What Matters Most
As August arrives, many families are preparing for a new school year. Calendars begin to fill, routines return, and the pace of life picks up once again. Amid the back-to-school shopping, packed schedules, and busy days ahead, it's worth taking a moment to reflect on what truly matters.
This month's issue is centered around people who are making a difference in their homes, their workplaces, and throughout our community. Our cover story, Life on Call , offers a candid look at two healthcare professionals navigating demanding careers while intentionally building a family-centered life. Their story reminds us that success isn't just measured by professional accomplishments, but by the relationships we nurture and the moments we make time for along the way.
In Jayla's Voice, we meet a family who transformed unimaginable loss into a mission of education, awareness, and hope. Through their advocacy, they are helping other families have difficult but necessary conversations while working to prevent future tragedies. Their courage is a powerful reminder that purpose can emerge even from life's most painful experiences.
We also shine a spotlight on Gulf Coast Kids House, an organization dedicated to protecting children and supporting families during some of life's most difficult circumstances. Their work strengthens our community every day.
You'll also find our pet adoption feature, highlighting animals waiting for loving homes. Their stories serve as a simple reminder that compassion has many forms, and sometimes one small act of kindness can change a life, both theirs and ours.
What struck me most while working on this issue was the resilience woven through each story. Whether it's balancing family and career, advocating for children, honoring the memory of a loved one, or opening your home to a pet in need, each feature is ultimately about showing up for our families, our neighbors, and our community.
One of the greatest privileges of publishing Pensacola City Lifestyle is meeting the people behind these stories. Month after month, I am reminded that what makes Pensacola special is not just its beautiful beaches or rich history, but the people who choose to invest in one another. Their generosity, compassion, and willingness to serve create the kind of community we are proud to call home
I hope this issue inspires you to cherish the people you love, support a cause that matters to you, and recognize the many ways kindness continues to shape our community.
Until next month,
August 2026
PUBLISHER
Suzanne Pope | Suzanne.Pope@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION MANAGER
Sydney Steffen | Sydney.Steffen@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Will Estell | Will.Estell@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Will Estell, Suzanne Pope, Linda Ditch, Kali Kasprzyk
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Addie J Photography, Janie Jones, Stephanie Hardin, Bentley Estell
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kathy Nguyen
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas
SUZANNE POPE, PUBLISHER @PENSACOLACITYLIFESTYLE
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LIFE ON CALL
Home where the greatest adventures begin
Two Doctors. Two Boys. One Beautiful, Complicated, Intentional Life
ARTICLE BY SUZANNE POPE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADDIE J PHOTOGRAPHY
Ashwin was eight months old the first time he landed in India. His parents wanted him to know where he came from before he was old enough to remember the flight. That instinct to root their children deeply while opening the world to them is the thread that runs through everything the Parikh family does.
“We’re trying to broaden their view that we’re not just local. We’re also global. “
— Dr. Nisarg Parikh
For Dr. Kati Parikh, a trauma surgeon at Ascension Sacred Heart, and Dr. Nisarg Parikh, owner of Star Smiles Dentistry in Gulf Breeze, life is not predictable. It is intentional. Their story began at Florida State University, where they met through a co-ed chemistry fraternity. Friendship came first. They made it official on New Year's Day 2007 and married at First Baptist Church in Pensacola in 2012—a relationship built not on shared backgrounds but on shared values. "We grew up very differently," Kati says. "But we had the same core values—family first, kindness, honesty, respect and education."
For Nisarg, those values were forged watching his parents pursue the American dream. His father immigrated from India alone, worked multiple jobs, then sent for the family. His parents purchased a convenience store and worked seven days a week
for decades to build something better. "My parents worked nonstop," he recalls. "Everything we have today comes from their sacrifices."
Now the Parikhs are passing those lessons to Ashwin and Aidan through a family culture built on connection, curiosity and perspective. "We're trying to broaden their view that we're not just local," Nisarg says. "We're also global. There's a big world out there."
