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
Are you the type of leader who builds lasting relationships with your colleagues? I had the pleasure of an ‘out of the blue’ email from a former employee at a job over ten years ago. It was a delightful note, reminding me of our shared history and updating me on her career and family. She … More Valuing Workplace Relationships
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
The mission of Jameis Winston’s Dream Forever Foundation is to impact the lives of financially disadvantaged children and youth through encouragement, opportunities and resources to develop and achieve their dreams. Winston and his Buccaneers teammates will step off the field for one evening only to mix and mingle raising funds to launch the Foundation. Funds … More Blake Collins Group sponsors Jameis Winston’s: A Night to Achieve Dreams
April 10, 2017 By Tony Chapelle, Agenda Week Governance observers disagree about designating board members to serve as risk experts. Fewer than 20% of Fortune 500 directors serve on a board that has designated any member as a risk expert. That’s an “astonishingly low number,” according to an investigation that reviewed the biographies of more … More Risk Experts on Boards Still Not a Given
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
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