Peter Kageyama, award-winning author of "For the Love of Cities: The Love Affair Between People and Their Places," "Love Where You Live: Creating Emotionally Engaging Places" and "The Emotional Infrastructure of Places" is Dr. Tomalin's guest. "The relationship we have with our place is very much like the relationship we have with other people," says the 27-year resident of St. Petersburg. "It needs constant attention, and nurturing, and hopefully moving forward." He is the former President of Creative Tampa Bay, a grassroots community change organization, and the co-founder of the Creative Cities Summit, an interdisciplinary conference that brings citizens and practitioners together around the big idea of "the city."
I always tell people I love St. Pete. And I will make the argument St. Pete is the best city in Florida."
Parking will sort itself out. You create a great enough destination, people will walk to it. They'll figure out they gotta park two whole blocks away. Nobody ever loved a city because you have parking."
Dr. Kanika Tomalin is a thought leader, policy-maker, community ambassador, and health advocate.
As the first African-American, female Deputy Mayor and City Administrator of one of Florida’s largest cities, Dr. Kanika Tomalin is a role model for women from all walks of life and an advocate for innovative policies, equitable community revitalization, healthy families, at-risk youth and education.
Her signature initiative, Healthy St. Pete, which launched in 2014, has made community health a priority and impacts the lives of thousands of Sunshine City residents. By creating access to healthy food options, implementing free fitness zones in city parks and adding resources for individuals and families to make healthy living easier – Dr. Tomalin has made a tangible difference.
Dr. Tomalin’s understanding of the critical role health plays as a determinant of overall quality of life was shaped prior to her career in the public sector. She quickly climbed the ranks in the healthcare industry, most recently serving as the regional vice president of External Affairs for the Bayfront Health Network and director of Strategy for Health Management Associates’ 23-hospital Florida Group.
