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OUT FRONT MAGAZINE
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On The Cover
Editor & Publisher
Rashada LeRoy: Born Entrepreneur Starting on page 16
New Beginnings Publishing Productions
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CONTENTS
Senior Editor
Phil Stewart, (deceased 1992-2006)
The Lifestyle Magazine on the Great Gulf Coast Volume 30 Issue 1 • May / June 2020
Senior Associate Editor
Bobbie Weaver, (deceased 1995-2012)
Contributing Editors Mamie Webb Hixon, UWF Writing Lab Sta
Contributing Writers
FEATURES
Art Director/Production
16
Rashada LeRoy: Born Entrepreneur
20
Jennifer Grove, Vice President of External Relations at Baptist Health Care Story
28
Mia Bolden: Inspiring Con dence in Women from All Walks Of Life
24
Dr. Kimberly Krupa- A Resilient Woman Fighting for Resilient Communities
Charmere N. Gatson, Kelli Pogue, Natalie Franklin Hilary Moreno (At-Large)
Graphic Art Production Victor Mason Wallace F. LeRoy Karen Kelly (At-Large) Dick Williams (At-Large)
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Photography
DEPARTMENTS
Music Reviews
EDITORIAL:
V.P. Dir. Marketing & Sponsorship Sales
08
Marketing & Special Events
COMMUNITY:
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Where Do We Go From Here?
Chuck Watson
A.l.l. Consulting Group (850) 292-7820
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04
The Great American Paradox: Reality, Race, Relationships & Resources
10
A Message to the Pensacola Community from Mayor Grover Robinson
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OUT FRONT: The Life Style Magazine on the Great Gulf Coast is published bi-monthly (6 times a year) by New Beginnings Publishing Productions, Editorial o ce at 801 Violet Ave., Pensacola, FL 32505. Subscriptions: USA $28.00 per year, Canada and foreign subscriptions add $9.00 per year. Copyright 2020 by New Beginnings Publishing Productions. Postmaster: Send address change to OUT FRONT MAGAZINE, P.O. Box 17461, Pensacola, FL 32522-7461. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any unsolicited materials and will return only those accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
COMMUNITY
O
e Great American Paradox: Reality, Race, Relationships & Resources
n May 25th, our nation and the rest of the world witnessed yet another unarmed black person being killed by law enforcement, the unlawful killing of George Floyd. is event followed the senseless deaths of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery just weeks earlier. e result has been unyielding protests around the globe that exemplify an irrepressible outrage and cry for justice.
M AY / J U N E 2 0 2 0 O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E
At last count, over 100 cities and towns were and are still in active protests across America, with additional protests taking place in Europe and Canada. Even the global pandemic and uno cial start to summer have taken back seats to racial tensions caused by systemic injustice, leaving our nation wondering what will happen next.
4
is instance is not the rst time in our country’s history that we have seen protests, and this instance is not the rst time they have been violent. ese events are not the rst times that there has been a distinction between peaceful protests and destruction of property. ose who want to peacefully assemble are demanding justice for the systemic racism and police brutality in this country. ose seeking only to in ict harm and incite terror do not speak for us or our communities. We cannot let the message of unity be lost because of the acts of a few people who are causing violence and looting. ese actions are a loud minority and a distraction from the urgent need to address the causation of the divide in the United States.
Paula Shell, President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida
is past weekend was a demarcation of the racial and socioeconomic divide in a country that was founded in pursuit of liberty and justice for “all.” It is clear that black people in this country have never been granted full liberty nor the elusive justice that many of America’s white citizens casually enjoy. We are the
recipients of a system that did not recognize enslaved black people as rightful citizens at the writing of the Declaration of Independence and continues to deny their descendants full, unalienable rights. And now,
. . . Continued on page 6
B A PT I ST B A HPTE IASTLT H ECAALTR EH C A R E
T RA N S FOT RA R MNI NS GF OFROMRI NT GH EFOF UR TTUHREE .F U T U R E . The founders of The Baptist founders Health of Baptist Care had Health a bold Care vision hadtoa bring bold vision to bring more modern care moretomodern the community. care to the That community. vision hasThat guided vision has guided us throughout us ourthroughout history. our history. Our organization Ourserves organization much ofserves northwest muchFlorida of northwest as well Florida as as well as locations throughout locations thethroughout nation. Wethe helpnation. individuals We help through individuals through our hospitals and our medical hospitalsparks, and medical our world parks, renowned our world renowned orthopedic andorthopedic sports medicine and sports services, medicine our network services,ofour network of hundreds of medical hundreds providers, of medical our providers, behavioral our health behavioral health medicine and substance medicine and abuse substance treatment abuse centers, treatment centers, our foster careour andfoster adoption care services, and adoption and our services, and our employment services employment for people services withfor disabilities. people with disabilities. Our Mission is Our to help Mission people is to throughout help people life’s throughout journey life’s journey and we aim to and be the we trusted aim to be partner the trusted for improving partner for improving quality of life inquality of life in our community we are the our community because we arebecause the thearea needs of our to area continue to community. Ascommunity. the needs ofAsour continue grow evolve, grow and evolve, so and too will we. so too will we.
