Felicia Watts shares personal stories of facing discrimination during a conversation on structural racism and implicit bias on Saturday at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers. The event was presented by the FutureMakers Coalition and explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
Led by Tessa LeSage and Dr. Nicole King-Smith of the FutureMakers Coalition, the group explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
The structural racism and implicit bias conversations were launched by FutureMakers in September 2019, and the first day-long event was held in February. The racial tension expressed in the wake of the killing of George Floyd informed Saturday's conversation. Photos and captions by Kinfay Moroti.
The next conversation is July 17, 2020. Click HERE to register.
Note: The Collaboratory followed CDC guidelines in hosting the event.
Kinfay Moroti/Hopeful Images
Tessa LeSage, director of the FutureMakers Coalition, comforts Karen Putman-Watson, during a conversation on structural racism and implicit bias on Saturday at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers. Watson's story of enduring and overcoming years of racism moved many at the event, which was presented by the FutureMakers Coalition and explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner. Watson is the executive director at Our Mother's Home of Southwest Florida.
Kinfay Moroti / Hopeful Images
Tessa LeSage, director of the FutureMakers Coalition, leads a moment of silence before a conversation on structural racism and implicit bias on Saturday at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers. The event was presented by the FutureMakers Coalition and explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
Kinfay Moroti / Hopeful Images
Christine Kobie shares her experiences teaching in public schools during a conversation on structural racism and implicit bias on Saturday at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers. The event was presented by the FutureMakers Coalition and explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
Kinfay Moroti / Hopeful Images
Michele Hylton-Terry, executive director of the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency, offers her insight on race relations during a conversation on structural racism and implicit bias on Saturday at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers. The event was presented by the FutureMakers Coalition and explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
Kinfay Moroti / Hopeful Images
Amy Guzman, of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, takes part in a conversation on structural racism and implicit bias on Saturday at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers. The event was presented by the FutureMakers Coalition and explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
Kinfay Moroti / Hopeful Images
Nick Montoya, owner of Shiva Yoga Shala, participates in a conversation on structural racism and implicit bias on Saturday at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers. The event was presented by the FutureMakers Coalition and explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
Kinfay Moroti / Hopeful Images
Dr. Nicole King-Smith, of NK Enterprise Consulting, LLC, guides a conversation on structural racism and implicit bias on Saturday at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers. The event was presented by the FutureMakers Coalition and explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
Kinfay Moroti / Hopeful Images
Melody Bales participates in a conversation on structural racism and implicit bias on Saturday at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers. The event was presented by the FutureMakers Coalition and explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
Kinfay Moroti / Hopeful Images
Andre Jackson shares the challenges of unlearning negative stereotypes during a conversation on structural racism and implicit bias on Saturday at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers. The event was presented by the FutureMakers Coalition and explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
Kinfay Moroti / Hopeful Images
Pat Dobbins emphasizes the need for tolerance during a conversation on structural racism and implicit bias on Saturday at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers. The event was presented by the FutureMakers Coalition and explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
Kinfay Moroti / Hopeful Images
Tessa LeSage, director of the FutureMakers Coalition, guides a conversation on structural racism and implicit bias on Saturday at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers. The event was presented by the FutureMakers Coalition and explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
Kinfay Moroti / Hopeful Images
Colleen DePasquale, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, takes part in a conversation on structural racism and implicit bias on Saturday at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers. The event was presented by the FutureMakers Coalition and explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
Kinfay Moroti / Hopeful Images
Felicia Watts shares personal stories of facing discrimination during a conversation on structural racism and implicit bias on Saturday at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers. The event was presented by the FutureMakers Coalition and explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
Kinfay Moroti / Hopeful Images
Tessa LeSage, director of the FutureMakers Coalition, guides a conversation on structural racism and implicit bias on Saturday at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers. The event was presented by the FutureMakers Coalition and explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
Kinfay Moroti / Hopeful Images
Nick Montoya, owner of Shiva Yoga Shala, listens intently to a story of privilege during a conversation on structural racism and implicit bias on Saturday at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers. The event was presented by the FutureMakers Coalition and explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
Kinfay Moroti / Hopeful Images
Karen Putman-Watson, executive director at Our Mother's Home of Southwest Florida, shares accounts of enduring and overcoming years of racism during a conversation on structural racism and implicit bias on Saturday at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers. Watson's story moved many at the event, which was presented by the FutureMakers Coalition and explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
Kinfay Moroti / Hopeful Images
Deborah Hopkins takes part in a conversation on structural racism and implicit bias on Saturday at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers. The event was presented by the FutureMakers Coalition and explored attitudes and stereotypes that shape our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
The Hendry County School District has generated thousands of dollars from fines collected from motorists speeding through school zones.But it’s money the district would rather not see.
“A Paddlers Guide to Everglades National Park” is the third talk in a series of free Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail-related programs. The talk will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, at the Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center, 16760 Bass Road, in Fort Myers.
Nearly 49,000 people took to the streets Tuesday afternoon to take part in more than 1,200 events across the U.S. Locally, the Free America Walkout, orchestrated by WomensMarch.com, brought nearly 40 people, waving signs, flags, and banners, to the I-75 Estero Overpass Bridge. Countless drivers in a variety of vehicles passed under on I-75, many honking horns as the demonstrators protested the Trump Administration's immigration policies, the conduct of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, and what the organizer contended is a slippery slope toward fascism.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo obtained by The Associated Press reveals that the agency allows immigration officers to forcibly enter homes to make arrests without a judicial warrant. This change reverses previous guidance and raises concerns about constitutional protections against illegal searches. The memo, signed by ICE's acting director, states that administrative warrants are sufficient for forced entry if there's a final order of removal. This policy could face legal challenges and criticism from advocacy groups. Whistleblower Aid, representing two government officials, describes the directive as seemingly unconstitutional and a significant shift in arrest powers. The Associated Press obtained the memo and whistleblower complaint from an official in Congress.
