos. “I thought it was cool to look into these strangers’ lives,” Jones said. She drew the images that she especially loved, of which “Big Fish Boy” was one. She created an entire Polaroid series on this stranger, based on the abandoned photos with notes written on the back, which she used to title her pieces, like ‘Auction School’ and ‘Chris, Night Before Our Wedding.’ “I thought those were so beautiful and sad that they were left behind,” she said. “I love being able to solidify a memory or some kind of nostalgia in my pieces.” HOLDING THE DOOR FOR OTHER ARTISTS “I’ve found the best way to find success is by lifting up other creatives, so that’s the direction I’m trying to go in,” Jones said. She joined the ART/ifact administrative board several months ago. “I wanted to see life in here, and I wanted people to have opportunities, and be around their peers, and have a hub and a place to talk.” “I’m so thankful for Eli because here they understand that struggle, and I feel like together we’re going to put on a lot more shows that feel like they’re for everyone and create a safe space where you don’t have to tack yourself to a man who’s already found success here,” Jones said. Jones noted an almost requisite part of any change in the arts community will be embracing art you’re not used to and “creating a space for art that you’re not used to calling art. [...] You don’t have to like it, but if it makes you feel something, then it’s doing its job.” Reach out to Sara Savannah Jones through Instagram or email to purchase originals and prints or inquire about commissioning an album cover. Photography by Amy Sexson IG @sara.savannah.jones sara.savannah.jones@gmail.com sarasavannahjones.wixsite.com

When Jhoanna Mukai moved from her home in the Philippines to San Diego, California, at 12 years old, she described it as a culture shock. Once she settled in and the shock subsided, Mukai discovered she loved going to new places and trying new things. That same curiosity and contentment with present circumstances have carried on for the middle school science teacher and yoga instructor. From San Diego, the family moved to San Francisco, and Mukai eventually moved to Sin City to attend the University of Nevada Las Vegas. After college, sapped by the club scene, she decided it was time for another change. So, to Puerto Rico she went, where she first tried yoga. A runner slowed down by recurring shin splints, Mukai was looking for an alternative workout. It started as an exercise, and the poses were fun, but it soon transcended that. “I started with Ashtanga Yoga, and that was kicking my butt – that was the first class I took,” she said. “I just kept coming back. I felt really good after, to the point where I’d leave class, and I’d be crying. It got emotional and spiritual, so I explored it more.” Yoga wasn’t the only thing Mukai was introduced to in Puerto Rico. There she met her now ex-husband, an Auburndale native. “I’m grateful for him because he brought me here,” she said. The pair moved to Tampa, Auburndale, and now Mukai lives in Winter Haven. She’s happily engaged and has one dog and 13 spayed/neutered outside cats. “I consider myself a cat rescue now,” she joked. When she moved to the area, Mukai started classes with Inside Out Yoga instructor Jody Reece. “I decided to do YTT (Yoga Teacher Training) just so I could share it. I feel like I’m a sharer.”  The yogic philosophies and principles resonated with Mukai. “Beyond the physical [aspect] of yoga, there’s a lot that I wanted to share with others. Yes, it’s good for balance and strengthening, but also more of that acceptance – that peace of mind.” Her instruction is imbued with that same repose. “That’s what I tell people when they come to class,” she said. “You don’t have to be perfect. Just show up.” Vinyasa and Yin are Mukai’s preferred styles of yoga. “Vinyasa, it’s like the flow, like the power yoga – it challenges you. It’s more of a workout for a lot of people, and I think people resonate with that,” she explained. Yin adversely is a slow-paced practice focused on sustained holds. Describing Yin as mentally challenging, Mukai said, “The practice is to be in the present moment. When that mind wanders, let’s bring it back here.” Seeking mindfulness herself and helping her students navigate the same, Mukai said, “It sounds simple, but I think that’s more difficult than the poses themselves. The mind is a muscle, it’s stubborn, but I think training the mind is more challenging than doing a standing balancing pose.” Teaching middle school and yoga are entwined for Mukai. “Even in teaching kids, there’s something called differentiated instructions where you have to cater to what the kids need. It’s the same thing with yoga – just the understanding that we’re different and approaching it where it would work for the person or the student.” Beyond the meat and potatoes – mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell to middle schoolers and mindfulness at the yoga studio – Mukai hopes to impart independence and curiosity to all her students. “Be you. Do what you can. Don’t try to be anyone else. [...] Be curious about yourself and the world around you.” Even when things don’t work out initially, “There are so many different ways to get on top of the mountain. Find your path.” Much of Mukai’s wisdom was shared with her by her mother. She learned most from her mother to be happy. “I think for me living in that kind of world – a third world country, there’s poverty everywhere, but [still] feeling happy and loved at the same time,” she said. Watching her mother move fearlessly from