Perspectives WFSU Public Media

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

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

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

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

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

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