Beyond India, the family has explored France, Spain and the Dolomites. While some families measure vacations by attractions, the Parikhs measure them by what their boys discover on their own. In France, despite a day at Disney Paris, the boys' favorite memories were finding a creek and the freedom to roam. In Mallorca, surrounded by vineyards, orange groves, goats and donkeys, they picked oranges straight from the trees."If you ask them what their favorite orange CONTINUED >
in the world is, they'll tell you the Mallorca oranges," Kati says with a laugh. She is honest about what family travel looks like. "It's work," she says. "But the goal is to open their eyes to the world." The payoff is perspective no classroom can teach.
That philosophy shapes gifts too. For years, the boys received experiences instead of presents: a rented pony for a birthday, a Christmas in the Dolomites. A Nintendo recently made it into the house, now that Ashwin is nine. Kids remember what they did, not what they unwrapped. Those experiences are already shaping Ashwin and Aidan's dreams. Ashwin has developed a passion for engineering, while Aidan talks about working alongside Mom and Dad one day. At home, values show up in smaller moments. Years ago at an Easter egg hunt, an older girl shared her eggs with Ashwin after he arrived too late. The family still talks about it."We remind them how that felt," Kati says. "Then we talk about how they can make someone else feel included."The same goes for accountability. "You can't control everything around you. You can only control yourself and how you respond."
Managing two medical careers while raising children requires planning and support. Kati relies on a monthly calendar to coordinate schedules and commitments. Rather than traditional daycare, the Parikhs invest in a permanent nanny who bridges the gaps that surgeries and on-call shifts create. Two medical careers don't leave much left in the tank," Kati says. "Having support at home means that when we're with our kids, we're actually with them."For Nisarg, the balance looks different, but the commitment runs just as deep. Between his practice, his patients, and his role as the steadier hand at home, showing up sometimes means being the one who keeps everything else from falling. "We're on the same team," he says.
Hands that hold the job of a mother and surgeon
A toast to building a life together
“My kids don’t always understand why I can’t be there. But the impact I have on people in the hardest moments of their lives matters.”
— Dr. Kati Parikh
That team is tested in ways most families never face. There are moments when her children don't understand why she can't be there at a school event, a bedtime, a moment that won't come back. She feels every absence. But she has stood beside patients in their worst moments, when fear is the only thing in the room. She carries what happens there with her."The impact I have on people in the hardest moments of their lives," she says, "that matters." Kati has never believed it has to be a choice. Success is showing up fully for both, proving it every day.
Their goal remains simple: a "storybook childhood" for Ashwin and Aidan filled with adventure, connection, and the certainty
that they are deeply loved. Whether it's "kissy attacks" at home or a hand-squeeze that means I love you , the moments matter.
When asked about her legacy, Kati's answer goes far beyond medicine. She wants to be remembered for helping people, patients, colleagues, her boys, a stranger in the grocery store. The impact she leaves on others matters more than any title.
While medicine will always be part of their story, the Parikhs have found that their most meaningful work happens long after the scrubs come off. It's in the memories they create, the values they pass on, and the life they are building together.
Butcher Shop | Fine Wine | Cheeses | Deli Meats
summer is POPSICLE SEASON
KIDS AND POPSICLES ARE THE PERFECT SUMMERTIME PAIR
ARTICLE BY LINDA DITCH PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
As temperatures rise, children race to the freezer for this frosty treat or wait anxiously for the approach of the musical ice cream truck. Making homemade popsicles is a fun, kidfriendly activity. These recipes feature kid-favorite flavors with an added taste twist. The only tricky part is waiting for them to freeze.
SPICED GRAPE POPSICLES
ingredients:
Makes 18 to 24
• 2 quarts Concord grape juice
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 12 whole cloves
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 3 tablespoons whole allspice
directions:
Put all of the ingredients into a large saucepan. Bring the mixture to barely a simmer and let it cook for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour the juice through a cheesecloth-lined strainer into a bowl or pitcher to remove the spices. Allow the juice to cool to room temperature, and then refrigerate until well chilled. Pour mixture into popsicle molds. Freeze until firm.
