For ten years, Lakeland nonprofit Gospel Inc. has provided resources, fostered community, and helped find purposeful employment for homeless folks across the city. Founder Brian Seeley knew more could be done to serve this vulnerable population. Seeley, along with his Gospel Inc. team, volunteers, and community leaders, have worked together to secure sustainable and affordable long-term housing for the city’s chronically homeless. On February 3, 2021, property on E. Lemon Street, formerly Royal Oak Estates, was purchased, and renovations began for what was to become Gospel Village. Many considered chronically homeless remain so due to mental or physical disabilities. Gospel Village offers permanent housing and dignified work for Lakeland’s chronically homeless. The tiny-home community currently has 35 units with plans to break ground on an additional 24 units in 2022. The nonprofit’s goal is to complete 150 units over the subsequent two phases of its project. Gospel Village is currently home to 40 residents. HOME SWEET HOME During a November 3 “Friendraiser” for Gospel Inc., volunteer Hailey gave us a tour of Gospel Village. An intern at Together Church, Hailey volunteers weekly at the village as a part of the ministry program called Lead Florida. Sprawling oak trees provide canopy above paths dissecting rows of newly remodeled units and community gathering spaces. We entered one home that had been renovated entirely, including new windows, paint, cabinetry, plumbing, lighting, appliances, and furnishings. Gospel Inc. partnered with local artist Jenna O’Brien to design the interior, “helping create a happy space, which we believe will positively affect their mental health. We also have partnered with local mental health experts and volunteers to host events here on-site so our residents can walk outside of their homes and participate,” according to our tour guide. Gospel Village’s Restore Workshop Director, Robbie Lathrop said, “We believe that our residents need three things. They need to be in a relationship with Christ, they need community, and they need housing. This addresses the housing component of that. [...] When we bought the park in February, we knew there would be a number of these units that we needed to remodel. They are basically an extreme makeover.” Gospel Village invites residents to be active participants in the interior design process. Next, we moved to the outdoor kitchen, gathering space, and farm. The Village hosts a community dinner every Thursday night for residents. Gospel Village offers community groups and bible studies to bolster that sense of community, which is at the core of its mission. Down another pathway, a community fridge and pantry are stocked with donations of fresh produce and pantry goods from local community groups and churches. A form of therapy, dignified work, and farm fresh eggs, a chicken coop is situated adjacent to the community pantry. “It’s a powerful tool for those suffering from anxiety and loneliness while providing a work opportunity for those in our housing programs. For those who can’t work elsewhere, they can work here and help in areas like this to receive permanent housing,” noted a volunteer during the tour. The tour concluded with the opportunity to buy handmade and sewn items from RePurpose Art Studio. The studio is a coffeehouse gathering spot for homeless women in the morning, with devotions and prayer available to those who stop by. The art studio receives donations of clothing, food, and craft items that are repurposed into aprons, jewelry, candles, and the like. Donations towards items at RePurpose Art Studio support the women who make them. A LIFE’S CALLING TURNED COMMUNITY “This is our ten-year anniversary as a corporation,” said Brian Seeley as he took the stage at the Friendraiser luncheon. The significance of that milestone has given him pause to reflect on “the journey that has brought us to this beautiful place.” Seeley came to Lakeland in 2008 to attend Southeastern University to pursue a ministry degree. “I was a brand-new Christian, and God put a call on my life to work with the homeless. It was something that was really strong in my heart,” he said. He began making friends with other college students and discussing how they could engage and better get to know the homeless. “We began to spend every single day with homeless folks all around the community. They became our best friends.” Seeley and his friends eventually moved into the Parker Street neighborhood. They rented two houses and invited their homeless friends to stay with them. “What started with two people turned into 40 people living on our property,” Seeley said. The Gospel Inc. founder described that period as “one of the greatest experiences of my life,” but also “one of the most chaotic experiences in my life and not at all sustainable.” Police visits were usual occurrences at their Parker Street residence, so much so that Seeley would have dreams about them showing up and clearing everyone out. One night, the police were called to the home and had everyone on the ground with hands on their heads, including Seeley. They asked if he allowed all these people to live there, shining a flashlight on each head. He answered yes. They asked if he realized that the City of Lakeland could have him evicted for having so many people there. Seeley thought, “Who’s the City of Lakeland?” He hadn’t thought about the impact he had on his neighbors. He was thinking about his mission to help the homeless. “I’m blessed by the City of Lakeland and the community leaders here that walked alongside me,” Seeley said. In 2017, the City hired a consultant to help them think through and work towards resolving the issue of homelessness, particularly chronic homelessness, in Lakeland. Seeley was invited into that conversation. He learned that most chronically homeless people couldn’t gain employment for mental or physical health reasons. Their disability checks weren’t enough to afford rent, and many had no family or support systems. “I started grappling with this issue and started to dream of what we could do to provide a home and a community for people here,” he said. Looking across the nation for best practices in providing long-term housing for the chronically homeless, they found Community First! Village in Austin, Texas. Seeley, Lakeland mayor Bill Mutz, executive director of Parker Street Ministries, Tim Mitchell, and other community leaders traveled to Austin. Community First! Village created a sustainable model with their 51-acre planned community and 1,200 homes dedicated to the chronically homeless. Seeley was blown away, calling Community First! Village “the Disney World of what we’re doing here.” He and his team began training to learn how to bring that model to Lakeland. “As we were envisioning what we wanted to do here, we came up with four pillars that were based on the model in Austin,” said Seeley. “We believe a relationship with God is critical to a person’s growth,” he said of the first pillar. “It changes their lives. […] It’s an invitation that we extend of the gospel to the folks that we’re serving here. Our hope is that they know God. […] We believe God is at the center of it, and it’s his hand that is sovereign over this ministry to carry it through and accomplish the mission that we’ve got here.” The second pillar is community. “What I discovered is that just having a roof over your head isn’t enough. […] People need a support system. In Austin, they say that the greatest cause of homelessness is the catastrophic loss of family. […] Community is so important, and we’re blessed by the community they provide us. We learn so much from the people that we’re serving.” The third is a place of permanence – home. “A place that you can put down roots and settle,” said Seeley. “This is a permanent home. You don’t have to leave.” He noted that transitional housing programs don’t work for the folks that Gospel Inc. serves because they’re often unable to get or maintain full-time employment and their disability checks aren’t enough to sustain housing. “A place you can stay – there’s so much peace in that,” he said. “Then you can start to focus on your basic needs, things you can’t do when you’re out there on the street in survival mode.” The final pillar Seeley discussed is purpose. “We provide work opportunities for everyone who is housed through our program. Everyone that we’re housing works for us, on our payroll, and that helps them contribute towards rent, and it puts money in their pocket.” SUZIE’S STORY During the Friendraiser luncheon, Gospel Inc. case manager Murray Lathrop took the stage to tell the story of one resident whose life trajectory changed entirely because she now has a place to call home. Lathrop runs the coffee shop in the morning at the art studio. “I met Suzie there. She was very consistent and quiet. [...] She would always go sit at this one table in the same chair,” she said. Gradually, Suzie shared her story with Lathrop. “A lot of these women are filled with trauma. They’re hurting. They have stories of wrecked lives. Each one has their own story, and they need to share it,” said the case manager. Though diagnosed with learning disabilities in school, Suzie managed to earn a high school diploma. She also had health issues that have continued throughout her life. Suzie lived with her parents until they passed away with cancer. She went on to marry and have a daughter. Her husband left, and Suzie found herself unable to hold down two full-time jobs and raise a child with autism. Through this series of unfortunate life events and the loss of family, Suzie became homeless. “She ended up in a shelter and in my coffee shop,” said Lathrop. Lathrop talked Suzie into participating in their sewing program. She did, reluctantly. After 16 weeks of hard work – she graduated. That allowed her to put money aside and secure housing at Gospel Village. She was one of the first women to move into the Village. After moving in earlier this year, her exhusband became ill and was hospitalized. He could no longer care for their daughter, and she, too, became homeless. But, because Suzie had secured long-term housing, her daughter could move in with her at Gospel Village. Lathrop called Suzie a “hard worker” and a “sweetheart.” She brought her on stage to speak. Suzie said, “Thank you for giving myself and my daughter a safe place to live.” A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT Polk County Commissioner George Lindsey made a big announcement at the November Friendraiser. He explained that due to the pandemic, the County was the recipient of $126M to help those affected by COVID-19. “We pushed out a lot of money to people who lost their jobs, who had their hours cut back, businesses who were devastated. We gave $9M to the school system so they could buy laptops. We gave money to every Chamber of Commerce so they could help their members get through this mess. It was an enjoyable, necessary process,” Lindsey said. Following those funds, the County received some $30M to help the community with rent and utilities. “Recently, under the ARP (The American Rescue Plan) money, we were notified that we’d get an additional $140M,” he said. That money was divided into two $70M sections. “Since we spent most of the money last time on social programs and helping people in their daily lives, the Board made a commitment that we were going to spend most of this part of the money for capital assets that will long last beyond our time in service here. So that it creates an asset for the community – roads and bridges and sidewalks.” The commissioner continued, “But we still want to carve out money for ‘social infrastructure’ as I call it – things that have a social element but still have lasting life. We earmarked $10.5M for that purpose.” After announcing this to the community and requesting applications, they received 179 applications totaling just under $80M in three weeks. In a collaborative effort, the list of applicants was whittled down to 42. Gospel Inc. received one of the largest allocations. Commissioner Lindsey said, “I’m proud to announce [...] Gospel Inc., through this program, will be awarded $824,000. That puts a knot in my throat. […] Your County Commission and your City Commission are very much behind the passion that you have here today, and this is just the beginning. […] We’re still in Genesis, and there’s a long way to go.” Brian Seeley announced that they would be purchasing the property next door to the current Gospel Village and building new units with that capital. “We’re going to be building 24 brand new units on this property. […] Our goal is 50 units over there,” Seeley said. Before concluding the Friendraiser in a prayer, Mayor Bill Mutz said, “We are so grateful for the Board’s work on this, for Brian’s vision, for the County’s support, and for the ability to be a part of this and watch this grow, and to have solutions for people instead of ignoring them. That is what Christ called us to do. If we are to seek people and love unconditionally as a matter of course of our life to be able to live the gospel – this is what you do.” Gospel Inc. (863) 940-9001 www.gospelinc.org FB @gospelinclkld IG @gospelincministries Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3278 Lakeland, FL 33802 Photography by Amy Sexson

