community - The Independent Florida Alligator

Human Rights Coalition Volunteer, Beatriz, checks in Alachua county residents arriving at Westminster Presbyterian Church to receive their community IDs on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. Beatriz, voluntaria de la Coalición de Derechos Humanos, registra a los residentes del condado de Alachua que llegan a la Iglesia Presbiteriana de Westminster para recibir sus identificaciones comunitarias el miércoles, 6 de Septiembre de 2023.

El Caimán

Local non-profit program provides community IDs to Alachua residents in need

By Eluney Gonzalez | Sep. 11, 2023

A congregation filed into the Westminster Presbyterian Church not to pray, but to receive valuable identification cards. The local non-profit Human Rights Coalition of Alachua County hosts short, appointment-driven events at least once a month since it established the Community ID Program. They continue to hold these drive-bys twice a month.

El Caimán

Un programa sin fines de lucro local proporciona identificaciones comunitarias a residentes necesitados de Alachua

By Eluney Gonzalez | Sep. 11, 2023

El programa local sin fines de lucro Human Rights Coalition of Alachua County [Coalición de Derechos Humanos Del Condado de Alachua] organiza eventos breves y programados al menos una vez al mes desde que establecieron el Programa de Identificación Comunitaria. Continúa realizando estos eventos dos veces al mes.

Besides the natural springs, visitors can explore several local restaurants at High Springs' main street.

The Avenue

High Springs: A splash of small-town community charm

By Leia Ulrich | July 3, 2023

When visiting local springs, most students miss is the small town located just six miles from the nature spot: High Springs, Florida. With a population of about 6,500 people, High Springs is a small, tight-knit community. The town has a rich history and plenty of activities despite its small size.

Metro

Proposed East Gainesville cultural arts center strives to uplift community

By Amanda Friedman | June 12, 2023

City Commission plans to bring a cultural arts center to East Gainesville as an effort to support at-risk youth and Black residents. The proposed center aims to provide arts and cultural programming, workforce development, skill cultivation and after-school activities resources, according to a January 2022 General Policy Committee meeting presentation.

El Caimán

Comunidades Hispanas del Norte Central de la Florida luchan por los derechos de los migrantes

By Nicole Beltran | June 12, 2023

Ha pasado un mes desde que el gobernador Ron DeSantis firmó el proyecto de ley del Senado 1718. La ley se enfoca en la regulación de los migrantes trabajando en Florida.

Bob Belmont browses the McGuire Center’s collection of moths and butterflies. The center currently houses around 12 million specimens.

Metro

Community science welcomes amateurs with ‘open arms’

By Fernando Figueroa | Dec. 2, 2022

A growing community of retirees, bus drivers and hobbyists have casually jumped aboard the quest for scientific discovery. It doesn’t require a PhD and oftentimes no experience — only some passion and maybe a smartphone.

Kofi Horne performs with his band for Gainesville Housing Authorities Juneteenth Black Music Month mash-up event at Woodland Park Thursday, June 16, 2022.

Metro

Gainesville continues Juneteenth celebration with weekend events

By Jackson Reyes | June 17, 2022

Gainesville Housing Authority's Strive for Success program's first annual event marked the beginning of the city's second annual "Journey to Juneteenth" celebrations, which will continue this weekend.

George Foxx helps serve food for the Florida Emancipation Day celebration at the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center on Friday, May 20, 2022.

Metro

Gainesville begins "Journey to Juneteenth" by celebrating Florida's Emancipation Day

By Jackson Reyes | May 23, 2022

Gainesville held two events Friday to celebrate Florida’s Emancipation Day and the start of “Journey to Juneteenth.” The monthlong celebration began on the day slaves in Florida were notified of their freedom by Union General Edward McCook.

Rugh's summer tour kicked off with a warehouse show May 6.

The Avenue

Rugh kicks off summer tour with warehouse show

By Kristine Villarroel | May 10, 2022

Local “anxiety pop” band Rugh kicked off its summer tour Friday between lightning, rain and glitches in a Storage Zone lot.

Alex Nelson, UF freshman, lights a menorah for the sixth night of Hanukkah at the UF Hillel’s pajama-themed Shabbat dinner on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021.

