Florida
NFL Teams Amplify DEI In Florida’s Marginalized Communities Amid Corporate Rollbacks
Sarasota Herald-Tribune News in 60 seconds, Jan. 30
Here are the top three stories in Sarasota-Manatee., Jan. 24-30.
As major corporations across the country scale back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, the NFL is doubling down on its commitment to social justice and economic empowerment in Black communities. Through its Inspire Change initiative, the league is directing millions toward education, criminal justice reform and economic advancement — efforts that are particularly resonant in cities like Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville and New Orleans, where Black communities have long fought for equitable opportunities.
With Super Bowl 59 on the horizon, the question remains: Can the NFL’s sustained push for social equity help offset the retreat and dismantling of corporate DEI programs?
The Big Picture: How the NFL Sustains DEI Efforts While Large Corporations Dismantle
Corporate DEI initiatives are waning across the country, but the NFL’s Inspire Change program remains a cornerstone of its social justice efforts, focusing on education, economic advancement, police-community relations, and criminal justice reform.
Since the league’s rebranding in 2017, the NFL has amplified its support for racial equality and social justice, a shift sparked by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s 2016 protest against police brutality during the national anthem. Today, the NFL has the highest number of Black employees among the four major professional sports leagues, with Black players and staff making up 53.5% of its workforce in 2023.
The league’s commitment to equity is reinforced by Inspire Change, which has invested more than $375 million in social justice causes to date. The program supports more than 650 local nonprofits, 1,950 player and Legend grants, and 50+ national grant partners working to dismantle systemic barriers in underserved communities.
Anna Isaacson, the NFL’s senior vice president of social responsibility, underscored the league’s long-term commitment ahead of Super Bowl 59.
“The NFL is proud of the positive impact we’ve made through the Inspire Change initiative. Over the years, we’ve provided critical support to communities through meaningful partnerships, investing over $375 million from the NFL family to create lasting change,” Isaacson said via email.
“Our commitment to social justice continues to drive us as we work alongside players, teams and organizations to address systemic challenges. This is not just about making a difference; it’s about creating an enduring legacy of opportunity, community and empowerment for all.”
One of the program’s key efforts, the Inspire Change Changemaker Award, is now in its third season. Each NFL team selects a local Changemaker, awarding them a $10,000 grant to further their work in social justice. As the league expands its partnerships and grant programs, its sustained efforts stand in stark contrast to the widespread rollback of corporate DEI initiatives.
Empowerment in Motion: A Play-by-Play of Florida NFL Teams’ DEI Efforts
As corporate DEI programs shrink, the Jacksonville Jaguars are expanding their commitment to economic empowerment and social justice through targeted initiatives in the OutEast community there.
During Super Bowl 59 week, Jaguars Vice President of Social Responsibility T-Neisha Tate will join a Players Coalition panel on Building Black Wealth, discussing heirs’ property legislation, a critical issue for Black families fighting to retain generational land.
Locally, the Jaguars have been instrumental in revitalizing the historical community known there as OutEast. Their investments include funding a computer lab at The Corner at Debs Store, a once-shuttered grocery store in a food insecure region that now provides fresh food, career services, and financial education to residents. The team has also contributed $50,000 toward the reconstruction of Fort Mose, the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in the country.
Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead, the team’s 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, has expanded his Armstead Academic Project to Jacksonville, focusing on literacy and financial education for underserved youth. His Sound Mind workshop series introduces students to STEAM education and social-emotional learning, reinforcing the Jaguars’ mission of fostering long-term economic impact in Black communities.
Buccaneers Address Affordable Housing Barriers in Tampa Bay
In Tampa, the Buccaneers have strengthened their Inspire Change efforts by partnering with grassroots organizations tackling systemic inequalities.
This year, the Bucs recognized LaKendria Robinson, founder and CEO of The Orenda Collective, as their Inspire Change Changemaker. Her work focuses on helping businesses implement impactful DEI strategies and connecting minority, women, veteran and LGBTQ-owned businesses with vital resources.
Kourtney Sanchez, the Buccaneers’ chief impact officer, emphasized the team’s commitment to lasting community change.
“Our Social Justice Initiative is designed to create real, lasting change in the Tampa Bay community. From providing food security through our D-Line Mobile Food Pantry to addressing housing disparities with Habitat for Humanity, our programs are built to directly support individuals and families who need it most.”