If teamwork makes the dream work, Winter Haven is living the dream. The last decade has been transformative for the Chain of Lakes city, especially its downtown, thanks in no small part to a collaborative approach to community investment and development. Outgoing President and CEO of the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce, Katie Worthington Decker, credits collaboration as the city’s ‘secret sauce’ regarding growth and success, a sentiment echoed across both the private and public sectors. “About ten years ago, we were in the beginning of the renaissance triggered by the public investments the City made in the mid-2000s,” said Worthington Decker. “Investors were starting to come back from the mortgage-crisis recession, but it was still very much the recovery phase. Since then, thanks to individual investors as well as larger groups like Six/Ten, Winter Haven has seen a complete transformation of the downtown core to one that professional, retail, and food and beverage businesses seek out.” PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT “Private business owners and real estate investors have played a key role in their willingness to take a risk investing in the community, especially 10-15 years ago when there were no guarantees. That has attracted others to invest,” said Worthington Decker. Winter Haven-based private developer Six/Ten owns and manages 675,000 square feet of commercial property and is invested more than just financially in transforming the city. Six/ Ten CEO Bud Strang has lived in Winter Haven most of his life. His commitment and that of fellow Six/Ten leadership, Kerry Wilson and Joe Bogdahn, to Winter Haven’s revitalization stem from a passion for the city. “It’s been a pretty dramatic change in ten years,” said Strang of the city’s incremental but substantial transformation. A decade ago, no one was living downtown, the workforce was about a third of what it is presently, and dining options could be counted on one hand, Strang said. “Our partners and investors – almost everyone lives here.” Strang notes there are many ways to invest, “but if you can invest in your hometown – where you live, where you work, and play – you get the added satisfaction. You want it to be a good investment, but you’re fixing up your own place. […] We joke that some of the Six/Ten business plans [were made because] we’re getting old and lazy and don’t want to drive to Tampa or Orlando for something fun to do or to go to a nice restaurant.” The city’s revitalization started quite a bit earlier than a decade ago. The first buildings Six/Ten bought were in the mid-90s. “There was no plan. We didn’t think, ‘We’re revitalizing or redeveloping downtown.’ It was in 2012 when we really took a pause. We said, ‘We’ve got quite a few properties here. Maybe we should be a bit more intentional in terms of how we’re doing this.’” That’s when Six/Ten started looking at downtown as one project from Lake Silver to Citi Centre Plaza and First Street to US Hwy 17. “It’s a mixed-use development from the inside out, and this is the area that we’re going to focus on,” said Strang. Earlier on, Six/Ten aimed to attract business downtown. They bought up commercial buildings and even started businesses to bring employees to the city’s core. Though still working to bring new businesses to Winter Haven, Strang said Six/Ten’s primary focus has shifted from business recruitment to creating more residential space downtown. According to design professionals, one feature that makes Winter Haven’s downtown unique is the city’s grid. “We’ve got one of the most walkable downtowns anywhere. […] I think we can leverage that,” Strang said. “We may end up at 600-700 dwelling units Downtown. Some of those may be condominiums. A lot of them will be apartments.” Strang described residential offerings as “the piece we were missing” and called the housing component “the biggest change going forward” for downtown, drawing even more residents to the city. A market study for the Six/Ten residential project RainDance Apartments, currently under construction on Avenue C SW, estimated 30% of future RainDance residents don’t live in Florida today. Another 3% don’t live in Polk County today. “You’re going to see a lot more people living downtown. I think you’re going to see more restaurants, bars, and things to do,” Strang predicts. Additionally, Winter Havenites can anticipate more events. “Things like the Farmers Market have been a great development,” Strang said. The Six/Ten CEO recalls hearing a developer at a conference once say, “We’re developers. We look at the buildings. With a lot of these projects, it’s what happens in between the buildings that determine whether it’s going to be successful or not.” Strang hopes to see more things to do “between the buildings” like the Slow Roll and Ski Show, Winter Haven Farmers Market, and Main Street Winter Haven’s many events. ‘PRO-COMMUNITY’ POLICYMAKERS Worthington Decker notes that economic development organizations like Main Street Winter Haven, the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce, and the Winter Haven Economic Development Council “understand the pieces they play in the puzzle but also share a common vision of where we want to see Winter Haven go.” “Perhaps most importantly,” she went on, “the policymakers – our City staff and City Commission have had a pro-business, pro-community enhancement attitude, trying to balance the demands of growth with the desire to remain authentic to who Winter Haven is.” Eric Labbe, Economic Opportunity and Community Investment Director with the City of Winter Haven heads the Economic Worthington Decker believes Winter Haven has become an attractive community for industry because of its growth and strong workforce. “We have aimed to maintain the authentic, neighborly feel. We are also an inclusive community. One that is not afraid to acknowledge the mistakes and biases of our past and learn, grow and improve to ensure that everyone feels like they can find a place here, open a business here. That is a constantly evolving side of any community, but one that leadership in this community has put at the highest priority. We also try to do everything in our power to make it easy for someone to invest here. Our City government is investing in people and platforms to help streamline a business’s (and citizen’s) interactions with the City.” A decade ago, Winter Haven’s primary industries were agriculture, healthcare, and business and professional services. “Today, healthcare still remains a high growth and leading industry with the expansion of Baycare, Bond Clinic, Gessler, and now AdventHealth. Numerous other healthcare businesses have opened in the last ten years as a result of the increasing demand of the area,” Worthington Decker said. She noted that though citrus is no longer a dominant industry, companies like WG Roe continue to invest in the area and expand. “The shift in ag has been towards agribusiness and not such growing for food, but for food flavoring and extracts.” “Thanks to CSX, logistics has become a more predominant targeted industry, and although it has taken almost eight years, we now see Florida Can Manufacturing and Coca Cola around the ILC (Intermodal Logistics Center),” she said. Worthington Decker thinks the City and economic development organizations would like to see more manufacturing in the area over distribution. “Business and professional services remain a core industry as well as data management and storage.” TOURISM REVITALIZED “Tourism in Polk County was at the start of recovery with the opening of LEGOLAND on October 15, 2011,” said Katie Worthington Decker. The theme park built for kids celebrated its tenth birthday on October 15, 2021. Winter Haven Mayor Brad Dantzler attended the event to present a proclamation naming October 15 ‘LEGOLAND Day.’ During his speech, the mayor praised LEGOLAND for building on the rich history of Cypress Gardens and went on to refer to them as “ideal corporate citizens.” He noted that the resort provides over 1,000 jobs to the city, sends employees to college through a partnership with Polk State College, cleans up the lakes, invests in solar, and treats their employees with respect. “Winter Haven could not be more proud and more happy to have them as part of our community,” said Mayor Dantzler. LEGOLAND’s success has inspired the renaissance of Polk County’s tourism industry first brought to the area by its predecessor and the state’s first commercial theme park, Cypress Gardens. Over the ten years that LEGOLAND Florida Resort has been open, the park has welcomed millions of families from across the world to Winter Haven – families who dine and shop at local businesses during their visit. The resort’s parent company, Merlin Entertainments, continues to invest through new attractions, the expansion of hotel properties, and the world’s first Peppa Pig Theme Park, slated to open this February. “That commitment to growth and expansion for LEGOLAND Florida Resort I think has benefited the community at large through not only direct employment, [...] but also the indirect economic impact that visitors to LEGOLAND then have within the broader community,” said LEGOLAND Florida Resort president and managing director for the North America LEGOLAND Resorts, Rex Jackson. Relationships at the government level with the City and County, in addition to many other community organizations and businesses like AdventHealth, Polk State College, and Grove Roots Brewing Company, have been instrumental to LEGOLAND Florida Resort’s auspicious decade. Jackson said, “Over the past ten years [...] LEGOLAND Florida has been able to embed itself into the community [...] because of the open arms that the community has had. [...] I think that has contributed to the success LEGOLAND Florida has had, which then also contributes to the success of the community.” DOWNTOWN – THE ‘HEARTBEAT’ OF ECONOMIC IMPACT Winter Haven’s downtown district has received considerable attention from the private and public sectors. Eric Labbe called downtown our “identity” and the “heartbeat” of economic impact within the community. “From a value per acre standpoint, properties are valued higher in the downtown core. So, communities get more ‘bang for their buck’ in the downtown,” he said, adding that growth in the core “helps to solidify your economic base within the community.” The City has purposefully set up land development codes and regulations to encourage downtown’s mixed-use environment of citizens living, working, and deriving entertainment there. According to Labbe, a robust downtown also helps the traffic situation by reducing vehicle trips on adjacent roadways and makes providing municipal services more efficient than in sparse residential suburbs and on the outskirts of the city. “Twenty years ago, in Winter Haven, there wasn’t much there,” said Labbe. People across all industries have been working for years to change that. “That’s from private developers that are investing time and capital downtown to community partners like the Winter Haven Economic Development Council, the Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Winter Haven, City folks in our department, and other departments who are working and want to see downtown thrive.” The synergy between public and private investment in Winter Haven has encourage growth across the community. Six\ Ten’s Bud Strang called public investment “really important.” From moving the Winter Haven Public Library downtown to streetscaping and maintaining public parks, he said that investment of public dollars makes it “very attractive for the private sector to come in behind them and do the for-profit [projects].” Eric Labbe notes that data consistently shows public investment in infrastructure incentivizes private sector investment. “We have seen that locally through the years with our investments in complete street projects, water and sewer infrastructure, and recreational amenities,” he said. BURSTING AT THE SEAMS “If you look at growth trends across the county [...] Winter Haven has been growing somewhere between 4-5% annually for the last five or six years. Lakeland, in comparison, is growing at about 1%. When you see statistics that the Lakeland/Winter Haven metropolitan area is the second-fastest-growing MSA (Metropolitan statistical area) in the nation – one of the fastestgrowing counties in the nation – the east side of the county, Winter Haven particularly, is driving a lot of that,” said Labbe, referring to census data showing the Lakeland/Winter Haven metro area tied with Boise City, Idaho for second-highest rate of growth between 2019 and 2020. As Winter Haven swells with new residents, the City prioritizes projects to accommodate that growth. Labbe detailed investments that the City of Winter Haven is making, including new fire stations and public safety units. They are working with FDOT and Polk County on transportation improvements. Phase II of the Chain of Lakes Complex project is funded, which will entail a complete rehab and redevelopment of the baseball fields and more utilization of the Lake Eloise lakefront, along with Phase II of the Lake Maude Park project, adding multipurpose and baseball fields, as well as the construction of a brand new Northeast Recreation and Cultural Center which will replace the aging center on Martin Luther King Boulevard. Construction on a trail around Lake Elbert reminiscent of Lakeland’s Lake Hollingsworth Trail is set to begin within the year. Several hotel projects are slated for downtown, and the City is working with affordable housing providers to bring multi-family projects to Winter Haven, as well as with private developers in the downtown area where apartment units are already under construction. Labbe noted that the City would continue its work on utility improvements in water and wastewater. Labbe anticipates the trend will continue with an estimated 3-5% annual growth. Ten years from now, “We will likely be a community somewhere around 65,000 to 70,000 people. [...] I think that a lot of people throughout Florida and throughout the nation are recognizing what Polk County and Winter Haven have to offer – and it shows in our growth.”

