ReportWire

Tag: APP Human Interest

  • ‘Dignity Drive‘ helps shelters across Mecklenburg County

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina woman is using her time and money to help tackle homelessness in her community.

    Tracy Grant bought and collected more than 200 pairs of underwear for the homeless women in Mecklenburg County. She laid them out at the Salvation Army Center of Hope in Charlotte as part of their “Dignity Drive” while explaining why she chose these items.

    What You Need To Know

    • Tracy Grant donates hundreds of pairs of underwear, socks and hygiene products to homeless shelters

    • The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte says these items are often forgotten and can provide a sense of dignity to those looking to get back on their feet

    • After seeing the need, Grant is making this a quarterly drive

    • You can drop off donations at the Salvation Army Center of Hope at 534 Spratt Street in Charlotte


    “We don’t think about it, but underwear is essential to women for one thing. It’s part of good health, part of good hygiene,” Grant said.

    She said, it’s not something most people think to donate, but can make a big difference. “I think having clean underwear is just what helps boost their self-confidence, and no one should have to go without,” Grant said.

    Along with underwear, Tracy has dozens of individually packaged hygiene products, including sanitary napkins and body wipes.

    It’s not just the women’s shelter. Grant also dropped off over 250 dozen pairs of socks at the Roof Above Howard Levine Men’s Shelter just weeks prior. It’s another item that’s rarely donated, Grant said, but one that’s important.

    “Some people like to sleep in socks, and your feet are one of the most important things on your body. So we need to take care of our feet,” Grant said.

    She explained these things could help people feel dignified while they find housing and eventually a job and a home.

    “I’ve had a lot of people I know that have had success,” Grant said. “So I know it works. It just takes time. It just takes patience. It just takes giving. It just takes conversations, and it just takes grace.”

    The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte Area commander Major Andrew Wiley says he sees the change through these acts of kindness.

    “We’ve just in the last two weeks had two of our residents who have secured jobs,” he said. “Nobody’s thinking about the things that we’re seeing here today. And so this is incredibly exciting for me to see an individual who saw a need and was willing to step up and do something about it, and a need that many times is forgotten.”

    After realizing the great need in the community, Grant has decided to make her “Dignity Drive” a quarterly one to help shelters across Mecklenburg County.

    “We can all be a servant. We can all give back, whether it’s your time, whether it’s your resources. No matter what it is, I think that we all have something to give to someone else,” Grant said.

    Grant’s next donation collection will be in November. If you’d like to help, you can drop off donations at the Salvation Army Center of Hope at 534 Spratt Street in Charlotte.

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    Britni McDonald

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  • See some of this year’s Halloween house displays

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    It’s looking a little spooky around North Carolina. Some people like Christmas lights, but others go all out celebrating the Halloween season by setting up their scariest decor displays.

    From skeletons and spiders, front yard graveyards, witches, warlocks and all sorts of monsters are decorating theirs homes for the season.

    In Apex, 15 miles from Raleigh, many houses have stepped it up this year to enter in the town’s annual Tour of Frights, which features homes and businesses with the best Halloween or fall-themed decorations.

    The town created two routes marking spots people can drive by to see these outdoor exhibits. The maps are available online here.

    Check out this photo gallery to see some of the stops and other houses decked out for the holiday.

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    Caroline King

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  • Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame honors migrant women advocate

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    CLEVELAND — Mónica Rámirez has dedicated most her life to helping migrant women, and now she’s being recognized for advocacy work as part of the Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame’s class of 2025.

    What You Need To Know

    • Seventy percent of agricultural workers are foreign-born, according to the National Center for Farmworker Health, Inc.

    • In Ohio, immigrants account for around 5% of the state’s population, and within this group, around half are women

    • Mónica Rámirez, founder of Justice for Migrant Women, is being recognized for her lifelong commitment to advancing the rights of migrant and rural women

    • The Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame has been honoring the state’s pioneers of human rights each year since 2009

    Born and raised in Fremont, Rámirez is the daughter and granddaughter of farmworkers. Rámirez said she began her advocacy work at age 14, later graduating from The Ohio State University in 2003, and becoming the first attorney in the country to specialize in handling cases of sexual violence and gender discrimination against farmworker women.

    She eventually made her way back home, and is now the president and CEO of nonprofit Justice for Migrant Women based in Fremont.

    Rámirez created “The Bandana Proect” to raise public awareness of sexual violence against U.S. farmerworker women while working at the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2007. (Spectrum News 1/Tanya Velazquez)

    “Unfortunately, sexual violence against farmworker women is a crisis in our country,” Rámirez said. “When that first report came out in the 1980s, 90% of the women who had participated said sexual violence was a major workplace problem for them.”

    Rámirez said this percentage has remained steady over the last few decades. Still, she said the organization’s reach extends beyond this issue.

    The center also provides legal aid, civic training, mental health services and other resources to thousands of other migrants and farmworkers nationwide.

    “All together, since 2020, we have distributed more than $10 million in aid,” Rámirez said. “Here in Ohio, we’ve distributed about $2 million in aid. And then we’ve also worked with partners across the country to provide resources to individuals in 34 other states and in Puerto Rico.”

