Some St. Johns County Public Schools teachers say they’re alarmed about a recent policy change requiring guardians to be notified if their child requests to use a different pronoun or name to conform to their gender identity. The district says they changed to comply with the new Parent’s Bill of Rights.
Guests:
- Dan Merkan, director of policy, JASMYN.
- Jimmy Midyette, attorney and North Florida developmental director for Equality Florida.
Trauma-informed leadership
Before the pandemic, just under 70% of adults in the U.S. reported experiencing some form of a traumatic event in their lifetime. Today, the number is even higher given the uncertainty of the pandemic, mass shootings, natural disasters, race and social justice, and political divisiveness. So today’s workforce, and the workforce of tomorrow, kids and teens, are coming into their offices, carrying trauma. In response, a new field is responding called trauma-informed leadership.
Guest: Dawn Emerick, health care consulate and trauma response consultant.
Ranked-choice voting
Election reform advocates across the country say ranked-choice voting is an easy way to reduce political polarization and get more people involved in civic life; however, a new bill in Tallahassee would ban any Florida city or county from using ranked-choice voting in elections.
Guest: David Angel, general counsel, Rank My Vote Florida.
What’s Good Wednesday
- Next week, Generation WOW comes to the University of North Florida campus to bring girls across the city together to build female leaders of tomorrow.
- The First Coast Tiger Bay Club is proud to host the two candidates for the at-Large District 3 City Council seat: Nick Howland & Tracye A. Polson at the River Club. This is a citywide race, and all eligible Jacksonville voters can participate. Register at their website for the First Coast Tiger Bay luncheon event, set for Friday, Feb. 18, at the downtown River Club.
- Registration is now open for Florida’s free Voluntary Prekindergarten Program for 4-year-olds. The Early Learning Coalition of Duval is Jacksonville’s first stop for early learning. They ensure all children receive high-quality care and education, providing financial assistance to eligible families so they can work or attend school and their children are ready for academic success.
- The Kids Hope Alliance and the city of Jacksonville were awarded $1 million by the Florida Department of Education to support local teens to increase Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics skills in the Northwest community Moncrief Road. In addition, software and workforce development training will be implemented by three local nonprofits partners: 100 Black Men of Jacksonville Inc., I am a STAR Foundation Inc., and Goodwill Industries of North Florida Inc.
- February is American Heart Month, and with heart disease still being the leading cause of death in our country, it’s essential for our community to be reminded and encourage steps to prevent this common disease.
- If you haven’t subscribed already, check out WJCT’s new daily newsletter Jacksonville Today. Jacksonville is a different place than it was yesterday, and the decisions we make as a community now will shape the Jacksonville of tomorrow. Our goal is to help our readers feel more connected to where they live and to each other, so they can make those decisions in a more informed way. Jacksonville Today is independent and locally owned and operated by WJCT Public Media.