Among the team’s key initiatives:
- The D-Line Mobile Food Pantry operates twice a month, providing two weeks of food for more than 250 families at each event.
- The Buccaneers’ Social Justice Fund, launched with a $1 million commitment from the Glazer family, supports local nonprofit initiatives.
- The team has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to fund new home construction and revitalize homes damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Dolphins Drive Social Justice in Miami-Dade
The Miami Dolphins continue to champion social justice through the Inspire Change initiative. This season, the team honored Jowharah Sanders, founder of National Voices for Equality, Education, and Enlightenment (NVEEE), as their 2024 Inspire Change Changemaker for her work in bullying prevention and youth mentorship.
Recognized during the Dolphins’ Inspire Change game on December 22, Sanders received a $10,000 NFL Foundation grant to further her nonprofit’s impact in Miami-Dade County.
Dolphins Vice President of Community Affairs Kim Miller praised Sanders’ contributions:
“We are proud to recognize Jowharah Sanders as our 2024 Inspire Change Changemaker award recipient. Her work has directly influenced the lives of local youth and their families, and we are grateful for her dedication to advocacy and equity.”
Beyond organizational commitments, Dolphins players have a history of activism.
- Kenny Stills, Jelani Jenkins, Arian Foster, and Michael Thomas were among the first NFL players to protest racial injustice by kneeling during the anthem in 2016.
As Super Bowl 59 approaches, the Dolphins’ long-standing advocacy aligns with the league’s broader Inspire Change efforts, reinforcing the role of athletes as catalysts for social progress.
Looking Ahead to Super Bowl 59 and Beyond
As New Orleans prepares to host Super Bowl 59, the New Orleans Saints are reinforcing their economic empowerment efforts through the Impact 59 Powered by Entergy program. The initiative, launched in December 2024, has already awarded $3.5 million in grants to 65 nonprofit organizations focused on workforce training, education, and economic development.
“Super Bowl 59 is about more than just a game,” said Gayle Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints at the Impact 59 kickoff in December.
“It’s about showing up for our city, supporting our neighbors, and ensuring that we leave a positive, lasting legacy in the community.”
Samantha Gholar is the social justice reporter for USA Today Network-Florida. Connect with her through email at sgholar@gannett.com
Charmaine Hickey, of Lang Realty in Port St. Lucie, was named in KNOW Women’s “100 Women to KNOW in America” list.
A Treasure Coast woman was named in a “100 Women to know in America” list for 2026.
KNOW Women is a global media company dedicated to giving women leaders connections and visibility. The company released a list of “100 Women to know in America” for 2026 to highlight the most influential women in business and leadership.
Charmaine Hickey, who works for Lang Realty in Port St. Lucie, was on the list.
“Charmaine’s recognition on a national stage like this comes as no surprise,” said Scott Agran, president of Lang Realty in a news release. “Her leadership, integrity, and commitment to both her profession and her community exemplify what this award stands for. She represents the very best of our industry.”
Hickey holds many industry designations and is known for her expertise in complex real estate transactions, as well as her client-first approach defined by honesty, patience and attention to detail, according to the news release.
Her community involvement includes serving on nonprofit boards, mentoring emerging leaders and supporting initiatives focused on education, women, families and youth.
“I am truly honored to be recognized among such an inspiring group of women,” said Hickey in the news release. “This award reflects not just individual achievement, but the power of community, mentorship, and lifting others as we grow. I’m grateful to be part of a network of women who are building meaningful impact every day.”
To see the full list go to theknowwomen.com.
Olivia Franklin is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com, 317-627-8048 or follow her on X @Livvvvv_5.
A Florida surgeon who is facing criminal charges after allegedly removing a patient’s liver instead of his spleen has said he is “forever traumatized” by that person’s death.
In a deposition from November that was recently obtained by NBC, 44-year-old Thomas Shaknovsky described the death of 70-year-old William Bryan as an “incredibly unfortunate event that I regret deeply”.
Bryan died after the botched surgery; and in April, a grand jury in Tallahassee indicted Shaknovsky on a charge of manslaughter.
“I’m forever traumatized by it and hurt by it,” Shaknovsky added, also saying that wrong-site surgeries can happen “during difficult circumstances”.