CHERRY LIMEADE POPSICLES ingredients:
Makes 18 to 24
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup lime juice
• 2 cups tart cherry juice
directions:
In a saucepan, combine the sugar and water over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat. Add the cherry juice and taste. Add additional sugar or water if needed. Let come to room temperature and then refrigerate until well chilled. Pour mixture into popsicle molds. Freeze until firm.
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HEARTBREAK BECAME A MISSION TO EDUCATE, ADVOCATE AND SAVE LIVES
ARTICLE BY SUZANNE POPE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAKESHA DAVIS
VOICE JAYLA’S
"We were so ready to see what she would become."
For Lakesha Davis, those words capture the deepest heartbreak of losing her daughter, Jayla Michelle. Not because Jayla lacked ambition or potential. Quite the opposite. The oldest of seven children, Jayla was a singer, writer, athlete, Disney enthusiast, JROTC cadet, and aspiring OBGYN. She was fiercely independent, deeply compassionate, and determined to
“SHE WAS THEIR THERAPIST, THEIR BEST FRIEND, AND THEIR GUIDANCE. IF SOMEONE NEEDED HELP, JAYLA WAS ALWAYS READY TO SHOW UP.”
make her own path in the world. Her parents describe her as a bright light—someone who loved hard, dreamed big and gave endlessly of herself. Friends turned to her for advice, encouragement and support. If someone needed a meal, a place to stay or simply someone to listen, Jayla showed up. "She was their therapist, their best friend and their guidance," Lakesha said. Her father describes her as a place of refuge. Her mother remembers a young woman who constantly put others before herself. That compassion defined her life, but it also became one of her greatest challenges. "She left nothing to give to herself."
Strong-willed from an early age, Jayla wasn't afraid to speak her mind. She challenged teachers, stood up for people she believed were being treated unfairly and often carried the burdens of those around her. Sometimes that strength got her into trouble. More often, it made her the person others relied on when life became difficult. Music was one of her greatest loves. She sang constantly, wrote poetry and even advanced to the next stage of auditions for The Voice Disney was another passion, and some of her family's favorite memories are the vacations they spent together laughing, singing and making memories that still bring smiles today. She also dreamed of becoming a physician. Fascinated by medicine and devoted to children, Jayla hoped one day to become an OBGYN. As the oldest of seven siblings, she had watched nearly all of them enter the world and developed a deep appreciation for caring for others. Like many young adults, she was still discovering who she would become. Her family believed there would be time.
There wasn't.
On April 26, 2024, Jayla's family experienced the sudden loss of a beloved daughter, sister, and bright light whose absence is still deeply felt. The loss devastated her family and left them searching for answers. What made the tragedy even more difficult was that they were not walking through what they recognized as an addiction journey. There had been no rehab programs, no major interventions and no understanding that opioid use had become part of her life. Only after her death did they begin connecting dots they had not fully understood. They discovered references to
opioid use, recognized behavioral changes they had dismissed at the time and began piecing together a picture they never expected to see. Looking back, they now recognize signs that included repeated requests for money, sudden life changes, untreated mental health struggles and conversations that were avoided rather than explored. Like many families, they simply did not know what they did not know.
"We didn't know about fentanyl," Lakesha said. "We didn't know about Narcan. We didn't understand how dangerous the drug landscape had become." What they learned afterward changed the direction of their lives. Instead of allowing grief to consume them, they made a decision. They would turn their pain into purpose. Four months after losing Jayla, they founded Jayla's Voice: Echoes of Addiction. The organization wasn't created because they wanted to start a nonprofit. It was created because they needed a way to keep Jayla's voice alive. After her death, they discovered songs, recordings and videos they had never seen before. "We realized the world should hear Jayla's voice," her father said. What began as heartbreak became action.
Today, Jayla's Voice serves communities throughout Northwest Florida through education, prevention, advocacy and recovery support. Its mission is to prevent substance use disorder, support those affected and challenge the stigma that prevents so many people from seeking help. The organization's work reaches people at every stage of the journey from prevention and awareness to recovery and grief support. Through Frontline Samaritan Training, businesses, organizations, and community members learn how to recognize and respond to overdose emergencies. Participants receive training, resources, and access to Narcan, the medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. The organization has also established public-access Narcan stands across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, ensuring life-saving medication is available to those who may need it most.
