(gentle spirited music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music continues) - Hello, everyone.

I'm Rameca Vincent Leary, and welcome to this edition of Connecting the Community.

They are visionaries of hope, people who have harnessed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of unity, love, and equality.

Now, we know there are many out there, but during this broadcast, we'll focus on some familiar faces in our own backyard.

Get ready to experience a journey dating back to the civil rights movement and beyond.

To get the conversation started, I'm happy to welcome Sherri Myers, President of Gulf Coast Disability Rights, LLC.

She invited three visionaries to join her.

Georgia Blackmon, former owner of the Gathering Awareness Book Center.

Next, we have Tony McCray Jr., President and CEO of Gulf Coast Investments and Development.

And to round out the segment, it's a pleasure to introduce John Geralds, former President of Movement for Change.

Welcome to all of you.

- [John And Tony] Thank you.

- All right, I know you're feeling good, looking good, right?

(John laughing) Sherri let's start with you.

- Okay.

- So we're taking our audience back, Jim Crow, segregation, civil rights movement.

Tell us why this is so important to you.

- [Sherri] Well, I'm 80 years old.

I grew up in Montgomery, Alabama during the days of segregation, so I personally witnessed what it is like to grow up and live in a segregated society, that was kept segregated through violence, severe depression, oppression, and economic disadvantageous.

And so when I left Montgomery, Alabama...

It was dangerous to live in Montgomery, Alabama and be sympathetic toward African Americans.

It could get you killed.

So when I left Montgomery, I was about 18 years old, and I moved to Nashville, Tennessee and started going to college there.

So I had the opportunity to become involved in the civil rights movement in Nashville, Tennessee.

- Okay.

- And so from there, I became an attorney.

I went to law school because I felt that there was, and still is, a great need for civil rights attorneys.

- Well, let's talk about, when in Nashville, correct?

The Committee for Decent Housing.

I know we have a few images.

Let me talk about a little firecracker that you were back then, and you are still today, right?

Your work with that organization.

- Well, after Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated, we decided that we wanted to do something specifically to honor Dr. King, because at the time he was assassinated, as you know, he was spearheading the movement to focus attention on poverty in the United States and the lack of affordable housing.

So we organized the Nashville Committee for Decent Housing.

And so- - [Rameca] The images of the children, that's what really strikes me.

- [Sherri] Well, those children lived in conditions, actually, that were pretty typical of how many in the African American community and Nashville lived.

They had no running water, they had outdoor plumbing, they had an outdoor bathroom.

And so, believe it or not, that property and that house was owned by the Nashville Housing Authority, owned by the government of Nashville, Tennessee.

- Well, hold that thought there for a second- - Okay.

- Because we are going to definitely come back to you.

But just think about that audience.

And Georgia as I shift over into your world, when I moved here from Charleston, South Carolina, you're one of the first people that I met, such a glowing personality.

And I've gotta say, it's such an honor to have you on the show.

You have personal experiences as well during the civil rights movement.

Why don't you share one or two?

- Well, I came up in a segregated era.

One of the things that stands out, my grandmother was very sick.

And matter of fact, she was at Sacred Heart Hospital when...

It was on 12th Avenue.

And we knew that she wasn't going to make it.

And that was a restaurant... Not a restaurant, well, kind of restaurant- - [Rameca] Okay.

- Across the street- - [Rameca] Yes.

And you could go in as an African American.

You could go in and order, but you couldn't sit in eat- - [Rameca] At the counter?

- You had to take it out.

And so you know, so, dealing with those things and the other things that's coming up, but I also got very involved because of that.

I stayed involved in the community and working with other people about you know, education because of William E. B., and WB that said, "If you don't know your history, you're doomed to repeat it.

And so, as of right now, we go to Selma.

- [Rameca] Yes.

Bloody Sunday.

We go there every year.

We go to Tallahassee for Juneteenth, we go to Birmingham.

And we went in and visited the church and you know, the place where... And we take children every year because we want them to know their history and to keep, you know, going.

- But I'm curious, how did you come to know Sherri?

- Well, both of us was, you know...

I don't know how, but both of us...

I make a point to get to know peoples that I think that is about making the community better.

- [Rameca] Exactly.

- You know, and so when before she got on the city council, she was out there fighting.

And you know, and I wanted to know who she was, so I introduced myself to her and we got to know each other.

- All right.

We'll be coming back to you in just a moment.

All right, John, let's talk about, of course, City Council emeritus.

All right.

You're an humble man, (all laughing) but listen, you've done so much former President Movement for Change.

Talk a little bit about your history in the area and what you've done in relation to civil rights.

- Well, actually, I'm not as old as- - [Rameka] You're a young guy.

(all laughing) - On the council, but there were five of us.

- [Rameca] All right.

And I'm the youngest of five.

- [Rameca] And looking younger every day.

- Well, thank you.

- [Rameca] You're welcome.

I'm the youngest of five, but when school...

I graduated from Booker T. Washington High School right here in Pensacola.

- [Rameca] Yes, okay.

- And my picture is on the wall currently.

- [Rameca] Currently.

- And It's been there for a couple of years already.

- [Rameca] All right.

But one of the things that I was not exposed to, or cared about, occurred after I graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, I went to New York.

I was going to go to New York and work during the summer and come back and go to FMU.

- [Rameca] Okay.

- And my older brother said to me, "I don't know what you're gonna do that for."

He says, "We have colleges here in New York."