A year since its founding, Facebook group Grace Giving for KidsPACK is just shy of 500 members. Its founder and administrator, Lakeland real estate agent Debbie Miller was recently presented with the 2021 Lakeland Realtors Good Neighbor Award. She says it’s the Grace Giving group that earned it, expressing gratitude for members’ unending support totaling thousands of dollars of in-kind food donations to the Lakeland charity, kidsPACK. “When I started Grace Giving, I really believed it was something that had a positive impact for everybody. Not only the group to feed hungry kids, but I think it gave people a good feeling that there’s something positive in the world,” said Miller. KidsPACK is a nonprofit organization that was started in 2011 by Randy Browning. It operates with the sole mission to feed homeless or under-served students when school is not in session. By working directly with teacher liaisons in schools throughout Polk and Hillsborough Counties, kidsPACK fills the gap for disadvantaged children by providing discrete backpacks with enough food for three meals a day over the weekends. The food in each pack is child-centric and easy to open and prepare as many of the kids they serve do not have access to running water or a microwave. “I’ve been working with kidsPACK since they started, volunteering with them,” said Debbie Miller, who serves as the auction chair for the Gone Country for kidsPACK fundraising event. Food insecurity and child hunger in the community may seem unfathomable if you or someone you know directly has never been without food. Miller says this is an invisible problem desperately in need of attention and action. When kidsPACK founder Randy Browning first spoke with Miller about child hunger in the community, she remembers thinking, “Who knew that there are this many hungry kids in our community? If you don’t feed the kids, they can’t learn, they can’t focus, and they’re the future of our country. We’ve got to take care of these kids.” Miller ramped up her volunteering efforts amid the coronavirus pandemic when kidsPACK struggled to secure items in bulk to put into their packs. When we spoke with kidsPACK Executive Director Patty Strickland and Program Manager Amy Royal in August 2020, they were dealing with the temporary loss of 17 packing facilities. The most pressing issue for the Lakeland nonprofit, however, was a suspension of buying power. The nonprofit would typically buy in bulk but no longer could. They scoured Publix, Walmart, Sam’s Club – anywhere they could find bulk items. “Instead of a child’s lunch being $6, it went to being $9.20,” said Strickland last August. They reached out to the community for financial and purchasing help, requesting folks pick up ten cans of Chef Boyardee, Pop-Tarts, or applesauce when they were grocery shopping. “Our community stepped up,” Strickland said. Miller said, “They were having a hard time getting Chef Boyardee bulk which is the staple food on the kidsPACK every week; there’s two of them on each child’s pack.” She recalled seeing a Facebook group in which members would choose another member at random and send them a gift. Brainstorming ways to help kidsPACK, she wondered if the model could work towards the charity’s advantage. Over coffee with a friend, she decided she would start her group, Grace Giving for KidsPACK. Miller went home that afternoon in August 2020, started the group, and began inviting friends to join. The group took off with membership and donations. “We had a 4000 [Chef Boyardee] cup goal for the quarter, from August to the end of the year, and we got 4000 cups in a couple of weeks,” said Miller. “Then we set a higher goal to get 16,000 cups, and guess what – we exceed that by December 31, 2020.” A month after creating the group, Miller posted in Grace Giving for KidsPACK that they had already delivered over 6,300 cups of Chef Boyardee to KidsPACK. “We are 9,674 cups away from our 12,000 cups by 12/25/2020. All of you are so awesome, and we are so grateful you are part of this Grace Giving for KidsPACK. Blessings to all,” the September 25, 2020 post read. Awesome indeed. By the end of that October, they had collectively given over $21K in-kind food to kidsPACK, and by November 9, 2020, they were approaching a new goal of 16,000 cups of Chef Boyardee, which they would go on to surpass. This year Grace Giving for KidsPACK set quarterly goals and has exceeded them all. The most recent in-kind food figure was reported on September 23, 2020. Miller wrote in part, “I wanted to let everyone know since I created Grace Giving for KidsPACK on Facebook on August 25, 2020, during the pandemic, our group and all the donors have given nearly $40,000 in-kind food to hungry kids in our community, and we are helping to control hunger. We have met and exceeded each goal each quarter because of all of you. There are not adequate words to express my gratitude to each and every one of you who is a part of this amazing group of individuals in our community. Our group is making a significant impact on helping to control hunger in our Elementary Schools. I want to personally thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.” Miller encourages everyone to spread awareness of childhood hunger and the kidsPACK mission to friends, colleagues, churches, and loved ones. She quoted Mother Teresa, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” Donating one box of Pop-Tarts, one cup of Chef Boyardee, one fruit cup is a step toward eliminating food insecurity and child hunger in the community. “We want them to be aware that there are people out here that will help you – there is help. […] Our goal is to eventually conquer hunger in our county,” Miller said. Bridge the gap of food insecurity in Polk County by sponsoring a child through kidsPACK. For $300 a year, or $25 monthly, you can feed a child in our community for an entire year. Ask your friends, coworkers, family, and church to join you! Grace Giving’s current fourth-quarter goal is to donate 10,000 packs of crackers by the end of the year. Consider joining Grace Giving for KidsPACK on Facebook to make a difference in the lives of local under-served children. To donate, use the Amazon link listed under ‘Announcements’ in the group to order and ship to an approved address or order from Sam’s Club with Debbie Miller listed as the pick-up person. Donations can also be dropped off at United Title Group located at 2000 E Edgewood Dr., Suite 107, Lakeland, FL, 33803. Grace Giving For KidsPACK administrator Debbie Miller can be reached at (863) 581-7817. Miller noted a quote in the group’s ‘About’ section to drive her point home. “Child hunger is a significant issue that requires active participation to combat its effects on our child population. By our Grace, we can help out kidsPACK by putting into perspective the prevalence of child hunger in our county and community.” FB: Grace Giving For KidsPACK Debbie Miller (863) 581-7817 kidsPACK 3725 Frontage Rd N #1, Lakeland (863) 272-7927 FB @KidsPACKinc IG @kidspackinc www.kidspack.org

“Some of the best modern Southern rock around today.” - RIFF Magazine “After 20 years, they still make songs that make you want to boogie your troubles away… they have established themselves as the torchbearer of modern Southern rock” - PopMatters “Their best album in years… brings the rock back to Southern rock in a big way.” -Gary Hayes Country “Blackberry Smoke is still on fire… a testament to that tenacity and an unapologetic ode to an insurgent attitude and tradition. That’s evident in practically every note and nuance.” - American Songwriter Blackberry Smoke has been making Southern rock albums for over 20 years. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, their roots still run deep. Their newest album You Hear Georgia, has critics raving about their musical talent. This album culminates the feel of Georgia by honoring the people, places, and sounds of their home state. The album already has entered at #1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Albums chart, #4 on the all-genre Top Albums chart, #5 on the Top Country Albums chart, and #7 on the Top Rock Albums chart. Produced by Dave Cobb, this album has critics praising their Southern rock sound. Now, the band is officially going on tour for You Hear Georgia, with a stop in Lake Wales this December. Blackberry Smoke is Charlie Starr (vocals, guitar), Richard Turner (bass, vocals), Brit Turner (drums), Paul Jackson (guitar, vocals), and Brandon Still (keyboards). Lead Singer of the band Charlie Starr shares, “We can’t wait to come out and play our new songs from You Hear Georgia LIVE! We are long overdue to get out to these great places and see some friends, family, brothers, and sisters that we have really missed. It’s going to be extra special playing these big rock n roll shows again!” The band members have come so far together, and they rely on one another for support and creative direction. “Having played music together for so long, it does become sort of a telepathic thing, where we all are nodding our heads at the same time, like, “A-ha, I know what this feels like, or what it should feel and sound like,” Starr says. You Hear Georgia features a narrator who is misunderstood because of his outward appearances and misguided stereotypes, which is the theme of Starr’s lyrics as it relates to the band’s own Southern roots. “Lyrically, the song is about the South being misunderstood. It’s obviously a rough and tumble world, and there’s a lot of bad people. But there’s a lot of good people too. It started with the idea of how people might have a preconceived opinion of you because of a thick Southern accent, then expanded into the reality of how some people just seem to have such a hard time getting along, thanks to political or religious views, or simply what part of the country you come from.” With that in mind, the songs of the album started to really come together. Many of the songs describe characters that are restless and prone to seeking out a change of scenery, in hopes of finding a place where they belong. Amidst their newest album receiving so much praise, NPR Music noted that their album “pushes the envelope while providing that famous Blackberry Smoke autonomy, delivered with soulful vocals, haunting harmonies, and kickass songs.” This tour is all about honoring the many southern music influences that made their sound what it is today. The upcoming shows add to a special milestone year for Blackberry Smoke, whose 20th anniversary as a band is this year. Rolling Stone hailed that their sound is “part of a lineage that shares a love of Petty, the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr., able to ride an Americana vibe or peel off a stomping riff and tie it all together without a hint of pretense.” Since forming in 2001, the band has continued to tour relentlessly, building a strong and loyal following. Their music has also been prominently featured in the television show, “Yellowstone” and they’ve performed on Stephen Colbert, Conan O’Brien, and Last Call with Carson Daly. In addition to their work as musicians, Blackberry Smoke remains committed to charitable work and has raised nearly $500,000 benefiting children’s cancer research. Watch Blackberry Smoke perform live at the Orange Blossom Revue on December 4th at 8pm. Polk County fans can watch their southern roots-inspired music at the Lake Wailes park in Lake Wales.