Metro

Gainesville Jewish community celebrates post-quarantine Hanukkah festivities

By Omar Ateyah and Faith Buckley | Dec. 6, 2021

Although the COVID-19 pandemic upended the communal aspects of Jewish life, Gainesville’s Jewish community was still able to celebrate the Festival of Lights in each other’s company throughout the week beginning with Nov. 28.

Metro

Guaranteed income program breaks down barriers for formerly incarcerated

By Troy Myers | Nov. 22, 2021

The privately funded pilot program, designed by formerly incarcerated individuals, assists formerly incarcerated people re-enter society with a guaranteed income.

As part of their community outreach efforts, Satch² is donating pizzas to local hospitals to give back to healthcare workers.

The Avenue

Satch² donates pizzas to healthcare workers in Gainesville

By Luigi Bencosme | Sep. 21, 2021

In an effort to show their appreciation for the same community who welcomed them so graciously, Satch² has decided to give back to healthcare workers by donating pizzas to different Gainesville hospital departments.

The artwork of Avery Bender, 35, owner of Phantom Fiber Wares, hangs for sale inside Auk Market on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. Each fiber-based work takes anywhere from 15 to 60 hours to create.

The Avenue

Gainesville native brings rug making to local art scene

By Veronica Nocera | Sep. 20, 2021

After working on the crafts for close to a year, local artist Avery Bender is featuring handmade rugs at The AUK Market, a mixed-vendor marketplace located at Curia on the Drag. The exhibition opened Sept. 10 and will stay up through the beginning of October.

Curvy Confidence members at the Summer Swim Soiree on Saturday, June 12, 2021, at Mickler Landing, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Vickers | Courtesy to The Alligator)

The Avenue

Curvy Confidence meetups celebrate body positivity across Central Florida

By Brenna Sheets | July 6, 2021

Curvy Confidence is a social group that organizes dinners, pool parties and beach get-togethers to promote the acceptance of all body shapes and sizes. Currently, the group’s meetups are held in Gainesville, Jacksonville and Orlando.

UF and FSU students part of the Global Medical Brigade in Panama in 2019.

Community

UF Global Brigades chapters makes lasting impact on international communities

By Camila Pereira | June 18, 2021

As international travel came to a halt with COVID-19, the humanitarian nonprofit organization, Global Brigades created TeleBrigades to allow students to still work virtually with these communities in need through a multi-week program.

Community

Born Zillennial: UF graduate student creates a viral online community

By Kara Guillaume | Nov. 8, 2020

The online group has almost 100,000 members

Community

How the BEAT Tee tradition is continuing this Fall

By Rachel Slay | Sep. 27, 2020

The annual tradition is moving to a contactless giveaway

Opinion

Gainesville is your city and it needs your help

Sep. 11, 2020

On Aug. 26, Dr. Michael Lauzardo gave a thoughtful answer when asked if UF’s opening would cause COVID-19 to spread, and what steps the university would take to mitigate the impact. In the two weeks since, much has changed, and my worries have only grown — COVID-19 has spread rapidly within the Gator Nation including a 23.9% positive test rate at the Student Health Center. Testimonies of dead end contact tracing, students afraid of or refusing quarantining and testing, and lack of proper guidance for positive cases have raised issues that need immediate attention, not just from UF Health and administration, but from the powerful decision makers on the Board of Trustees and the Office of the Provost Joe Glover.

Protesters faced University Avenue and chanted “No justice, no peace. Defund the police.” to Gainesville’s evening traffic.

Metro

Protesters rally against increases to Gainesville Police Department’s budget

By Grethel Aguila | Sep. 3, 2020

The proposed budget plans to increase GPD’s budget by $1 million

A vigil was held on June 3 in honor of George Floyd and other lives lost from the black community. Attendees grieved before an altar made of flowers, candles and photos of victims.

Metro

Hundreds gather to mourn those lost from the black community

By Tristan Wood , Ariana Aspuru and Natalia Galicza | June 3, 2020

“Lynching doesn’t always happen with a rope,” one attendee said. “Sometimes it happens with a knee.”