And I thought about it, and the next thing you know, I began to work at Lennox Hill Hospital on Park Avenue in East 77th Street- - [Rameca] Oh.

- As an EMT.

- [Rameca] Okay.

- But I took a course at Brooklyn High School, Boys High.

I took a course and to learn the field of respiratory therapy, which I graduated in.

And as we sat there and we were doing the graduation C- - Ceremony.

- Ceremony, and said to me, "You have the highest scholastic average in the school."

- [Rameca] Oh, congratulations.

- And I said, wait a minute, (John laughing) because one of my best friends that I met who lived in the Bronx, I thought that he was smarter than I, because he was from New York- - [Rameca] Yes.

- And he knew things.

And when the professor came up and made the announcements and called me out, and I almost fell out for my chair, I couldn't believe that that has happened.

- That it happened to you.

- Yes.

But I went from being a respiratory therapist to becoming an EMT.

- So let's fast forward to Movement.

- [John And Rameka] For Change.

- Yes.

- Well, I joined Movement for Change in the mid 90s.

And the term Movement for Change came out of the experiences that the former President Leroy Boyd had and what he was talking about.

He changed it name from Pacers- - Okay.

- Which was the original name, from Pacers and they went to MFC.

- [Rameca] Movement for Change.

- And people began to focus and to do things, and it was an experience that we all had, we did things... Well to make a long story short, what I did was... and I used to teach here, by the way.

- Oh, that's wonderful.

With Dr. Harris Heart Cell.

- Okay, yes.

- Was the administrator.

he was the leader of- - [Rameca] Yes.

Pensacola Junior College.

But prior to doing that, I came down from New York where I was teaching in the daytime from Manhattan Community College, and in the evening from Bronx Community College at Harlem Hospital.

- Well, we will back to you in just a moment, because this is intriguing.

But Tony, I must get to you because you are multifaceted.

I know that you've probably known Sherri for quite some time, but with Gulf Coast Investments and Development, and I know that as far as our community is concerned, helping people, some might even argue that education is essential, and I know that's true.

- Well, of course, education is very essential.

I went to Tuskegee Institute, and while I was at Tuskegee, I learned from some of the older citizens on how to write grants.

And when I came back home to Pensacola, I was a little disappointed.

The fact that the Civil Rights Movement- - [Rameca] Yes.

- The bill that was passed, we as a black community could go anywhere we wanted to go, and we kind of abandoned our black business district.

And so we immediately started working on forming a group called "People Organized for Community Development".

And we began to focus on the revitalization of the Belmont Villas area.

And when you look at it now, it looks like we kind of planted a seed.

- Right.

But the important thing was that the experiences that we had doing segregation really built the kind of unity and love you spoke about in your entree.

- Yes, yes.

- We had a black pool, public pool.

My father, Tora McCray Sr was the manager of the pool.

And it really gave the black community somewhere to go away from experiencing the racism- - [Rameca] Right.

- And the segregation, because we had water shows, we had to train people on how to swim.

Bruce Beach was the location of the pool.

- [Rameca] Okay.

- And you may know about it being in some of the- - [Rameca] I have heard, yes.

- Reports about Bruce Beach being revitalized.

About $6 million being spent now for the infrastructure.

- Okay.

- What we are working, when I say we, the African American community is working with the city to make sure the documentation of the black experience is one that can be shared with the public that come to Bruce Beach after it's developed.

- Wonderful and let me tell you what I'm going to do, starting with you, Sherri, quick takeaways, because honestly, we have some people that are not too familiar with Jim Crow segregation, and for that matter, maybe not even the Civil Rights Movement.

So for each of you, I want you to give us briefly just a takeaway, something that they need to harness so that they never forget.

- Well I would say that in order to oppress people, the way African Americans have been oppressed, women have been oppressed, all oppressed people, the one thing that is always the key ingredient is violence.

And that's a subject we're talking about a lot today with police violence.

So it's very important for people to understand, people are not in an inferior position because they want to be there.

They're there because they are forced to be there.

And that force in the South was extreme violence.

- Thank you for that.

How about you, Georgia quickly?

- Margaret Mead said one thing that I will always remember.

She said, every great thing been done in the world, been done by a few people.

And I want you to give me the opportunity to say a poem, because it sums it up.

- [Rameca] Just give us maybe a couple of words from that poem.

- Okay.

- [Rameca] A couple of words.

God of love, forgive forgive.

And teach us how to truly live.

And someday, may we realize that all the earth that see the sky belongs to God, who made us all the rich, the poor, the great, the small.

- So impacting and how about you, John, in a few words to take away for our audience.

- Margaret Mead.

- Well, I think about it, and one of the best things that happened to me in New York was the fact that everybody thought, because of the way that I talked, being from the South, deep Florida, they all decided that I had gone to school in England.

- [Rameca] Oh, wow.

- Okay.

- Such an intelligent man.

- That's what they decided.

They said, "You must have gone to school in England."

- Well how about you, Tony, as we wrap up the segment?

- Well, I want to give you an experience that happened to me and my family after the Civil Rights Bill was passed.

We went to a certain location in Pensacola where they used to race little cars, model cars.

- [Rameca] Okay.

- And we walked in just so happy that we could finally experienced it.

And the owner looked, "What are you doing here?"

"Well the Civil Rights Bill was passed, that's why we're here."

"Get your outta here- - So sad.

- This is private.

And the federal government passing that Civil Rights Bill is not going to affect whether we serve you or not."

- All right, such great knowledge, expertise, love all of you so very much, and we are so appreciative that you have joined us on connecting the community.

