Soul of Southside Festival

05/11/2024

I went live earlier with Nicole Everett and Tasha Carter, Insurance Consumer Advocate with Florida Department of Financial Services Insurance Consumer Advocate. This role is pivotal in times like these when weather results in damage and neighbors aren't quite sure how to navigate insurance claims. One thing that is clear- there are three types of situations that are exposed in the aftermath of a storm event:
- Those who are insured. These folks can usually call their insurance company, file a claim, and based on adjuster availability get their work completed with payment of a deductible.
- Those who are under-insured. These folks have a basic policy that may not cover certain things or provide sufficient or complete coverage of repair/restoration costs;
- Those who have NO insurance. These are folks who own their property outright or are renters and do not have insurance coverage on their real or personal property.

In the case of rampant damage like this, it is critical for landlords, homeowners, and tenants with contents policies to check in with their insurers. That is why you pay these disrespectful payment every month- so that when you need assistance you can tap into it.

We also discussed "storm opportunists" and straight up annoying scams that take place in communities recovering in the aftermath of a storm. A couple of points of caution:
- Do not sign anything from anybody. If they are not from your insurance company do not believe them.
- Verify those who come to your door as a public official and trusted community advocates. The City/County know who these people are and they have information to verify the identity of active community folks who are in place to help.
- DO NOT HIRE UNLICENSED, UNINSURED PEOPLE to work on
your home. They should be able to produce a General Liability Policy, Workers Comp (if more than one employee) and business registration. This is important- if you do not ensure they have liability coverage, they could become a LIABILITY for you and possibly sue you if they get hurt doing your job.

There is a wealth of information available to get the business of recovery underway- check out FDFS website here https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/ica/meetyourica and learn more about the role of Florida's Insurance Consumer Advocate and more resources available to Floridians facing weather-related crises.
Here is a link to today's conversation https://www.linkedin.com/events/post-stormrecoveryintlh-whatnei7194791793366892544/theater/ ... let's recover together.

Florida's Insurance Consumer Advocate Tasha Carter is The Voice for Florida's Insurance Consumers.

01/25/2024

🔌 Today, one in six U.S. households will receive a notice from their internet service providers that the Federal Communications Commission Affordable Connectivity Program is ending.

The ACP has connected nearly 23 million households, making affordable internet a reality instead of a luxury. Congress must act NOW to fund the ACP, one of the most successful federal programs in our ever-increasingly digital world.

What does this actually mean? It means that economically vulnerable neighbors in the Big Bend region who qualified to receive a $30 credit monthly via the Affordable Connectivity Program from their internet service provider will no longer receive this benefit. Yes, I know it seems like a handout to some, but internet service access as it was proved via COVID is a critical infrastructure need, particularly within our most marginalized communities. We saw learning, resource, and opportunity gaps widen due to digital inaccessibility... and it is the first resource that is cut off when families are experiencing economic scarcity.

Please join me and thousands of organizations and community technology advocates for Don’t Disconnect US Day by contacting your representative in Congress and urging them to fund the ACP before it’s too late: you can also visit www.dontdisconnectus.org for resources, call scripts, and more. Thank you in advance for your support!

11/22/2023

In Tallahassee-Leon County, we love our families and support our local businesses!!! Thank you WCTV.tv for this coverage.

The City of Tallahassee, FL - Government, Leon County Government, Sachs Media, Children's Services Council of Leon County, COCA / Tallahassee Arts, Soul of Southside Festival and Capital Health Plan presents our 2023 Family Day Celebration at Railroad Square!!!

Festivities kickoff at 10 am and includes free pancake breakfast until 11:45 am (or food runs out), face painting for kids, family and friends photos, and entertainment in the Railroad Square Art District Art Garden that features our Annual Community Lip Sync Competiton!

We are excited to announce a donation will be made to benefit Donate Life Florida this year, an organization dedicated to motivating Floridians to designate themselves as organ, tissue, and eye donors. No one ever expects that they will find themselves in a position to donate their organs, but it can happen. We are encouraging people to build a legacy for themselves and give life to others by visiting donatelifeflorida.org/register and signing up to be an organ donor today.

This is all going down on Friday morning... come out to support local businesses, learn about local resources, and fellowship with local families! For more information go online to www.FloridaFamilyDay.com

05/17/2023

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05/15/2023

Can't you see that we are 3 days away from 2023 Conference for Excellence in Nonprofit Management & Leadership?!

While our Conference is sold out, you can still register for the 2023 Leadership Tallahassee "Building Better Boards" Conference, presented by Big Bend Cares! It will follow immediately after this year's Conference, also at the FSU Turnbull Conference Center. Register today by clicking on the following link: https://bit.ly/3ZSx27t

05/13/2023

The Soul of Southside Festival will host our 3rd Annual "Evening of Remembrance" on Tuesday, May 16th at 5:30 pm at Parkview at Cascades Park (off Gadsden and Bloxham).
The purpose of the Soul of Southside Arts & Humanities Festival Evening of Remebrance is to honor and provide a forum of learning about the history of Tallahassee's Southside.

This year's forum topic "Exploring the Economic History of Tallahassee's South Side" will provide information, insight and discussion of the commercial value, population growth, and future projected economic development of Tallahassee's South Side. This forum will be power packed and highly informational!
✅ Opening Reception with performance by Ayoka Afrikan Drum and Dance;
✅ Presentation "Tallahassee's South Side: A Historic and Current Economic Overview" by Christic A. Henry;
✅ Community Forum moderated by Ms. Nicole Everett of Conversations With Nicole will feature dialogue and discussion with local academic thought leaders and national educators and historians:
- Dr. Tiffany Packer, Department Chair of History, Political Science, and African American Studies, Florida A&M University;
- Dr. Will Guzman, Assistant Vice Chancellor for International Programs and Community Engagement, North Carolina Central University;
- Dr. Marion McGee, Museum Program Specialist, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture;
- Dr. Ameenah Shakir, Assistant Professor, FAMU College of Education

Event is supported through funding and partnership with Florida Humanities, Visit Tallahassee, Leon Classroom Teachers Association, FSU Center for Leadership & Social Change, and Tallahassee African American Genealogical Society.

This event is FREE and OPEN to the public- please register to attend at https://bit.ly/ssremembrance ... it will also be live streamed via the Soul of Southside Festival page.

04/08/2023

Here’s something for Tallahassee foodies❣️
Thank you for the shout out Tallahassee Table!

05/26/2022

Thank you to everyone who attended the inaugural Soul of Southside 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run. Special thanks to our event partners Gulf Winds Track Club, Florida Blue, Tallahassee Memorial Hospital (TMH), and Florida A&M Institute of Public Health! Check out the pictures below of a phenomenal event.

05/26/2022

05/26/2022

DID YOU KNOW? This is John Elias Proctor. He was born free but was sold as a slave at a young age to pay off debts that his father had incurred. Despite that, John became a clergyman and served in the Florida Legislature House of Representatives, and lived to be 100 years old.