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COMMUNITY ...“
e Great American Paradox” continued from page 4
these racial divides have captured the attention of the entire world.
M AY / J U N E 2 0 2 0 O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E
ere are 240 Big Brother Big Sisters agencies nationwide. In 2019, our collective agencies served more than 135,000 children and youth across the country. Many of our youth unfortunately experience extreme challenges such as poverty, housing instability, mass incarceration, single-parent households, educational inequality, familial substance abuse and a host of other detractors that inhibit their potential for success.
6
We are proud to live and contribute to be a part of the solution. Big Brothers Big Sisters has a long history of bringing people from di ering backgrounds and viewpoints together to serve our youth and their communities. Our programs are evidencebased, and our data demonstrates that mentoring builds critical social and emotional skills youth need to succeed in academics, career and life. We believe in the power of mentorship and the transformational impact relationships can have on the trajectory of a child’s life. However, we cannot rest on the strength of interpersonal relationships and mentoring to resolve the systemic oppression and bigotry that plague many communities across America. We must be committed to bringing about racial equity and justice for black people in this country. Much like the rest of the country, we are unable to sleep in the wake of national protests. We understand the emotions behind the protests and passion fueled energy of those who protest. Many of our leaders and sta across the country locked arms in
peaceful protest and are now helping clean up our communities. We are meeting with elected o cials and organizing communities to collectively decide how we should begin to move forward.
regardless of their race, socioeconomic status or station in life. •
We, along with our board of directors, are continuing to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion as we hire and partner with individuals and organizations that align with our core values.
•
We are encouraging our supporters and community members to get out, vote and advocate for legislation and policies that protect all our communities.
•
We will continue to support community leaders in their e orts to nd solutions to our most challenging social justice issues.
•
We will provide a variety of educational resources to our Bigs, Littles and their families, helping them to discuss what is happening and how to e ectively deal with the a ermath.
Moving forward, these Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies are taking action:
•
We will continue to ignite the promise and power of hope in the youth we serve.
•
We will continue to develop culturally relevant training and resources that are shared with our Bigs, families, sta and stakeholders, informed by national experts.
•
We are talking to leaders around the country to dismantle racism, address implicit bias and shine a light on the practice of helping others in a self-serving manner rather than with the dignity that all people deserve
Today, to our entire community, we declare proudly that we unapologetically serve our Black community. We are at a pivotal moment in history. What will you do di erently to join the ght against racism?
How can we understand, stay focused and be present for our Littles, Bigs, and the communities we serve? We, as the largest, national youth mentoring organization in America, are in deep re ection right now. Over 50 BBBS CEOs endorsed this letter and committed to taking action. We know some policies and laws that continue to exist in this country do not fully represent or bene t marginalized people, but we also know there is hope. Hope is seeing young people relentlessly advocating for what they believe in. Hope is witnessing so many black, brown and white allies coming together to say, “this is not right.” Yet if we focus only on the small group of looters and organized disrupters, we lose sight of the underlying issues, which require action from all of us.
Paula Shell is president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida. is article was written in collaboration with CEOs of Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies nationwide.
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EDITORIAL
M AY / J U N E 2 0 2 0 O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E
O
8
ut Front Magazine would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. George Floyd. We are deeply saddened and angered by yet another unjusti ed violent act against our black brothers and sisters at the hands of those who took an oath to protect and serve. We stand with those who are on the front lines advocating for justice in this tragic event and with the dozens of others across this country.
George Floyd’s life mattered. George Floyd’s black life mattered. e countless other black brothers and sisters who have been killed at the hands of white supremacy MATTERED. George Floyd’s death ignited protests all over this country and all over the world and has brought all di erent races and nationalities together, but where do we go from here? Don’t let George Floyd’s death and others’ deaths be in vain.
Where Do We Go From Here?
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COMMUNITY
A Message to the Pensacola Community from Mayor Grover Robinson
S
ince the senseless murder of George Floyd, we have seen outrage throughout our nation and here in our city. We have heard demands for change and equality for all. To our communities of color in Pensacola and the hundreds of allies who have spent countless hours this week protesting and calling for justice and equality: I see you. I hear you. I value and respect you.
As your mayor, I am committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and safe community for all. ere is no place for racism or discrimination in the City of Pensacola. We are incredibly fortunate to have a police department that is committed to the same values. I have reviewed the Pensacola Police Department’s policies and procedures this week with Chief Tommi Lyter, and the following policies are in place:
M AY / J U N E 2 0 2 0 O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E
•
10
e Pensacola Police Department’s policy states that any member who witnesses an excessive use of force incident has a duty to immediately intervene and protect the person who is the subject of the excessive use of force. e intervening member shall immediately report the incident to a supervisor.
