The new 2024 ALICE Report illuminates the plight of families living paycheck to paycheck, and highlights the fact that the household survival budget for a family of four in Pinellas County now ranks as the highest in the state. On this episode of the Freedom To Rise podcast, we delve into the results of the new ALICE report and explore how we're we…

In framing the findings of its latest Regional Competitiveness Report, the Tampa Bay Partnership used the term The Allure of Sunshine. The report highlights the fact that for Tampa Bay to maximize its potential, it has to go beyond warm weather and scenic vistas and address the drivers behind workforce and affordability trends. On this episode of t…

United Way Worldwide Senior Director of State Policy and Advocacy, often asks United Way advocates "to find the person in each of the representatives" they meet and set aside partisan differences. It’s key, she said, to removing the invisible walls trapping the community members United Way strives to serve. On this episode of the Freedom To Rise po…

Some present a rosy picture of the Florida economy, but on the latest episode of the Freedom To Rise podcast, we delve deeper into the data and explain why all is not well for the state's ALICE families. Florida Trend associate editor Mike Brassfield and United Way Suncoast Data Analysis Director Aaron Neal join United Way Suncoast Chief Impact Off…

In our region, only a handful of philanthropic organizations have thrived over the course of decades, marching with time and evolving to keep pace. At United Way Suncoast, we're proud to be in that group and eager to celebrate our success as we move into our second century of service. Here to tell us more about the centennial celebration is our ver…

The Sarasota Board of County Commissioners recently voted to slash its funding for Suncoast 2-1-1, a vital service that provides a 24/7 path to support for community members in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto. What's the potential impact of losing that funding? Heart of Florida United Way 2-1-1 vice president Catherine Rea and Glasser/Schoenbaum execu…

All politics is local, but much can be done on the Federal level to affect us here on the Suncoast. Congresswoman Laurel Lee joins the Freedom to Rise Podcast as a lifelong public servant who has experience as a federal prosecutor, a circuit judge, and Florida’s Secretary of State - and is already making an impact for Florida’s 15th Congressional D…

All across the Suncoast region, early learning educators and parents find themselves dealing with a crisis within a crisis: children acting out the emotional trauma of their lives, disrupting learning and creating an issue that results in parents losing their jobs. It’s a trauma that often begins in the home, and the pandemic has only served to exa…

In this episode of the Freedom to Rise Podcast, Bronwyn welcomes St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, a distinguished public servant with over 20 years of experience. Mayor Welch made history by becoming the first commissioner to represent County Commission District 7 in St. Petersburg, and he's the second African American commissioner in the history of…

Metropolitan Ministries' latest effort can be summed up in two words: Come Together. MetMin's NeighborHope Project focuses on zip codes disproportionately suffering from childhood poverty. The Florida Chamber's Prosperity Project identified the zip codes and MetMin has identified ways to help, including collaborating with United Way Suncoast and ot…

Jeff Brandes makes his second appearance on the Freedom To Rise podcast, but his first after ending a 12-year run in Tallahassee. The former senator and state representative from St. Petersburg has launched the Florida Policy Project, a policy bank (don't call it a think tank) to continue tackling some of the state's most pressing issues. Listen up…

United Way Suncoast has selected Career Source Tampa Bay to conduct research into the factors that drive youth success in the region. To discuss more about their research Bronwyn welcomes Dr. Byron Clayton to the Freedom to Rise Podcast. Dr. Clayton talks about work force development in Tampa, identifying success factors, and the most surprising fa…

The number of Florida and Suncoast Region families living paycheck-to-paycheck continues to rise during the first two years of COVID-19, and the loss of pandemic relief programs, may create even more barriers. The 2023 ALICE Report from UWS reveals that over 40% of region households are affected. Bronwyn invites United Way Suncoast Vice Presidents …

People who run headfirst into challenges are intent upon making a difference. CEO of The Florida Housing Coalition Ashon Nesbitt joins the Freedom to Rise Podcast discussing why he thinks “everyone should have affordable housing of their choosing” and what The Live Local Act means to our area’s crisis. He describes his work in housing through his c…

