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.

After 5 years of planning, fundraising and the intervention of a pandemic, a project to build a special community for special people in Tallahassee’s Southwood neighborhood is finally underway. To talk about Independence Landing are: Tallahassee State Representative and one of the original project proponents Allison Tant; Independence Landing board members Brett Ketcham; Brice Barnes; and Cindi Goodson; and project promoter Jon D. Brown.

City of Tallahassee staff members have a number of tools they’ve been using to address the community’s affordable housing crisis. To talk about it are: Devan Leavins, special projects administrator; Jeremy Floyd, neighborhood and urban design administrator; Land Use Administrator John Reddick; and Abena Ojetayo (as the show began, her title was “Director of Housing and Community Resilience. As the program ended, the City was announcing her promotion to “Assistant City Manager.”)

Around 10 million Floridians are already signed up as organ donors, but the need for these lifesaving procedures far outstrips supply. To promote additional donors are: Kim Gilmore, public education for Donate Life Florida and LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services; the organizations’ Donor Family Services Coordinator Pamela Rittenouse; Donor Parents Paul and Rebecca DeFrank, whose son Alex became a multiple donor upon his death in 2020; and Sarah Bender, whose mother Libby Smith was a heart recipient and passionate Donate Life ambassador.

After 2 years of COVID restrictions, the LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival returns to its historic grandeur on April 23 and 24 in downtown Tallahassee. To talk about this nationally-recognized event are: LeMoyne Executive Director Arielle Raff; Festival Chair Kelly Dozier; Festival Manager Powell Kreis; and one of the 150 participating artists, Tallahassee jewelry creator Quincie Hamby.