    Rámirez launched “The Humans Who Feed Us” – a national project telling the stories of immigrants employed across the food supply chain.

    Rámirez launched “The Humans Who Feed Us” – a national project telling the stories of immigrants employed across the food supply chain. (Spectrum News 1/Tanya Velazquez)

    Mary Alice Espiritu is the office manager for the Justice for Migrant Women center. She also grew up in northwest Ohio but has strong roots in Texas and Mexico.

    “My grandparents are from Mexico … my parents were born in Texas. They decided to finally come to Ohio, to have other opportunities of work, and they settled here in Fremont,” she said.

    Espiritu said came to know many other immigrant families of similar backgrounds in the area, now working directly with the community.

    She said, while the organization has made significant strides over the last decade, migrant women continue facing several disparities.

    “Low wages, the childcare, but also the transportation,” Espiritu said. “And to be able to travel to their workplace or even taking their children to school – since [we’re] in the rural area we don’t have, like the public transportation that there are in bigger cities.”

    Working alongside Rámirez, she’s hoping to bridge that gap.

    “In the migrant or rural communities, I feel that those resources, resources are even more limited simply because if there’s language barriers, those resources aren’t offered to them, in their language.”

    While Rámirez has made her mark in Ohio history, she said the organization’s work is far from over.

    “We have to keep telling the stories of everyday people because that is how we’re going to be able to better know people,” Rámirez said. “But also … best protect people in this time of attempting to erase.”

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    Tanya Velazquez

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  • Survivor launches haircare line after cancer battle

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    TAMPA, Fla. — A Bay area cancer survivor is hoping to hit the shelves of stores soon with her new product aimed at helping others dealing with hair loss during treatments like chemo.

    It’s an idea that came to Monica Smith out of necessity. She was diagnosed with stage two colon cancer during the pandemic.

    What You Need To Know

    • Monica Smith didn’t have a lot of options for haircare that didn’t contain harmful chemicals
    • She created her own product, Sober Roots, using essential oils

    • Smith said she had a chance encounter while driving for Uber, and the idea went from there

    • Smith sells her products at different pop-ups in the Tampa Bay area, but she says with her fundraising efforts, she is close to opening a storefront of her own


    She said that when she started losing her hair, she didn’t have a lot of options for haircare that didn’t contain harmful chemicals. So, she created her own product, Sober Roots, using essential oils. 

    “This is what it started from after losing my hair to cancer and being suggested to avoid products that have alcohol and couldn’t find any,” Smith said. “So, I met with a manufacturing company, we came together and created this awesome formula of alcohol-free ingredients.”

    Smith said she had a chance encounter while driving for Uber — one of her passengers was a professor at the University of Tampa. She talked about her product, and that led to her getting into their business incubator program and officially launched her haircare line.

    “If you have hair loss, you definitely want to avoid products with chemicals. So, keeping it in its natural state is what’s going to keep further hair loss from happening and help promote the hair that’s coming in. It works depending on what you need it for,” she said. “Like I said, if you have fine hair, you might just want to stick to the ends. If you need hydration for curls, you rub it through your hair, and it will help keep your curls hydrated without weighing down that curl pattern.”

    Smith sells her products at different pop-ups in the Tampa Bay area, but she says with her fundraising efforts, she is close to opening a storefront of her own.

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    Saundra Weathers

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  • Troll hunting: Danish artist brings installation to the Tar Heel State

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    RALEIGH, N.C. — The City of Raleigh is promoting sustainability, imagination and the power of public art.  

    This fall, Danish artist Thomas Dambo is bringing his giant troll art installation to Dix Park. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Danish artist Thomas Dambo is bringing his largest U.S. art installation to Raleigh

    • Seven trolls can be found in the state 

    • Five trolls are in the Oak City, one is in High Point and the other in Charlotte


    Five giant trolls made up of recyclables are being built and spread throughout the park.

    Parts of Dix Park have looked like a construction zone for the last couple of weeks.

    All for two words — giant trolls. 

    One of the trolls being erected at Dix Park in Raleigh by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. (Spectrum News 1/Jatrissa Wooten)

    “I knew what a troll was. I just didn’t know how we were going to build it,” said Habitat for Humanity volunteer Tim Woods.

    Dambo, an artist from Denmark, uses recyclables and nature’s gifts to create masterpieces all over the world.  

    He built the five giant trolls with the help of volunteers from near and far. 

    “Some of my trolls are really tall, so maybe they’re 30 feet tall,” Dambo said.

    The group also created a tail that spans more than 600 feet and will run through the park’s forest.

    “The tail is the most extraordinary thing out here,” said Woods.

    Woods said he’s been working for hours each day for about two weeks.

    Although he isn’t building a home, Woods said trolls are just as fulfilling.

    “I have eight grandkids. So, I can bring them out here and show it to them, explain it to them and tell them, ‘I helped,’” Woods said.

    These installations in other cities have drawn thousands of visitors daily and boosted tourism.

    Raleigh leaders and volunteers believe the same will happen here. 

    “I think it’s going to be a nice tour. An area. It would also allow people to understand and see what a life of a troll is about,” Woods said.

    Dambo said it will take at least an hour to find all five trolls in the park, and that’s all part of the fun behind “troll hunting.”