Now folks, we're just getting started.

More visionaries of hope are coming your way.

Stay tuned, we'll be back right after this.

(upbeat music) Hello everyone.

We're shifting our Visionaries of Hope discussion to a woman who wears many hats.

I'm happy to welcome Grace Resendez McCaffery, owner of Latino Media Gulf Coast Incorporated.

She's joined by three people who have impacted her life and our community tremendously.

They are Rosie Carion, President and co-founder of Krewe De Karnaval.

Next we have Louis Sanchez, a financial services representative for Magnolia Health Wealth Strategies.

To round out the segment, I'm happy to introduce William deGeed, a former US Justice Department, criminal Deportation Detention Officer.

We have a lot to discuss, so let's get to it.

Grace, let's take our viewers back to 1993 when you moved to Pensacola.

- Oh goodness.

- Let's start there.

- [Grace] That's going way back.

- I know it.

So when you moved here in 1993, did you ever think that you would start a bilingual newspaper?

(speaking Spanish) - Not at all, not at all.

I actually, I'd never even heard of Pensacola before I moved here.

(Grace laughing) - So what sparked your interest to move here?

That's curious right?

- Oh, my husband and I were young and we wanted to do something different and yeah, kind of venture away from the family and do our own thing and we sure did.

- So 2005, all right, so you began publishing local news in Spanish and English, and I really love that because I'm one who loves to learn.

And I would imagine that there are people who look at the paper and they're saying, "I really need to brush up on my Spanish, and I'm trying to learn, but maybe I just need an extra boost."

I think a bilingual newspaper is amazing for the community.

- It's actually very rare format.

Newspaper is like real estate.

- [Rameca] Yes.

- So every inch of that has a value and we dedicate double the space to make sure we communicate news and information in both languages for people that need it.

- So I'm certain that you get a lot of feedback.

I actually have some great images of you out and about in the community, and I think we have some Brazilian students actually holding up your paper, a whole class.

So when you hear from people out there in the community that say, "Hey, I just love what you're doing."

I know it must make you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.

- It absolutely does.

And a time when media are criticized so much, I'm proud to be able to say that the feedback I get from 99.9- - [Rameca] Percent.

- Of my leaders is thank you.

- And I want to thank you as well.

Okay Rosie, stepping into your world, Krewe De Karnaval.

I just love the sound of that, really exciting.

- [Rosie] Thank you.

And I know that it's amazing the things that you were doing in the community.

I know it was established in around 2005 with that Karnaval theme.

- Yes.

- Why don't you give us a little bit of a backstory?

- Yeah, absolutely.

My husband and I had recently moved to the area and found Mardi Gras to be one of the most entertaining things- - [Rameca] Yes.

- And we thought, well, this is a lot like Carnival, and it's at the same time, because it's the season for Carnival, that's basically what Mardi Gras is.

- [Rameca] Yes.

- And we decided maybe we should start a Krewe and maybe give it the opportunity to grow.

And it took us a little bit before we actually took hold the things yep.

2015 is when we actually started the Krewe, physically started the Krewe, and it's been a blast.

- [Rameca] But it's interesting, so for those of our viewers who are wondering what a Krewe is, will you define it?

Because honestly- - [Rosie] Sure.

- [Rameca] Maybe some don't know.

- Yep, a Krewe is basically an organization, a group, it's a club, social club, and we participate in Mardi Gras events.

- Now you have a special name for your float.

I'm curious, tell us the name.

- Yeah, absolutely.

Well, our Krewe is mostly Latin themed.

- [Rameca] Okay.

- We do celebrate carnival from all over the world, but mainly Latin America, the Caribbean- - [Rameca] Okay.

As well.

So the Queen of Carnival in Latin America was Celia Cruz, a very famous Cuban musician.

So our float is Celia in her honor, and we have big, beautiful pictures of her.

- [Rameca] Oh, I know.

and we'll definitely have some of those for our viewers.

Louie Semper Fi.

(Rameca laughing) My brother is a Marine, but I know we have a couple of Marines over here.

Don't worry, I'll get to you in just a moment, William.

But you have done so much Louie, US Marine Corps, retired, Financial Services representative, tell us what you do specifically for Magnolia Wealth Strategies that actually helps our community as a whole.

There are a lot of people who have question marks about those things.

- Exactly, so when I was retiring from the Marine Corps, I knew I wanted to help people, and I was like, "Where can I do that the best, where the rubber hits the road?"

And I found that in the financial services, I'm able to help people with different strategies like generational wealth, you know, how do you get to retirement?

That's scary for people sometimes.

So what I like to bring to the table is I say I help people sleep better at night.

(Rameca laughing) relieve stress, bring the anxiety down, right?

- [Rameca] Yes.

- I mean, through different types of services.

So whether it's investments, our team can do investments, different types of insurances, budgeting, different types of strategies.

Everybody's a little different, so we have something for everybody.

- I'm sure you do.

But I'm curious how you came to know Grace.

- Yeah, so just from the networking, I love networking.

I love being out seeing the community and through the newspaper, you know, I'm trying to get into the newspaper as well to put my information out there and just helping the local community.

- All right.

William Semper Fi.

(Rameca laughing) I know of course another Marine over here retired.

But you also, I'm going to say, if I had a book and I were flipping through the pages, it might take me a couple of hours to actually get through.

So former US Justice Department, criminal deportation detention officer, just saying that right?

So tell us about what you did in that role.