the Philippines to California, Mukai said, “It inspired me to explore, to be strong, and take risks. Even if it doesn’t work out, it’s okay to come back to where you were before.” Another thing Mukai admires about her mom is her self-assuredness, describing her as the kind of person to “sing with the band at Grove Roots (like, on the microphone)” and the first to dance at a party or take food home at the end. Attending a recent gathering where they didn’t know anyone, “She was having a great time talking to people and encouraging them to eat the Filipino food she cooked,” said Mukai. “She was loud and unapologetic. It was not the first time I was embarrassed by her confidence. I’ve had to elbow her a few times, but everyone always seems to welcome her energy. [...] I need a little more of that courage.” She encourages other women to take her mother’s lead in that regard. “[Don’t] be afraid to take a risk, to try something new or scary. Even if the plan doesn’t work out, accept that it wasn’t meant to be. Know when to keep trying or when to let it go. I got that from my mom. I just thought that’s an important lesson for everyone.” It’s as simple as doing what makes you happy. “That’s the path to take.” Asked if she’d found her path, Mukai replied, “It’s constantly evolving. So, yes. I’m trying to listen and reflect about what would make me happy now.” Photograph by Amy Sexson

It’s been a year since Lakeland Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Amy Wiggins stepped into that role. We sat down with the Chamber president to discuss the past year, her career, Lakeland’s female leaders, and the women who influenced her along the way. Growing up in Plant City before the town had a movie theater led to plenty of time spent in Lakeland. Wiggins fell in love with the community and attended school at Florida Southern College, where she earned a degree in religion with a concentration on Christian education. She now lives in Lakeland with her husband of nine years, Michael Guerrero, and their retired greyhound. PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND After college Wiggins joined the YMCA of West Central Florida as the teen development director. She emphasized the impact of her time working for then YMCA of West Central Florida President and CEO Alice Collins and what she learned about volunteer management. “She was always so encouraging to me to get involved,” Wiggins said of Collins. Collins’ encouragement spurred a recurring theme of civic engagement in Wiggins’ life. She is the past president of the Polk Arts Alliance and the Polk County Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association and is currently serving on the Board of Directors for Lakeland and Polk Vision and is a member of the Lakeland Mayor’s Council on the Arts. Following her time at the YMCA, Wiggins served as a membership executive for the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce and for five years as their vice president of communications. She left the Chamber to join the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra (previously the Imperial Symphony Orchestra) as executive director in 2015, where she stayed for seven years.  The Symphony gave Wiggins proximity to music and the arts – an interest since she was young. She loved ballet growing up but gave that up in favor of marching band, becoming the drum major in her junior high school band. “I love music, and I love the arts, and I recognize how important arts and culture are to a community,” Wiggins said. “If we’re not directly involved on a personal level every day, we tend to take for granted how much music means to us, or how important it is to have an outstanding parks and recreation system, or how beautiful it is to look at a mural, but it’s nice to be awe-inspired on occasion. I think it’s good for our health.” CHAMBER ACCOMPLISHMENTS Last March, Wiggins rejoined the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce as President and CEO. She hit the ground running, hiring people and creating new positions, and fully staffing the Chamber as of January 1, 2023. “I’m proud of the folks that we’ve brought on,” Wiggins said. “We’ve created several new positions to help us meet the mission of the Chamber a little more intentionally.” One such new position belongs to Director of Business Resources, Takiyah Dixon. “It is her job to aggregate and promote all of the resources and educational workshops that are available to our business community,” Wiggins said. “There are so many free resources available to small business owners that folks don’t know about. If we can do a better job of promoting those, then that helps our small businesses become more successful and more competitive.” Under Wiggins, the Chamber has also partnered with Lakeland Vision to bring back the Education Committee, which aims to “identify current resource gaps, connect stakeholders to education partners with clear goals, expectations, and processes, and to promote “good news” stories of educational success and partnership milestones.” “Lakeland Vision has had an Education Committee just about since its inception, and the Chamber really has too, but we had kind of gotten away from that,” Wiggins said. “We know that we are growing our future workforce. It’s critically important for them to have the skills – both technical skills and critical thinking skills – that are going to make them great employees and want to stay in our community. The more engaged our businesses can be in developing the curriculum and letting the kids and parents know that they care about them, the better off we’re all going to be.” The Chamber president also noted the value of sharing the success of local schools with one example. “Students engaged in fine arts in Polk County Schools have a 100 percent graduation rate – that’s something we should be shouting from the rooftops. That’s incredible.” Last year, the Chamber also launched a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee to “educate, lead and influence businesses on creating diverse workforces, inclusive workplaces and equitable opportunities that help all communities thrive.”  