    These trolls in the Oak City are part of a larger family of seven coming to the Tar Heel state, one in High Point and the other in Charlotte.

    Together, Dambo said this will create his largest U.S. installation to date.

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    Jatrissa Wooten

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  • Visit rescued animals at Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge in Orlando

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s a place where the cute, the hungry, the mysterious, and smart often end up because their lives are in jeopardy. 

    “We’ve been receiving squirrels, at least ten each day, since last month,” animal technician Frida Acavedo-Sanchez said.

    Other animals attacked many of the squirrels brought to the Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge.

    “A lot of them are either cat attacks or dog attacks. So, pets that are not, like, leashed or kept inside,” Acavedo-Sanchez said.

    What You Need To Know

    • Since 1989, the Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge has rescued injured wildlife throughout Central Florida

    • An average of 3,000 to 4,000 annually — or 10 animals per day — are dropped off at the Orlando facility

    • The nonprofit rescues and rehabilitates a variety of animals, hoping to return them to the wild

    • The faculty is open to the public (by reservation) where guests can walk through and see many of their animal ambassadors

    Every day, one after another, people drop off injured animals at the front desk of the facility needing rehabilitation. 

    “But a lot of times they come in, they have injuries. And so, we have to assess the injuries that they have,” refuge executive director Debbie Helsel said.

    For over 25 years, Helsel has been treating injured wildlife. 

    It’s non-stop examining, moving creatures around the grounds, hand-feeding animals and making room for new patients. She said there is one reason animal injuries are not going away soon.

    “We’re doing so many things to the environment that it’s making it much more difficult for them to survive,” Helsel explained.

    Some 3,000 to 4,000 injured creatures end up at the refuge each year, which measures out to around 10 per day. Often, they don’t have enough cages and space for everyone.

    By appointment, guests can visit the facility and get to meet some of the ambassador animals.

    Those animals can’t return to the wild, and the Orlando facility gives them a permanent home.

    That includes owls, foxes, bobcats and tortoises. 

    Helsel hopes guests learn something about wildlife when they visit.

    “The goal really is for them to be in the wild where they’re supposed to be, not in a habitat where they have to spend the rest of their life,” she said.

    The nonprofit relies on donations.

    Self-guided tours and guided tours are available for $10 per adult, and children under 3 are free.

    Visit the Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge for details.

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    Randy Rauch

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  • Shepherd and amputee enters N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame

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    RALEIGH, N.C. — Getting her sheep lined up and ready to go, Ellen Mabry is preparing for the livestock competition. She’s been showing sheep at the North Carolina State Fair for over 30 years and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Ellen Mabry has been showing sheep at the North Carolina State Fair for over 30 years

    • She’s an amputee and lost her leg in 2013 due to an infection

    • After losing her leg, she continued to show sheep competitively at the state fair

    • Mabry was inducted into the State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame 


    “I like to be competitive, and I like to see what we’ve grown and how it does against other people,” Mabry said.

    But she isn’t like most sheep show competitors. She’s an amputee and uses her scooter to show her sheep. 

    “I just went and took the sheep in the ring and … led him around. I got cheers that day for showing with a mobility cart,” Mabry said.

    She lost her leg over a decade ago due to an infection and has adapted to competing with one leg.  

    “I really don’t consider myself handicapped. I drive with my leg,” Mabry said.

    Showing sheep is a family affair — her husband, daughter and son-in-law all help out.

    “I’m so proud of her. Like, I remember when she lost her leg. I was afraid that she wouldn’t be my mom when she woke up, and she wouldn’t be able to do the things that she did prior. But that hasn’t been the case,” said Mabry’s daughter, Lauren Bell.

    Not only is her family proud of her but so is the state fair community. That’s why she was inducted into the N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame this year. 

    “I’m really excited. And being a female, even more excited because, you know, it’s been dominated by men for years. And it’s quite an honor, I think,” Mabry said.

    If you want to see Mabry’s sheep and other animals, you can check them out at the fair through Sunday.

     

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    Kennedy Chase

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  • Greek Orthodox Church breaks records with number of new young male members

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — The Greek Orthodox Church is known for its traditions and rich history dating back to the apostles. It’s not the kind of thing leaders in the church have known to be a huge draw for the younger generation who didn’t grow up in the church, but lately it has been.

    Is it the gold-plated dome, the beauty inside covering the walls or the traditions that are bringing young people like David Guerrero to the Greek Orthodox church?


    In his case, not quite.

    “The YouTube algorithm started sending me all of these Orthodox videos. So, I just kept learning and learning, and I came to the conclusion that this is God’s church, and I stepped foot in this church Aug. 18 of last year on my birthday and I never left since,” Guerrero said.

    That’s what brought him to The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Clearwater, but what he felt when he got there is what keeps him coming back.

    “Videos can only take you so far. It’s something you have to experience with all your five senses. The touch, the feel, what you see around you. It is truly something that is not of this world,” he said.

    Guerrero is a 29-year-old military veteran. He’s one of dozens of young men who have joined the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church this year.

    “I think they want reality. I don’t think they want bells and whistles anymore,” said Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church priest Father Jim Paris. “You get so much of that on TV.”