- Well, actually, my job was to transport prisoners- - [Rameca] Yes.

Inmates back and forth from federal institutions and back to New York City, where they will have to confront themselves with the judges, and then they will declare what kind of deportation they was going to have.

Then from there, fly with them to the country.

- Now I know in a position like that, you probably hear a lot of stories and maybe people that could possibly say, "Would have, could have, should have."

You've probably rendered some good advice over time, I would imagine.

- Well, yes.

There's a lot of people that need to get a good advice to- - [Rameca] Yes.

- Get their life together.

But in that environment is I would say very difficult, because working in the jail system is no cupcake.

- No, not a cake walk per se correctly?

- Yes.

- Now there's another side to you that we'll explore in a moment, but Grace, I must say the Hispanic Resource Center of Northwest Florida.

Honestly, folks, when I was reading her bio, I was pinching myself, because I'm thinking in this short time that you've been in the Pensacola area, you have had your hand in so many amazing endeavors.

But let's talk a little bit about this one, Hispanic Resource Center of Northwest Florida.

- What's currently a virtual- - Okay.

- Center, because I've essentially become a hub- (Grace laughing) - [Rameca] That's fine.

- In myself, but it's because of the great fortune I've had to know people like William and Louie and Rosie, and the things that they do, aside from what they do professionally, how they contribute to the community.

And I know that when somebody needs something that they do, I know I can call on them to- - [Rameca] All the time.

- To pitch in and help do stuff.

- [Rameca] All hands on deck right, fellas?

Yup.

- Yeah.

- [Rameca] That's what it's all about.

- That's right.

- So you also serve on many boards out there, which you maybe name a couple?

Now I understand that you're very humble, (Grace laughing) but why don't you just give us a couple of more names of some of those boards that you serve on?

- I think one of my favorites is Community Health.

We've actually worked on ways to serve our immigrant community here in Pensacola and provide some, I'd like to say comforting services for our Spanish speakers that often have a hard time finding treatment.

- [Rameca] Yes.

Okay.

Now Rosie, your excitement over there, Krewe De Karnaval, (Rosie laughing) what would you like for the public to gain from your endeavors?

I remember, one of the pictures I saw, somebody was dressed up like Wonder Woman motivationally speaking that is- - Yeah.

Some of the things or messages that you like to convey.

- Absolutely it's empowering to be in a costume where you're maybe vulnerable or have insecurities of your own body, but be dressed up in full makeup and costume in a crown and feathers and have someone come up and tell you you're beautiful, can I take a picture?

That's, awesome, it just brings joy.

We did the MLK parade not too long ago, and we walked- - [Rameca] Okay.

- We did not bring the float out and mostly the little girls in the crowd were so impressed, and they would say, "You're beautiful, I love your outfit."

And we started pointing at them and telling them, "You're beautiful too.

I think- - [Rameca] Yes.

You're special."

So it turned by the end of the day- - [Rameca] I love that.

Like my makeup was running because it's very...

It's very empowering to be able to touch someone like that.

- It certainly is.

Louie, you served 23 years in the US Marine Corps.

I'll tell you what, but then you're transitioning right into your current role.

You've already explained how you help individuals, but in all honesty outside of that, through your current position here, what are some other things that you have done and or doing that you know will definitely help impact lives additionally?

- Yeah, absolutely.

So a lot of the veterans groups around the area, trying to make sure people have clothes, you know, if they're needing things like that, we help the local children in the community.

A couple of the different groups that I'm in, it's like the American Legion.

So we make sure we help people that are in need on military spouse, chamber of commerce, different entities like that.

That's where I know I can make an impact with people very quickly.

I really do just love helping people grow and prosper.

- Yes, indeed.

William, I hear you listening attentively over there.

(William laughing) You have rubbed shoulders with the likes of Denzel Washington, other Hollywood celebrities.

You are, and here's a secret folks, a recording artist to boot, but you actually sang for a lot of US veterans who are disabled.

Why don't you tell us about your musical prowess?

- Yes.

I have been an artist from growing up.

Actually what I like doing is to provide or organize events that helped veterans and disabled veterans.

And I've been doing it for the past 20 years.

I've been very fortunate to work with Latin and you know, black American stars- - [Rameca] Yes.

- Like Selia Cruz, Tido Puente, Amelia, Gloria Stephan, Shakira, Mark Anthony, the line goes down.

So I try to do, you know, my best.

I've only been here in Pensacola for the past two years.

My dream is to be able to connect with anybody that needs any advice, to be able to be very forward with their dreams.

It's very difficult.

The music industry, the acting is very difficult, but if you do the right thing thing, get the right connections and work hard, you gotta get up, you will get that done.

- You certainly will.

And I heard you started drumming at the age of nine.

What is your favorite instrument?

- Actually, percussion is my thing.

- Okay.

- I've been signed with a big company named Sotones, SABIAN, Gum Box.

Now I'm with LP Latin Percussion, and that's another thing that I would like to, you know, offer to those that like to play the drum.

And also the main thing is to give the message to the artists to get that mentality of the gigs out and to create good music, you know, music that will elevate you, you know, to something else.

- Exactly.

- And, you know, do something that is inspiring and not just become the type of musician that you only getting paid $150 a night.

Do your own thing and create music and, you know, do big things.

Create music for movies, for Broadway- - [Rameca] Everything.

- Not just playing covers and doing the same thing over and over, you know?

So I think we need to move on now.

- We certainly do, and I need to come out and hear you, everybody thank you so much.

Great information shared during this segment.