Wiggins said the Committee is “focusing on how we better connect our small businesses with our large purchasers. What are we doing to build those relationships, but also what are we doing to strengthen our small businesses so they’re in a place where they can be competitive in bidding for large contracts.” WOMEN LEADERS IN LAKELAND “We are fortunate here in Lakeland to have an incredible network of women leaders who are supportive and encouraging,” Wiggins said. While attending a groundbreaking ceremony the week prior, the Chamber president stood in a row amongst a commanding group of women – Commissioner Stephanie Madden, Senior Vice President of the LEDC Katie Worthington Decker, LDDA Executive Director Julie Townsend, and CRA Manager Valerie Ferrell. “More than one person commented on what a powerhouse row that was, and I don’t know that we’ve ever been in that space before. It’s really exciting that regardless of who we are, we’re being celebrated as leaders and difference-makers in the community. I’m excited about my peers,” Wiggins said. Wiggins raved about her ten years working at the Chamber with Kathleen Munson. “There are very few women in this community that have had a greater impact on, especially the business community and Lakeland’s quality of life, than Kathleen. I have incredible respect for her, and I really do owe her a lot. As a mentor, she helped me learn things I didn’t know that I didn’t know, which I think is always a tremendous mark of a mentor.” The Lakeland Chamber president had advice for young women with sights set on leadership, including maintaining integrity and staying true to yourself. “The hardest lesson to learn – and I say this as someone who is still learning it – is listening. [...] I think about the people that have been in rooms with me who have garnered the most respect, and they are often the folks who said the least,” Wiggins said. “We as women have such unique abilities to process information and to notice things. One of our superpowers is listening, noticing, and paying attention. The more we do that, the more we can bring people together in consensus. I think we’re in a space now in our community that we need to do that.” Photograph by Amy Sexson

Bartow brothers and founders of the Luster African American Heritage Museum, Charles Luster and Dr. Harvey Lester say their commitment to community enrichment was a seed planted by their father. He taught them the importance of giving back, and the pair have spent a lifetime doing so and planting seeds of their own. “Sometimes when you plant a seed, it doesn’t grow immediately – some things take years to grow,” Luster said. Dr. Harvey Lester graduated from Union Academy High School in 1966. Three days later, he joined the military, where he spent 30 years and three months. Lester worked in logistics, infantry, and as a lay pastor in the service and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, a Master’s degree in Family Counseling, and a Ph.D. in Theology. The Vietnam veteran was honored with a Purple Heart and retired as a Sergeant Major. He returned to Polk County in 1996. Dr. Lester served as a chaplain at Winter Haven Hospital and Lakeland Regional Medical Center and pastored a church in Plant City. He was later inducted into the Bartow and Union High School Halls of Fame. Lester’s oldest brother, Charles Luster, was born in 1941. Luster, also a Union Academy graduate, worked for Polk General Hospital as the first African American Environmental Manager and retired after 34 years. Luster also retired from the school system after 30 years. “I did that working 16 hours a day for 30 years,” he said. He rejoined the school system and has worked for the last 25 years as a part-time custodian. “This way, I have extra money to buy things for the museum,” Luster said. Many of the artifacts throughout the Luster African American Heritage Museum were purchased with money Luster has made working for the school. LUSTER-ALL PASTORAL CARE AND CULTURAL CENTER “It actually started with our father, who said we’ve got to give something back,” Luster said. “He was very faithful and believed in God and believed in serving and said we always had to care for others as well as ourselves,” Lester said. “Even though we were poor, we were saying, what can we do [to help others]?” This seed was planted in the brothers who sowed knowledge into the community. “We believe that knowledge is power,” Luster said. “We have a purpose here. It has allowed us to do anything we want to do, but there’s a certain thing that God wants us to do. To me, this is my blessing to give out this knowledge. It’s no good if I don’t give it away.” When Dr. Harvey Lester returned home, he told his brother they were going to start a nonprofit providing education and a cultural museum. Lester oversaw the school and Luster the museum curation, and the two came together to run them both. The brothers established Luster-All Pastoral Care and Cultural Center in 1996 as a nonprofit program that would “provide for the underserved and under-educated