    Father Paris said new membership went from four to five new members a year, to 30 to 35 this year alone. And he said almost all of those new members have something in common.

    “We’re finding a lot of young people coming. That’s very impressive, and a lot of young men, which it’s usually the women in faith. I’m not putting the men down. I’m admiring the women for that, but now the men are coming. And young men at that. Young men from the military,” he said.

    The increase in membership is happening in Greek Orthodox churches all over the Bay area according to Father Paris. A Pew Research poll shows a slight increase for men in Greek Orthodox men and even more with evangelical Christians.

    No matter the denomination, experts like St. Leo Theology professor Randall Woodard say the trends are surprising.

    “In the United States, the fastest growing faith for the last little while has been the nones. Like none. People that would click I have no official tradition or affiliation. It would just be like none of the above,” Woodard said.

    Woodard said the details, discipline and order of the Orthodox Church may be a draw for younger men and military veterans, but he says trends show it’s more than that. It usually leads back to someone’s political ideologies mirroring a particular faith.

    “A lot of times we’re all guilty of that,” he said. “It’s, I want to find a group that’s going to reinforce my already existing ideas and of course I want to seek that community and I want to seek somebody who’s gonna push me and ask me to grow as a human being.”

    He says social media algorithms and influencers also play a critical role.

    “A lot of those influencers, they have this underlying framework where they’re pushing young men to start to really step things up. Take personal responsibility, don’t be a victim, don’t blame your problems on someone else. You are the future of this country, your family, church and marriage,” he said.

    Woodard believes overall, an increase of young men coming to a place of worship is a good thing. Something Guerrero agrees with.

    “At the very least, it can put something in your soul, in your spirit, that can be a positive influence in your life,” Guerrero said.

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    Saundra Weathers

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  • Southport bar, restaurant workers receive checks as businesses remain closed

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    SOUTHPORT, N.C. — The Southport community continues to rally behind restaurant and bar employees who have been out of work since last month’s deadly mass shooting.

    What You Need To Know

    • Southport Cares raised money for employees who have been out of work since the deadly mass shooting in late September
    • The American Fish Company said it received checks for its employees from the nonprofit Southport Cares
    • Three people were killed and  six others were injured when a gunman opened fire at the American Fish Company 


    The management team for the American Fish Company said they have received checks from the local nonprofit Southport Cares, which have been distributed to employees at American Fish Company and Frying Pan.

    “Words can’t accurately express our gratitude for the continued support,” the management team said in a statement.

    Three people were killed and six others were wounded when a gunman opened fire at the American Fish Company on Sept. 27.

    The American Fish Company and Frying Pan have been closed since the shooting. 

    “Although it will take time, we are planning to return to our rightful place — serving our Southport friends and visitors to our town,” the management team said. “Every act of care and every prayer is a step in the right direction.”

     

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    Chloe Salsameda

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  • Dayton activists honor 30th anniversary of Million Man March

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    DAYTON, Ohio — Dayton activists gathered to build a resilient future by honoring the 30th Anniversary of the Million Man March. 

    The crowd marched in Washington D.C., to demand congress act in the interest of African Americans, while also combatting negative stereotypes surrounding black men. 

    “We look back at the time when this march was originated October the 16th, 1995 Minister Louis Farrakhan, he was preaching to black man to come together,” Reverend David Fox said.

    Fox, who was at the Million Man March in 1995, remembers it as a higlight of his life. 

    “I was there, it was a great time, it reminded me of the 60s when black men were embracing one another,” Reverend David Fox said.

    Many community members said this event was to redefine the image of the black man in America and ignite a renewed commitment to their family, faith, and community.

    “The purpose of it is to bring the community closer together,” Million Man March Participant Morris Brown said.

    Black leaders were pleased to see young back men at the gathering and are hopeful they can build an unbreakable bond.

    “Now were trying to embrace each other again, rather than turning on each other, we want to turn towards each other,”  Reverend David Fox said.

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    Travis Hicks

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  • Parc Center helps employees with disabilities thrive long-term

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    TAMPA, Fla. — October marks the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and the U.S. Department of Labor is shining a light on this year’s official theme: “Celebrating Value and Talent.”

    What You Need To Know

    • National Disability Employment Awareness Month has an official theme: “Celebrating Value and Talent”

    • Parc’s Supported Employment Services program has helped nearly 100 people with disabilities find competitive employment

    • Success stories like Michelle Burger show the long-term impact and benefits of supportive employment


    It’s an impactful mission that Parc Center for Disabilities strives to accomplish all year long with its Supported Employment Services program, which champions nearly 100 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities out in the community with competitive employment.

    “With Supported Employment, it’s truly a win-win for the person we’re supporting and the business or employer,” said Brian Rothey, the Assistant Vice President of Adult Community Programs at Parc. “The employer is receiving someone who is going to show up happy every single day to their shift and stay on the job a whole lot longer than their non-disabled peers. They’re highly motivated and a pleasure to work around.”

    Michelle Burger, one of their success stories with nearly 25-years on the job at the VA’s Patriot Café, credits her long-term success in the workforce to the partnership between Parc and the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System.

