Sign at the entrance of United Way of North Central Florida displayed on Sunday, April 7, 2024.

North Central Florida Continuum of Care finds leadership after extended search

By Diego Perdomo | Apr. 17

In a unanimous decision from Continuum of Care members April 15, Taskforce Fore Ending Homelessness was named as the new lead agency for Keys to Home. Based in Fort Lauderdale, the nonprofit is responsible for working with other CoC service providers and strategizing to prevent and end homelessness. As a lead agency, it will also assume responsibilities to secure Housing and Urban Development and Florida Department of Children of Families funding.

Alachua County’s vision impairment resources expand into North Central Florida regions

By Nicole Beltran | Apr. 15

Inconclusive search for Continuum of Care leadership threatens Florida homeless service funding

By Diego Perdomo | Apr. 8

Uplifting womanhood: What Gainesville women are doing to create meaningful connections

By Nicole Beltran | Mar. 25

A man walks through the homeless encampment Southeast Fourth Place on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024.

Gainesville homeless population struggles with encampment sweeps, lack of options

By Diego Perdomo | Feb. 26

Faye Williams at Porters Quarters Community Farm on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024.

Revisiting Porters Quarters: The ongoing challenge with gentrification

By Nicole Beltran | Feb. 12

More Race And Equity | Enterprise

RACE AND EQUITY | ENTERPRISE

‘What happens in the homeland hurts you deeply’: Gainesville’s Ecuadorian community weighs in on the nation’s crisis

By Nicole Beltran | Jan. 29

The country’s outbreak of gang violence has escalated since an attack at a television network in Guayaquil Jan. 9 spiraled the nation into fear. After the country’s powerful drug lord, José Adolfo Macías Villamar, known as “Fito,” escaped prison Jan. 8, Ecuador’s president, Daniel Noboa, declared a 60-day state of emergency for what he’s coined an “internal armed conflict.” For Gainesville’s Ecuadorian community, the violence back home has left a lingering pain.

RACE AND EQUITY | ENTERPRISE

Gainesville community members develop initiatives in wake of gun violence legislation

By Nicole Beltran | Jan. 22

From July 1 to Dec. 31, 2023, there were 83 incidents where shots were fired, killing a total sum of seven people. From Jan. 1 the start of 2024 to Jan. 15, there have been 13 incidents where shots were fired, resulting in the deaths of two people, according to a data report shared by Alachua County’s Criminal Investigation Division. The city implemented efforts to combat firearm misuse during 2023, yet attempts have continuously clashed with state law.

RACE AND EQUITY | ENTERPRISE

Gainesville organization visits ICE detention center in Macclenny

By Laura Quintana | Jan. 8

Just over an hour’s drive north of Gainesville in rural Baker County lies one of Florida’s five ICE detention centers.

RACE AND EQUITY | ENTERPRISE

Organizacion de Gainesville visita un centro de detencion de ICE en Macclenny

By Eluney Gonzalez and Laura Quintana | Jan. 8

A poco más que una hour de manejo al norte de Gainesville, en el condado rural de Baker, se encuentra uno de los cinco centros de detención de ICE en Florida.

Porter’s Quarters Community Farm’s head farmer Otis Garrison is photographed at the farm on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023.

RACE AND EQUITY | ENTERPRISE

Porter’s Quarters community farm combats food insecurity, empowers neighborhood

By Valentina Sandoval | Dec. 4

The community farm, which has been in the works since 2012, serves as an effort to combat food insecurity and generate an income for Porters.