Each month, hundreds of local families visit the Social Services office and Food Pantry for The Salvation Army of East Polk County. The organization offers social services, including financial assistance with rent, food distribution, and operates a homeless shelter. We met with Diana Woodhead, Social Services Director for The Salvation Army Winter Haven Offices serving East Polk County, and Commanding Officer Captain Dominic Blanford to discuss what they do and how the community can help. SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOMELESS SHELTER The organization works with several grants to provide this assistance, including the Tampa Electric Company Share program. The Salvation Army provides a food pantry for families in need. “Once a week, we provide food to families in our community. It can be anywhere from 50 to 100 families that come in a day depending on the time of month,” said Diana Woodhead. The organization stocks its food pantry with donations from many sources, like Feeding Tampa Bay, part of Feeding America, a nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger. Every week, The Salvation Army picks up meat close to its expiration date that has been frozen, produce nearing its sell-by date, and items with damaged packaging from Harveys Supermarket, Save A Lot, and ALDI Grocery Store. The faith-based food pantry receives leftover items from the Auburndale and Winter Haven Wawa through the Harvest Program. Last month they received nearly 4,000 items from donuts to breakfast sandwiches. Once a month, they pick up at least four pallets of damaged items from a Publix warehouse in Lakeland and receive milk, eggs, cheese, butter, and dry goods through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Donated food is stored and sorted in their on-site warehouse and then shelved and packed by volunteers in a pantry across the hall to be picked up by families in need each Wednesday. In the kitchen, a cook prepares community meals every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. “We feed anyone who comes – no questions asked. We just take a first name to log the meal,” said Woodhead. The number of families in need fluctuates. In September, 287 cases or 1,013 people utilized their food pantry, shelter, and rent/ utility assistance services. That doesn’t include the weekly meals they serve, 473 in the same month. These numbers often swell around the holidays. The back of the facility houses their women and children’s shelter with dorms for single women, a handicapped-accessible dorm, and one for mothers with children. The shelter has a children’s playroom, dining hall, television area, bathrooms and showers, and a laundry room. The shelter is closed Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm, with exceptions for illness and inclement weather. “We can help the moms that have children of daycare age get daycare through the Early Learning Coalition. We work closely with The Hearth Project, which is part of the Polk County School Board that specifically caters to homeless families with children,” said Woodhead. The shelter’s caseworker, Dreamalee Lamberti, works closely with its tenets. Woodhead said of Lamberti, “She’s got a lot of knowledge that she can use to help the ladies. She has applied herself since she’s been here to working individually with every person we have in the shelter to put them on the right path and give direction.” THE ANGEL TREE PROGRAM AND RED KETTLE CAMPAIGN Corps Officers for Salvation Army of East Polk County, Captains Dominic and Ivelisse Blanford took leadership in Winter Haven last year. “My wife and I have both worked with the Salvation Army for over ten years now,” said Dominic Blanford. The two met at “Camp Keystone,” The Salvation Army’s Camp in Starke, Florida, and married in 2010. The Blanfords are both ordained ministers for The Salvation Army and pastor at its local church. With the help of longtime staff and volunteers, including social services director, Diana Woodhead who has been with The Salvation Army for over twenty years, Blanford said, “Our goal is to enlighten the community of what we do and what they can do to help support the cause.” In addition to the shelter, food pantry, and social services, The Salvation Army has a number of programs benefiting the underserved in our community. The Salvation Army Family Store is a volunteer-run thrift store where folks often donate second-hand clothes and household items. Blanford notes that all proceeds earned at The Family Store stay local, supporting their other programs. A popular program benefiting families who can’t afford Christmas gifts is the Angel Tree Program. “The Angel Tree Program has been in existence since the 80s,” Blanford said. “It gives individuals, families, organizations, and businesses the opportunity to adopt Angels.” According to saangeltree.org, “Once a child or senior adult has been registered and accepted as an Angel, their Christmas wish list is shared with donors in your community who purchase gifts of new clothing and toys. The gifts are distributed to the family to place under their family Christmas tree.” Distribution of gifts will be done at their administration and worship center on December 15 as a drive-through. ‘Angel’ families can drive up, and volunteers will load the gifts into their vehicles. “We like to follow up with those families too,” Blanford said. “We like to check on them and see how they’re doing. They aren’t just numbers to us – they’re people. Of course, we’re a religious organization, and they’re God’s children. We want to ensure they’re not statistics to us.” The Salvation Army Commanding Officer noted this is where they can connect families with their other services if needed. The Angel Tree Program is especially meaningful to Blanford. Growing up in Orlando, he remembers one Christmas when things were a little tight for his family, and his mother applied for the Angel Tree Program. “Now I have the opportunity to be on the other side of it and participate in helping families,” he said. And of course, who hasn’t seen volunteers ringing the bell outside of grocery stores around the holidays? The Salvation Army is currently gearing up for their signature Red Kettle Campaign. East Polk County has around 20 Publix and Walmart red kettle locations across Winter Haven, Auburndale, Lake Wales, Haines City, and Davenport. Donations made in East Polk stay here to support their programs, says Blanford. “It doesn’t go to Washington D.C. or Los Angeles. It stays in your local community.” “We like to encourage individuals, families, businesses, civic clubs, schools, churches – anyone who’s able to come out for a couple of hours – to take a couple of shifts,” he said. “We have great support here in this community.” This year, the East Polk Red Kettle Campaign will go from November 27 through December 24, daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Those interested in volunteering for the Red Kettle Campaign can sign up at www. registertoring.com. Helping hands are always needed both during the holidays and the day-to-day operations of the food pantry and Family Store. “We’re in great need of volunteers,” said Blanford. “COVID has played a role in our decrease in volunteers.” The Salvation Army Captain understands the concerns with COVID and assures they provide gloves and take necessary precautions to keep volunteers safe. EXPANDING SERVICES Blanford says he would like to offer more services to the community in the future, an endeavor they are actively working towards. “That breaks our heart, especially when I have single men who come, and I have no shelter for them. Or the situation where we have a family come, but dad can’t stay here, so we have to send them to Lakeland. We’re exploring what we can do to expand services where we can focus on not only families but single men and single women. We may approach the county, the cities, to see what we can do to expand our services,” he said. The Salvation Army of East Polk County has partnered with TriCounty Human Services and Heart for Winter Haven to mitigate homelessness in the community. “We’ve all come together because we all want the same thing for this community,” said Blanford. “We’ve collaborated to see what we can do to come up with a solution of maybe providing stable housing for families through intensive case management to promote self-sufficiency, alongside this particular building, which we’d like to see become a single women’s and single men’s shelter.” To sign up to be an Angel or adopt a family in the Angel Tree Program, volunteer for the Red Kettle Campaign, Family Store, or food pantry, or more information on other programs including youth camp and character building and the CAN-U-CARE drive, visit the website or call the phone numbers below. www.salvationarmywinterhaven.org FB @SalArmyWinterHaven Angel Tree, Red Kettle Campaign, Camp, Character building Programs/CAN-U-CARE Drive: (863) 294-7493 Family Store: (863) 401-3583 Social Service/Food Pantry: (863) 291-5107 Photography by Amy Sexson

On September 17, at the Marines Toys for Tots National Training Conference in Washington, D.C., David Waller, Polk County coordinator, accepted the Coordinator of the Year for Civilian Volunteer Campaigns. Polk County Toys for Tots was recognized as well for having the top campaign of 2020. Waller, a retired law enforcement officer of 36 years, appreciates the recognition but says it’s the campaign that won. “It’s all the volunteers that make it happen,” he said. Toys for Tots began in 1947 with Diane Hendricks, wife of Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks. That year, under his wife’s instruction, to start an organization serving children in need, Major Hendricks and the Marines in his reserve unit collected and distributed 5,000 toys. Toys for Tots became a national community action program of Marine Reserve Sites in 1948. Hendricks, who served as a Director of Public Relations at Warner Brother Studios, enlisted the help of many of his celebrity friends for the program, including Walt Disney, who designed the organization’s first poster, now their logo. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity in 1991. Today, the organization distributes an average of 18 million toys to 7 million children, according to their website. After retiring from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, David Waller started his own business, Waller Pavers. He eventually sold the business, grew bored with retirement, and looked for another endeavor to fill his time. “Being a cop back in the day, I worked on Christmas mornings, and you could tell a kid that got a toy from a kid that didn’t get a toy,” said Waller. “I was familiar with Toys for Tots because we had just helped get them some toys, but I really didn’t understand how it worked.” He read a local newspaper article seeking help to run the program and reached out. In 2016 he interviewed with former Polk County Toys for Tots coordinator Dorothy Dunlap and longtime volunteer George Overstreet who agreed Waller was a fit for the nonprofit. He began volunteering at the warehouse that Thanksgiving to learn the ropes and was named coordinator the following year. A COMMUNITY EFFORT According to Waller, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, headquartered in Triangle, Virginia, has approximately 813 programs throughout the United States. About 165 of those campaigns are run by actual Marines, including one in Tampa and Orlando. The Polk County Toys for Tots campaign is an LCO, or Local Community Organization made up of dedicated, unpaid volunteers. Since he took over as coordinator in 2016, Waller has focused on changing community perception of the program to that of an LCO. “It is a community effort,” he said. “We need the community’s help, the community to come volunteer, the community to donate toys – so that the community prospers.” “What we’ve done the last few years is to continue to foster community support – businesses, volunteers, clubs, government agencies,” said the Polk County coordinator. “We have a fantastic partnership with all of our law enforcement, and the sheriff is one of our biggest supporters.” Local businesses support the charity through donations, offering storage trailers for toy