Mayor Grover Robinson
force. Where there is reasonable doubt, the value of a human life outweighs the importance of immediate apprehension.
•
It is the policy of the Pensacola Police Department that sworn members of the department shall not use more force than is reasonably necessary to accomplish a lawful purpose. Unnecessary and/or excessive use of force is expressly prohibited.
•
•
e Pensacola Police Department requires comprehensive reporting. All use of force incidents are tracked, along with every tra c stop and the race of the individual who was stopped. O cers with a high rate of tra c stops for one race are automatically agged and reviewed.
e Pensacola Police Department is a state accredited agency, maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and best practices. ey are committed to serving and protecting our community with courtesy, integrity and professionalism.
•
PPD’s de-escalation policy states that once a sworn member achieves control or compliance, he or she must de-escalate the use of force.
•
Per PPD policy, a verbal warning should be given where feasible to do so before using deadly
PPD policy states that shooting at or from a moving vehicle is generally a dangerous and ine ective practice which shall be refrained from in all instances except those which do not endanger innocent persons and are justi ed by unusual or mitigating circumstances.
In addition to our existing policies, we are taking the following actions: •
Additional use of force training is being conducted in the coming weeks for every sworn member of the Pensacola Police Department.
. . . Continued on page 12
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COMMUNITY . . . “A Message” continued from page 10 •
•
Dr. Cedric Alexander began implicit/explicit bias training and leadership training in January for all sworn members of the Pensacola Police Department. PPD will continue to participate in regular bias-based training.
)*+ %
e City of Pensacola has engaged Dr. Cedric Alexander to work with the city to create a citizens committee to establish a working partnership with the Pensacola Police Department.
M AY / J U N E 2 0 2 0 O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E
I am incredibly proud of the way citizens of Pensacola have come together peacefully to let their voices be heard, and of the men and women of the Pensacola Police Department who have respected their right to protest. e protests in Pensacola have been a beautiful tribute to George Floyd and a testament to the humanity we all share.
12
I have always believed that we are at our best when we all work together and celebrate our di erences. We will continue to look for ways we can improve as a city. It is up to each one of us to take steps to better ourselves and our community, and to work together to end racism once and for all. It is an honor to serve the citizens of Pensacola, and I am here to listen and learn from each one of you. Sincerely,
Mayor Grover C. Robinson, IV
Mayor Grover C. Robinson, IV
YOUR VOTE MATTERS! EasySchedule
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Merriam-Webster de nes an advocate as, “one who pleads the cause of another.” An advocate is a champion. An advocate is a supporter. An advocate is a friend. Michelle Salzman is an advocate.
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FEATURE
Rashada LeRoy: B
by Natalie Franklin by Na
R
ashada LeRoy was born into a family of entrepreneurs. Her grandfather Walter LeRoy founded e New American Press, her great uncle Admiral LeRoy founded OutFront Magazine, and her mother, Angelena Wheat, was the rst black woman to launch a newspaper in Dothan, Ala. Now, Rashada LeRoy is the founder and CEO of LRY Media Group in Birmingham, Ala.
“I go skills vided tors,”
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LeRo catch date mind to en As C runs
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“I do believe I was born an entrepreneur,” LeRoy said.
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LeRoy was born and raised in Dothan, Ala. She attended e University of Alabama and received a degree in Management Information Systems. A er graduating college, LeRoy moved to Birmingham where she worked as a computer programmer. “In 2006, the entrepreneurial part of my DNA kicked in, and I started my rst business, a fashion and lifestyle magazine called Upgrade,” LeRoy said. Her fashion and lifestyle magazine was just the catalyst to her bigger entrepreneurial goals. During her time at the magazine, LeRoy learned how to use events and experiences to promote the magazine and the value of building and cultivating
Rashada LeRoy, Founder Rashada and LeRoy, CEO ofFounder LRY Media andGroup CEO of LRY Media Group
relationships. “ e magazine was a very exciting venture,” LeRoy explained.
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Desp from rough networking,rough building networking, key build rms relationships and relationships cultivating herand cultivatin by as event planning skills, event LeRoy planning was skills, LeRoy
able to land her dream able tojob land of proher dream job o ducing events. ducing events.
