Nicole Beltran - The Independent Florida Alligator

Karis Dunnam

RACE AND EQUITY | ENTERPRISE

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

By Nicole Beltran | Apr. 15

North Central Florida’s disability resources are scattered across the region and are becoming more accessible to underserved communities through outreach and partnerships. Despite a majority of counties carrying low numbers of visually impaired children in comparison to their populations, counties like Putnam, Bradford and Levy are seeing larger numbers.

Activists in support of abortion rights pictured across from Gainesville City Hall on Saturday, April 6, 2024.

Ashley C. Hicks

METRO | POLITICS ENTERPRISE

Gainesville groups gather downtown to fight against Florida’s six-week ban

By Nicole Beltran | Apr. 7

In the midst of downtown traffic and an afternoon sun, around 50 community members gathered together in Gainesville City Hall Plaza on East University Avenue April 6 at 1:00 p.m. to protest against Florida Supreme Court’s six-week abortion ban taking effect May 1.

CLEO member Ellen Siegel stands in front of Temple Shir Shalom on Saturday, March 30, 2024.

Gabriella Aulisio

SPANISH

Comunidades religiosas de Gainesville utilizan la fe para inspirar la acción climática

By Kylie Williams and Nicole Beltran | Apr. 1

En comunidades alrededor de Gainesville, la idea de "cuidado de la creación", o la responsabilidad religiosa hacia el medio ambiente, se está volviendo cada vez más común. A medida que persiste la amenaza del cambio climático, las personas están utilizando la fe como punto de partida para la acción ambiental.

Gabriella Aulisio

ENVIRONMENT | ENTERPRISE

Gainesville religious communities use faith to inspire climate action

By Kylie Williams and Nicole Beltran | Apr. 1

In communities around Gainesville, the idea of “creation care,” or a religious responsibility to the environment, is becoming increasingly common. As the threat of climate change persists, people are using faith as a launching point for environmental action.

Karis Dunnam

RACE AND EQUITY | ENTERPRISE

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

By Nicole Beltran | Mar. 25

Beyond the resources the city offers for female wellbeing, Gainesville women like Nicole have taken an approach of their own, pushing to connect deeper within their circles and strive for individual relationships with other women rather than relying on across-the-board solutions, she said.

Aubrey Bocalan

METRO | POLITICS ENTERPRISE

Alachua County residents prepare for presidential primaries, discuss low turnout rates

By Nicole Beltran | Mar. 18

This election season reminds Alachua County residents to inform themselves about new legislation and be mindful of deadlines. Turnout for primaries tends to be lower because citizens may not participate as often as the general elections due to a lack of knowledge on the candidacy, policies and importance of their vote. The process can also be overwhelming, eliciting fear rather than advocacy.

Bella Rootz pictured at the Hector Gallery on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.

Armand Raichandani

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Gainesville art scene pushes for more outreach to underserved communities

By Nicole Beltran | Feb. 26

Arts and culture are present in Gainesville through museums, exhibits and music venues scattered around the city. Further developments like a cultural arts center in East Gainesville could continue catering to the expansion, providing people with a place to turn to for support. Community members are concerned more outreach needs to be done to fully immerse underserved communities into art outlets. There are opportunities for people to seek support through the arts, but the accessibility can vary.

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

Matthew Lewis

RACE AND EQUITY | ENTERPRISE

Revisiting Porters Quarters: The ongoing challenge with gentrification

By Nicole Beltran | Feb. 12

Porters Quarters is a historically Black neighborhood in East Gainesville founded in 1884 by Canadian physician Dr. Watson Porter, who only sold real estate to African Americans. As the neighborhood continues to battle gentrification among student housing and downtown expansions, the lack of communication between the city and the neighborhood worries residents. The most recent construction has left residents perplexed.

Students attending a STEAM Magnet Program open house event at Metcalfe Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024.

Matthew Lewis

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Gainesville community shares concerns about opportunity gaps in Alachua County schools

By Nicole Beltran | Feb. 5

Florida’s graduation rates for the 2022-2023 school year soared with a record high of 88%. Alachua County’s rates, which include both public and charter high schools, fell to 84.2%, lower than its rates the last five years. Educators, students and parents wonder what contributes to underperformance and what is being done to address it.

Melanie Pena

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.