inventory, warehouse space for campaign operations, and becoming toy drop-off locations. Some 450 donation boxes are posted in business around the county, waiting to be filled to the brim with new toys. Waller named LEGOLAND, Publix Supermarkets, Publix Charities, Saddle Creek Logistics, Rooms to Go, CWI Logistics, Inc., and Central Tavern (part of the Linksters and Paddy Wagon Pub chain) as but a few of their invaluable campaign supporters. The program is volunteer-driven, with a core group of between 20 and 30 volunteers serving throughout the year. That number climbs to over 250 during the holidays, especially on distribution day. Toys for Tots collects new, unwrapped toys to provide nonprofits and families in need over the holidays. Families and nonprofits apply online. Donated toys at their Auburndale warehouse are bagged and taken to distribution spots around the county. The family receives an email with details about when and where to pick up their toys, volunteers give them their items, and they are on their way to light up the holidays for a little one that might not have otherwise received a gift on Christmas morning. Contests among high schools and government agencies have proven a reliable driver for donations. The first challenge involved area high schools competing to raise the most toys. Mulberry High School won three years running, with Lake Region High School taking the top spot last year. Waller said, “My goal was to get the high school students to learn a little bit about those less fortunate than themselves, learn about helping others, a little comradery, leadership, and competition.” For years, the Polk County campaign spent donated funds to purchase batteries to include with toys. Waller had an idea. “I’m having to spend people’s donated money on batteries, and I don’t want to do that. I want to spend that money on toys,” he said. Thus the Battery Bucket Challenge in which the community can donate batteries to Toys for Tots was born, saving them hundreds of dollars on batteries over the last two years. THE 2020 CAMPAIGN At the beginning of 2020, Waller and his team met to discuss whether or not they would carry on with a campaign amid the pandemic. “Our decision, and one that we strongly believed in, is we were going to have a campaign.” They continued with the 2020 Polk County Toys for Tots Campaign and adjusted as needed. For volunteers unable to work in the warehouse, Waller and his team found ways to keep them involved with the program from home with tasks like putting labels on tags. The 2020 campaign didn’t only manage to get by and meet needs; it thrived thanks to Waller, Toys for Tots volunteers, and the community at large. Through their signature donation boxes and community challenges, the Polk County Toys for Tots campaign distributed 57,716 toys to just under 15,000 children and raised over $70,000 in monetary donations. “While we are under the foundation, every penny that gets donated to our campaign is spent on our campaign. It does not go to pay a foundation salary. It doesn’t pay a salary for any of us. Every penny stays right here in Polk County,” Waller said. “Anytime you donate money to an organization, you want it to stay locally, and we’re very proud of that.” This community support and generosity, paired with creative challenges and campaign adjustments surrounding the pandemic, earned the Polk County Toys for Tots team the designation of the top campaign for 2020 and David Waller, Coordinator of the Year for Civilian Volunteer Campaigns. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Registration for this year’s Polk County Toys for Tots campaign opened on October 11. Asked how 2021 is shaping up thus far, Waller said, “We’ve been preparing upfront.” To mitigate any toy shortages or shipping bottlenecks, Waller and his team began purchasing toys in June – fishing poles, dollhouses, books, bikes, and the like. Waller encourages the community to donate earlier in the holiday season so that toys can be prepared for their December 11 distribution day. A list of drop-off sites is available on the Toys for Tots website listed below. On the website, families and nonprofits can also apply for toys, businesses can sign up to be a toy drop box location, or folks can sign up to volunteer. Waller says volunteers are their most significant need at the moment, with a particular need for route drivers to deliver donation boxes and service them as they fill up. “It’s a fantastic program for our community. I cannot say enough about the support that we get from the community, from law enforcement, particularly our sheriff,” the Polk County Toys for Tots coordinator said. As we concluded our interview, Waller offered a final sentiment, “Every child deserves a Christmas.” Marines Toys for Tots toysfortotsusa.org FB @PolkCountyToysForTots (863) 292-8687

In the bright yellow building on Avenue A, formerly Bryant Home Gallery Marketplace, Bao and Lena Nguyen bake ‘a lot of happiness’ by way of fresh bread and authentic Vietnamese recipes to make their ‘Dang Good’ bami (banh mi). The couple lives in Lakeland, where they moved from California two years earlier. “We originated from Vietnam, so we’re very familiar [with banh mi]. In California where we lived, there’s banh mi all over the place,” said Bao, adding that five or six banh mi shops would compete within one city. “When we came to the Lakeland/ Winter Haven area, we were quite surprised because there’s no banh mi here,” he said. So the couple decided to open a Vietnamese sandwich shop in Polk County. When they set out to open their banh mi or ‘bami’ shop, Bao said, “We want to make it exactly the way Vietnamese people make it.” One distinction between a traditional Vietnamese banh mi and the Western version is the bread. Here, many shops offer a baguette bun, which according to Bao, is not how the Vietnamese make it. “We took a trip back to Vietnam right before COVID. We took classes over there to try to understand the beauty of why they’re making it and what makes it so popular. We brought the recipe over here,” he said. Bao and Lena first looked to open their Vietnamese sandwich shop in Lakeland, closer to where they live. “Lots of our friends recommended the Downtown Winter Haven area,” Bao said. “We heard a lot of good things about the area, and the price is better as well. So, we decided to go with our first shop over here.” Throughout 2020, they tested recipes and offered catering to businesses, taking in feedback and improving their product along the way. Bao and Lena started renovations on their Downtown Winter Haven sandwich spot in January 2021. “We were hoping to get to Winter Haven sooner, but it took us a while to get the place done. Finally, we got done in August,” Bao said. They began a BL Sandwich soft opening on August 18 and hope to have a grand opening in mid-November. BL Sandwich is short for the establishment’s full title, Bách Lac Bakery. Bao said, “In Asian Vietnamese meaning, Bách means ‘a lot’ and Lac means ‘happiness.’ So the name basically means ‘a lot of happiness.’” The B and L also stand for the couple’s initials – Bao and Lena. “We wanted to bring a little bit of everything,” Bao said of their menu. The traditional and most popular among Vietnamese folks is their number one, Combination Bami. The special Vietnamese style sandwich is served with Vietnamese jambon, pork roll, head cheese, pate, daikon radish, pickled carrot, cucumber, cilantro, and jalapeno. “In Vietnam, they don’t have green jalapeno like we have it here. They use a tiny Vietnamese chili that’s super spicy. I didn’t want to introduce it just yet because I’m afraid it’s too spicy.” Bao says iron-palate customers curious about the piquant pepper can request it on their BL Sandwich to enjoy it the way the Vietnamese do. The recipe for this sandwich hails straight from Vietnam, and Lena does all the cooking. According to Bao, the banh mi is a French-inspired sandwich of which the Vietnamese adapted the French baguette baking style for a lighter, more airy bread with a crispy outer crust. “The outside needs to be grilled crunchy and stay crunchy for a while. The inside not only has to be soft but also needs to be fluffy,” he said, adding that Vietnamese people continue to develop different shapes and forms of this bread, which BL plans to introduce to their customers in the future. “When you open the bread, there’s steam coming out, and that’s how Vietnamese people developed it that makes it stand out from other bread. It’s a challenge to replicate that bread,” Bao added. He and Lena make their bread fresh, in-house, and from scratch every day. They stay in touch with their culinary teachers in Vietnam, with whom they have regular video calls to continue improving the craft. The BL Sandwich menu has a little something for everyone. If a Combination Bami isn’t your speed, they offer grilled pork, grilled chicken, meatball, Char Siu (barbecue pork), sardine, and vegan bami sandwiches. “We have special sauces for each of them as well. We have a special meat sauce for grilled pork, grilled chicken, and for the meatball, we have our own sauce too,” Bao said. “We bring in some creativity with it like the sausage and egg, which is my favorite.” The Nguyen’s stay up to date on the culinary goings-on of Vietnam to bring new styles and recipes into their shop. “In the future, we’re looking to bring more specialties, which is one of the things other shops won’t have. That’s because we actually go back there [to Vietnam], and the bami in Vietnam is constantly evolving, and they’re bringing new recipes every day.” One such specialty is roasted pork with crispy skin. “Until now, I didn’t know of any shop in Florida that did it, but we’ll bring it as a special,” he said. In addition to their bangin’ bami, BL Sandwich offers pastries, snacks, and beverages like Tiger Sugar Milk with Boba, Lychee Tea with Boba, and Vietnamese Coffee with Condensed Milk. The BL Sandwich shop owners have utilized their first few months of a soft opening as a learning and growing period. “We always ask for feedback, and the more we improve it, we see the more positive a customer responds to it,” said Bao of their food. The couple pride themselves on listening to customer feedback and working to improve their food constantly. One change they made per customer feedback was increasing the size of their fresh buns. When we spoke, Bao and Lena were working on their website, ordering app, menu, and reward program to further elevate the customer experience. “I know life is busy, and people need a quick grab and go, and something fresh, nice, and delicious as well. We want to make it easier for people,” said Bao. Follow BL Sandwich’s social media for details on a grand opening date, specials, and more! BL Sandwich 260 Ave A SW, Winter Haven (863) 229-5507 blsandwich.com FB: BL Sandwich IG @blsandwichf Photography by Amy Sexson