Now folks, to find out more about Grace Rosindez Macaffrey and her bountiful community endeavors, log on to latinomediainc.com.

We'll be back in a moment.

(upbeat music) Hello everyone.

She's an amazing visionary with the heart of gold.

I'm talking about Tia Robbins, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and community servant.

She's invited three impacting self-starters to join her during this segment.

They are Jamie Mabe, owner of Popcorn King, Carter J Gaston, an acclaimed fine artist, and Stephanie Powell, founder and creative director of Metrics Plus Message.

It's an honor to welcome all of you, but Tia, I must say, you're an amazing servant leader.

So we must begin.

There's such a rich history, but something very impacting happened a short time ago, the movie Till- - Yes.

- And if you don't mind, Tia, just giving us a brief synopsis of what it encompasses and how there is that correlation- - Absolutely.

- Between the movie and yourself.

- Yes.

So the movie Till was based on the story of Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till Mobley.

My family, we are cousins of Emmett Till.

My mother runs the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation.

Emmett's great-grandfather, my mother's great grandfather were brothers.

And the movie is so amazing because it kind of shows Emmett and Mamie as just people.

You hear the story, you hear the tragedy, but it kind of shows their story as a mother's love.

It shows a mother's love, it shows the joy.

You know, it shows Emmett as a boy, you know, a lot of people portray him as like a big teenage child, he was just a boy.

So it takes place with him visiting his family in Mississippi and with Emmett being from Chicago, things are different in Mississippi.

You know, like he wasn't aware and his mom tried to, you know, teach him like, "Hey, when you go down there, you know you have to carry yourself a different way, it's not like Chicago."

So he went to visit his uncle in Mississippi and he whistled at a white woman at a store.

And he was murdered, he was kidnapped, - [Rameca] Right.

Taken for that action and and tortured and lynched.

- Interestingly also Tia, we have several images of course from the movie, very impacting story.

Also we know that you actually served as an extra in that film- - I did.

- Along with your two boys.

Why don't you talk a little bit about that?

- Yes we did.

It was such an honor, you know, to see, you know, all the different actors kind of portraying my family, but I was in a scene, in a dance scene.

It was Mamie's wedding reception.

- [Rameca] Okay.

- Unfortunately, that scene did not make that actual movie, but I was there and it was just- - [Rameca] Yes.

Amazing to be a part of something so special.

- What about streaming?

Because I know it's been out there for a while.

I've seen it on a few streaming platforms myself.

So do you know the expanse of the streaming?

- I don't, but I'm sure that it's on every streaming platform.

I know the DVD is already in stores.

I had a friend actually take a picture- - [Rameca] Really?

- Of the DVD in Walmart.

So the DVD is out as well yeah.

- So if you could tell our viewing audience anything about your connection to the film and just really what they should know concerning Emmett Till's story in a 2023 type of setting, what would you tell them?

- That it's still relevant and that everyone needs to know the story.

You know, the last living accomplice, Carolyn Bryant Donham is still alive, and there's no justice that has been served to this day.

So to me it's one of the greatest injustices in American history, and it's something that people need to know about.

- Anna just a little side note there, we have an image right here and Carter, I'm stepping into your world, because honestly Emmett Till's story, how impacting it is, there are many opportunities for people to actually hear more about the messaging, but when it comes to messaging right, Carter?

It's one of those creative balance type stories, because you actually played a huge role in some artistry for this.

So why don't you tell us about that.

- Yeah, she called me... Tia's been working with me- - [Rameca] Yes.

For a couple years now when she has an idea concept, especially for the boxes and the Tumblrs.

- [Rameca] Yes.

- It was just about the image of Emmett Till and what that image means to us.

So for the Tumblr, it was more about his mother.

- [Rameca] Oh, right.

- His mother's story and then finding an image, a really cool image of them together.

That's kind of where the idea came from.

Like mamie kind of looking over Emmit in the artwork.

- [Rameca] Okay.

That was pretty much basically all it was, you know, just taking the concept and incorporating them all.

Also taking the image from Chicago to Mississippi, incorporating that too, 'cause it was about his journey.

So it's a lot of improvisation when it comes to creating images off of concepts, outta concepts, and that's kind of been our role.

It's been a lot of fun too.

- And I could imagine that it is extremely fun and like you said, artistry, imagery, and I know that Tia is a good inspiration for that.

The fact that you all have come together and working so well collaboratively, but also we have some good images that we've been sent as well, and I know our viewers will see those.

And just honestly, when I look at some of these images, I think about the emotion.

I think about what in the world that individual that's in that image could have been thinking at the moment.

And when you're actually creating something like this from an artistic standpoint, what gives you the inspiration actually to even go the extra mile?

- Oh man, that's such a great question, it's really just a vibe, if that makes any sense, if that's any way to answer your question, it's just a vibe, a feeling, a connection that you have with the person.

For example, the live portrait that you see of yourself.

- I see that deja vu.

- Hello that- - That's me right over there.

- Those moments happen many, many times throughout the week, downtown during the summer times on the beach where I draw people's portrait live on the spot in minutes at weddings, birthday parties, things like that.

It's definitely the ultimate party favor.

- Bet it is.

(Rameca laughing) - It's the ultimate party favor and it is a great conversation starter too.

- Well I will tell you this, I saw an image that you sketched of the beautiful Tia over here and you knocked this out probably I would say maybe five minutes or so, maybe even less time than that.

I don't know.

But hold that thought because we have much more to talk with you about in just a moment.