residents of Polk County so they may have an opportunity to experience educational success and achieve economic independence through vocational training and job placement, construction technology, culinary arts, health education, family counseling, community development, and cultural enrichment programs.” The program trained students for over twenty years with a 95% services and vocational training completion rate and a 90% job placement rate. “We have done well even with a shoestring budget for twenty-something years. We’ve trained well over a thousand people,” Lester said. Luster-All students have gone on to contribute to the community as nurse practitioners and registered nurses, earn advanced degrees in radiology and catering, provide military service, and start their own businesses. “We are grateful for that,” Lester said. “Every now and then, some come back and say we are a Luster-All girl or a Luster-All boy.” Luster-All Training Center of Hope received various awards and recognitions over the years, including two Polk County proclamations in 2004 and 2017, a Spirit of Bartow Award, and recognition from the Florida Department of Health Board of Nursing for a 100% graduation rate in 2014 compared to the State of Florida graduation rate of 63.5%. Luster-All was honored with the Florida Association of Postsecondary School and College (FAPSC) School of the Year Award in 2006-2007, an honorable mention letter from Governor Jeb Bush, and a congratulatory letter from Governor Charlie Crist. Though the school closed in 2020 due to a lack of funding, its impact over more than two decades is measurable in more than lives changed. According to the Luster-All Training Center of Hope and Cultural Center, “Student taxable income earned over the past 21 years has amounted to $18M in the county.” While launching the school, the brothers began developing the Luster African American Heritage Museum with the goal “to educate the public about the importance of the African American historical legacy in Polk County and the Central Florida region by empowering and enriching visitors with knowledge of the extensive and valuable contributions African Americans have made to Polk County, the State of Florida, and our nation.” The Luster African American Heritage Museum opened at the old Polk General Hospital, where it stayed for almost six years. It has moved several times over the years, but has settled into a more permanent home on Summerlin Street in Bartow. TURNING A PAGE History has no value if you don’t learn from it,” Dr. Lester said. That’s why the brothers have worked to provide the community with this cultural resource. The museum’s layout flows like a book, chapter by chapter of African American history, atrocity, contribution, art, and excellence. Charles Luster was deliberate with its layout. “It’s like turning a page. First, we’re going to go into Africa itself,” he said. “Most museums start with slavery and go on, but we started with Africa for the African American people to know their DNA. Once you know where you come from, then you know who you are,” he said. Exhibits flow from the great kings of Africa to African trades and cultures. Beyond a beaded partition, relics including intricately adorned instruments, tools, ebony wood, statues, photographs, and detailed information about people, events, traditions, and customs line the room. “It’s a reading museum,” Luster explained. “You have to come many times.” Just outside that exhibit room is a sizable replica slave ship. Luster crafted figures to represent enslaved Africans, illustrating revoltingly inhumane conditions. “They were packed in the ship like sardines,” he said. “Any space they had a space, they put them in.” Another exhibit details slavery and plantation life. “People say slaves were taken from Africa. This is not true. People were taken from Africa and made into slaves,” Luster said. Luster moved on, past Nat Turner and Harriet Tubman to a section of ‘Bartow Notables.’ He pointed to photographs of African American doctors, city commissioners, judges, veterans, principals, mayors, builders, trailblazers, and city founders. He pointed out Bartow’s Palm Theatre and dance hall, built by successful businessman Tom Burnett which drew crowds from surrounding communities, as far as Tampa, every Friday to see musicians like Sam Cooke, Muddy Waters, BB King, and James Brown. An exhibit on segregation includes anti-Black imagery and racist stereotypes like Jim Crow dolls, “mammy” caricatures, and dehumanizing advertisements. Luster and Lester attended Union Academy, a then-segregated school, and had many personal accounts of racial oppression to share. “Know your history but don’t let it be a burden to you,” Luster said. “It’s not only my history. We say, ‘African American history,’ but it’s American history.” He motioned to a copy of “The Green Book,” a guide for African American travelers. “I remember when we were kids, my dad would say, ‘Get up, it’s time to go,’ and I’d say, ‘It’s 5 o’clock in the morning.’” Young Luster wondered why they had to leave so early. “He didn’t tell us that we had to be at a certain place at a certain time. If you weren’t at this place at this time, you can’t eat today because the Black restaurant would close.” Then there were the cruelties of Jim Crow “etiquette.” “I couldn’t walk down the sidewalk holding my wife’s hand, and that’s my wife. But that was a law,” Luster said. “You learn all this stuff, and then you have to go through life. PTSD, I think we had that before the war. It was little things.” Studying the exhibit on civil rights lined with