As we approach the end of 2020, Lancaster County is in the midst of three crises: a pandemic, employment disruption and a renewed demand for racial justice. As a county, we are dependent on scientists, public health employees and elected officials to address the pandemic, and it seems likely that once the pandemic is under … More Thaddeus Stevens and Black Lives Matter
3 years ago we travelled to Charlottesville, VA to protest Unite the Right. The struggle against white supremacy has been hard fought but still continues. There have been many changes and more people than ever understand what is needed to overcome racial inequality and why Black Lives Matter. At Blake Collins Group we remain committed. … More Why We Stand Up For Racial Equity
Truthshine is committed to dismantling white supremacy by challenging racist histories and the policies they sustain. We seek to highlight the truth about the black stories of our communities, and create a reckoning with persistent inequalities in education, healthcare, justice, employment and opportunities of every kind. Watch our launch video and learn more here.
A friend sat me down this week for an interview about my experience being Black in America and what I thought about the current movement for racial equity. Here are some excerpts: Q. What do you think has to happen for that new world to become reality? A. In America the predominant value has to … More Why I Feel Some Hope This Juneteenth
How communities work- Communities, large and small in America, are governed by the natural tendency toward disorganization. It is governmental structures, administrative processes and social/cultural norms that are the bonds that tie civilization together. Therefore society, systems and organizations require equilibrium to survive. Equilibrium should not be confused with equality. It is about balance within … More A New Equilibrium
Why Tampa Bay is not on the Amazon HQ2 shortlist None of the Tampa Bay executives I interviewed last year thought Tampa Bay would make it into the Amazon main event and most of them thought the entire state of Florida was a long shot. What was certain to follow the HQ2 announcement was a … More Be Humble
Obituary from the Tampa Bay Times. January 9, 2018 The man they called the ninth council member around St. Petersburg City Hall leaves colorful memories unlikely to face term limits. Gene Smith, 68, was found dead in his apartment at 430 5th St Monday morning, according to police. The death is still officially under investigation, … More In Memoriam-Gene Smith
After some of the usual Tallahassee two-step, the Legislature passed the Tampa Bay Transit Authority bill and last week the Governor signed it. The inspiration for the Transit Authority bill was the proposal spearheaded last year by Pinellas County Commission Chair, Janet Long. We have all watched the region struggle to address the transportation gridlock … More A New Narrative for TBARTA
Creating the Success Agenda Jim Ley, February 2016 Thirty five years in local government service taught me one thing – the status quo is in charge. To make progress, there must be leaders who are willing to challenge the status quo, propose a new agenda and be politically nimble enough to adapt to input from … More Transportation in the Tampa Bay Region
Tony Collins-2016 All stories have a narrative. It is how we transmit values, enrich the story-telling and identify who to jeer and who to cheer. In its simplest form every story has a hero, a villain and a foreseeable outcome which we call the narrative. Our traditional narrative lets us know that despite Luke Skywalker … More The Law Enforcement Narrative is Changing
Blake Collins Group 