Be More Unstoppable WEDU PBS

Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services is a non-sectarian, community-based, Florida not-for-profit that has been serving Floridians since 1960. Their programs cover Children and Family Services, Workforce Development, Refugee Services, and more. On this episode, we sit down with Dr. Sandra Braham, President, and CEO of Gulf Coast JFCS, who shares with us how this organization is helping families stay together, helping people gain valuable life skills, and helping to maintain a quality of life for our senior population.

For more than 30 years, the Guardian ad Litem Program has exclusively represented the best interest of children in the State of Florida court system. In Hillsborough County alone, more than 3,500 neglected, abused, and abandoned children have been removed from their homes and placed in the custody of the dependency court system. With no family available to speak for them, the child’s fate falls into the hands of the courts. Guardian ad Litem volunteers have the power to help give these kids a voice.

Be More Unstoppable’s host, Veronica, has been a volunteer for Meals on Wheels of Tampa for about 17 years. She sits down with long-time friend and passionate Executive Director, Steve King. She also speaks with several homebound Meals on Wheels recipients, who were kind enough to share a little bit about their lives and experience with the program.

Suncoast Animal League is a nonprofit, no-kill, no-time-limit animal welfare agency that cares for domestics and wildlife in Florida and beyond. On this episode, we sit down with co-founder and Executive Director Rick Chaboudy...and Karey Burek, the Rescue, Adoptions, and Outreach Coordinator and medical foster. They’ll discuss why they’re so passionate about saving animals and some challenges they’ve faced along the way. We'll also hear some incredible rescue stories that will leave you feeling inspired.

On this episode, we’ll hear some incredible music from the Sarasota Opera, and speak with Executive Director, Richard Russell, and Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Maestro Victor DeRenzi. They’ll discuss the work their organization is doing to preserve opera traditions and how they're sharing them with the next generation. We’ll also talk with Delores McKenzie, a former student in Sarasota Opera’s Youth program, about her experience and love for the stage.

Nadine Smith has been fighting for equality for the LGBTQ community all of her adult life. She helped form the International Gay and Lesbian Youth Organization as a college student. She was co-chair of the 1993 March on Washington, which led to the first ever meeting between a sitting president and gay community leaders. In 1997, she founded Equality Florida and has been Executive Director there ever since. During our conversation, she talked about her incredible life as a journalist and activist but also shared many meaningful moments that have steered her.