Even with your head in the books, it would be hard not to appreciate the art on the walls of Downtown Lakeland’s independent bookstore, Pressed Books & Coffee. Each piece is the work of a local artist, presented by Vakti Gallery, an online art gallery started by Lakelander Olivia Overholt. Through the online gallery, monthly pop-up shows, and wall space at Pressed, the Vakti Gallery owner and gallery director aims to connect the community to fine art. The gallery’s mission is “To provide a space where local artists can be recognized and where the quality and power of their creations can be felt.” Overholt was born and raised in Lakeland. After graduating from Lakeland Christian School, she attended Anderson University in South Carolina, majoring in graphic design. Overholt moved home after college at the height of the pandemic. Though Overholt majored in graphic design, she is an artist at heart. She enjoys the hands-on, messy aspect of creating something like her woodblock prints, carved out entirely by hand. “It’s good to not stare at the screen for a while,” she laughed. The artist also has an affinity for acrylic paint and charcoal. “If my hands aren’t dirty at the end of it, it’s not worth it for me,” she said. Back home in Lakeland, she began looking for a place to sell her art but couldn’t find one. Unable to find an accessible art scene, Overholt decided to open her own gallery – with a bit of a twist. “I was looking for a place to sell my art but couldn’t find one,” she said. “When I decided to open the gallery, I wanted to do it for other artists who needed a place to sell their art.” She had the community in mind too. “I wanted to make sure that people who do come in – whether it’s for college or because it’s not cold here, or to be closer to the beach – whatever reason they move here, that they have an easier way of finding that art scene,” she said. On December 1, 2020, Overholt launched her online art gallery, which she named Vakti Gallery. Of the endeavor, Overholt smiled and said, “When I was in college, I used to look at the painting majors and think they were insane because they were going to spend their whole life trying to sell art. Then I graduated, and now I’m doing the same thing.” The gallery director spent quite a bit of time choosing a name for the digital and pop-up space to represent local artists. “I chose Vakti because it does have a root word that means something. It comes from the Sanskrit root word for ‘speech.’ I believe that all art is a way to express yourself. Even if it’s abstract and you think it doesn’t mean anything, it does. [...] I decided that all art, more than being a part of you, is what you’re saying.” For the artist and gallery owner, Vakti in name and practice is “listening to local artists, not just using their art for decoration.” In Vakti Gallery’s infancy, Overholt connected with her high school art teacher Kari Clever for advice. “There’s only so much I know, and I was willing to admit that,” Overholt said. She learned about sourcing artists, pricing, shipping, and other art gallery ins and outs. One of the first to join Vakti Gallery was fine artist Seungdo Hyun. “I was super excited because he’s well known,” said Overholt. “I was very appreciative.” Another artist early to Vakti’s digital gallery and a valuable resource for Overholt was former high school classmate, Rebekah Firmin who creates art and illustrations as Mockingbird Artist. “I was able to talk to her and use her as a resource because she has been in Lakeland selling art since before I moved back from college. It was good to find someone who does sell art and knows which avenues work and don’t work,” said the gallery director. Vakti Gallery currently has around 150 pieces of art, photography, sculptures, and mixed media online and available for purchase. The gallery represents 22 artists, including Olivia Overholt, that are based in Central Florida from Lake Wales, Orlando, Winter Haven, Clearwater, and Lakeland. Vakti brings fine art by local artists before the community through an online gallery medium, pop-up shows, and a rotating selection of art at Pressed Books & Coffee. “It’s good here for exposure,” Overholt said of the Pressed gallery space. “The amount of people who have come up to me while I’m working and said, ‘Hey, who do I talk to about art on the walls?’ It’s been insane.” What’s next for Vakti Gallery? “I would love to have a physical location,” said Overholt. “But in the meantime, in the next few years, the pop-up shows are fantastic. I love having them. It’s so much fun.” The next pop-up show will be on November 20 from 5-9 pm at LKLD Live, followed by a Christmas Show at a local residence on December 11 from 5-8 pm. Check the website for address details for the December show. The next time you’re in Pressed or shopping Vakti Gallery’s website and a piece of art speaks to you, keep Vakti’s meaning in mind, and listen. Vakti Gallery vaktigallery.com FB @vaktigallery IG @vaktigallery Photograph by Amy Sexson

History and haunts are at the center of Winter Haven Food Tours’ newest tour option, Winter Haven Beer, Spirits, and Ghosts Walking Tour. We spoke with Auburndale resident and owner/ guide of Winter Haven Food Tours, Amada Anderson, about food, phantoms, and what led her to start her Downtown tour company. Anderson is a licensed and certified Tour Guide and Tour Director with a bachelor’s degree in Music and Theatre from the University of Miami. She worked for a decade in New York as a tour guide, first with a ghost tour company before starting her own New York Broadway Tours a year later. Anderson has worked on Broadway for Disney as a guide inside the New Amsterdam Theatre and ran a non-profit called Thrill The World NYC for seven years, teaching Michael Jackson’s Thriller dance for world records and charity. She currently volunteers as the secretary to the National Federation of Tourist Guides Association. In addition to Winter Haven Food Tours, she and her husband operate a dog walking company called Story Tails Dog Walking. According to Anderson’s ‘About Me’ section on the Winter Haven Food Tours website, “The running joke is he walks dogs, and I walk people.” The Andersons moved from New York to the Sunshine State in April of 2019. The couple wanted to take care of Amada’s mother and start a family. As the owner of her own New Yorkbased tour business, she was traveling a lot already. She figured she could move here and still travel as needed. “With that idea and the fact that my husband would not have to shovel snow in January around his birthday every year – we moved.” WINTER HAVEN FOOD TOURS Anderson took a position as an executive assistant for the City of Winter Haven and grew to appreciate the area through her work, especially during lunchtime. “Winter Haven is so cool,” she said. “Winter Haven is so entrepreneurial and community-oriented.” The former New York tour guide thought Winter Haven needed a downtown tour of its own. The idea nagged at Anderson. “I started looking around, and I was like, wait a minute, there’s a Thai spot, there’s sushi, there’s a Mexican spot, there’s an Italian spot, there’s coffee,” she said. “I’ve given a couple of food tours in Little Italy in New York, but when I saw that we had on-route an olive oil store, it all clicked, and I said, ‘I will do a food tour!’” Anderson and her husband welcomed their baby in June of 2020. In December, she put her idea into motion, joined the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce in January, and opened Winter Haven Food Tours for business on March 1, 2021. The Winter Haven walking tour company offers everything from brunch tours to sweet tooth and happy hour tours. Anderson says many of her clientele are tourists from Orlando looking for things to do in the area around Legoland. After taking a tour and learning more about the city, visitors will often stay to eat, drink, and shop at local establishments. “I’ve been very thankful that everyone has been so supportive,” Anderson said of the community support she’s received for her tour company. GHOULS AND GRAPEFRUIT BASIL MARTINIS With Spooky Season upon us and having given ghost tours in the Big Apple, Anderson wanted to offer something similar here. “I’ve always been pretty sensitive to energies,” she said. As we sat outside discussing her spectral experiences, a lamp flickered on and off. Spirit or electrical short? You be the judge. Anderson told of a scare she had in America’s oldest and purportedly most haunted city, St. Augustine. On a trip to the Old City, she visited America’s Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse. While filming the popular tourist spot, she felt a child run up and hug her. “You know how little kids run up and give you a hug, and they’re so short that you can feel them grab at you? It was so real. I walked in, some little kid came running up and gave me a hug on my thigh.” She remembers saying, ‘No, I’m sorry, kid. I’m not your mom.’ “I looked down – nothing there.” Anderson shared this and more tales on the Winter Haven Beer, Spirits, and Ghost Walking Tour. This two-and-a-half-hour guided walking tour of Downtown Winter Haven includes visits to historical sites, stories about familiar Winter Haven figures, including Gram Parsons, Gene Leedy, and George Jenkins, along with stops to sample food and drink at several Downtown dining destinations. This particular tour is 21+ as the focus was on spirits in more than one sense of the word. (Anderson does offer a tour for little ones with a Halloween twist called Trick or Treat and Tasting Sweets Ghost Walking Tour.) Our first haunting jaunt for bites and booooooze was at Tempo 1930. While there, we cheers’ed Maple Walnut Old Fashioneds and swapped ghost stories over loaded truffle fries and beef and short rib meatballs. Sprinkled throughout our evening walk were spooky stories, videos, and not-so-scary pro tips like where to get the best fried green tomatoes in town. If you plan to take a Winter Haven Food Tour, be sure to wear comfortable shoes, stay hydrated, and let your tour guide know of any food allergies or restrictions. Visit the Winter Haven Food Tours website below for dates and details on more tasty tours. (863) 288-0038 FB @winterhavenfoodtours IG @winterhavenfoodtours winterhavenfoodtours.com Photograph by Amy Sexson

Today, in the culmination of three friends’ backyard barbecue epiphany five years earlier, I sat inside Adler’s new Winter Haven burger spot, watching owner Jacki Walston frame pieces of flamingo and palm print wallpaper. It was extra from their Davenport shop now slated to hang in their new digs. That epiphany was about a burger food truck. Husband and wife Wade and Jacki Walston and friend Jeremiah Waters started Adler’s food truck in 2016, working small gigs at first. The name was an ode to Jacki and Wade’s son, Sheriff Adler Walston, only a year old at the time. Dino nuggets were first added and remain on the menu for Sheriff, who just turned six. Jacki said, “I feel like now we can’t take it off because so many parents know that they can bring their kids here and feed them that.” The trio hustled with the food truck for about eight months when they were presented with the opportunity to open a brick-andmortar. It all started in the alley next to their Davenport burger joint. They became the smash patty fix for the late-night crowd of the adjacent Paddy Wagon Irish Pub, which Wade, Jacki, and Jeremiah worked at for a time. To be respectful to the other local businesses, Adler’s wouldn’t set up their truck until after 10 pm. Their success didn’t go unnoticed by other eateries in the plaza, and the food truck owners were ordered to cease and desist. The pub owners saw the advantage of having Adler’s available to their customers and threw out an offer for the space across the alley. They opened their flagship Davenport location in 2017. “If it wasn’t for us getting kicked out, we probably wouldn’t be sitting at this table currently,” said Wade at our first interview in 2019. Well, if it weren’t for getting kicked out and their legendary burgers, of course. TOTAL BURGER BADASSES Ask Wade Walston, a California native where to find the best burger on the west coast, and without skipping a beat, he’ll tell you In-N-Out Burger. In the same 2019 interview, Wade said, “We weren’t trying to reinvent the wheel, we were just looking for a missing spoke. Currently, there’s not any one place in Florida known for having the best burger. […] Florida has a lot of fantastic burger franchises and local mom and pops, but no definitive good one. We’re trying to fill that void.” Now, Florida does have a definitive best burger – Adler’s. It all starts with the bun. The three owners spent plenty of time, in the beginning, trying different buns to procure the perfect vessel for their burgers. They found an artisan bakery out of Coconut Creek, Florida, called Cusano’s Bakery. Cusano’s has been family-owned and operated since 1966, with over 100 years of bread baking tradition passed down through the generations. Wade described their bread as “wildly old school, a fantastic product.” Sitting atop this magnificent bun is their all-beef, no B.S. smash patty. The burger consists of nothing but quality, Midwest, high-fat content ground beef. “There’s no filler in it, there’s no craziness, there’s no Ribeye steak in there,” said Wade. “We like our steaks an inch and a half thick, and we like our burgers with a lot of fat and smashed.” “Hamburgers are an American classic,” said Wade. “We do our best to not overcomplicate it.” Their opus (and number one bestseller by far) reflects that mantra. The Adler’s Classic Burger is dressed