A combined choir from all the churches, under the direction and leadership of Pastor Ricardo Welch (above), will cap off a fundraising campaign on June 9. Singers and worshippers will raise support for Next STEPP’s life-affirming work. ST. PETERSBURG — Next STEPP is excited to announce Sing for Life, a first-ever event that will bring God’s family together from churches throughout the St. Pete area to celebrate His gift of life in a worship gathering on Sunday, June 9, at 3 p.m. Hosted by the historic Bethel Metropolitan Baptist Church at 3455 26th Ave. S, the worship gathering will feature a ..read more

The Bible-based website JW.org is helping thousands of dedicated parents around the world get better at what they do. KISSIMMEE — Joanie Roth felt the full weight of being entrusted with the precious inheritance of her newborn son, Julian. Her thoughts raced as she contemplated all she and her husband would have to do to help their child succeed. “I wondered how we were going to help our son to reach various milestones in life and become a successful human being with solid values,” the Kissimmee resident said. “I knew we were going to need the help of a real expert.” The Roths are among the bi ..read more

Children 18 years and younger are eligible for free meals this summer from June 3 to Aug. 9 at selected city locations.  ST. PETERSBURG — While Pinellas County Schools are closed for the summer, the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department, in coordination with the department’s Healthy St. Pete Division, will partner with Summer BreakSpot for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program. The program provides free, nutritionally balanced meals to children 18 years and younger during summer break. The program runs June 3 through Aug. 9 at several locations througho ..read more

Principal Connisheia Garcia don’t play when it comes to Lakewood High School’s success! BY GOLIATH J. DAVIS, III, Ph.D. | Contributor ST. PETERSBURG — Leadership matters, and there is no substitute for effective leadership. I was invited to be a platform guest at Lakewood High School’s graduation, and there are many superlatives I can use to describe it; however, I chose to utilize the theme adopted this year by Lakewood’s scholars: “We Stand on Business.” It was explained that the theme, which was embraced by the school’s principal, administrators, and staff, means everyone at Lakewood High c ..read more

As outlined in the development terms released on April 25, the public will contribute funds in four phases for a total of $130 million by 2035 while Rays-Hines will pay a maximum of $50 million for the same period. [Rays-HInes] BY FRANK DROUZAS | Staff Writer ST. PETERSBURG — As the city takes steps to redevelop and revitalize the Gas Plant district and Tropicana Field, the project has met with some opposition. NoHomeRun.com is hosting a series of community conversations that oppose the current proposal from the Rays-Hines Development group. Karyn Mueller and Alan DeLisle held a Zoom meeting o ..read more

At the James Weldon Johnson Community Library, Lolita Brown flips to a photo of herself in the Gibbs High School’s 1966 yearbook. Gibbs was the first high school for African American students in Pinellas County and was later integrated in 1971. [Nancy Guan] BY NANCY GUAN | WUSF ST. PETERSBURG — Leafing through the yellowed pages of a 1966 yearbook, Lolita Brown recalls attending Gibbs High School, the first high school for African American students in Pinellas County. “All my family had graduated from Gibbs, and I couldn’t imagine not being there,” said Brown. Brown grew up in South St. P ..read more

Jacqueline Hubbard, right, who heads the St. Petersburg Association for the Study of African American Life and History, talks about the Supreme Court’s 1857 Dred Scott Decision. Hubbard and Sabrina McCoy, left, organizes Black history lessons for the community. Caption: Daysha Moore, a freshman at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus, attended the teach-in. Moore said she wishes she had learned more about Black history in high school. BY NANCY GUAN | WUSF ST. PETERSBURG — Daysha Moore walked into the St. Augustine Episcopal Church on Thursday night with a question in mind ..read more

The Tampa Bay Times and the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg hosted a community discussion on the history and the continuing impact of Brown v. Board of Education on April 25 at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg. Pictured above are moderator Tammy Briant Spratling, Fred Hearns, Chloe J. Coney and Dr. Raymond Arsenault. BY FRANK DROUZAS | Staff Writer ST. PETERSBURG — One of the most pivotal court cases ever decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, Brown v. Board of Education, in 1954 began the long battle toward school integration nationwide. In commemoration of its 70th annive ..read more

On April 20, the St. Petersburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority welcomed 50 new members into its esteemed sisterhood. Pictured above are Dr. Shameka Jones, Mayor Ken Welch, and Gloria Flakes. Photos courtesy of Gary Shorter. ST. PETERSBURG — The St. Petersburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. celebrated a significant milestone as it welcomed 50 new members into its esteemed sisterhood. This event marked one of the largest new initiate lines of a D-9 Greek organization in the St. Pete area and highlighted the chapter’s commitment to mentoring and empowering new ..read more

The Gathering of Women, Inc. held the 2024 Men and Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony on Sunday, April 21, at the St. Petersburg Country Club. BY RAVEN JOY SHONEL | Staff Writer ST. PETERSBURG — The Gathering of Women, Inc. 2024 Men and Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony kicked off a fantastic afternoon on Sunday, April 21. The St. Petersburg Country Club, located at 2000 Country Club Way S, was filled with family and friends who came out to support the achievements of this year’s honorees. The Gathering of Women, under the leadership of President Samantha Richardson, is a beacon of commun ..read more