Additional programs continue to expand the organization's reach. Mission 21 focuses on youth prevention and intervention. New Verse helps connect individuals and families
“OUR PAIN IS YOUR PREVENTION. IF SHARING JAYLA’S STORY SAVES ONE FAMILY, THEN HER LEGACY CONTINUES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.”
to recovery resources and support services. Echoes Unheard provides assistance and opportunities for those impacted by substance use disorder and loss. Perhaps the most personal initiative is Jayla's Magical Quest, inspired by Jayla's love of Disney. The program helps families affected by addiction, recovery and loss create meaningful experiences and lasting memories together. The organization also hosts the annual Families United Against Fentanyl Summit, bringing together parents, educators, healthcare professionals, law enforcement and community leaders for conversations many people would rather avoid. The Davis family believes those conversations save lives.
One lesson surfaced repeatedly throughout our conversation: "What you don't know can kill you or someone you love." Today, the family spends much of its time encouraging parents to learn before they need the information. They speak openly about warning signs, mental health struggles, substance use disorder and the dangers of assuming addiction only happens to other families. "Fentanyl doesn't have favorites," Jayla's father said. It affects athletes, honor students, professionals, high-achieving families and young adults with bright futures. Their message is not rooted in fear. It is rooted in awareness, preparation and hope. The goal is not to frighten families but to equip them with knowledge they may one day need.
For the Davis family, advocacy is about more than education. It is about preserving Jayla's legacy. They refuse to allow her story to end with a toxicology report. Instead, they speak about the daughter who loved Disney, the young woman who sang at every opportunity, the sister who adored her family, the friend who carried everyone else's burdens, and the dreamer who believed she could make a difference. "What happened to her is a warning for other people," her father said. "But it wasn't who she was." While tragedy may mark the end of her life, it does not define how she lived. Today, through every training session, every Narcan kit distributed, every presentation delivered, and every difficult conversation between a parent and child, Jayla's voice continues to be heard not as a statistic, but as a voice.
Prioritize
Your four-legged best friend deserves a role in your big day, too!
Photos by Aislinn Kate Weddings
BY STEPHANIE
ACROSS PENSACOLA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA, FAMILIES AND PETS BENEFIT FROM THE BEAUTY OF THIS AWARENESS
PET ADOPTION CHANGES LIVES
There is something special about the moment a shelter pet realizes it has finally found a home. You can see it in their eyes, in their actions, and in the sense of security and trust that continues to build as your new pet becomes acclimated to his or her adopted family. Some may call it nature. Some may call it nurture. But, after seeing it firsthand across our own five pets, I simply refer to it as love.
For many adopted dogs and cats, the process of adoption represents a second chance. For the families who welcome them, it often marks the beginning of a relationship filled with companionship, laughter, comfort, and unconditional love. Pet adoption is one of the most rewarding decisions a family can make, benefiting not only the pet being rescued, but also the people who open their hearts and homes to make adopted pets part of their family.
Across Pensacola and Northwest Florida, animal shelters and rescue organizations work tirelessly to find loving homes for thousands of pets each year. The Pensacola Humane Society alone reports creating over 700 new families through its adoption program during its most recent reporting year, while maintaining an impressive 98 percent save rate. And this is just one of a number of pet rescue organizations across Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast.
For families considering adoption, the process should begin with honest self-assessment. Potential pet owners should carefully evaluate their lifestyle, available space, work schedules, activity levels, and financial resources. A high-energy working dog, for example, may not be the best fit for a family with small children, or living in a townhome community with limited outdoor space. While a senior cat may thrive in a quieter household, an energetic small breed puppy may do exceptionally well in a home with children who love to play with it.