So Jamie there is a connection between you and Tia and we're going to talk a little bit more about her business in just a moment.

But tell us about Popcorn King and what you are doing in the community to make that positive difference.

- So Popcorn King is a gourmet popcorn store here in Pensacola.

It was originally owned by Greg King and I was able to purchase it a couple years ago.

It's really just a fun little business.

We're able to give back as we can, but of course being a small business and times can be very hard.

We've participated with some local sports teams and things like that as far as sponsorships and helping out with things like that.

And then really just working with Tia through Taste of Pensacola to just be able to get out and get our name out and, you know, participate in things that she allows us to participate in and get more involved.

And we hope to continue to grow and to be able to do more as each day passes.

- And we will definitely elaborate a little bit more on Taste of Pensacola, but we'll just hit a highlight here right now.

Stephanie, because you are a person, I'm gonna call sort of a brain child for the graphic imagery for Taste of Pensacola.

Now I want you to tell me how you came to know Tia.

- Community.

- Community?

- Yeah so Tia and I are both members of the Pensacola chapter of Jack and Jill of American Incorporated, and that's how we got to know each other.

And I was a new member and she reached out to me and just had this idea.

And when she mentioned it I thought, okay, that's got legs, that sounds pretty cool.

And she's like, "Great, 'cause I need a logo."

(Stephanie laughing) - And speaking of logos, we have the imagery for your logo, very creative, and we have an image of color swatches, and you finally come up, hey, this is it.

This is the final act if some may say, but it takes a lot of thought, concentration in your heart- - [Stephanie] Yes.

- Is definitely in it.

So Tia, we have to circle back, right?

Because Taste of Pensacola, I just happened to peruse the website and I will tell you I was so moved, and there's a story about COVID 19- - Yes.

And the inspiration, why don't you just give us an all-encompassing overview please.

- Absolutely yeah.

So Taste of Pensacola did derive from the pandemic of 2020.

And I noticed that a lot of the makers and the bakers were coming out, 'cause they were trying to make ends meet.

People were losing their jobs, you know, hours were getting cut.

And at the time masks were a big deal, like who could make masks?

Amazon didn't have the capability of selling these homemade masks, but people were coming out like, "Hey, I make this, I make that."

And so I had the idea like, wow, how can we support all these businesses?

Everybody's so spread out, you know, and it's hard to like really support- - [Rameca] Yes, yes.

local people say how important it's to do that, but everyone is everywhere.

So that's when I came up with the idea like, "Wow what if I created a gift box or a box and put all the local vendors in the box?"

And it's something that the community can get behind and support.

- I think it's brilliant because I'm looking over here at some popcorn- - [Tia] Yes.

- That I know has been included in several of these boxes.

- [Tia] Yes.

- And let me just point out a couple of things because I love my hot sauce.

- Yeah.

- Can't have my fish or chicken without it.

- Without your hot sauce, yes.

(Rameca laughing) - But, but I'm looking at the creativity of your creations.

Let's talk about some of the variations- - Absolutely.

- On these boxes.

- So a lot of our vendors, they will create products just for our box.

So this hot sauce is a mini bottle, which is perfect for our boxes, but it's also perfect for whoever's either gifted this box or purchase it for themselves.

You can see it like, "Oh, well where's this company?

I've never heard of this company."

So it's kinda like a branding opportunity- - Okay.

- For all of our vendors.

But we have bodacious shops in our box, which is an olive oil- - [Rameca] Oh, that looks nice.

- Vinegarette recipe.

We have bottled water.

This is a local bottled water.

- [Rameca] Okay.

- Stickers, tea, honey.

I mean we have a whole variety of items that go in our box.

- I'm looking at some delectable cookies.

- What?

- Why don't you hold up that taste of Pensacola Cookie from- - Yes well this is from Lux Cookies, (Rameca laughing) so they specialize in logo cookies.

We have three cookie vendors.

- [Rameca] Okay.

- So this is cookiecraze.com.

So they do really cool like starfish cookies, sand dollar cookies, and this is from Springman Sweets out of Gulf Breeze.

So we have three vendors that we work with.

We also have...

I'm sorry, this is Sharon's Sweet creation, my bad.

- Okay.

- Sorry Sharon.

- We love you Sharon.

- We Love you Sharon.

And this is from Springman Sweets.

And this is an exclusive Taste of Pensacola product.

And these are chocolates.

- [Rameca] White chocolates.

- These are white chocolates, and it remind you of our beaches.

So it's sugary crystals- - Okay.

- So it looks like our white sandy beaches.

- It sure does.

- So everything in here is kind of... you know, it's Pensacola.

- It really is.

- So we have pecans that are from Renfro's, but Nikki's pieces, she seasons them.

So this is in a sweet and s smokey flavor that is also exclusive to Taste the Pensacola.

And then we have scripted calling.

She makes these really cool drink stirs.

And then on the back we have the Bushwacker recipe.

- Okay.

- So that's famous, you know, for the Pensacola area.

And then we have a newsh dates and these are a lot of people's favorites.

So it's chocolate covered dates with walnuts- - [Rameca] That sounds good.

- And they are delicious, delicious.

OOh yes, Derma Essentials makes a Pensacolada scented shea butter for us.

- Shea butter, I love she butter.

- Yes, so yeah, we have Asher and Bee Tea.

She's a local herbalist.

- [Rameca] Okay.

- We have East Till Honey.

So we have our candles here.

So we have a variety of things- - Yeah.

- That make good gifts.

