The Rotunda
Episode 165: A Fresh Take Featured
THE ROTUNDA – A closer look at the student-powered enterprise news operation about Florida government making waves in Florida’s capitol. Gomes chats with student journalists Katie Campione and Max Chesnes at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications “Fresh Take Florida” news service. Plus, citizen groups are raising concerns over proposals at the capitol that would restrict citizen ballot initiatives.
MIAMI – Exactly one year from Monday, the official count of every resident of the United States begins with the 2020 Census. But Florida has long had problems getting an accurate count of its children. Nearly 1 million children were missed in the last census, according to data from Florida KIDS COUNT. It's a major concern, because the census count determines the federal dollars allocated to communities, as well as how they're represented in Congress. Donovan Lee-Sin, public policy and community engagement officer for The Children's Trust, says at least 200,000 children could go uncounted, simply because their families are hard to reach.
Episode 164: Tech and Children Featured
THE ROTUNDA – Some tech-savvy lawmakers like Sen. Jeff Brandes, R- St. Petersburg, Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa, Rep. Jason Fischer, R-Jacksonville, and Rep. Jennifer Webb, D-Gulfport, discuss some of the more ‘disruptive’ issues facing Florida. Gomes spotlights the special roundtable featured in the Spring 2019 edition of INFLUENCE Magazine. Gomes also talks with advocates like Roy Miller with the Children’s Campaign who is concerned the state isn’t doing enough for today’s youth. Freelance journalist Kenya Woodard is also a featured guest this week, and with just a year left before the start of the 2020 Census, Gomes highlights how some organizations are ramping up public awareness campaigns to urge people to fill out census forms.
March 13, 2019
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Thousands of gardens across the state of Florida are playing a part in saving pollinators and the nation's food system. The Million Pollinator Garden Challenge was launched in 2015 as part of a nationwide call to revive collapsing bee colonies and improve the health of birds, bats, butterflies and other pollinators. The challenge was to register a million new gardens through the National Pollinator Garden Network – and through the efforts of schools, garden clubs, and mayors promoting community gardens, the goal was exceeded by 40,000 gardens.
March 4, 2019
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Those who provide comfort and protection for Floridians in crisis say they need more support. March is National Professional Social Work Month, and in Florida, more than 21,000 social workers provide assistance in schools, hospitals, mental health facilities and social service agencies.
Jim Akin, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers in Florida, says social workers often are unrecognized and under-compensated for their work, and that people often are surprised when they realize that social workers are everywhere.