    “It’s great having this job – helping the canteen and helping customers – if they need help,” said Burger who serves as a Veterans Canteen Service Associate at the Patriot Café. “It’s wonderful and they help me out, too, if I need it. I have good friends and a lot of buddies out here.”

    Veterans Canteen Service Associate Michelle Burger preparing to serve a veteran at the VA’s Patriot Cafe. (Spectrum News/Erica Riggins)

    In 2001, Burger was looking for a job to live with independence and prove that she was more than capable of doing the work; and decades later, Burger’s drive and dedication are still paying off professionally and personally.

    “She’s 100% fully integrated in the community. She lives independently. She has a lifelong partner. She was able to purchase her own home, which for a lot of us is a very big deal,” said Rothey.

    Veterans Canteen Service Chief Michelle Florida also describes Burger as a standout employee who consistently exceeds all job expectations.

    “She loves her job every day, loves her co-workers and is happy to be here,” said Florida. “In fact, there was small talk about her possibly retiring, but she declined because she enjoys working here.”

    Parc’s Supported Employment Services program also provides weekly career coaching to help encourage and assist Burger on the VA’s campus in St. Petersburg.

    “There’s this whole hidden population and talent pipeline within the community that we can tap into and provide. One of the biggest ways that our community and employers can support our mission is through partnerships and collaboration; any opportunity to have our voices heard and offer employment to the people that we serve is what we’re seeking this month and all year long,” said Rothey.

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    Erica Riggins

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  • Tampa Honors Racial Reconciliation Committee

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The City of Tampa honored its Racial Reconciliation Committee Thursday night with an official commendation — even as the group prepares to dissolve following a recommendation from the city attorney.

    During a city council meeting, members were recognized for more than two years of work focused on addressing racial inequities and strengthening relationships between the city and its residents.

    What You Need To Know

    • The City of Tampa honored its Racial Reconciliation Committee Thursday night with an official commendation — even as the group prepares to dissolve following a recommendation from the city attorney

    • In a memo, the attorney cited executive orders issued under former President Donald Trump that restrict federal support for programs that could be viewed as discriminatory on the basis of race or gender

    • While the city has closed one chapter on reconciliation, those who served on the committee say their work toward a more inclusive Tampa is far from finished

    • Without the constraints of a formal city committee, members say they can now meet freely and continue the conversation on their own terms


    The city attorney recently advised the council to dissolve the committee, warning that its continued operation could risk federal funding.

    In a memo, the attorney cited executive orders issued under former President Donald Trump that restrict federal support for programs that could be viewed as discriminatory on the basis of race or gender. The City Council accepted the legal advice, formally ending the committee’s tenure.

    Despite the decision, several members say the mission won’t end with the committee’s dissolution. They plan to continue meeting as private citizens to carry forward their efforts toward unity, equity, and reconciliation.

    “No, it doesn’t stop it for us,” said committee member Jarvis El Amin. “We continue to work. We get together. We work on issues. We put forward a partial report. It’s not a final report, but it’s a document that’s a starting point for us to build upon.”

    Formed after the 2020 racial justice protests, the Racial Reconciliation Committee was tasked with recommending policy changes in economic opportunity, education, affordable housing, and community policing.

    Its final report — though incomplete — outlines steps members hope the city will still consider in future planning and policymaking.

    Without the constraints of a formal city committee, members say they can now meet freely and continue the conversation on their own terms.

    While the city has closed one chapter on reconciliation, those who served on the committee say their work toward a more inclusive Tampa is far from finished.

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    Fadia Patterson

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  • First Hispanic Polk commissioner shares journey to position

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    TAMPA, Fla. — This Hispanic Heritage Month, Spectrum News is shining a light on leaders in the community who are making a difference and inspiring others.

    That’s the case for the first Hispanic Polk County commissioner, Martha Santiago.

    What You Need To Know

    • Commissioner Martha Santiago is the first Hispanic elected to the Polk County Commission
    • Santiago ran twice before securing her position as District 4 commissioner
    • Santiago says since being elected, she’s seeing more Hispanics


    Santiago likes to stay in the know.

    “I read a lot because there’s just so much going on in our county,“ she says.

    She’s in her office a few times a week, but she says the real work is done out in the community.

    She first started connecting with the public through her work in education. Santiago was with the Polk County School District for several years and then became provost at Polk State College.

    “I was very much involved in helping our community, especially our Hispanic community, our children,“ she said.

    Her interest in helping others led her to get involved in politics. She first ran for county commission in 2004. She lost that race and ran again in 2006, but again she didn’t win.

    “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, people are going to remember me as the person who ran twice and didn’t win, but you know, I gave it everything,’” she said.

    And she didn’t quit. Santiago ran for the third time in 2017, and she won, becoming the first Hispanic to take a seat on the Polk County Commission.

    Since then, Santiago says she’s seen just how impactful her election to office has been for other Hispanics too.

    “Because I did, now other Hispanics, female and male, are doing the same thing; that’s absolutely awesome.”

    Over the past seven years, Santiago says she’s had to step out of her comfort zone to be a leader in her own way.

    “I branch out in the community, and I think Latinas need to do that, sometimes we hold ourselves back because we just don’t dare, it could be our language, it could be that we just don’t have the experience,“ she said.

    She hopes to inspire more Hispanics to take a chance on themselves and get involved in government and leave their mark on the community.