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FEATURE
ured e Franklin le ) (pictured le )
hance to “I really got ahone chance my to really hone my an environment skills inthat an environment prothat proe with structure vided me andwith menstructure and menRoy said. tors,” LeRoy said.
decade a About a er her rst er hera decade rst neurial adventure, entrepreneurial LeRoy adventure, LeRoy ream joblein events producher dream job in events producart LRY Media a full tion toGroup, start LRY Media Group, a full vent and service experiential event and experiential But being agency. the founder and the founder and But being a company is noofeasy feat. is no easy feat. CEO a company
arts her mornings early tomornings early to LeRoy starts her on news catch and stay up up-toon news and stay up-tourrent events. She is always date on current events. She is always of emailsmindful and her of calendar emails and her calendar e all projects are onall track. to ensure projects are on track. LeRoy isAs organized and is organized and CEO, LeRoy ght ship! runs a tight ship!
rgy and the thatand we the spirit that we “ spirit e energy omen] bring to everyday life to everyday life [black women] bring ng,” LeRoyis said. “In a” world amazing, LeRoy said. “In a world o entimes, entimes,where, we don’t get the we don’t get the we need, support it is inspiring we need, to it is inspiring to do so much watch with us so dolittle. so much ” with so little.”
he current Despite political theclimate, current political climate, 7 to 2018, from the 2007 number to 2018, of the number of key ned by black women grew rms owned by black women grew r ning 164 percent, and in by a stunning 164 percent, and in s
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LeRoy uses her success and status to mentor and help other black female entrepreneurs be successful. “I believe in giving back and sharing as much knowledge as I possibly can to help our communities build wealth,” LeRoy said. “If I have gotten to the height of my success, and I didn’t bring as many people with me as possible, then I didn’t do what God called me to do.” LeRoy found her calling in life as an entrepreneur. She says that being a businesswoman is one of the most extraordinary experiences she has
. . . Continued . . . Continued on page 18 on page 18
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ob is more than just LeRoy’s job stratis more than just stratplanning.egy Herand clients planning. expectHer clients expect creativity andthey ingenuity when they y and ingenuity when entrust her with their events. So just er with their events. So just pires LeRoy? garners whatShe inspires LeRoy? She garners ration from otherfrom people, other herpeople, inspiration es and, much closer to businesses and, much closer to er mother.home, As a black her mother. As a black LeRoy recognizes the recognizes the woman, LeRoy and beauty of all black strength and beauty of all black and she admires women,and and she admires and that strength and that beauty. respects strength and beauty.
2018 there were 2.4 million African American womenowned businesses, according to forbes. com. Also, black women are the only racial or ethnic group with more business ownership than their male peers, according to the Federal Reserve.
17
FEATURE . . . “Rashada LeRoy” continued from page 17 ever had. However, the path to success was not always so smooth. “When I started the magazine, I really had no clue what I was doing, LeRoy explained. “My magazine failed a er six years of business.”
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LeRoy realized that entrepreneurship is not only about starting a business, but it is also about how you sustain and grow that business. She started LRY Media Group about seven years a er her rst entrepreneurial endeavor failed. “When I made the decision to start another business, I was mentally in a place where I was ready for whatever the road ahead would be,” she said. “I overcame by just believing that I could be successful a second time, and I was equipped with what I needed to be successful.” LRY Media Group has been going strong for about three years now. LeRoy’s entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well and always open to give advice.
Rashada LeRoy
“Identify what you’re passionate about and then use that to decide what type of business you want to start,” LeRoy said. “As a business owner you can go as far as you will allow yourself, so don’t put any limits around your ideas or your abilities.”
18 Peggy Scott-Adams
FEATURE
Ty
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FEATURE
Jennifer Grove, Vice President of External Relations at Baptist Health Care by Natalie Franklin (pictured le
)
For 25 years, Grove worked in the energy sector. She made a huge change by leaving the energy sector and going to the health care sector. “I have such a steep learning curve, and every day we enter new things,” Grove said. Grove is originally from Bangor, Maine. In junior high, she moved to Mississippi then moved again to Pensacola during high school. “I am at home in the South,” Grove explained. “ e people particularly are so outgoing and friendly.” Grove quickly fell in love with the area, and although she moved away for college and the start of her career, it was not long before she made her way back to the South.
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“Even though I went to grad school and worked in Chicago for a while, I found a way to get myself to Atlanta, and then in Atlanta when I started to have my children I knew of every place I’d ever lived, I wanted to get right back here to northwest Florida.”
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Jennifer Grove, Vice President of External Relations
L
ife is full of risks. Every decision you make and every action you take has an underlying risk. Many people are afraid to take risks, and with good reason. ere is always a 50-50 percent chance that the risk you take will not pay o . But when that risk does pay o , the rewards can be abundant. Jennifer Grove took a pretty big risk when she accepted her current position as Vice President of External Relations at Baptist Health Care. “I had an opportunity to work at this organization [Baptist Health Care] that is so community focused and vetted in the past and future of this community that I love,” Grove said. Grove joined Baptist Health Care in January of 2019. Previously, she was employed at Gulf Power Company and before that the Southern Company in Atlanta, Ga.