The deposition provided Shaknovksy’s first detailed account of the operation that killed Bryan and eventually garnered national news headlines.
According to Shaknovksy’s deposition, after removing Bryan’s liver, the surgeon instructed a nurse to label the organ as a “spleen” – and he also identified it as a spleen in Bryan’s postoperative notes. Shaknovsky later said he had been “mentally compromised” at the time of Bryan’s death, explaining that he was “devastated, demoralized, crying over his passing, felt that I failed him”.
A lawsuit filed by Bryan’s widow, Beverly Bryan, accuses Shaknovsky of medical malpractice. The suit alleges that he “wrongfully omitted any reference to Mr Bryan’s liver being removed in order to ‘cover up’ his gross negligence/recklessness and to hopefully avoid the embarrassment due to such derelict care”, as NBC reported.
In April, the Walton county sheriff’s office said in a statement that Shaknovsky’s actions inflicted on Bryan “catastrophic blood loss and the patient’s death on the operating table”.
Shaknovsky’s deposition testimony described the chaos in the operating room after Bryan began bleeding extensively, causing his heart to stop. Medical staff performed chest compressions, and Shaknovsky attempted to find where the bleeding was coming from.
“I couldn’t tell the difference because I was so upset,” he said, referring to the organ he mistakenly identified.
“It was like a overflown sink that’s clogged up, and I am looking for a fork at the bottom, trying to feel and find the bleed, and I was not able to do so,” Shaknovsky said. He added: “After 20 minutes of struggling – desperately trying – to save his life, that’s when the wrong-site event took place.
“It’s a devastating thing, which I will have to live with the rest of my life,” Shaknovsky said in the eight-hour deposition reviewed by NBC. “I think about it every single day.”
After the medical team was unable to resuscitate Bryan, Shaknovsky said he went to the hospital’s medical library. “I went there to cry because I was devastated,” he said. “I didn’t want the staff to see me like that.”
Despite a spleen typically being significantly smaller than a liver, Shaknovsky said he believed Bryan’s spleen was “double the size of what is normal” because of a mass on it. Beverly Bryan’s lawsuit, however, states that a medical examiner told her that her husband’s spleen was anatomically “nearly normal”, according to NBC.
Shaknovsky would face up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if eventually convicted as charged.
Omelet, taco and chicken salad joints are in, while spaghetti gelato, pizza and (for now) wing places are out.
At least when it comes to recent openings and closings on the Southwest Florida foodie scene, that is.
Let’s begin this recap of events in Cape Coral, where a popular breakfast-and-lunch restaurant made its long-awaited debut.
This is where the omelets come in…
House of Omelets
The fourth location of this popular breakfast and lunch restaurant made its highly anticipated debut along Cape Coral Parkway on Monday, May 4.
“It’s amazing,” owner Toni Dedaj said. “I’m very happy. I like this area, the way Cape Coral is growing. And this building is beautiful.”
That building is the eye-catching Bimini Square off Cape Coral Parkway. House of Omelets, which anchors the first-floor northeast corner unit, has a classic European feel. With seating for 89 inside and 40 outside, it’s about half the size of Dedaj’s Pine Island Road location.
“We like it,” he said. “We still have the big menu, but we like the smaller seating area. Service is more personal.”
And speaking of that menu (the same you’ll find at all House of Omelets locations), it is indeed huge, with about 30 signature omelets alone. Add in all the egg dishes (House Slam is a best seller), favorites (like corned beef hash and chicken & waffles), off the griddle dishes (multiple pancake, French toast and waffle options), Benedicts and crepes, and we’re already up to huge without even getting to the lunch items.
Those include appetizers, salads, signature sandwiches (from lobster grilled cheese to Philly steak), burgers & melts, and pitas & wraps. Free parking can be found in the parking garage, shared with neighboring Bimini Basin Seafood.
“It’s easy in and out,” Dedaj said. “Very easy. Come visit us.” Find it at 440 Cape Coral Parkway; (239) 360-8083; there are two locations in Cape Coral and one each in Fort Myers and Naples. Go to houseofomelets.com or follow on Instagram.