- You certainly do and in all humility, because I know that's who you are, I must tell the public about a recent honor that you received from the Studer Community Institute.

EntreCon- - [Tia] Yes.

- Entrepreneur of the Year.

Let me say that again.

EntreCon, Entrepreneur of the Year.

We have images of you on stage with Quint Studer.

Tell us about that moment.

- Oh my goodness.

It's was such an honor because I just feel like I'm just a small business owner.

You know, when you think of Entrepreneur of the Year, you think, "Oh, this is somebody that's established, someone that's bringing in millions of dollars a year in their business."

You know, that kind of thing.

And so I was just really honored that they recognize the work that I'm doing, the impact that I'm making in the community and how I'm connecting small businesses and getting their brands out there.

So I just was really, really just honored, and it was also just a huge motivator to keep going- - [Rameca] Yes.

- To have that recognition.

- And listen, I'm motivated just knowing her folks.

All right.

Carter J Gaston.

I have to say that again because I just like the way that it sounds.

But we have so many images of you, let's just say out in the community.

You're helping people learn.

We have big murals out there in the community- - [Carter] Yes.

- That have been painted.

- Yes.

- You're so versatile.

So it's not just, hey, beautiful sketch, yes.

- Right.

- And it's not a painting that we've put in a frame necessarily, but you are so well rounded in this craft.

Why don't you talk about some of the things that you do to help motivate youngsters out there- - Oh, right on- - Through your work.

- Right on well I started drawing when I was put on punishment.

I like to tell the story- - Oh punishment.

- Yeah 'cause I have a twin brother and we were extremely active boys growing up.

So when it got time to get on punishment, it was sit down, go to your room, no tv, no radio, no video games.

- [Rameca] Nothing.

- So that's when I drew, I did comic books.

I read a little bit- - [Rameca] Okay.

- Too out of the comics.

And that's kind of where the art bug, you know, started.

- You were bitten, you were bitten by that art bug.

- And so that's why I like to tell a lot of young people now they like to draw they're super active, you know, the ability to calm themselves down and just write and create.

It's a supernatural power that they can activate on a daily basis, you know what I'm saying?

- I think you're my Wonder Twin.

(Rameca laughing) Activate.

- Yeah right on, right on.

Super Twin, Wonder Twin- - Super Twin, Wonder Twin - Especially- - Okay.

- When it comes to creating- - Yes.

Absolutely, especially for young people, it builds confidence.

You know, it helps them to know who they are and know who they are in their gifts.

It's so important that young people know who they are in their gifts.

- Absolutely.

All right, Jamie.

So we do have that connection, don't we?

Popcorn King, Taste of Pensacola.

So I'm looking at several varieties there closest to you.

Tell us what that is.

- So this one is actually a collection of multiple of our candy flavors.

We actually carry usually between about 30 to 40 flavors within the store, so this is a very small sampling, but this is a variety of a lot of our fruit flavors.

- [Rameca] Okay.

It's very cereal inspired versus- - [Rameca] Cereal.

- Popcorn.

So it's a really interesting little treat.

It's definitely something different.

The fun thing about having all the different colors is if you look very closely, we do have purple, yellow and green, which is an excellent Mardi Gras mix.

- [Rameca] Oh.

- And then red and pink and white for Valentine's.

There's a lot of ways that you can incorporate our popcorn into a bunch of different things.

We often do a lot of blue for baby showers.

Got to do a gender reveal with popcorn not too long ago, which was a lot of fun.

So yes, it's- - Let me tell you what I thought was pretty interesting when I was perusing the images, bagel.

- [Jamie] Yes the everything Bagel.

- Yes.

- It actually was one of our least popular, but it has been requested (Rameca laughing) a couple times to come back.

So that has been something I've been working on this week of getting more of that in.

It was actually our vegan friendly option.

Unfortunately, being such a small business, we can't guarantee no cross-contamination, but a lot of the people at the Palafox Market would like that one.

But it just ended up being one of those that wasn't super popular.

But- - [Rameca] It's on a comeback.

- Like I said, it's been requested enough that I have been looking at bringing it back, so it could be making its return to the store very shortly, very soon.

So- - Speaking of making things, I've seen images of you and looks like little tours coming to the shop, watching the process.

I think that's intriguing and little minds creativity as Mr. Gaston was talking about a little earlier.

Hey, let's just get them motivated to do things and explore in this life.

So Stephanie, I know that with those graphics that you created for Tia's website, there's some other things that you have done for her as well.

Do we have some packaging descriptives?

Okay so we're looking at some packaging right now, and Tia thank you very much- - [Tia] You're so welcome.

- For holding that up, okay, we see that, but are there other forms of packaging that you have done for her in addition to that?

- We started with custom boxes.

- [Rameca] Okay.

- So my company is Metrics and Message- - [Rameca] Yes.

- And we do marketing and branding and strategy.

And one of the things that we focused on with Tia was just making sure that everything was cohesive and it looked polished, 'cause she got off to a very quick start.

And so we continued to really look for ways to make it easy for her to manage the process- - That's good.

- While also making sure she looked good.

- Oh she looks fabulous.

(all laughing) - So making sure, you know, for any type of photo op, because the internet, you know, social media is very... You found a lot of images on social media.

- Oh yes.

- You know, so just making sure that everything was picture ready.

- Now I saw a few images of course of you working in your office with your team and such a tight-knit, cohesive group.

You are also helping others within our community.

Talk about some of the other endeavors that you're doing outside of this.

- Oh gosh.