Grove has been in Pensacola for almost three decades now, but she is a relative newcomer to Baptist Health Care. Grove’s position at Baptist Health Care is new to the almost 70-year-old organization. Mark Faulkner, president of Baptist Health Care, created the Vice President of External Relations position last January a er careful thought and consideration of the company’s future and position in the community. Grove’s passion for community and her desire to utilize her talents to help others ultimately played a role in her huge career leap. For the past 25 years, Grove had been working in the energy sector. She took a risk by switching careers and starting in a brand new position at Baptist Health Care. Some years back, Grove was given a piece of advice from a female colleague that really resonated with her, especially when it came time to take a big career risk. “When you get that feeling in your stomach that tells you you’re scared, sit in it for a minute, because fear and excitement feel the same way in your belly,” Grove said.
. . . Continued on page 22
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FEATURE . . . “Jennifer Grove” continued from page 20 really thought about it, she felt that fear melt away to excitement, and she knew she wanted the job. “Certainly we have to evaluate all angles of a decision, but once we make a decision, and we decide to walk through that fear toward that excitement, I think that’s when we really get that opportunity to personally grow,” Grove said. As VP of External Relations, Grove is responsible for aligning and building Baptist Health Care’s brand and engagement externally with stakeholders. On any given day, Grove is involved with marketing and communications, government relations, the Baptist Health Care Foundation, community impact work, and much more.
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West Florida High School of Advanced Technology
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“
ere is no typical day because every day is di erent!”
When Faulkner approached Grove with the new job opportunity, Grove was scared. She would be leaving a company that she had been with for decades. A company where both her sister and husband worked. She would be leaving the familiar for the unknown.
Her days are even more di erent now in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, we saw the onset of COVID-19, a national pandemic that has irrefutably a ected those working in healthcare, hospitality and essentially all areas of the national workforce.
“ ose words made me think about my future and what I did want to achieve in the nal parts of my career.”
“Pre-COVID, there were lots of meetings in the community,” Grove explained. She would normally meet with numerous organizations and interact with various community leaders and partners. COVID has not stopped her work, it has merely changed the way it happens.
Grove’s love of the community and her passion to help others ultimately swayed her to accept the new position. “I wanted to give back in a meaningful way and provide my service and value to this community,” Grove said. It was not a decision she came upon lightly, but when she
“Now my days are full of Zooms,” Grove said. Grove, like many working Americans, has had to navigate the virtual world of meetings by utilizing video conference applications such as Zoom.
YMCA Trick or Treat event
Junior League of Pensacola Women’s Empowerment Award
FEATURE “It’s hard because so much of my work is collaborative and engaged with other sectors...we’re all, I think, adjusting to this new normal of how we engage and collaborate,” Grove said. Despite navigating a national pandemic and adjusting to work in a new sector, Grove’s work in the community has further solidi ed something that she has known for a very long time. “ is community does real collaboration.” Grove has rst-hand experience and knowledge of organizations working together to put the needs of the community rst. “ ere is a whole wealth of organizations, from small nonpro ts to individuals that are just as committed in this area to organizations the size and scale of Lakeview and Baptist, who truly collaborate for the bene t of the community and the residents of this community.”
“I think it is through that true collaboration or through that collective impact that we can bring about sustainable change that can last for generations here.” e positive outcomes and the changes that Grove and other community partners bring about are rewarding of course, but there are stresses that come with the job. How does Grove manage that stress? “I really try to remind myself that this is not about me,” she said. “It’s about the work. It’s about improving the quality of life in some way for somebody else.” Grove appreciates the collaboration and the strong network of community leaders, partners and
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. Don’t let anyone set unrealistic expectations for yourself and worse yet, don’t set those expectations for yourself,” Grove said. Women are o entimes confronted with the “worklife balance” conundrum. Work-life balance is the state of equilibrium in which aspects of personal life, professional life and family life are equal. Grove believes that this focus is an unhealthy mindset, especially for women. “It puts so much unnecessary pressure on us, because I think we think that it means that at all times we should be seeking that balance, but in reality, there will be times in our lives and in our careers where we need to lean into work a little bit more...and that means we’re going to be a little lighter in our energy and time on our family.” e same goes for times when you may have to be more present at home and lighter at work. Grove also recommends not creating two di erent versions of yourself for your personal life and your work life. “Be one complete person. Bring all that you are, your heart, mind and
Bras Across the Bridge
Pinnacle Awards
soul, to everything you do.” Grove encourages women to be authentic. Ask for help if you need it. Do not be afraid to be vulnerable or unwilling to learn. It is vulnerability, authenticity, and a willingness to learn that will ultimately bring you strength.
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Grove says that the most rewarding part of her job is bringing together di erent sectors to align resources and to achieve common goals.
individuals that is present in the Pensacola community. She also appreciates the collaboration that comes from a network of people. e advice that Grove received from the strong women in her life truly inspired her to take a risk that ultimately paid o . Grove also has words of wisdom of her own that she is eager to share.
