Freedom to Rise

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 as he tells host Bronwyn Beightol about...

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 fact of the study. Stay tuned for more information o...

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 of Community Impact Doug Griesengrauer and Andrea...

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 career, his first four months as CEO, and how the U...

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. 

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 Partnership CEO Bemetra Simmons as they discuss the...

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. From production manager for a transformer pla...

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 of the indications that we're grappling with...

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 and mortgage relief, Hurricane Ian assist...

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 Florida Equality of Opportunity Initiative....

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 Florida CEO Melissa Nelson to discuss how United W...

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 successful members of our society. 

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.

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 critical to elevating performance and dealing with post-p...

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 in early learning.  They also discuss how...

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 cliff" and how partnerships like Unit...

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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

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.  

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.