with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onion, mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, and a slice of American cheese. Though the partners all contributed to their minimal, flavorpacked menu, Jacki Walston – who studied culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu – is the creative genius behind their weekly specials. The pun-laden, campy names are reason enough to make you want to skip your usual and try something new. “I think the beauty of a burger is you can put just about anything on it, and it’s always great. Think ‘little black dress’ of the food world,” she said. The fast-casual eatery offers combos with a burger, hand-cut fries, and Fountainhead Gourmet Craft Sodas. “I think part of our success is that we don’t have an overcomplicated menu,” said Jeremiah. Today, the tried and true menu remains with the addition of beer, including local brews from Grove Roots Brewing Company, as well as baked goods made by Oh For Fork Sake. Guests can polish off their meal with a changing selection of goodies like peach and pecan cobbler topped with cinnamon whipped cream frosting, a pina colada (layers of chocolate chip cookie, coconut caramel cookie, and chocolate brownie topped with pina colada frosting and candied pineapple), or a peanut butter cup (layers of peanut butter cookie, peanut butter cups and chocolate brownie topped with chocolate peanut butter frosting and another peanut butter cup). CLASSIC BURGER, CLASSIC VIBES You couldn’t tell now after its complete burger beautification, but this time last year, the lot where Adler’s now sits was home to a drab warehouse framed by overgrown grass. But Jacki had a vision for it. The unfinished concrete floor, subway tile backsplash, and wall-length window looking into the kitchen are just what Jacki envisioned for the space. “I don’t know how they pulled it off or out of my brain, but they did it. It’s amazing how good Six/Ten and Whitehead Construction are,” she said. Adler’s atmosphere is like the food they serve – classic. Their allAmerican, local burger joint vibe is authentic down to the details, like the wooden picnic tables out front, crafted by the Fort Meade High School shop class and the Adler’s logo mural by local artist Cassie Travis. According to Jeremiah, “The whole awning is repurposed from Winter Haven.” Its trusses are from the arcade, with beams from a carwash down the street. ‘BERMUDA TRIANGLE OF FOOD’ Adler’s opened in Winter Haven on August 27 with a sizable community reception. “It’s been humbling and overwhelming,” said Jacki of their first few weeks in business. Jeremiah added, “We expected it to be big, but I don’t think any of us anticipated that much.” The community was in such smash-patty suspense of Adler’s grand opening date that Winter Haven flocked with a fury for burgers and hand-cut fries when they finally announced it. The new restaurant had to temporarily close early, not for lack of product or preparation, but the sheer capacity of orders. “We weren’t expecting Winter Haven to bring it like that, but it totally got brought,” Jacki laughed. Jeremiah added, “We did more in sales twice here than we’ve done ever in Davenport. It’s been monstrous.” That’s thanks to their customers and their backbone employees, say the owners. “We’ve got a solid staff, and we’re very fortunate for that,” Jeremiah said. The Adler’s staff stayed with them through the pandemic and helped to open the Winter Haven shop. The opening of Adler’s comes just weeks after that of their neighbor, Honeycomb Bread Bakers. “Thankfully, I’m working so many hours, or my pants wouldn’t fit,” Jeremiah said of working next to Honeycomb, which they frequent. “I love that this little corner has life now,” Jacki said of Adler’s, Honeycomb, and The Smokin’ OX. “We’ve got our own little Bermuda Triangle of food. [...] Our own little Restaurant Row.” And Jacki’s right, the fare within that ‘Bermuda Triangle of food’ is so good you might wander in and never leave. With two brick-and-mortar locations and a food truck, what’s next for the expanding burger empire? World domination? Perhaps. “We always say ‘No,’ and then an opportunity comes up and we’re like, ‘Why say no when it feels so good to say yes?’” said Jeremiah. “We’re excited to be here,” said Jacki. “As long as Winter Haven will have us, forever and a day, we’ll stay.” 113 Ambersweet Way, Davenport | (863) 438-4324 543 Ave B SW, Winter Haven | (863) 875-6615 FB @Adlers.TCB IG @adlerstcb adlersburgers.com Photography by Amy Sexson

“Goodnight, Mister Fish and Polk Museum of Art, too. Goodnight, Library. See you at storytime soon.” – Goodnight Lakeland By Ida Mundell and Josh “Bump” Galletta Have you read Lakeland’s unofficial bedtime story, Goodnight Lakeland? The children’s book, penned by Ida Mundell and illustrated by Josh “Bump” Galletta, is an ode to the Swan City and a perfect local gift for the upcoming holiday season. Mundell and her husband, Nate, have four kids: Aurora, Eleanor, Ezra, and August. The homeschool mom of four is also a children’s Kids Pastor at Access Church. The family moved to Lakeland about 20 years ago. Galletta and his wife Mary have two kids, Emmersyn and Fynn. He is a commercial artist and illustrator with artwork in places like Starbucks and Haus 820. Ida and Bump met several years ago through her store, A Kind Place, formerly in Dixieland. “It was all fair trade, give back, and locally made,” said Mundell of the retail concept she plans to start back again when she isn’t busy homeschooling her children. Looking for more local artists to feature in A Kind Place, Mundell said, “I mustered the courage to ask Bump if he would put art in my shop.” It was one of the first retail spots Galletta sold his art. The two families became fast friends and shared a connection of art and community. The thought to write a children’s book first occurred to Mundell while on vacation in 2018. “I called him immediately because I wouldn’t want anyone else to draw it,” she said. Galletta started sketches after their initial phone call. As it often goes, the two got busy with life and shelved the project. Last summer, looking to produce something positive in such tumultuous times, Galletta’s wife, Mary, encouraged them to finish it. “I made it a goal where every day I focused on one page and sent it to Ida,” said Galletta. In November 2020, they finished Goodnight Lakeland and selfpublished the book. It was delivered the week after Thanksgiving. Goodnight Lakeland sold out by Christmas last year, and when they had a book signing on August 21 at Pressed, they sold out within a day. A BOOK OF GOOD MEMORIES Goodnight Lakeland is about nostalgic and significant locations around the city, accompanied by Bump’s signature black and white illustrations. Mundell said, “The book is full of our favorite traditions and memories. […] It’s an ode to our families’ favorite things. Lakeland is special. People love the place of Lakeland and feeling at home everywhere they go, and that’s the vibe of the book, what we wanted it to be.” “Home and place are important, I think. […] Feeling placement, feeling like you can walk in somewhere and somebody knows who you are. Being seen, known, and loved is verbiage I use through my ministry and with my own family and everywhere. The book is a little extension of that,” Mundell said. “I think it’s really important that you have a place in a world where everything is changing.” Subjects of the book include everything from Circle B Bar Reserve to Silvermoon Drive-in and everything in between. Bump said he drew the Sputnik Tower because that was the first recognizable landmark to his family when they first moved to the city. Every page is filled with words and drawings of memories and traditions for Mundell and Galletta. “I’m not from Lakeland. It took me a while to get used to it when I first moved here twelve years ago. It slowly became a place we loved,” Galletta said. Lakeland has become home to the family, and Galletta said it is special to tell its story with Mundell’s words and his drawings. “It’s fun that she asked me to do it,” he said. The Goodnight Lakeland author and illustrator often receive pictures of grandparents reading it to their grandchildren, kids carrying it around town, realtors gifting it to new homeowners, and parents sending it to their children going to college out of state. They’ve also heard from the parents of children with autism who say their kids love to carry the book and match it to their surroundings around the city. “They share those stories, and that means everything when they take the time, and they’re so excited to say, ‘Our kid loves this book,’ or ‘We read it every night,’ or ‘That’s the book they pick off the bookshelf,’” said Mundell. Galletta said, “People will say, ‘This is where we got married,’ or ‘This is where we met.’ I’ve had a lot of fun encounters hearing those stories.” And of course, Galletta, who often hides free artwork for people around town and places he travels, hid a few ‘Easter eggs’ in Goodnight Lakeland too. If you find one, tell Bump! “I like to wait and see if anyone’s discovered them,” he said. The project inspired Galletta’s daughter to make a book of her own, a creative process he’s been working with her on. HOW YOU CHANGE THE WORLD Alongside Goodnight Lakeland, Mundell and Galletta collaborated with Lakeland-based handmade accessory company East of These to create a baby blanket featuring Galletta’s black and white artwork. You can pick up one of these adorable gifts at any pop-up markets that Galletta attends, including Buena Market and Haus MRKT, or on his website (hurry, amounts are limited). Mundell thought about her bookish breakout and said, “Something I tell my kids and something I have to remind myself of is that it’s okay to be a beginner. […] I think there’s so much anxiety in the creative world that you have to be there already, that you have to know everything, that you have to have every answer.” She continued, “We stop the process from ever beginning, and that makes me sad because how many great things are we missing out on? I would take an all heart, beginner product over someone who thinks they are the best of the best all the time. I like the hustle and the heart and the passion behind the project.” For Bump, the success of their grassroots, self-published book was a reassurance of community love. “It shows how much the community does care for each other,” he said. Follow their social media for future opportunities to meet the Goodnight Lakeland author and illustrator. They plan to read their book during storytime at Pressed. Bump will have copies available at the many holiday markets he’ll be attending. Expect more projects from the duo (perhaps even something in color) in the future. Mundell said, “I do love writing and communicating, and I love storytelling. I love listening to storytelling. I love sharing stories. I think that is how you change the world if you can share captivating stories and invite people to listen.” You can pick up a copy of Goodnight Lakeland at Pressed Books & Coffee, Galletta’s upcoming pop-up markets, or his website, www.bumpgalletta.com. Goodnight Lakeland Author: Ida Mundell FB: Ida Mundell IG @idamundell Illustrator: Bump Galletta bumpgalletta.com FB: Bump Galletta IG @bumpgalletta Photograph by Amy Sexson