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FEATURE
Dr. Kimberly Krupa- A Resilient Woman Fighting for Resilient Communities by Blair Castro (pictured le ) & Nicolas Dinwiddie
Dr. Kimberly Krupa Director of Achieve Escambia
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hroughout history, there have been many great women who have changed the world and inspired others to do the same. One of those inspiring women is Dr. Kimberly Krupa, a journalist-turnednonpro t-director. Kimberly had anything but an easy childhood, growing up at times in extreme poverty. Her hardships and experiences helped shape her, giving her the compassion, empathy and insight needed to explore community resiliency in a whole new way. Kimberly would go on to be a rstgeneration college graduate and gain profound and diverse experiences as a journalist, and later, her career would lead her right here to Pensacola, Florida, where she has served as the leader of the long-term cradle-to-career education nonpro t, Achieve Escambia, since 2017. Dr. Kimberly Krupa was born on the Jersey Shore where her family lived a hardscrabble life taken straight out of a Bruce Springsteen song. Young and independent, her
parents met in vocational school and married at a young age. Kimberly’s family did not have much money and lived at the poverty line for most of her life. Her father o en had trouble holding a job, resulting in a period in which Kimberly lived in a campground with no running water. Kimberly never realized that she had lived her childhood in poverty until she was much older. is realization would come when she saw that she quali ed for a partial Pell grant a er applying for the FAFSA. As a rst-generation college student, Kimberly has a deep appreciation for the education that in uenced her career later in life. Early on in her educational journey, Kimberly felt she did not have much in the way of college options because of a lack of funds, yet this lack of funding did not stop her. Every great journey must start somewhere, and Kimberly believed a state school would o er her as good an opportunity as any. Kimberly knew journalism could be a powerful medium for change, so that occupation is where she chose to start her career. A er enrolling in journalism school, she began writing a column in the school’s newspaper. Her excellent writing skills would land her an internship at a newspaper located in the state’s capital. Little did she know, at the time, this internship would be the start of a great career. Kimberly soon became a part-time reporter while also serving as the editor-in-chief of the college newspaper, giving her valuable experience that she would later use throughout her life. is experience did not mean things became easier for Kimberly, though,
nancially, she still had to pay for her own college. Kimberly graduated college in May 2001 and was assigned to cover tragedies such as the 9/11 a ermath in New Jersey and the anthrax attacks that ensued across the Northeast. ese urgent and important reports helped establish her reputation as a journalist, rst in New Jersey, and later, she would choose to venture beyond the state. Kimberly was drawn to the exotic, diverse and natural areas showcased in the photos one of her photographer friends from Louisiana had been capturing in his recent work. Never one to shy away from an adventure, she decided she would move there. Initially, Kimberly thought she would leave journalism and take a teaching position. However, life has a funny way of working out, and she ended up back in journalism as an education reporter for e Courier in Houma, LA. In Louisiana, Kimberly bore witness to the bayou and coastal community land loss crisis and the collapse of the shrimp and shing industries. Being in the middle of these various situations, Kimberly had an immersive experience studying community resiliency and was able to observe how communities have the ability to organize and ght back, becoming advocates for themselves. One particular community she studied actually advocated for a sales tax to protect its people from storm damage. Kimberly rst became interested in studying community systems change a er experiencing her own community in Louisiana overcome much adversity. is would eventually lead to
her exiting journalism entirely and beginning a new career studying community resiliency. Kickstarting the next chapter in her life, Kim went on to get her PhD in Urban Studies from the University of New Orleans while working for Brown University. During her time at Brown, she moved to New Orleans to o cially study community resiliency just one month a er Hurricane Katrina. Kim was Brown’s point person in coastal Louisiana. She spent ve years studying speci c neighborhoods, considering all the factors at play that make people whole a er a disaster, including things like wealth, family networks and geography. “What combination of these factors leads to disparities becoming a sad reality?” she wondered. Kim made it her goal to gure it out and nd a solution. She wanted to be a part of the solution, so she made a point to get involved in rebuilding her own neighborhood in New Orleans. Kim helped pass a $100 parcel fee tax to raise money for educational and wellness services in the Broadmoor neighborhood in uptown New Orleans. As a result, Broadmoor is now one of the most well-resourced neighborhoods in the city, with free social services ranging from transitional housing to food pantries to youth a erschool programs focused on restorative justice. ough her 15 years in Louisiana were foundational, Kimberly would not remain there forever. Fate had other plans, and Kimberly’s
. . . Continued on page 26
FEATURE . . . “Dr. Kimberly Krupa” continued from page 24
Annual Report 2019 Release Team
Career CAN Voting
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husband would soon bring her to Pensacola. Her husband had also received his PhD and was, at that time, a high school history teacher in New Orleans’ city schools. However, his passion lay elsewhere; he wanted to be a historian at a university. He got a postdoctoral fellowship at UWF and was making the long commute back and forth to New Orleans for some time. An opportunity arose for a tenure-track position a er anksgiving in 2016 which Kimberly’s husband was eager to take. A er working for Second Harvest Food Bank for four years, she knew her family was ready to make a move, and Kimberly put her house up for sale and set about moving to Pensacola. A mere 12 hours a er listing her home, her house was under contract. By Christmastime, Kimberly, her husband and her three children were Pensacola’s newest residents.
