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Reggie Grant and Paco Fiallos Meet Reggie Grant and Paco Fiallos, the Just Be Cool guys.  These two local educators and friends created the Just Be Cool campaign to promote inclusivity and positivity around the globe. But their extraordinary positive influence started long before. Since meeting when they were both teachers at Lincoln High School, they have played in a faculty band together and worked on several initiatives to support teachers and students.  Constantly looking for new and creative ways to build community and lift up those around them, their efforts have been recognized near and far.  Paco won the local “Amazing Teacher” award in December 2020 – which qualified him for the national award… and he won that too! Paco teaches IB English at Rickards High School, and Reggie is a Journalism professor at Tallahassee Community College.  But even though they’re now at different schools, their friendship is rock solid and they motivate each other to make the world around them a better place. Join us for this inspirational and hopeful chat with two local residents who work to create positive community connections on a daily basis.   More on Just Be Cool: Just Be Cool website Tallahassee Democrat announces Paco’s “Amazing Teacher” award Tallahassee Magazine’s story about former faculty band Just Be Cool on WFSU

Join us for a chat with two extraordinary community volunteers and advocates who are determined to tackle poverty in our hometown. Former Mayor Dot Inman-Johnson and Pastor Lee Johnson share about their work in the South City neighborhood of Tallahassee where they run a church, after school program, and summer camp.  Their newest project idea is a Job Training Incubator & Event Center that would bring jobs and job training opportunities to a deeply impoverished area. Field trips with the Safe Spaces kids

The annual Tallahassee Town Hall brings together City and County Commissioners to discuss the hottest topics facing our community today.  This is a replay of the April 2021 Town Hall presented by The Village Square in collaboration with WFSU, Leadership Tallahassee, the City of Tallahassee, Leon County, and the Tallahassee Democrat.  Join us for this crossover episode from Village SquareCast to learn what our commissioners think about homelessness, poverty, crime, jobs, growth, vaccination access and plans for Covid relief funding. Thanks to these community organizations for making this event happen – and letting us air it on Let’s Get Local Tallahassee: The Village Square WFSU Leadership Tallahassee City of Tallahassee Leon County Tallahassee Democrat This is a crossover episode from Village SquareCast.

Join us for a chat with Anna-Kay Hutchison, a hometown hero and legendary camp counselor from long ago. (Anyone remember Poison Ivy from Camp Indian Springs?!) Anna-Kay shares her Tallahassee story and we learn how she’s still changing kids’ lives today as the director of the Community Partnership School at Sabal Palm Elementary. Anna-Kay introduces us to the Community Partnership School model and the groundbreaking work happening at Sabal Palm.  She also shares some favorite Tallahassee memories and reveals her favorite local annual event. Anna-Kay Hutchison Mentioned in this program: Children’s Home Society of Florida Sabal Palm Elementary School, A Community Partnership School Outdoor Classroom at Sabal Palm (Video) Outdoor Classroom at Sabal Palm (Tallahassee Democrat Article) Bicycle Park at Sabal Palm FAMU College of Education FSU Primary Health Bond Community Health Center Leadership Tallahassee Knight Creative Communities Institute (KCCI) Lively Technical College Lucky Goat Coffee Camp Weed Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra – Pops in the Park Also mentioned in this program (from Camp Indian Springs!):

Chuck Mitchell is back to continue our conversation about community building – this time with a focus on responsible development.  As a founder of Mad Dog Construction, Chuck has impacted the way we build in this community, prioritizing responsible growth and sustainability.   In this episode, we cover two important stories that demonstrate why local builders and residents play an important role in shaping the community where they live and work. We hear about Chuck’s role in preserving the DeSoto site – the place where Christmas was first celebrated in America… right here in Tallahassee, FL!  It’s an exciting story because the development of that land was stopped just in time upon the discovery of ancient artifacts.  Chuck shares how the goals of the construction project collided with this amazing piece of history – and we find out how community members worked together to come up with a great solution. And then we talk Greenways.  If you’re a Tallahassee resident, you probably realize we’re known for our greenways, trails, and parks system.  Chuck was instrumental in the development of the Miccosukee Greenway, also helping to demonstrate the desire for other greenways in our community.  This story is surprisingly relevant today as our community considers how to develop the Welaunee area. Chuck shows us that you can prioritize multiple things at the same time and when you work with community members, amazing things can happen.  You can be a builder who cares deeply about the land you’re building on and the impacts to surrounding areas.  You can work with community members who have seemingly competing goals to find solutions that work for everyone.  