“Experts generally recommend spending time with a pet before adopting to ensure a good match. Families should also consider long-term responsibilities, including food, veterinary care, grooming, training, and exercise. Responsible adoption means committing to care for a pet throughout its lifetime,” says Laura Hussey, a longtime well-known advocate of animal adoption, who has done numerous news stories on the subject, spanning almost two decades.
“For children, growing up with a pet can teach empathy, compassion, responsibility, and patience. Feeding a dog, grooming a cat, or participating in daily walks provides valuable lessons
“IN A WORLD WHERE THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS ARE WAITING FOR THAT PERFECT MOMENT TO BECOME PART OF A FAMILY, WE AS HUMANS OFTEN OVERLOOK THE OPPORTUNITY THIS ALSO PROVIDES FOR OUR FAMILIES.”
about caring for another living creature,” says early childhood specialist, Kate Krigbaum.
Additionally, many parents report that pets help children develop confidence and social skills while providing emotional comfort during stressful times. Extensive research in child psychology has long suggested that pets can help reduce stress and anxiety while encouraging physical activity and family interaction.
Adoption also makes a broader community impact. Every pet adopted from a shelter creates space for another animal in need. Organizations throughout Northwest Florida continually work
to reduce shelter overcrowding and increase adoption rates. By choosing adoption instead of purchasing from pet stores or less responsible sources, families help support those efforts while giving deserving animals a second chance.
In a region known for its strong sense of community, pet adoption offers a remarkable way to make a meaningful difference. Countless animals across Pensacola and Northwest Florida are waiting for a family to call their own. For many families, that new pet may become one of the best decisions they ever make. We just have to make the decision to make the difference.
ARTICLE BY WILL ESTELL
GULF COAST Kid’s HOUSE:
Giving Children Hope and Healing Across Pensacola and Northwest Florida
Few organizations in Northwest Florida have a more profound impact on the lives of vulnerable children than Gulf Coast Kid's House does. For more than two decades, this Pensacola-based nonprofit has served as a beacon of hope for children who have experienced abuse, neglect, or other traumatic circumstances; providing a safe, child-focused environment where healing can begin and positive change can prevail. Its mission is simple in concept but life-changing in practice: protect children, support families in need, provide healing related services, and break the cycle of child abuse across Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast.
When a child experiences abuse, the process of reporting what happened can often become another source of trauma. Historically, children might have been required to repeat painful details multiple times to law enforcement officers, social workers, medical professionals, and attorneys - often causing more trauma and pain for the victims themselves. Children's advocacy centers were created to change that model, and Gulf Coast Kid's House has become one of our region’s most respected examples of this remarkably positive and forward-thinking approach.
At the heart of its work is a multidisciplinary team model that brings together child protection investigators, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, medical professionals, victim advocates, and mental health specialists. Rather than requiring a child to visit multiple agencies, these professionals work collaboratively to coordinate services and investigations in one child-friendly setting. This reduces stress on the child
while helping ensure that critical information is gathered accurately and effectively.
One of the most important services provided is the forensic interview. Conducted by specially trained professionals, these interviews allow children to share their experiences in a neutral, supportive, and legally sound environment. The goal is not to lead or pressure a child but to give them a safe opportunity to tell their story while minimizing additional trauma. These interviews often become a critical part of both protective and criminal investigations.
The leadership and well-trained team of professionals at Gulf Coast Kids House know that healing does not happen simply because a report is made. Children and families frequently need long-term support as they navigate the emotional effects of abuse and trauma. Through counseling referrals, victim advocacy, family support services, and connections to community leaders and resources, Gulf Coast Kid’s House works to ensure that children are provided with the tools and infrastructure to recover, rebuild confidence, and move forward with hope, dignity, and a promising future.
Education is a primary and critical component of the organization's mission and something they do an outstanding job of constantly improving. Through community outreach efforts, Gulf Coast Kid's House provides training and awareness programs for parents, educators, medical providers, law enforcement personnel, and other youth-serving organizations. These initiatives help adults recognize signs of abuse, understand reporting responsibilities, and learn how to better protect children before harm occurs.