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When asked about the misconceptions people o en have about the eld she works in, Kimberly said people struggle to think long-term, tending to focus their energy on day-to-day problems. Kimberly believes that working on things like long-term change and community upli requires a wider- focused lens, and it is o en hard for people to get their mind wrapped around it, especially in the social-human service sector when crises are a daily occurrence. It can be argued that it is much easier to give out a box of food than it is to address the structural causes and x the system that makes people go hungry. Kimberly argues that you must work from both ends to establish a balance between the crisis that is occurring here and now, and the long-term changes that can prevent the crisis from happening. Dr. Kimberly Krupa is rst to acknowledge she did not get to where she is today on her own. She had some important female role models who helped shape her mindset and philosophy. One such
IDN Civic Lab
inspiration has been Ida B. Wells – Kimberly even plans on naming her fourth child a er the civil rights crusader. Resurfacing as a sort of hero in recent years, with e orts like the Equal Justice Initiative, Ida B. Wells’ anti-lynching crusades, and investigative journalism roots, inspired Kimberly to go a er the truth, no matter what the cost. Another woman who in uenced her thinking is the actress Mae West. West was an outspoken, bold and amboyant personality whom Kimberly has long admired; she hung Mae West quotes in her childhood bedroom as a reminder of the type of person she aspired to be. West’s precociousness and sassiness made her an easy choice as an early feminist hero to idolize. Kimberly has many positive changes she wants to bring to Pensacola. She has observed deep levels of disparity in race, gender and class within our area and knows we have many problems to tackle. One such problem is child abuse, where Escambia County is ranked fourth in the state. ere are vast di erences in terms of race and geography that we need to tackle in order to see long-term economic improvement in our community. Huge swaths of the community are le out of the labor force, and you can see it in our local literacy rate, middle school math scores, college dropout rates and more. e same educational disparities that start in kindergarten resurface again later in life. Kimberly believes we need to catch these disparities early on in order to close the gap. “ ere is a racial component of who is getting le behind in our community, and it is something we need to confront and we need to talk about it continuously in order to see real change,” Kimberly said. Kimberly learned from an early age the value of community and helping others. She never took things for granted and always sought to help others. Kimberly
Data Walk at Weis
has some advice to give young women who wish to make a positive change in their communities. “Coming into a eld traditionally dominated by women AS a woman is not always a walk in the park... this can also be a struggle. You need to make friends with people who are outside your comfort zone and get to know all the other players in your community who have power and can in uence change. Get to know who can rise up and be advocates for themselves. For those women who wish to enter a career in the communitychange sector, Kimberly advises stretching beyond your personal comfort zone and not being afraid to make strange bedfellows at times. Kimberly believes it is unlikely allies that can o en assist in propelling one’s agenda, and that nding common ground and shared goals are crucial to success. You don’t ever want an echo chamber.” Wise words from a wise woman, who has done much for resilient communities in the face of adversity. ere are undoubtedly more great things to come from Dr. Kimberly Krupa, so be sure to follow her career and check out Achieve Escambia’s latest progress report on their website, https://static1.squarespace.com/ static/5ba3f2780feb9d7656220531/t/5e27 3266c8d88d7566a9227b/1579627124664/ Annual+Report+2020.pdf.
FCAN 2018
ENTERTAINMENT
Private Rosamond Johnson Jr. was celebrated and honored at an annual event on May 4, 2019, at Johnson Beach in Perdido Key, Florida.
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FEATURE
Mia Bolden: Inspiring Con dence in Women from All Walks Of Life by Blair Castro (pictured le
)
form the way many women in Pensacola would see themselves.
Mia Bolden
T M AY / J U N E 2 0 2 0 O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E
oday, if you saw Mia Bolden you would see a successful woman brimming with con dence and looking to help others see their bodies in a more positive light. However, this perspective was not always the case, and to fully understand Bolden’s story, we must look at the moments in her life that made her into the successful, inspiring woman she is now.