Chuck Mitchell Season 2 continues with another extraordinary Tallahassee neighbor – Chuck Mitchell.  Chuck’s service to our community has impacted countless lives and will benefit generations to come.  As we explore community building on this show, I especially love Chuck’s story because there’s a prominent theme of physically building.  As a founder of Mad Dog Construction, he’s impacted the way we build in this community – focusing on responsible growth and sustainability.  Through his volunteer work, he’s organized and participated in countless work parties to build homes for people.  He’s built playgrounds for kids.  And he played a major role in the creation of the Greenway along Miccosukee Road. But you know… that’s not even why I asked him on this show.  It’s his Animal Therapy work that caught my attention most recently.  Chuck told me a story many years ago that has stayed with me all this time… it’s about how dogs came to be allowed in our local courtrooms to support child victims of sexual violence.  This story is both heart breaking and heartwarming at the same time… but hearing about the impact the animals and volunteers have on people’s lives is what makes this story ultimately uplifting and inspirational.  Because we covered so much territory with Chuck, we’re giving you two episodes with him.  In this first one, we cover the TMH Animal Therapy program, the beginnings of the Miccosukee Land Co-op and Mad Dog Construction, and throughout we talk about building community through shared experiences like a legendary softball team and volunteer efforts.   Then we’ll have Chuck back in the next episode to share two stories that demonstrate why local builders and residents play an important role in shaping the community where they live and work.  Join us for part 2 to hear about Chuck’s role in preserving the DeSoto site where Christmas was first celebrated in America. And also learn about the development of the Miccosukee Greenway which is surprisingly relevant today as our community considers how to develop the Welaunee area. Mentioned in this episode: TMH Animal Therapy Miccosukee Land Co-op Mad Dog Construction Big Bend Habitat for Humanity Softball story about Chuck’s dad, Charlie Mitchell

Next up in our Season 2 conversations with neighbors about this hometown we love is Barby Moro, managing partner of Red Eye Coffee.  Barby lives and breathes COMMUNITY so get ready for an episode all about supporting local and supporting each other, now and always.  Learn how one local business – Red Eye Coffee – has adapted during the pandemic and find out why local hometown relationships have made all the difference.   We also talk nonprofits… we find out which local annual event feels like HOME to Barby… and we learn who Barby’s sunshine is.  Barby Moro Mentioned in this episode… Red Eye Coffee Red Eye’s Breakfast Club Leadership Tallahassee Youth Leadership Tallahassee Oasis Center for Women & Girls Southern Scholarship Foundation Chain of Parks Art Festival Orchard Pond Chef Rebecca with Street Chefs Chef Nikki with Nikki Talks Food Jason Card with Ology Coffee Co. Leon County’s “Alligator Physical Distancing” Campaign Leon County’s “Not Too Much To Mask” Campaign Barby + Red Eye Coffee

Hello Tallahassee friends!  As we continue to highlight some of the most special parts of our hometown of Tallahassee, we hear the story of one woman’s impact on this community and on the people she comes in contact with. Paula DeBoles-Johnson is a dynamic leader who is tuned into our local needs – and she takes action!  Bringing laughter and kindness wherever she goes, when it comes to making a difference in our hometown, Paula shows us the way.  On top of her motivational wisdom and attention to our local issues, Paula also shares some of her favorite places to spend time in Tallahassee.  Turns out, we share the same favorite local outdoor spot where we love to hang out. Paula DeBoles-Johnson Mentioned in this episode… Capital City Youth Development Corporation DeBoles-Johnson Foundation Tailored Confections Meek Eaton Black Archives at FAMU Cascades Park Mission San Luis Women Wednesdays Leadership Tallahassee Distinguished Leadership Awards Paula and Vanessa @ Distinguished Leadership Awards

To kick off our Season 2 conversations with neighbors, we chat with long-time Tallahassee resident, Mike Rychlik. We talk about the Miccosukee Land Co-op where we were neighbors, Mike’s 30-year teaching career at SAIL High School, community activism, canopy roads, Mike’s love calls to friends, and how – above all else – Mike is a family man who loves his wife and boys endlessly.   In this episode, we also talk about the Welaunee development.  Mike is on the Keep It Rural board of directors and he shares how they’re advocating on behalf of the community to maintain some of Tallahassee’s beauty inside of the new development planned for the Welaunee area. Mike’s mark is on this community for generations to come through his work as a teacher, a musician, an advocate, a loyal friend, and a person who spreads love and kindness wherever he goes. Mentioned in this episode: Miccosukee Land Co-op Keep It Rural J R Alford Greenway Trail SAIL High School