Brittany Birken, the Atlanta Federal Reserve's Community and Economic Director, joins United Way Suncoast Chief Impact Officer Bronwyn Beightol for a deep dive into the fiscal benefits cliff issue, the sudden and often unexpected decrease in public benefits due to a small increase in earnings.By United Way Suncoast

What gets measured is what gets done. This is the mantra that drives the Tampa Bay Partnership to produce the regional competitiveness report, a data-driven account of how Tampa Bay compares to 19 other like-sized communities in more than 60 different statistical categories. On the episode of the Freedom to Rise Podcast Bronwyn welcomes Tampa Bay P…

Advocacy represents a cornerstone of our work at United Way Suncoast. We believe government plays a critical role in creating change that can improve people's lives, but government cannot do it alone. Neither can United Way and the rest of our nonprofit sector. Bronwyn welcomes CEO of the Women’s Resource Center Ashley Brown to discuss just that. F…

In our region, the average annual cost of childcare for a toddler is greater than the annual cost of tuition for a University of South Florida student. Only 50% of the students in our five-county footprint enter Kindergarten ready to learn. And on average, early learning educators earn $5,000 below the living wage for our area. These are just some …

Since being elected in 2019 she's guided the city through the pandemic, social justice, protests, and now economic challenges. Yet, she's managed to navigate all of that while creating a number of improvements. On this exciting episode of the Freedom to Rise Podcast, Bronwyn is joined by Tampa Mayor Jane Castor to discuss affordable housing, rent a…

At United Way Suncoast, we root our work in research. We dive into data points to determine best practices, and we dig up numbers to support our advocacy; but don't mistake our mathematical machinations for a lack of passion. On this episode of the Freedom to Rise Podcast, Bronwyn invites Kyle Baltuch to discuss the Florida Chamber Foundation's Flo…

The devastation left in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian leaves all of us heartbroken. We hope that recovery efforts bring comfort to those impacted by the storm, but as we've said before - hope requires more than empathetic emotions, it requires action. On this episode of the Freedom to Rise Podcast Bronwyn Beightol is joined by United Way of Florid…

The path to post-secondary opportunities for today’s youth can be fraught with societal pitfalls, equity imbalances, and motivational malaise - which is why youth success is one of United Way Suncoast’s top priorities. On this episode we talk to two community leaders who have accepted the challenge of creating pathways for children to become succes…

Angela Ivery went from a single mom in need of daycare to a woman working as an early learning educator. Laura White's work in speech pathology drew her into the childcare industry. On this episode of the Freedom to Rise podcast, we speak to two women on the frontlines of early learning education.By United Way Suncoast

A May report from the Florida Department of Education revealed that third-grade reading scores dropped or remained stagnant in four of the five counties serviced by United Way Suncoast. It’s a clear indication that COVID-19 education disruptions have impacted student performance. It’s also a signal that out of school reading programs remain critica…

Dianne Jacob, one of the state's leading early learning advocates, is the Senior Vice President and Director of Client and Community Relations in Florida for PNC Bank. She leads her team in developing sponsorships and grants throughout the west coast of Florida. Bronwyn asks Dianne about her history of giving back to the community and PNC's stake i…

Bronwyn welcomes Pinellas Early Learning Coalition CEO Lindsay Carson and Hillsborough Early Learning Coalition CEO Gordon Gillette to the podcast to discuss what drives them, the current start of early learning, how the affordable housing and eviction crisis' are affecting recruiting and retention and more. Lindsay also discussing the "benefits cl…

Bronwyn Beightol welcomes Children First CEO and Executive Director Philip Tavill. Philip discusses the pandemic’s impact on Children First, access and equity in early learning, the importance of mental health support at Children First, what it means to be in the top 1% of all Head Start programs, and more.…