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Bolden was born in Atlanta but was raised in Pensacola. Always driven, she moved at 18 years to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where she completed schooling at Forsyth Tech and took additional business classes to expand her knowledge. Bolden was in the area for about ten years when she found inspiration at the most unlikely of times. Bolden was in something of a rut, weighing around 300 pounds and feeling very discouraged. It was hard for her to stay on track to lose weight when all the traditional methods felt so dull. Bolden began brainstorming various cardio exercise ideas to help her nd a more enjoyable way to lose weight. Bolden stumbled upon women’s vertical pole tness classes and exercise began to click for her. A er starting pole tness, Bolden felt a surge of con dence and positivity regarding her own body. Right away, Bolden knew she wanted to share her experience with other women so that may feel the con dence that she felt. Bolden moved back to her home to try and open her own studio. e road to operating her own successful studio was paved via trial and error; however, in time, she would trans-
Bolden was bartending at 5 Sisters Blues Cafe in Pensacola when she began exploring alternative workout methods and met Rashida, a Zumba instructor, who helped her teach her rst classes as they rented out the old Bunny Club. Women signed up quickly, looking for a chance to have fun and let loose, while also losing weight. ere was not any body shaming, the classes were full of diversity and it appeared that the women had struck gold: this method of exercise felt like a way for everyone to feel good. A er Bolden went to her rst yoga class, she then became yoga certi ed. From that point, she started o ering yoga cardio, as their new business would expand to a variety of classes, all which lead to women feeling better about themselves. When Bolden’s business became six years old, she moved locations and began o ering classes at Sanders Beach for about six months until more people started coming in and signing up than anticipated. Later, the women would open their own studio in Ellison Industrial Park. Women continued to ask about the vertical pole tness class, so Bolden partnered with a new friend in the area, Tina, who would certify her instructors. Tina served as the business manager and promoter of the budding business while also teaching yoga, where she had four students per class. Bolden taught classes and also became certi ed as a Body Image Coach through ICS, where she aimed to help people discover their passion and purpose. e best part of this entire experience for Bolden was watching as women who felt like they could not do something later realized that they can! Leaving out body-shaming and incorporating diversity had made Bolden’s studio a hit. Women were indeed
feeling extremely empowered. In any workout setting, according to Bolden, it is essential to prove your body can do more than you ever thought possible. While teaching her six weeks courses, Bolden began to nd that women started to open up more about their bodies, their past insecurities, their newfound self-con dence and changes that they are making in their life through these classes. Bolden can see women change from the inside out, growing with con dence, and even though 97% of women said that they had never tried a pole class before, by the end of the course, they were all feeling empowered, making friends, feeling good and getting their sexy back! Women sometimes worry about the stigma that goes along with pole tness, hence why Bolden wrote her book “No, I’m NOT a Stripper: Pole Fitness and the Ladies Who Love it!” ey also worry about embarrassing themselves, fear of the unknown, what their family will think and many other factors. Bolden prides herself on helping women overcome these fears and on the fact that her studio is incredibly diverse with women of all sizes, shapes, races, ages and body types. Bolden believes her students are on a journey, and her very relatable instructors aim to help them in their own progression. e women are always motivating each other, and Mia is proud that there is a strong sisterhood at Beautiful You Studio. Bolden concedes that opening a vertical pole tness studio in Pensacola seemed a tad bit too progressive initially to many
. . . Continued on page 30
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FEATURE
. . . “Mia Bolden” continued from page 28 who live in this more conservativeleaning area. ere were those who judged her dream, particularly when she had to go to networking events and talk about her business. She overcame this judgement by focusing on the clients and reminding herself that this business was about them and their journey and not her own feelings at that moment. Bolden’s ultimate goal is to bring empowerment to people, and she encourages others to not be judgmental, to try something new and to love their bodies from the inside out. Bolden believes that if we embrace and love each other and get to know one another to see what our “why’s” are, we will empower our community.
of your given goals- even when there might be judgement, trials and tribulations,” Bolden says. ere are undoubtedly many more great things to come from Bolden as an empowerment coach and as the owner of a pole tness studio. Be sure to follow
M AY / J U N E 2 0 2 0 O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E
What Together, will you we win. change?
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From a very young age, Bolden’s grandmother taught her to be a leader and to always stand up for herself, and those are qualities that she took upon when opening up her studio. From Bolden’s Aunt Percy to her Aunt Jane, having strong women in her life to lean on has helped her. She o en thought of her grandmother and aunts when she had to speak in front of a room full of professionals about her new endeavor, maintaining the con dence and stability that she needed as she fought for her vision. When asked about advice for young female entrepreneurs, Bolden expressed the importance of always believing in yourself and the work that is being done for the betterment of the community. She also hopes that the next generation will always keep going- standing with their heads held high. “Reach for the stars and conquer any
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BEAUTIFUL YOU Studios, to possibly even attend one of her classes, and check out her books “No, I’m Not a Stripper: Pole Fitness & the Ladies Who Love It!” and “How to Discover Your Life’s Purpose A er 30: What the Fudge am I Here For?” on Amazon.
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