The organization's philosophy is that child protection is not solely the responsibility of one agency, but instead a community responsibility shared by all of us. We’ve all heard the old adage, “It takes a village.” And the truth is that could not be more accurate when it comes to advocating, protecting, and providing positive outcomes for America’s future: Our children.
The importance of this work simply cannot be overstated. Childhood trauma has been linked to a variety of long-term challenges, including mental health struggles, substance abuse issues, academic difficulties, and increased health risks later in life. Not to mention, sadly, the enormously increased risk of the same abused children continuing the tragic cycle with their own children. Early intervention and access to supportive services can dramatically improve outcomes, helping children build resilience and overcome circumstances that might otherwise shape the rest of their lives. That, among many reasons, is why I personally see the work of Gulf Coast Kid's House as being some of the absolute most important of any non-profit in all of Pensacola and the Gulf Coast.
While the organization often becomes involved during some of the darkest moments a family may ever face, its work is ultimately about creating brighter
“The difference made in the lives of children is perhaps the most impactful difference we can make across society.”
futures. Every forensic interview conducted, every family advocate assigned, every counseling referral made, and every child given a chance to be heard represents an investment in a healthier future for both that child, their future children, and our entire community.
In so many ways, Gulf Coast Kid's House serves as the voice children need when they are unable to advocate for themselves. It stands as a reminder that healing is possible, that children deserve to be protected, and that a caring community - from Pensacola, across Florida, and across the worldcan make an extraordinary difference in the life of a child. For the thousands of children and families who have been assisted along their journey by this organization, that difference continues to be nothing short of life-changing.
To learn more about the remarkable work of Gulf Coast Kid's House, visit GulfCoastKidsHouse.org and learn how you too can be a part of building their well-respected pathway to healing and hope.
The Next Adventure Pain Relief
TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
ON MARRIAGE, KIDS, AND THE COMEDY OF REAL LIFE
Trey Kennedy makes a living finding comedy in regular life. Marriage. Toddlers. Yoga pants. The Thursday-night scramble between school dropoffs, soccer practice, and whatever has to be done by morning. Twelve years in, it shows: millions of followers across every platform, three stand-up specials, a sold-out Relatable Tour, and a style of humor fans send each other captioned, “Are you watching me?” He delivers the kind of comedy that travels because everyone’s living some version of it.
Katie, his wife of six years, is a former biomedical engineer who also built a modeling career. She’s now raising their kids and co-hosting Correct Opinions alongside Trey — the show where the two of them swap takes on marriage, parenting, and whatever came up that week.
Trey has been at this longer than people realize. An Edmond, Oklahoma kid who grew up playing basketball described himself as a “shy kid who never thought he’d be an entertainer.” He started making videos while attending Oklahoma State University. After building millions of followers on Vine before the platform shut down, he gave himself six months on Instagram and Facebook to see whether he could rebuild from zero. He did. Stand-up soon followed. His first special, Are You For Real?, streams on YouTube; the second, Grow Up, on Amazon Prime; the third, built around the Relatable Tour, wrapped earlier this year. “I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now,” he says. A slow climb, made one bit at a time.
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
“I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now.”
Most of what Trey writes lately starts in his own kitchen. Thomas is three and a half, and he is, in his father’s words, “a movie.” He narrates his own life from the moment his eyes open and mispronounces words in ways his parents now repeat to each other because no one else would believe them. His younger sister, Eva, is what Katie calls “the calm one.” With a third now in the mix, the Kennedys are officially outnumbered.
After six years of marriage, Trey and Katie have learned that the partnership runs best when it gets its own time on the calendar. So once a week, they leave the kids with a sitter and go out for coffee. “You need a system,” Katie says. “It’s about taking time to look each other in the eye. Not the kids. Not the cameras. Just each other.”
The same instinct shapes the work. Most of Trey’s trial and error happens onstage or on Instagram, but the first read is always Katie’s. “There’s only been one time ever I’ve had to be like, ‘you’re not doing that,’” she says. The rest of the time, she just laughs first.
FEATURING TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
Trey and Katie talk about marriage, parenting, and the moments that don’t make the Instagram feed.
Watch or listen to the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts.
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