So in addition to what I do with Metrics and Message, which is really an offshoot of a lot of the other organizations that I participate with, a lot of small businesses and nonprofits, they just cannot afford to go full on with marketing.

And so that is something that I wanted to focus on so that they had opportunities to either learn how to do the marketing for themselves or to get quality design work.

So in addition to working with Taste of Pensacola, I do work with other nonprofits.

Dixon School of the Arts is one.

And then on the other end of it, the way that I got involved with this was through my work with Premier Island Management Group- - [Rameca] Okay.

- And so I do the marketing for them, which one of their clients or properties that they manage is Portofino Island Resort.

So it's- - [Rameca] Yes.

- Running the gamut.

- Such a multi-faceted person.

Tia, back to you, and I know you have great fashion sense, we can all see that right?

- Thank you.

- So I saw some images of you modeling some clothes from Dillards- - Yes.

- You look so beautiful.

But interestingly, I saw a little badge affixed to one of these pictures from Studer Community Institute in honor of your special award Entrepreneur of the Year.

So I know your hands are in so many different pots.

Let's talk about some of the other things that you're doing outside of Taste of Pensacola.

- Oh my goodness, where do I start?

- [Rameca] There's so much right?

- There is so much.

So my husband and I, we run a nonprofit called "Mr. Robins Neighborhood", where we help student athletes realize their potential beyond sports and help them prepare for success beyond that.

- [Rameca] Yes.

- So whether that's college, getting into the workforce, we do an ACT prep, you know, with them and- - [Rameca] Yes.

- We try to develop the whole person.

- [Rameca] Person.

- Yes So we have the nonprofit, you know, I also sit on the board at my children's school, Creative Learning Academy.

And yeah, I have my hands in a lot of different things, you know, right now, but my main focus right now is Taste of Pensacola.

- [Rameca] I love that.

What keeps you grounded?

- My faith- (Tia laughing) - [Rameca] Yes.

- and a lot of prayer.

A lot of prayer and just being around positive people.

You know, my family- - [Rameca] Yes.

- You know, my friends, you know, honestly, they keep me grounded.

- That's exceptional.

Mr. Gaston?

- [Carter] Yes.

- How about you?

- I call it TMI, Too Much Inspiration.

You can never have enough of it.

Every Wednesday from 12:00 to 2:00, I teach homeschool at Fly Taylor Studio Pins and Needles off of Michigan, and that's been an extremely blessing to impart my wisdom and knowledge on the kids and their parents and their families.

- Do you travel outside of Florida?

Maybe outside the Pensacola?

- I do depending on the event.

I've been spending a lot of time in New Orleans lately doing the river boats,that's been a lot of fun, but gallery nights here in Pensacola are my bread and butter nights.

If you ever wanna see me anywhere, you can find me anywhere from the vinyl- - [Rameca] Okay.

(all laughing) - to some real quarter and anywhere in between just drawing live portraits on the spot and like truly being a light in the community.

- You certainly are.

- [Carter] For sure.

- So Jamie, some takeaways really, because this is a fine group that we have assembled here and the relationships right, so strong.

How has Tia inspired you through your relationships?

- Just really watching her hustle and always smiling.

Even on bad days that we've experienced together, she's always still smiling and she's always still inspiring and she's always so driven and so it's such an inspiration.

She's just such a bright light in my life.

And even on those days where she catches me, like, you know, on a bad day, she can ground me so quickly and she's an absolute blessing.

- Oh yes, absolutely.

And Stephanie, that smile emanating so closely to me right here, (Stephanie laughing) your backstory as a successful business woman, and I'll preface it by mentioning that oftentimes we'll run into people who may not encourage us, and sometimes we just have to sever ties.

But in relation to Tia, how has she just really motivated you to reach beyond yourself in that extension to help others?

There's so many things you can say, right?

(Tia laughing) I know.

- We started out together and so there's been like this push and pull.

So some days she'll text me and she's like, hey, do you have time to work on you know, whatever it might be, and I'm telling her what I've got going on, and then she's like, "Oh girl, you got it."

You know so there's always this back and forth kind of encouragement between the two of us, and I really enjoy it.

- All right, Tia, so everything that we have discussed from the movie to EntreCon, to your fashion sense, there are a lot of young people out there, because you're a mother of two young boys.

I would like for you to wrap up our segment by maybe just giving them.

anybody out there some words of wisdom, of perseverance, let's just say that.

- Absolutely.

So words of wisdom, you have to just go for it.

You know, I'm not about a shoulda, woulda, coulda, you know, type person.

and so it's either you do it or you don't.

You know, I feel like anything you do, there will be some failure, you know, but they say that that's the first attempt in learning.

So I've heard that, but it's really just going for it, you know, if you have an idea that you wanna explore and you have something that you wanna do, you gotta do your research.

- [Rameca] That's right.

- You gotta do your research, you know, that's the very first thing, and then after that, you just educate yourself.

That's what I did, you know, I wasn't always an entrepreneur, you know, I always been a visionary- - [Rameca] Yes.

- You know, but I've always kind of learned as I, you know, went along.

So education is always gonna be there.

You always have to educate yourself and just be prepared to work hard.

You know, nothing comes easy, you know, it's hard work.

So once you have that mentality, once you know that you can really do anything.

- And yes, well said, all of you.

Everyone, I'd like to thank all of our guests for joining us.

I'm Rameca Vincent Leary.

Remember to keep it locked in right here on WSRE PBS for the Gulf Coast.

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