Host Bronwyn Beightol is back to talk with Chancellor Matthew Mears on the role of the Chancellor of Education, emerging from the pandemic, helping early learning educators ‘ salaries, the importance of early learning, the engagement of the business community, and more.By United Way Suncoast

Tampa Housing Authority Senior Vice-President/Chief Operating Officer Leroy Moore joins us to discuss rising rental and eviction rates, “the missing middle,” how much more government support is needed, redevelopment efforts, gentrification, transportation, and more.By United Way Suncoast

Host Emery Ivery chats with St. Petersburg Councilwoman Deborah Figgs-Sanders about starting as a councilwoman during the pandemic, the issue of housing and the eviction crisis, development in St. Pete, workforce development and transportation in the city, and more.By United Way Suncoast

Dr. Elizabeth Strom discusses the statewide eviction moratorium during the pandemic, what local non-profit organizations can do to assist in affordable housing, rent control, and solutions to this crisis moving forward. 20:06: Emery's Big Takeaway.By United Way Suncoast

Florida Blue Southwest Florida Local Market Leader Nick Kouris discusses serving as local market leader, Florida Blue's overall outlook, breaking the cycle of generational poverty, reducing opioid deaths, and more on this edition of the Freedom to Rise Podcast. 25:25: Emery's Big Takeaway.By United Way Suncoast

Florida State Senator Jeff Brandes discusses affordable housing, property insurance, early learning, prison reform, and more. 25:23: Emery's Big Takeaway.By United Way Suncoast

Clearwater Polic Chief Daniel Slaughter joins the podcast to discuss how a a substation became a resource center for the United Way, the department’s experience in working with the youth in the community, the relationship with the community in the wake of the death of George Floyd, and more.By United Way Suncoast

Eileen Coogan, executive director and CEO of Allegany Franciscan Ministries, discusses what it means to be a servant leader and leading non-profits for over 35 years, the Common Good Initiative, the successes in Wimauma, and more.By United Way Suncoast

We chat with Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Grego discussing what keeps him going after 40 years in education, the biggest challenges presented by the pandemic, the importance of community partnerships, and the focus on early learning.By United Way Suncoast

In this series we shift to Hillsborough and Pinellas counties with host Chief Impact Officer Emery Ivery. On this episode we focus on eviction defense with Hillsborough County Commissioner Kimberly Overman and Attorney Tom Difiore.

0:00: We welcome Manatee County Commissioner Reggie Bellamy to the podcast. 30:48: Bronwyn's Big Takeaway.By Bronwyn Beightol

0:00: Bronwyn welcomes Manatee Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jacki Dezelski Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Heather Kasten. 33:25: Bronwyn's Big Takeaway.By Bronwyn Beightol

0:00: Bronwyn welcomes guests Anne Bouhebent, executive director of the Early Learning Coalition of the Heartland; Janet Kahn, executive director of the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota; and Kerry Gaylord, director of child development for the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee to the podcast. 33:27: Bronwyn's Big Takeaway.…

3:03: We welcome the Representatives to the podcast. 32:43: Bronwyn's Big Takeaway.By Bronwyn Beightol

0:00: We welcome Debra Jacobs and Beth Duda from the Patterson Foundation to the podcast. 26:39: Bronwyn's Big Takeaway.By Bronwyn Beightol

0:00: We welcome Bradenton Police Chief Melanie Bevan to the podcast! 33:57: Bronwyn's Big TakeawayBy Bronwyn Beightol

1:56: We welcome DeSoto County Commissioner Ashley Coone to the podcast. 37:04: Bronwyn's Big TakeawayBy Bronwyn Beightol

01:39: We welcome Dr. Brennan Asplen to the podcast 32:28: Brownyn's Big TakeawayBy Bronwyn Beightol

In series two, host Chief Impact Officer Emery Ivery introduces the next episode of the Freedom to Rise Podcast, out now.By Bronwyn Beightol

2:51: We welcome our inaugural guest, Manatee County Superintendent Cynthia Saunders to the podcast. 30:51: Bronwyn's Big Takeaway.,By Bronwyn Beightol