    Since being elected to the commission, Santiago has served as both chairwoman and vice chairwoman.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • America 250-Ohio adds three new creativity trails

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — America 250-Ohio has announced the addition of three new trails to its signature Trails & Tales Program.

    What You Need To Know

    • America 250-Ohio added of three new trails to their signature Trails & Tales program in celebration for America’s 250th anniversary in 2026

    • The Ohio Creativity Trails showcase six artistic categories, written, music, visual arts, glass & pottery, folk & traditional art, and carousels

    • The three added trails will be featuring pottery, visual arts and performing arts

    America 250-Ohio is the state commission leading Ohio’s official celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

    The Trails & Tales program hosts Creativity Trails, which are set at sites across Ohio, showcasing the work of the state’s past and present writers, musicians, artists, and other creatives.

    The Ohio Creativity Trails showcase six artistic categories: written, music, visual arts, glass & pottery, folk & traditional art, and carousels.

    The carousels will feature renowned institutions like the Cleveland Museum of Art and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Millersburg Glass Museum and Merry-Go-Round Museum.

    “Ohioans create art that shapes the culture of our great nation,” said Todd Kleismit, Executive Director of America 250-Ohio. “From brushstrokes to storytelling, their creativity echoes far beyond our borders. With these new trail sites in Genoa, Portsmouth, and Union County, we’re celebrating the artists who help define Ohio’s and America’s spirit.” 

    The three new trails introduced this year will feature:

    • Packer Creek Pottery in Genoa has been nationally recognized since 1979 for its vibrant, whimsical designs. In 1993, founder Jan Pugh was honored with a White House commission to craft a Christmas angel, now kept in the National Archives.
    • Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center in Portsmouth houses the largest collection of works by American Scene painter Clarence Holbrook Carter, along with “Art of the Ancients,” featuring 10,000 prehistoric Native American artifacts from the Wertz Collection. The museum is temporarily closed for renovations and will reopen later this fall. 
    • Marysville Art League in Marysville, which was founded in 1979 by local artists, promotes visual and performing arts throughout Union County while preserving Houston House.

    There are currently seven sites in central Ohio to visit, like the Watch House and Circle Mound in Dublin and the Ohio Statehouse.

    The full trail can be explored, and more information can be found at the America 250-Ohio website.

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    Ruby Jackson

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  • Wesley Chapel prep cook going above and beyond at work despite disabilities

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    WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — October is Disability Employment Awareness Month and to commemorate the month, we’re highlighting some talented workers here across the Tampa Bay area.

    What You Need To Know

    • A Wesley Chapel prep cook is going above and beyond at work despite his disabilities

    • Jeremy Ross knew at a young age he wanted to work in the food industry and an opportunity knocked thanks, in part, to a disability employment service called ‘employU’

    • ’employU’ is a non-profit, disability employment service, helping those with disabilities get in the workforce by offering employability training to make sure clients are job-ready


    One employee is making a difference in the culinary industry in Pasco County.

    For Jeremy Ross, the kitchen is where he is most comfortable.

    “My slogan is trust and respect,” says Ross. “I just want a good work environment.”

    For the last seven months, Ross has been working as a prep cook at Bubba’s 33 in Wesley Chapel. Chopping up lettuce and other varieties of vegetables. 

    “It’s good working for them. I can finally be myself when I’m working.”

    Ross has ADHD and an intellectual impairment. But just because he has a disability, it doesn’t mean his work is impaired. 

    “He has a harder time learning how to do tasks,” says Catalina Fernandez, Jeremy’s mom. “More of your school life things like reading and math and things like that were always more difficult for him to process because of his disability.”

    Ross learned of his love for the culinary arts in a special program in high school. A five-year culinary program at the Vaughn Occupational High School in Chicago.

    “A high school that he went to in Chicago had a culinary program for our students, all of which were students with disabilities,” said Fernandez. “And he loved it.”

    That passion for working with food followed Ross when he and his family moved to the Tampa Bay area. He found work at a local restaurant until they closed. But then an opportunity knocked at Bubba’s. Ross found the opportunity thanks to a disability employment service called ‘employU.’

    “From the very beginning, we knew that we would hire him and bring him on just because he really grasped what he was doing right away,” said Abby Fletcher, manager at Bubba’s 33 in Wesley Chapel. “He worked really well with the management team and the other employees who were working cold prep.”

    And now Ross can continue his pursuing his passion and love for cooking.

    “It feels really good for me to do that because I always go to my serious work because I always have to focus on my work,” said Ross. “I’m going to do the best I can.”

    Showing how nothing is holding him back.

    ’employU’ is a non-profit, disability employment service based in the Orlando area. Helping those with disabilities get in the workforce by offering employability training to make sure clients are job-ready. You can learn more about their adult employment services online here.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • New exhibit highlights Cincinnati’s role in U.S. brewing history

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    CINCINNATI, Ohio — Cincinnati’s brewing roots are back on tap with a new pop-up exhibit that explores how immigrant labor and innovation helped turn the city into a 19th-century beer powerhouse.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Brewery District CURC launched a pop-up exhibit which taps into Cincinnati’s brewing roots 

    • It’s part of the nonprofit’s larger vision to establish the first-ever American Museum of Brewing 

    • Attendees were encouraged to fill out a short survey to help guide the museum’s planning process

    The exhibit, titled “Tapping into Tradition: How Immigrant Labor & Innovation Created a Brewing Boomtown,” was launched by the Brewery District Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation (CURC). It’s part of the group’s larger vision to establish the first-ever American Museum of Brewing.