Chicken Salad Chick
More than 100 customers were waiting outside when this chicken salad-loving, fast-casual restaurant opened its new Cape Coral location on April 29. Located in the Shops at Del Sol (near Swig!), Chicken Salad Chick has 13 different types of chicken salad, including traditional, fruity & nutty, savory and spicy flavors. Get it in one or two scoops, in a sandwich, in a melt (Bacon cheddar or chicken) or in a BLT. A turkey club is also available. It’s all scratch-made, just like the sides which include broccoli, grape and pasta salads, fresh fruit, mac ‘n cheese and soup. A few desserts (white chocolate layer cake and signature cookies) are also on the menu. Get it all by dining in, driving through, taking out, or by delivery. It’s open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Go to chickensaladchick.com or follow on Facebook for more.
Point Ybel Brewing
We recently checked out this brewery’s new downtown Fort Myers location off First Street in the Fortiner Building, and we love it. It’s all the good things from the original San Carlos Boulevard location plunked down in a lighter, brighter space (and it’s next to another Chocolattes location!!!). With 17 taps, you’ll find all the same award-winning beers Point Ybel is known for — including Sanibel Light, Snook Bite IPA, Sanibel Red and (our favorite) The Full Breakfast stout. Even though it’s only been open since April 11, it’s already right at home with a full slate of events — from live music and yoga to trivia and music bingo.
“This is a new chapter for us,” owner and brewer Jordan Weisberg said. “We’re excited for it. We want to build the same community downtown that we have (in south Fort Myers).”
It’s off to a great start. Drop by 2451 First St., Fort Myers; (239) 603-6565; pointybelbrew.com and on Facebook
Turco Taco
With three locations in Naples, this fast-casual taco joint has finally come to downtown Fort Myers. It opened April 24 at 2451 First Street. In a former office space, it’s across from Fort Myers Regional Library, on the northwest corner of First and Bay streets. Turco Taco is known for its fresh and bold gourmet Mexican-Turkish fusion tacos, gourmet quesadillas and organic salads. We can’t wait to check it out. (239) 344-7732; theturcotaco.com or on Facebook
Capriotti’s
We’ve already reported that this popular Delaware-founded chain opened a Cape Coral location on April 28 in the Shops at Del Mar off Pine Island Road. But can we just say that The Bobbie — billed as the original Thanksgiving sandwich — lives up to the hype? The slow-roasted turkey (cooked overnight and hand-pulled in the morning), house-made stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayo combination won us over on the first bite. Order it hot or cold, in 4, 8, 10 or 18-inch sizes. And if you’re not feeling Thanksgiving-y, Capriotti’s has plenty of other options, including cheesesteaks, tuna, classic Italian, BLT, meatball, Capastrami, Wagyu beef sandwiches and more. Find it all at 327 SW 10th Place, unit 202, Cape Coral; (239) 471-0469; capriottis.com or follow on Facebook.
Closings
The Fat Apple: The sign is down and the doors of this pizza joint in North Fort Myers are locked. After nine years, this staple in the Publix-anchored Eagle Landing plaza off Bayshore Road has permanently closed. It steadily built a loyal following after Guy Beekman, who owned the legendary Birdie’s Pizza in Fort Myers for 20 years, opened it in July 2017.
Spaghy Gelato: This small Cape Coral shop in Chelsea Place off Del Prado Boulevard has closed. “Cape Coral … thank you,” an April 28 post on its Facebook page read. “Because of your support, your love, your energy … we’re taking the next step. We are officially relocating to the East Coast.” It was known for its viral spaghetti gelato — handcrafted gelato shaped into spaghetti form and topped with a variety of toppings. “Thank you for the memories, the laughs, and for believing in something a little different,” the post concluded.
Wingnuts: After spending the last 15 years at 231 Del Prado Blvd. in Cape Coral, this popular chicken wing restaurant is closing. For now, anyway. “Our time at this location has come to an end,” an April 30 post on the Pub & Grub’s Facebook page read. “Our last day will be May 16th. HOWEVER, we will be moving to a new location soon.” It’s currently in Moderna Plaza, north of Cape Coral Hospital and south of Hancock Bridge Parkway (where the recently closed Misto Bar & Grill was). “Although it will take us time to relocate the restaurant, we will keep you posted, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY,” the post continued. “… We look forward to seeing you in the very near future. Our thanks again for all your support.” Follow along on Facebook for updates.
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com
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