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Tag: Buddy Dyer

  • Orlando appoints its third poet laureate – Orlando Weekly

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    Credit: via City of Orlando

    Months after opening the search for the city’s third poet laureate in April, the city of Orlando on Monday confirmed its next literary voice.

    Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orlando City Council named Camara Gaither to serve as a pillar in Orlando’s cultural and literary arts communities, tasked with promoting poetry and literature in the city.  

    The announcement comes amid a heightened focus on the position (as well as other arts and LGBTQ+ program funding) from Florida’s DOGE team and state CFO Blaise Ingoglia. 

    The state’s DOGE-focused have spoken out against the position and its $6,000-per-year salary.

    Gaither’s annual salary representes a $2,000 increase from that of the city’s second poet laureate, her predecessor Shawn Welcome. She’ll also be reimbursed for approved expenses. 

    Gaither is a commissioned spoken word poet, a mental health therapist and a UCF alum with extensive poetry experience. She’s led several poetry groups and won competitions across the state, having also represented Orlando in a national team competition, the city says. 

    She’s also received multiple United Arts grants for her work “expanding access to poetry in underserved communities.”

    Her new role will require she present original poems at city events and activities, as well as continue working to expand the “Words and Wonders” poetry contents, which was started by Orlando’s very first poet laureate, Susan Lilley.

    “We are excited for Camara to use poetry and the literary arts to tell our community’s stories,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “There is no doubt that Orlando is a better place to live and work because of our vibrant arts and cultural scene. Our Poet Laureate will help continue to add to our City’s unique sense of place.”  

    Gaither replaces Orlando’s second Poet Laureate, Shawn Welcome, a professor at Valencia College who was appointed in 2021. Welcome is the voice of the widely applauded Reason Why spoken-word ode to the City Beautiful.

    Gaither will serve a four-year term. 

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    Equality Florida called the list of expenditures ‘a pathetic effort to distract from his corruption, inside dealing, and scandals’

    State officials cited the county’s modest investment in LGBTQ youth services as an example of ‘wasteful spending’

    Ingoglia said the county has OK’d more than $190M in ‘excessive and wasteful spending’



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    Chloe Greenberg
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  • Affordable Housing Development Breaks Ground in Orlando

    Affordable Housing Development Breaks Ground in Orlando

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    There was recently a groundbreaking ceremony for 52 at Park, a 300-unit apartment complex for lower-income families and individuals in Orlando.

    Lincoln Avenue Communities (LAC), a mission-driven acquirer and developer of affordable housing, broke ground on the future site of 52 at Park during a ceremony with LAC leaders, local lawmakers and partners. 52 at Park will provide 300 affordable housing units to individuals and families in Orange County earning no more than 60% of the Area Median Income.

    “Lincoln Avenue Communities is proud to grow our portfolio of affordable housing developments in Florida,” said Jordan Richter, LAC vice president and regional project partner. “Once completed, 52 at Park will provide hundreds of high-quality, affordable homes in one of the state’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas.”

    The property will include eight residential buildings, with all units expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

    “The City of Orlando remains committed to ensuring that everyone who wants to call Orlando home has access to quality housing that is safe and affordable,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “Through the power of partnership by working alongside Lincoln Avenue Communities, we look forward to welcoming the addition of 300 new affordable apartments and continue to leverage funding and offer incentives to make it easier for developers to build affordable housing in Orlando.”

    52 at Park will offer amenities including a fitness center, pool, clubhouse, central laundry and a playground. The property will also include a sprawling solar installation that will offset 100% of the community’s electricity usage, making it one of the first affordable housing communities in Florida to provide full solar offsetting.

    “LAC is committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability and resiliency of our developments,” said Cricket Cleary, LAC director of development. “52 at Park represents a major step toward a new generation of high-quality sustainable housing in Florida, and throughout the country.”

    The project was financed through an issuance of tax-exempt bonds from the Orange County Housing Finance Authority; a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity investment from Freddie Mac, syndicated by Berkadia; a Construction Inflation Response Viability Funding loan from the Florida Housing Financing Corporation; construction and permanent loans from Deutsche Bank, serviced by Berkadia; and solar energy credit equity.

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