211 Tampa Bay Cares will host a virtual town hall discussion on Oct. 30, 2020 from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. about the size, scope and impact of evictions in Pinellas County, which is expected to be significant as the Covid-19 eviction moratorium expires. Panelists include Tampa Bay Cares CEO Micki Thompson, Duggan Cooley, CEO at the Pinellas Community Foundation, Tiffany Coleman, staff attorney at Bay Area Legal Services and Eric Garduno, government affairs director at Bay Area Apartment Association. During the discussion, panelists will also outline the supply and gaps in resources available to help tenants, landlords, area businesses and nonprofits as they navigate this challenge. To register, click here.
Healthy St. Pete has launched a Healthier Together certification program to promote wellness, encourage the adoption of healthy behaviors and establish supportive communities. This certification process recognizes St. Petersburg workplaces and neighborhoods for their outstanding efforts in contributing to making St. Petersburg a healthy place to live, shop, eat and play. The Healthier Together Workplace Certification is appropriate for workplaces of all sizes from locally owned startups to international companies with locations in St. Petersburg. Nonprofits and workplaces are welcome to apply by clicking here.
The Suncoast Developers Guild, a hub for tech education and community engagement, has created a Night Shift program, a flexible part-time evening course that trains students in programming and web development. In response to increased interest, the new classes will allow SDG to offer an alternative schedule with increased accessibility for students who cannot commit 12 weeks to the full-time Immersive program. By extending the program with part-time, after-hours classes, students can begin to learn coding without having to leave their current job first. The program will begin Dec. 8 and will last for 36 weeks. Classes will be held two nights per week and delivered exclusively online. The next 12-week full-time Immersive course begins on January 4, 2021. SDG offers alternative financing options, as well as scholarships. For more information about courses and registration, visit https://suncoast.io.
The Duke Energy Foundation is powering Florida communities with nearly $260,000 in grants to fund accessibility to the arts, promote diversity and inclusion, and address storm preparedness and Covid-19 challenges. Three grant recipients in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area received $15,000 each. They are the Clearwater Jazz Holiday, to support the virtual Journey through Jazz afterschool program in economically challenged communities; the Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg to support free virtual lessons for grades 1 to 12 to promote civility and embracing differences between people; and the John Morroni Legacy Foundation, to support a first responder mental health initiative. A $50,000 grant went to Prospera, an economic development organization based in Orlando and offering bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs trying to establish or expand their business. Other grants went to organizations in Orlando, Tallahassee and Gainesville. The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) customers live and work.
Roll to the Polls, an initiative to encourage voter turnout sponsored by the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, Women Talk Black, the Tampa Bay Rays and more than 60 other community organizations, kicks off Saturday (Oct. 17) at 10:30 a.m. with a rally and a motorcade where volunteers will wave signs and knock on doors to remind residents to vote. On Oct. 24 and Oct. 31 at 1:30, residents are invited to gather at Tropicana’s Lot 4 to "Roll to the Polls" on bikes, golf carts, skates and in personal vehicles. Beginning Oct. 19 through Nov. 1, the Trop will serve as a drive-through location for voters to drop off ballots. A designated member of the Supervisor of Elections office will manage the daily operation of the site.
The Mosaic Company Foundation said it will invest $100,00 over five years to Tampa Bay Thrives, an organization focused on increasing mental health awareness and access to services. Tampa Bay Thrives, previously called West Central Florida Mental Wellness Coalition, is a diverse group of local leaders in the area who work in industries and communities greatly affected by mental health and substance abuse. Tampa Bay Thrives mobilizes the community to strengthen behavioral health outcomes for depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, with a focus on improving early intervention, access and awareness, a news release said. In Tampa Bay and West Central Florida, one in six people live with depression, one in 12 has a substance use disorder and suicide and overdose rates continue to rise. The area covered by this coalition is underserved for mental health and substance abuse resources, the news release said. The Mosaic Company (NYSE:MOS) is a Tampa-based crop nutrient producer and marketer.
The St. Pete Catalyst is dedicated to helping residents get involved in the community through our Impact Connector. Own a restaurant, grocery store or catering company? Donate excess food to a local charity or food scraps for compost through the Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger. Interested in giving to those in need? Reach St. Pete is current collecting items such as shorts, shirts and children's clothing supplies and diapers. Want to help support youth athletics? Sign up as a coach with Girls on the Run. If your organization is looking for volunteers, click here to submit your opportunity and we'll share it on our platform.
The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay has launched a “Mental Health First Aid” initiative to teach people in key roles how to identify, understand and respond to the mental health challenges in the community. The first aid course is nationally certified and is aimed at empowering people who work in public-facing roles to identify, understand and respond to signs of addictions and mental illness. The Foundation's goal is to train 5,000 people over the next three years and it will cover the cost of the course for people who work at nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, faith communities and other public service organizations across the Tampa Bay region. For more information, click here.
The Pinellas County Foundation announced Thursday that $2.6 million in CARES funding will be allocated to nine Pinellas County nonprofits to add to or enhance programs addressing the mental health impact of Covid-19. Among the organizations to receive funding are Directions for Living, The Well for Life, The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast and the Well for Life. Collectively, these program enhancements will reach 5,500 individuals, including first responders, youth and families and anyone experiencing high levels of anxiety and depression.
Dress for Success Tampa Bay will host its largest annual fundraiser, "Celebrating Success" Thursday, Oct. 15 from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. The event, which will be held virtually, will highlight the organization's achievements and will also include a silent auction and conversation with featured guest Patricia Nash, a handbag and accessory designer. Since its inception in 1998, Dress for Success Tampa Bay has provided interview attire for more than 25,000 women, along with job search assistance and training. To register, click here.
Goodwill Industries-Suncoast is one of six organizations that will share $2.9 million in federal funding to combat human trafficking in central Florida. The award is from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs and its Office of Victims of Crime. Goodwill Industries-Suncoast will receive $349,895, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. Other organizations receiving funding include Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice ($500,000); Citrus Health Network ($499,995); United Way of Pasco County ($498,000); Latisha's Home Foundaton Florida ($350,000); and Living Above the Noise ($681,966). The awards will help the organizations rescue, recover and assisting victims of human trafficking, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez said in the news release.
