Kamilah Perry, 9th Judicial Circuit Judge Kamilah Perry, a Stetson University College of Law alumna, has been elected a circuit judge in Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit. Perry defeated Steve Kerestes. Her endorsements included Sen. LaVon Bracey Davis and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Ballotpedia reports. “From the very bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who supported, encouraged, prayed for, and stood with me throughout this campaign. I am truly humbled and deeply grateful for every...

Baby girl playing in her playroom (Stock) Expecting parents and families with young children will have a chance to explore healthcare, childcare and other parenting resources at the Family Vibes Baby Expo from Sept. 19–20 at the Tampa Convention Center. Organizers expect 4,000 to 5,000 attendees over the two days and nearly 50 local businesses will be participating, including Power Broker’s news correspondent, Alexia McKay, who will be debuting her The Crowned Assignment brand. This is a...

TEDx Speaker Michelle Gines Florida speaker, publishing consultant and authority strategist Michelle "MG" Gines recently took to the TEDx stage with a message that challenges one of leadership's most accepted assumptions – that the most effective leaders are always the loudest voices in the room. During her TEDxThirdWard presentation, “The Quiet Extrovert Advantage: Say Less, Become M.O.R.E.,’’ Gines explored the hidden pressure many extroverts experience to constantly contribute, energize...

The historic Jackson House on E. Zack Street in Tampa. Leaders working to preserve Tampa’s historic Jackson House say the landmark’s recent partial collapse does not mark the end of the building or its story. A section of the deteriorating structure on East Zack Street collapsed over Labor Day weekend, renewing concerns about the future of one of Tampa’s last surviving landmarks tied to the city’s once-thriving Black business district. Jackson House Foundation leaders said the organization...

Funding will help bring a new destination for Black history, arts and cultural programming to historic West Tampa

Local leaders amplify why Americans cannot afford to stay home on Election Day 2026

Left to right: Sen. LaVon Bracy Davis, Byron Donalds, City Commissioner Cynthia Moore Chestnut Sen. LaVon Bracy Davis recently said she is "deeply disappointed" about the decision Cynthia Moore Chestnut, Gainesville city commissioner at-large, made to endorse gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds. On Sept. 3, Chestnut announced her support of Donalds, who is a Republican. She wrote in a Facebook post that she is a “ Black Democrat” and is not confused about who she was or what she believed. ...

The 10th XCEL Summit takes place in Orlando from Oct. 21-23. Some of the nation’s most influential Black men in the fields of business, entertainment, sports and public service will head to Florida this fall as BLACK ENTERPRISE brings its XCEL Summit for Men to Orlando. The three-day summit, set for Oct. 21–23 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort, is built to support men at every stage of their careers, from entry-level to C-suite, while celebrating leaders shaping industries and...

The UN General Assembly has backed an African-led call for governments, schools and tech companies to move away from maps that make Africa appear far smaller than it is. The resolution urges wider use of equal-area projections, arguing that map design shapes how the world understands geography, power and history.

SPC president Dr. Tonjua Williams with Board of Trustee, Jason Butts St. Petersburg College is commemorating its 99th year, celebrating community and heritage with a community-focused block party. On Saturday, Sept. 12, SPC will host its annual SPC Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its Midtown Center in South St. Petersburg's historic Deuces Corridor. The free block party will commemorate the 99th anniversary of the college. Presented by Suncoast Credit Union, the celebration will bring together...

Caption: Tahisia Scantling, MSA, Broker, SFR & Instructor, Managing Broker of Right Turn Realty, LLC When Tahisia Scantling left her six-figure corporate career to become an entrepreneur, she had experience and a vision. What she did not have was a plan for making it happen. “When I left corporate America, I knew what I was going to be doing, but I just didn’t have a clear direction or purpose,” Scantling said. Early hard lessons During her first year in business, Scantling earned a profit...

Kymbriell Finch, founder and creative director of Courageous Leap Inc. helps one of her students float in the pool. ( Photo courtesy of Kymbriell Finch) A recent study shows that drowning deaths among Black children in Florida were among the highest in the nation. According to a new 50-state analysis by Schiller Kessler Group, Florida recorded 105 drowning deaths, the highest number of any state. The report found that across all ages, Black Americans drowned at 1.5 times the rate of white...

Trailblazers of the 21st Century and their economic & cultural imprint

Lakendria Robinson, founder of Orenda Collective LaKendria Robinson shares with Power Broker News that the political landscape regarding DEI in Florida has made it more challenging to navigate as a business owner whose company thrives on diversity. Robinson is the founder of The Orenda Collective, a Black-owned project and management consulting firm based in Tampa, focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), supplier diversity and community investment. The core of her business has...

Target’s latest controversy is raising a larger question beyond how an offensive children’s costume reached its website: What happens when companies remove diverse voices from the rooms where critical decisions are made? The retailer is facing backlash after a children’s Halloween costume sold on its website drew comparisons to racist blackface and minstrel imagery. Target listed the $25 costume as the “Kids’ Glows under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume Bodysuit” from its Hyde and...

Camille Adrienne-Washington is founder of Camille-Adrienne Foundation, founder and CEO of the Indie Noir Market Experience and organizer of BIGFest. The free festival will spotlight over 150 Black-owned businesses in Tampa Black Tampa Bay entrepreneurs, artists, and community organizations will take center stage on Aug. 29-30 during B.I.G. Fest, a free celebration designed to promote Black-owned businesses and strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial community. Hosted by entrepreneur Camille...

Moms for Liberty leadership presented Gov. Ron DeSantis (second from left), a staunch supporter, with “The Liberty Sword” in July 2022 at their inaugural national summit in Tampa. The organization is now struggling to maintain its short-lived power. (Photo courtesy of Moms for Liberty, Facebook) Sarasota County voters have reversed the conservative stranglehold on their school board by formally rejecting a coalition established by Gov. Ron DeSantis and activist group Moms for Liberty....

Emely Thompson, founder of Emely Rachael Consulting, recently brought her AI governance and personal development expertise to Tampa Bay. (Photo submitted by Emely Thompson) Most attorneys follow a straight line toward partnership. Emely Thompson took the scenic route - one that led her from the trenches of social justice to the complex frontier of AI governance. ​ Thompson, founder of Emely Rachael Consulting, recently brought her hard-earned perspective to Tampa. She is also proving the best...

Former Congressman Charlie Crist (left), who said he was surprised and humbled by his15-point margin of victory, held his watch party at Cassis restaurant on Tuesday night. (Photo courtesy of Charlie Crist’s campaign, Facebook). Mayor Ken Welch (right) greets joyous supporters on Tuesday night at his campaign’s watch party, held at the St. Petersburg Fire Fighters Association headquarters. (Photo by Mark Parker) St. Petersburg voters have narrowed the mayor’s race to a two-candidate...

St. Petersburg mayoral candidates, from left: Kevin Batdorf, Jim Large, Maria Scruggs, Charlie Crist, City Councilmember Brandi Gabbard, and Mayor Ken Welch participate in a forum in June. (Photo by Mark Parker / Power Broker Magazine) For many voters, St. Petersburg’s hotly contested mayoral race is a referendum on the city’s direction. Today, that debate moves away from the stage and social media to the ballot box. ​ Residents, regardless of registered party, have until 7 p.m. to make...