photos of great leaders and speakers like Martin Luther King Jr., Luster shared a story. “My sister got baptized in a lake because churches didn’t have a pool at that time,” he said. “The whites would get baptized on one side of the lake, and the Blacks would get baptized on the other side of the lake. Same water, but we couldn’t get baptized in the same spot.” Another sprawling exhibit dedicated to the military acknowledges the contributions of Black service members and military heroes throughout history, including the Buffalo Soldiers, Tuskegee Airmen, and Triple Nickles. “Do you know who that is?” Charles asked, nodding to a photo of two uniformed military men. It was Harvey Lester and Charles’s son. The pair were in the military simultaneously. The Luster African American Heritage Museum’s media center has some 500 books available for check-out and a computer for students to do research. The next room is dedicated to education, including the brothers’ alma mater, Union Academy, a Rosenwald school built in 1928. Luster remembered being taught by the first white teachers at his school in the late sixties. The room displays school desks, a typewriter, and abounding yearbook photos of accomplished graduates and athletes. “We had a powerhouse football team,” Luster said. The Union Academy running back hoped for a tough nickname like ‘Tiger,’ ‘Killer,’ or ‘Big Red.’ “I wanted a name like that, but they called me ‘Sweet Thang’ because I weighed about 145 lbs,’” he said, prompting a laugh from his brother. In addition to its many exhibitions, the museum has a lecture room where they hold talks and show movies. Lester, Luster, and museum volunteers also give back through community events. Before New Year’s, they gave out collard greens sourced from a Black farmer and black-eyed peas and cornbread donated by the Mulberry Walmart. On Sunday, February 5, 2023, from 1-4 pm, the museum, in partnership with Main Street Bartow, will host a “Drum Circle” celebration honoring Olushola Camaro. The free community event will feature food and retail vendors, dancing in the street, and Kuumba Dancers and Drummers. Bring your lawn chairs. Admission to the museum is free, but donations are appreciated. The only funding the Luster African American Heritage Museum receives is a small stipend from a Statewide Network of African American education organizations, contributions from Black Voters Matter, and patron donations used for curation, development of the exhibits, and planned educational programs. Poignant words posted towards the museum exit read, “History is not for you to like or not like. It is there for you to learn from it, and if it offends you, even better because you are less likely to repeat it. It’s not yours to erase. It belongs to us all.” Photographs by Amy Sexson Luster African American Heritage Museum 585 E Summerlin St, Bartow (863) 800-6872 FB: African American Heritage Museum laahm.org

Black History Month began as a way of remembering important people and events in African communities across the world. The United States observes this month during February each year, and Winter Haven has built a new tradition by bringing the remembrance close to home. After the cancelling of key Black History Month events in 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conversations spurred amongst City staff about other ways to commemorate this important celebration. That is when the idea to line the parade route with banners honoring Black heroes came to light. Bringing the Tradition Home The original banners showcased national heroes from Black history such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Aretha Franklin, but Winter Haven has a rich history of local black heroes who have made an impact in the local community. In 2021, a committee was formed to identify and honor local Black heroes. The community submitted nominations to the group, and four outstanding honorees were selected. Those local heroes each blazed new trails while demonstrating passion, dedication, and empathy or compassion for the community, and this year’s honorees have done the exact same. Ernestine Mason Davis has made a lasting impact in the community due to her roles as a local, state, and national civil rights leader, community organizer, and philanthropist, and by volunteering countless hours to serve on local boards and committees. The Week of January 30, 2023, will be Ernestine Mason Davis Week in the City of Winter Haven. Mildred Bennett Foster made her impact in the community through her years as a music teacher, choral coordinator, community activist, businesswoman, and champion for youth development. The Week of February 6, 2023, will be Mildred Bennett Foster Week in the City of Winter Haven. Althea Margaret Daily Mills cemented her place in the history of the community through her work as an advocate for equality in education, a postal manager, and a civil rights leader. The Week of February 13, 2023, will be Althea Margaret Daily Mills Week in the City of Winter Haven. Charles R. Richardson Sr. forged a legacy within this community through his work as an educational administrator, City Commissioner, Mayor, County Commissioner, and all-around public servant. The Week of February 20, 2023, will be Charles R. Richardson Sr. Week in the City of Winter Haven. George & Seretha Tinsley together have created a lasting impact within the community due to their shared legacy as business leaders, philanthropists, mentors, and champions for youth development. The Week of February 27, 2023, will be George & Seretha Tinsley Week in the City of Winter Haven.