    “Cincinnati has a really robust brewing history, going back to the early 19th century,” said Aaron Deininger, executive director of the Brewery District CURC. “This exhibit focuses on the labor movement and immigration in the 19th century, and how those forces really developed the type of beer that was produced here.”

    The pop-up is an extension of the CURC’s year-round Heritage Brewing Trail, which offers guided tours of historic brewery sites and underground lagering cellars throughout the city. Deininger said Cincinnati may have the largest known collection of 19th-century underground lager cellars in the United States.

    Board member and longtime brewery district tour guide Lisa French said the goal is not only to celebrate Cincinnati’s past but to involve the city’s more than 70 active breweries in shaping its future.

    “We’re going to hopefully have a small batch system for them to do specialty brewing, where they can either teach people or explain how it goes,” French said. “That will give them visibility to their breweries and help keep that industry going.”

    The nonprofit expected the exhibit to draw more than 500 visitors. While admission was free, attendees were encouraged to fill out a short survey to help guide the museum’s planning process.

    “We’re in the process of raising funds for a feasibility study to look at the development of the museum,” Deininger said. “Where is the best place to put it, whether it’s this neighborhood or specific places within it.”

    From lager cellars to future-forward brewing education, organizers said the pop-up is just the first pour of what they hope becomes a permanent part of Cincinnati’s cultural identity.

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    Javari Burnett

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  • Metropolitan Ministries expanding; opening holiday tent in Pinellas County

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After providing a holiday tent assistance program in Tampa more than 40 years, Metropolitan Ministries is expanding its outreach and opening a tent in Pinellas County this season.

    What You Need To Know

    • Metropolitan Ministries expands iconic holiday tent site to Pinellas County 

    • The St. Petersburg location at Holy Cross Catholic Church is expected to serve more than 5,000 families

    • Organization hiring for seasonal staff to help support holiday outreach efforts


     “We’ve done distributions out of the back of a truck and giving people food but this is more relational,” said Tim Marks, Chief Strategy Advisor and Former CEO of Metropolitan Ministries. “My role is to take what we’ve done in Tampa (and) make sure we do our best here in Pinellas to serve.”

    The organization will offer hope, Marks says, to more than 5,000 families the organization is expected to serve.

    “Some are struggling still from the hurricanes from last year. Others have economic storms and other storms of life that they’re facing. We want to bring hope and happiness to families over the holiday season,” he said.

    Families can start registering online Oct. 20 for the tent that helps people through the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

    “You shop for the food you like for your family. You pick out the toys. It’s not Metropolitan Ministries that’s providing the toys; you want to give mom and dad the dignity of providing toys for their kids,” said Marks.

    Holy Cross Catholic Church in St. Petersburg says parishioners are also excited about the expansion and ready to volunteer.

    Metropolitan Ministries is also hiring for several temporary positions to help support what it calls Tampa Bay’s largest outreach initiative serving families in crisis over Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

    “We’ve been seeing about a 15% increase in seniors struggling and needing help because they’re on fixed income. Their rent’s gone up, their food costs have gone up, utilities have gone up,” said Marks.

    While setup is still in progress, the tent will soon be filled with people serving the community.

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    Melissa Eichman

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  • Columbus launches new public art, beautification initiative ‘Murals on Main’

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — A new initiative, “Murals on Main,” is aiming to bring public art into play for East Main Street in Columbus in a new beautification initiative.

    What You Need To Know

    • Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla announced the launch of “Murals on Main”

    • The project is sponsored by Barroso de Padilla and will continue through a partnership with the East Main Street Special Improvement District

    • Local artists will be invited to design and install large-scale murals that reflect the culture, history and spirit of neighborhoods along East Main Street

    Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla announced the launch late last week.

    “As we anticipate the changes coming to East Main, it’s important that we make sure this revitalization is inclusive and fosters local identity,” Barroso de Padilla said in a news release. “LinkUS will help ensure people have an accessible way to get to where they’re going, and Murals on Main will ensure commuters can enjoy the scenery along the way. This project is a bold step in reimagining this corridor as a destination that brings community voices to life.”

    The project is sponsored by Barroso de Padilla and will continue through a partnership with the East Main Street Special Improvement District. Local artists will be invited to design and install large-scale murals that reflect the culture, history and spirit of neighborhoods along East Main Street. 

    A mural was unveiled with the announcement of the initiative titled “The Moth Within,” designed and painted by artist Justin Withrow. Located at 3354 E. Main St., the piece depicts a caterpillar and moth surrounding a nod to the Fairmoor neighborhood. 

    “Though the moth is drawn to flame, its journey isn’t one of destruction but of courage — a reminder that growth often involves risk,” the mural’s description reads. “This mural invites viewers to see their own cycles of struggle, solitude and becoming as necessary parts of a beautiful whole.”