The 10th Annual Polk Emerging Leaders Awards were held on August 19th. While the event itself was a little different this year following COVID protocols, it was nonetheless a night to celebrate and honor the work that young professionals are doing to improve Polk County. The 2021 winners are Lauren Jensen, Dr. Andy Oguntola, Brian Yates, Sara Beth Reynolds, and Dr. Michelle Henne. We also honored Katie Worthington Decker with the Polk Emerging Leaders Visionary Award for all of her work to start these programs and give opportunities for the young professionals of Polk County to be recognized for their commitment to their communities. Lauren Jensen Lauren Jensen (Sessums Law Group P.A.) graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Kentucky in 2010 and later would receive her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2013. As a family law attorney and a mother of three, she has learned the many facets of true leadership and lives it out daily. It’s through her time with local organizations and local leaders that she has had the chance to learn what it takes to be a leader. Because of their influence and her dedication, she has risen in the ranks and is now serving as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Explorations V Children’s Museum and has been actively involved as they have launched their new brand, Florida Children’s Museum and built their new location at Bonnet Springs Park. She has also served as Community Vice President of the Junior League of Greater Lakeland. During the pandemic, she had to step up to the plate to ensure that the organizations she serves, were able to continue to serve Lakeland. She acted as the liaison between the Junior League and the Adopt a School initiative to house PPE supplies for schools at her home, while securing volunteer League members to facilitate distribution of the supplies to schools. In her service to Explorations V Children’s Museum, she assisted in making decisions about their finances, as the doors of the facility were closed to the public. Now, as Florida Childrens Museum prepares to move to its new location to Bonnet Springs Park, she will be leading the charge on their membership initiatives for the new facility. When she isn’t volunteering her time and talents to organizations like United Way of Central Florida, Florida Bar Family Law Section, and Lake Morton Community Church, you can find her taking a run with her kids, practicing yoga and serving those who are underprivileged at Lighthouse Ministries or the George Harris Youth Shelter. Dr. Andy Oguntola Dr. Andy Oguntola (Polk State College) graduated from Webber International University with his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and his Masters of Business Administration. He then went on to Nova Southeastern University, where he received his Doctorate in Higher Educational Leadership in 2019. Currently, he is the Director of Polk State College’s JD Alexander Center, where he works to develop relationships with community leaders and educational institutions. While his position encompasses various duties, he coordinates services for students with disabilities and provides programming that meets the needs of faculty, staff, students, and business partners. One of the most satisfying moments of his career was when he stepped up to make an impact in education for Lake Wales students. Year after year, students would inform him that they were unable to go to college due to their family members being unfamiliar with the college admissions process. He heard a problem and did the work to find a solution. In 2015, he created a strategic plan to create a high school college fair for Lake Wales. He made a plan, presented it to the Superintendent of the Lake Wales Charter Schools and, while everyone loved the idea, they were unsure it could be accomplished. After three months of this recipient making calls, meeting with educators, and putting in the work, he saw this plan come to fruition. Today, the Lake Wales College Fair is one of the largest fairs in the State, with over 1,000 attendees and 40 colleges participating. This fair has been so successful that it has helped increase the college admissions rate. It also received a proclamation from the City of Lake Wales for its impactful results in supporting a city’s need. His ability to serve doesn’t take a break, regardless of if he is on the clock or not. His hobbies include, well, serving others! He got together with some friends to create a brand-new youth football and cheer league so that the youth in Lake Wales has a positive outlet after school. As of right now, there are over 350 young men and women signed up to play youth sports this year. They have also gathered 20 other individuals to help raise funds for new uniforms, scholarships, and even opportunities for tutoring and feeding the kids after practice. This past year he was the Chairman of the Lake Wales Citizens and Police Community Relations Advisory Committee in which they tackled challenging issues such as an officer-involved incident and body cameras; he is Chairman of the Lake Wales Chamber and Economic Development Council and is Chairman of the Lake Wales Charter School system. Sara Beth Reynolds Sara Beth Reynolds (Theatre Winter Haven) graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications, Media & Society. In May she completed a dual Masters of Public Administration & Nonprofit Management from the University of Central Florida. It’s no surprise that she is furthering her education. Education is one of her passions. She is the Development Director for Theatre Winter Haven, where she oversees grant applications, donor funding and creates new and innovative programs. In this role, she was able to procure over $1.2 million in funds to help the theatre through the challenges of 2020 and 2021 and continue to provide high-standard programming and classes to the community. Programs like the Theatre of Winter Haven’s internship program, DramaTime LIVE! Reading program, summer Master Classes, and their Performing Arts Academy scholarship programs. She also has had the opportunity to speak at the Great American Teach In, mentor through Polk Vision and the Winter Haven Public Education Partnership. Sara Beth ran for Polk County school board and won at the age of 24. In this role, she aids the district in overseeing what has grown to 109,000 students and 13,000 employees. It’s in this role that she has been able to make a great impact on the lives of students in Polk County. One of the most satisfying moments of her career was with a student from Winter Haven High School. He reached out to inform her that he had been accepted into Harvard. She first met him in his Junior year but appointed him as the District 4 Representative and was the only student of Polk County Public Schools COVID-19 Reopening Task Force. Even though he was sitting in a room with educational leaders with impressive resumes, he spoke up and advocated for what he believed would keep students safe during the pandemic. She was so proud to see that, because of his confidence, he was able to secure ultimate approval of the district-wide masks requirement. It ultimately solidified her thoughts about the importance of giving students the power to speak up and speak about issues and challenges. Brian Yates Brian Yates (Citizens Bank & Trust) graduated from the Florida School of Banking at the University of Florida and currently works for a local bank that has built a culture upon improving the areas they serve through community engagement. In his role at the bank, he does his best to inspire his team to collaborate and always reach for more. In 2020, many small businesses were looking to banks for help in their time of crisis. Even though he had just recently joined their team, Citizens Bank & Trust tapped this recipient to lead the Paycheck Protection Program division who stood up to help the small business of Polk County quickly. If you can imagine, there was a lot of red tape and rules that were constantly changing, but Brian took charge, led, and collaborated with his team and saw amazing results. They issued 1,115 loans for a total of over $118 million across Polk County. Small businesses were able to keep their doors open because of the aid that the bank provided. Twenty-two thousand people got to keep their jobs! He serves as a City Commissioner for Winter Haven, and in this role, he uses his leadership skills to make decisions that are in the best interest of the citizens of the City he loves. Bonnie Parker, Director of Wealth Management at the bank, expressed, “As a resident of this community, I have been very pleased with the way he has handled some difficult situations. From policies on wearing masks to making hard decisions on budget matters, he uses a calm temperament and thoughtful approach to helping move our city forward during what has most likely been one of the most trying times in our history.” His involvement in Winter Haven doesn’t stop with his service to the commission. This recipient is also actively engaged with Main Street Winter Haven, The Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce, the Florence Villa CRA Advisory Team, the Ritz Theatre, and the Winter Haven Rotary Club, all well before his role as commissioner. He is also a graduate of Leadership Winter Haven Class 35 and was tapped to Chair Class 38. Dr. Michelle Henne Dr. Michelle Henne (Releve Sports Medicine) graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science. She also attended the University of South Florida College of Medicine, where she received her Doctor of Medicine. During her time at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, she served as the student leader for the scholarly concentration in Internal Medicine, a Panel Leader at the Florida Bioethics Student Planning Meeting, and was a Bareness/Behnke Chapter Member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. In the years to follow, she would complete her Residency at Bayfront Health Family Medicine Residency Program and her Fellowship with the Orlando Health Sports Medicine Fellowship. Today, she serves as the founder, owner, and medical director for her own sports medicine facility, Releve Sports Medicine. In 2018, her company obtained the status to provide continuing education to athletic trainers and opted to do it completely free of charge. 2020 was a year where many athletic trainers were furloughed or without work, so she offered these educational meetings virtually, which gave them the opportunity to expand the variety of attendees and speakers. They have had over 2,000 athletic trainers attend these virtual webinars. She was also able to encourage continuing education by participating as a speaker at the annual conference for the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. It was there that she shared more about the impact of COVID on sports medicine. She is involved in the Polk County Medical Association, the Central Florida Physician Alliance, Junior League of Winter Haven, Light Up the Night 5K, Leadership Winter Haven, and Leadership Polk. Uniquely, she is also carrying on the county’s legacy as the Water Ski Capital of the World on the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team. Even though she isn’t a Winter Haven native, she felt it was an excellent way to be a part of something unique that her community is known for. Many medical practices had to shut their doors due to COVID. But her practice has actually grown, doubling in size since May 2020. She has also had the amazing opportunity to cover UFC and boxing events on ESPN and Telemundo as a certified ringside physician. Katie Worthington Decker - Special Polk Emerging Leaders Visionary Award Every year, they give five awards to five recipients. But for the 10th year of these awards, the Polk Emerging Leaders Awards committee wanted to do something special for one of the people who started it all, Katie Worthington Decker. It’s because of her influence and vision that they celebrate ten years of breaking down community lines. Ten years of EMERGE, ENDEAVOR, and ENGAGE working together to promote the young professionals of our community. In these ten years, they have had the opportunity to bestow the title of Emerging Leader to over 50 Young Professionals from throughout Polk County while recognizing the work of hundreds of others. None of this would have been possible without her inspiration, leadership, and dedication. Katie strongly believes in the power of our community’s young professionals. She believes that young professionals are unselfishly making a difference in our community every day. She, along with her Chamber predecessor Bob Gernert and mentor Bonnie Parker, wanted to create an outlet to recognize those accomplishments. Born through this was the Polk Emerging Leaders Awards. Katie is an avid UCF fan, a champion for businesses, and an advocate for her community. She is a mother, a daughter, a wife, a sister, a friend, and an admired business leader. As the President & CEO of the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce, she continues to push Winter Haven and Polk County forward through advocacy, business development, collaboration, and so much more.