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Woodson African American Museum of Florida’s Free Museum Day: a powerful celebration of Black History
St. Petersburg, FL — The Woodson African American Museum of Florida, in partnership with the St. Pete Arts Alliance, joined museums across the nation in celebrating Free Museum Day, welcoming hundreds of visitors from across the Bay Area. This year’s gathering carried special…

“We Run These Streets” 5K initiative aims to get community moving towards health
BY DR. KANIKA TOMALIN | President & CEO, Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg ST. PETERSBURG — When we think about our health and all the factors that shape it, access for emergencies and preventative care quickly comes to mind. Our health, however, begins much closer to home…

To those who really care about our youth (OPINION)
At the beginning of this summer 2025, STORY 727 became aware of an alarming situation at our local library involving an excessive number of unsupervised children. We witnessed library staff members approach city council with serious concerns about safety, requesting additional…

Purses for Purpose, fundraiser for A Mother’s Arms, Inc, Sat. July 26
By J.A. Jones | Contributor Chantala Davis founded the nonprofit A Mother’s Arms (AMA) in response to the incidents leading up to the 2018 death of two-year-old Jordan Belliveau at the hands of his 21-year-old mother, Charisse Stinson. A Clearwater native who was once a teenaged…

Wanted and needed: Caring grandparents
Foster Grandparent volunteers are role models and friends to children with exceptional needs. For children who are struggling in school, at-risk, neglected, or abused, the support of a foster grandparent can help build confidence and stability. | FHSP GOLIATH J. DAVIS, III, Ph.D.…

Packs of Love Foundation shines a light on youth transitioning out of foster care
By J.A. Jones, Staff Writer ST. PETERSBURG and TAMPA BAY – St. Petersburg native Sapheria Emani Samuels is the force behind Packs of Love Foundation, Inc. (POL), a nonprofit she founded in 2022. She formed the nonprofit in response to witnessing the struggles faced by displaced…

IBD advocate Stephanie A. Wynn leads education efforts on digestive disease
IBD advocate Stephanie A. Wynn leads education efforts during Digestive Disease Awareness Month Tampa Bay, FL – Following the successful release of her book Navigating Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Six-Week Blueprint for Better Gut Health, Stephanie A. Wynn continues her mission…

Partnership and Progress
DR. KANIKA TOMALIN | President and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg Spring is often a time of rebirth and new opportunities. At the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, last month was no exception to that rule. We started April, which is National Minority…

S.T.O.R.Y. 727’s vision for changing St. Pete’s trajectory
By J.A. Jones, Staff Writer ST. PETERSBURG – Gary Gaines, Erinn Green, Eric Jackson, and Stevmoney Medaries founded S.T.O.R.Y. 727 in 2021. The acronym stands for Stringing Together Obviously Remarkable Youth; and for four years the organization has focused on healing St. Pete…

Kymbriell Finch brings water safety and swimming skills to local families
By J.A. Jones, Staff Writer ST. PETE and TAMPA BAY – While lifeguard instructor and water safety advocate Kymbriell Finch was born in Decatur, GA, “South St. Petersburg is my home,” she states unequivocally. Finch travels throughout the Greater Tampa Bay Area as Swim with Kym,…

S.T.O.R.Y. 727 continues positive impact on St. Pete youth and community
By J.A. Jones, Staff Writer ST. PETERSBURG – S.T.O.R.Y. (Stringing Together Obviously Remarkable Youth) 727’s impact is growing throughout St. Pete and Pinellas County. Founded in 2021, the founders — Gary Gaines, Erinn Green, Eric Jackson, and Stevmoney Medaries – have developed…

Changing Systems, Changing Lives
A new grant will support multi-sector collaborations that advance systemic changes in the factors that shape our community’s health DR. KANIKA TOMALIN | President and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg At the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, we often call…