    Future murals are in the works and will be announced at a later date.

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    Madison MacArthur

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  • Medical foster mom in Tampa reopens her home after adopting four foster kids

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Kadesha Stewart knew one thing her whole life.

    “I always wanted five children,” said Stewart.

    She had a son, LaShawn. But that was it. In her heart and in her home in Tampa, she never stopped yearning for more little feet.

    What You Need To Know

    • Kadesha Stewart is an adoptive mom of 4 kids that she previously fostered, and three of them have special medical needs

    • She is a specialized medical foster parent through Children’s Home Network, and has received training and a special license to care for kids at their most vulnerable, whose birth parents cannot care for them

    • After helping over 30 kids, Kadesha closed her foster home to new fosters when she adopted her fourth child, but is now getting re-licensed through CHN and is reopening her home for more medical foster children

    • Medical foster parent(s) are needed. To learn how to become one, join a virtual information session with the Children’s Home Network


    She decided to become a foster parent, and through her training decided she would be a medical foster parent.

    “These babies, they need more than just medication. They need love. They need stability,” said Stewart. “And they just need someone who can have the patience to care for them.”

    She went through training and opened her home. It quickly began to fill.

    With foster care, reunification with the child’s biological family is always the goal. But in some cases, that doesn’t work out.

    So Stewart became mother to more than one, adopting Teryonna first. Then, she adopted Lucas. Then Emma.

    “Then the opportunity comes for you to adopt now your fourth child, and your answer is?” asked Spectrum Bay News 9 anchor Erin Murray.

    “Yes,” said Stewart with a huge smile.

    Graciyanna became adoption number four.

    In total, Stewart has fostered more than 30 kids — most with medical needs.

    With LaShawn, Teryonna, Lucas, Emma and Graciyanna, Stewart’s dream is now complete. She is the mother of five children.

    “So five is enough for me because, you know, it’s just me,” said Stewart with a smile.

    Or that is what she thought.

    “If I have the space and the help, which is my mom, to do it, you know, I just want to continue to be a blessing to a child,” said Stewart.

    Fostering is part of her purpose, she said.

    The Children’s Home Network hopes more people will consider becoming medical foster families.

    “In Hillsborough County, there’s only about 15 medical foster homes,” said Paul Penhale, Out-of-Home Care Senior Director, Children’s Home Network in Tampa. “It’s never enough, right? We’re actively recruiting.”

    Penhale said while they are making it work with those 15 families in Hillsborough, Children’s Home Network is always looking for the next generation of foster moms and dads.

    “We believe that regardless of the child’s medical condition, they still deserve to be in a family-like setting. They don’t need to be in the hospital if they’re medically ready for discharge. But they do need more than a traditional foster parent can provide care,” said Penhale.

    Stewart hopes others will see her family and give fostering a chance.

    “These children need a home, and it would be a blessing for more families to open their home to medical children,” said Stewart.

    A full home that always has room for one more foster child.

    “I’m not going to say no,” said Stewart.

    Children’s Home Network said all medical foster parents are given medical training and they have a team of resources available to help them 24/7.

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    Erin Murray

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  • Community steps in after alleged Riverview restaurant burglary

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    RIVERVIEW, Fla. — About a month after a Riverview restaurant was allegedly burglarized, the community is helping the business owner get back to normal.

    Eggs Up Grill lost thousands of dollars in cash and equipment during the Labor Day weekend. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Eggs Up Grill said it was burglarized over Labor Day weekend

    • Owner Priscilla Conyers said it lost its safe with a couple thousand dollars, and thousands of dollars in equipment 

    • Conyers said the incident took morale out of her staff

    • On Friday, her alma mater hosted an event to drum up support and business 


    When the owner’s alma mater, Florida A&M University, heard about the incident, they knew they wanted to help.

    On Friday night, it hosted a mixer to help drum up business and bring morale back to the restaurant. 

    Along with a healthy portion of eggs, the restaurant is serving up positivity.

    “We want to be your happy place. We want us to make you smile. So that’s a part of our DNA. That’s our mantra,” said Priscilla Conyers, owner of Eggs Up Grill Riverview.

    Conyers said some of that positivity was lost. In her surveillance video, a person can be seen taking a safe from the office, and then equipment from the dining room. 

    “We were devastated. We felt like it was definitely an invasion of our privacy,” Conyers said.

    She said two server handheld devices — worth $2,000 each — are now gone, and there was a couple thousand dollars in the safe. 

    “My front of the house staff, my back of the house staff, we all worked extremely hard to be here to provide for the community. So, for something like that to happen to us, it just kind of took us out,” she said.

    Friday night’s mixer helped to promote the restaurant and bring back some positivity to the staff.

    “We’re hoping to basically patronize, drum up business to help fill the gap where the burglary may have caused some hardship from a financial standpoint,” said Laketra Claiborne, president of Florida A&M University Alumni Association’s Tampa Chapter.

    Conyers said the community support has turned an unfortunate situation into a positive one. 

    “The community has really had our back. We absolutely love being in the Tampa Bay community, and we are here to stay. That situation will not hurt us anymore,” Conyers said.

    The dining room was filled with FAMU’s colors and smiles once again.

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    Tyler O’Neill

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