Yara Lugo from the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg recently participated in the 2025 Advanced Seminar for Holocaust educators. The intensive two-day academic program, hosted by the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, brought together Holocaust center staff from five states to explore critical topics related to the history of the Holocaust, as well as past and present antisemitism. Program coordinators said those who participated "gained an even deeper understanding of the history of the Holocaust, which will increase their effectiveness in the classroom and enable them to mentor other colleagues who teach the subject.”
Ellie Mental Health St. Petersburg is offering limited spots in a program that provides free therapy for local patients who are uninsured or underinsured. The program includes in-person or telehealth on a first-come, first-served basis. Those interested can call 813-508-7866 for screening to see if they qualify.
The City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority has partnered with the Florida Department of Transportation for the Connecting South St. Pete CRA (community redevelopment area) Study. The community-driven initiative will identify strategies to increase multi-modal access throughout South St. Pete neighborhoods and commercial corridors. Local leaders seek public feedback at three upcoming Mobility Workshops. For more information, visit the website here.
The City of St. Petersburg has opened applications for Youth Opportunity Grants through its Career and College Readiness Program, an initiative supporting at-risk and disengaged youth. Applications for the $20,000 grants are due Feb. 10, and the city will award four nonprofits. For more information, visit the website here.
The City of St. Petersburg announced Tuesday that it will launch a new Healthy Homes initiative with a kickoff meeting Thursday, Jan. 23, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Pinellas Technical College. The program, a collaboration between the city and Pinellas County Health Department, is a community-led effort to promote awareness and education regarding household lead hazards. For more information about the initiative and launch meeting, visit the website here.
St. Petersburg-based Raymond James has launched Ready for School, a new charitable initiative that will provide local nonprofits with over $7.5 million to enhance educational opportunities for Tampa Bay area students. The first cohort of 11 organizations, including the St. Pete Free Clinic and Pinellas Education Foundation, will receive $2.5 million annually for three years.
Homeowners and renters in Florida who sustained loss from Hurricanes Milton and/or Helene only have one day left to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance. The application deadline is Tuesday, Jan. 7. Apply online at disasterAssistance.gov or call FEMA at 800-621-3362.
The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and Success 4 Kids & Families announced today that the two organizations have completed the merger of their operations. The merger was first announced in July 2024. Programs run by Success 4 Kids & Families are now being run by the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and Clara Reynolds, who served as the first executive director of Success 4 Kids & Families and is currently the President & CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, is leading the merged organization
Seth Milbrand has joined the team at YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg as Chief Operating Officer. Before joining YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg, Seth served as District Vice President at YMCA of the Suncoast and he has more than 20 years of experience with three YMCA Associations.
Local nonprofit Positive Impact and the St. Petersburg Police Department have partnered with the Team Florida Domino’s Pizza franchise group and Coca-Cola to give away over 600 pizzas and soft drinks to families on Christmas Eve. The event runs from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Tangerine Plaza at 1770 22nd St. S. The giveaway is open to anyone who would like a free pizza and drinks.
Chillum Mushroom and Hemp Dispensary has partnered with the nonprofit Tampa Period Pantry to ensure equitable access to menstrual products. Pinellas County’s first “Period Pantry” is now outside the Chillum location at 1916 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District. The nonprofit said the initiative represents a “significant step in combating period poverty and promoting menstrual health equity.”
St. Petersburg stakeholders celebrated 15th Street Farm opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday. The nonprofit urban educational farm’s leadership hopes to foster community while promoting the importance of healthy food. The .5-acre organics farm features a 2,000-square-foot commercial kitchen and wood-fired brick oven for farm-to-table dinners, lunches, cooking classes and private events.
