Community Tampa Bay
Community Tampa Bay is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting dialogue and respect among all cultures, religions and races, through education, advocacy and conflict mediation. The organization envisions a community free from discrimination, in which every individual is treated with dignity and respect. A mission-driven and volunteer-driven organization, it has more than 200 talented individuals representing constituencies of various racial, ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic, religious and age groups who volunteer their time, talent and expertise to Community Tampa Bay. Volunteers dedicate more than 9,000 hours of their time every year to improve the community one person at a time.
Community Tampa Bay values diversity, inclusion and engagement. Through dialogue, cross-cultural interaction and understanding of social identity, the organization strives for thought and actions that reduce the impact of prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination in its communities. Community Tampa Bay’s programming – focused on promoting dialogue, cultivating leaders and changing communities – impacted more than 2,500 individuals last year alone.
The award-winning program ANYTOWN™, celebrating its 20th year anniversary, is a youth leadership and diversity awareness program that empowers diverse groups of young people to create more inclusive and just schools and communities where all individuals are treated with respect and understanding. It equips students with the knowledge, skills and opportunities to become role models, leaders and advocates for inclusion in their schools, neighborhoods and communities. It helps them become bridge-builders between different communities and address all the issues that steal a portion of what makes Tampa Bay such an outstanding place to live and work. To date, there have been more than 4,500 graduates from the program.
Yushawn Johnson
Yushawn Johnson sets a sterling example for youth in his community. As a volunteer with his Boys and Girls Club, he has given more than 600 hours helping other kids with homework, leading events and mentoring those facing tough situations.
Garron Haun
Garron Haun collects computers, but not to play video games or write software. His Linux4Hope program takes in donated computers, repairs and updates them, and donates them to needy families in his community. Garron delivers the computer and then teaches the family how to use it, providing a valuable tool for school or work. Additionally, the program helps keep computers out of landfills.
Alanna Krowiak
Just like in America, children in Latin America must have good language skills to succeed. Not only must they master their native tongue, it is important to learn English. Alanna Krowiak teaches young Argentinian children grammar and vocabularly, and older students speaking, writing and reading skills. The children who master English have a better chance of attending college and improving their lives and the lives of their families.
Alexandra Costello
Flowers can brighten any day. Alexandra Marie Costello created Bloom-n-Toss to provide fresh flowers – those soon to be disposed of by Whohle Foods Markets and Jewel Food stores – to local nursing homes, Alzheimer’s facilities and homes for special needs children. The flowers are used for craft projects that help the facilities’ residents feel the confidence and self-esteem that comes from accomplishing a task.
Paula Fellingham
After asking herself, “How can we live in dignity and contribute to the well-being of women and families worldwide?”, Paula Fellingham began working to make a better world for all women, children and famlies through The Women’s Information Network.
Paula is a woman who reaches out and brings together women of the world. She recently held a Celebration of Women to honor the 100-year anniversary of International Women’’s Day in 10 cities and 176 countries on the same day. She is currently planning Global Women’s Summits in 12 countries, culminating in Los Angeles. Her work unites women of all ages, all ethninc groups and from all areas of life.
Kristin Jacobchick
Kristin Jacobchick has made and donated more than 200 fleece tie blankets that the the children staying in the Medcenter One Children’s Hospital are able to choose for themselves. Nurses have said that by giving these young patients the opportunity to choose a blanket, they are able to create a great trust relationship with them. Children don’t get to make many decisions when they’re in the hospital. Choosing a blanket gives them a little sense of control over their situation. And, most importantly, it gives the children much-needed comfort during what can be a scary time.
Kristin is passionate about helping others, and has demonstratedt this with her tremendous gifts of time and resources toward her blanket project. Other people have also caught her excitement about helping hospitalized children and have given her money to purchase more fleece and continue her work.
Savannah Sherwood
After a mission trip to Guatemala where they learned about the country’s estimated 370,000 orphans, members of the Southeast of Saline FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) challenged themselves to help the Eagle’s Nest orphanage in any way they could. They began with a clothes drive, which gathered enough items to fill 10 trucks and benefit 26 children and five of their caretakers. While delivering the donations, FCCLA members realized the orphanage was in dire need of a new building. When they returned to Kansas, the group has begun raising the needed funds and is working to partner with other organizations to make a difference in the children’s lives. To date, Eagle’s Nest has been able to expand to take in 19 more children, keeping them off the streets with nowhere to call home.
Beth Akin
Beth Akin leads Pawsitive Perspectives, an organization that trains and places service dogs that help those with disabilities live a fuller life. She has grown the organization substantially in recent years, doubling the number of dogs trained and placed and engaging volunteers to do everything from helping the dogs learn their service tasks to visiting special needs students for canine therapy. Beth’s dedication and the caring relationships she forms with other volunteers, clients and the dogs sets her apart and make her a point of light.
