2023 Year In Review

2023 Year In Review: Top stories I covered as a Multimedia Journalist in 2023

2023 Year In Review: Top stories I covered as a Multimedia Journalist in 2023

As the year comes to an end, I reflect on all the stories I covered as a multimedia journalist for the year of 2023.

In this article, there were 24 top stories I covered in 2023!

Read my previous year-in-reviews from the year of 2022, 2021, 2019, and 2018.

Continue reading as I share with you my top stories I covered for the year of 2023!

Here is the list of the top stories I covered for the year:

24. Mural honoring one of Alachua County's first Black firefighters unveiled in SW Gainesville

A mural was unveiled to honor the late Gainesville Fire Rescue (GFR) first responder Harold B. Batie, who was also known as magician “B-Magic.”

The ceremony was held at the Gainesville Fire Rescue Station #4 .

The mural of Batie was a vision from 10 incarcerated young men who are participants in a program called Released Reentry, which helps provide therapeutic education and resource navigation before release from jail.

​Read more HERE.

23. Gainesville-based nonprofit Dream on Purpose receives $200,000 grant from state of Florida

“Greater Is Coming” was the theme for this year’s 8th annual Dream on Purposedinner that featured the presentation of a $200,000 state grant to the organization.

Dream on Purpose Inc. hosted its annual dinner billed as “Dine with DOP” on Saturday at the Fairfield Inn & Suites.
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Dream on Purpose is a non-profit that was officially incorporated in 2015 to impact the lives of youth through education and life skills.

​Read more HERE.

22. Bartley Temple UMC in NE G'ville honored one of its longest serving pastors

One of the longest serving pastors of Bartley Temple United Methodist Church was honored for his service to the church, his family and the community.
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​ Lewis, who served as pastor of the church at 1936 NE Eighth Ave. from 1985-94, was honored on Sunday. A native of Mississippi, Lewis served more than 20 years in the U.S. Army, is a Korean War veteran and father of two. He has been married to Lillie Pearl Lewis since 1992.  

Read more HERE. 

21. Rosa Parks' legacy again celebrated in Gainesville by Rosa Parks Quiet Courage Committee

Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward presented two proclamations during the ceremony.

Ward proclaimed Dec. 1 “Rosa Parks Day” in the city and also proclaimed the day to be “Rev. Milford L. Griner Day.” 
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Parks is considered by many to be one of the bravest civil rights movement leaders, and her contributions to the movement have been recognized locally since 2006 by the Rosa Parks Quiet Courage Committee founded by the Rev. Milford L. Griner, a longtime United Methodist Church minister locally.

​Read more HERE.

20. Black Studies conference, others to march in protest of policies of Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis

Scholars of Black Studies discussed their research to help the African Diaspora move forward collectively as the 47th Annual National Conference for Black Studies came to a conclusion at the University of Florida Hilton Hotel and Conference Center in Gainesville.

Nearly 100 scheduled sessions, ended with the "Teaching Black While Living In The Red: African-American Studies at the University of Florida" as the final session of the conference that attracted scholars from California to Massachusetts.

Read more HERE.

19. SPARC352 meetings launched to ignite discussion about how to improve Black neighborhoods

Spoken word poetry and storytelling highlighted the first "SPARC to Heart Critical Community Conversations" event hosted by SPARC352.

SPARC352 is a non-profit organization committed to meeting the needs of Black Gainesville communities through the arts, and is an is an initiative grounded in the idea that arts are at the core of healthy communities.

​At Gainesville Vineyard Church, the event kicked-off the organization's surveying project that will run through April in Black neighborhoods in Gainesville.

Read more HERE.

18. Swarthy East GNV hosts inaugural East Gainesville Community Parade in Duval neighborhood

Swarthy East GNV hosted its inaugural East Gainesville Community Parade and 3rd annual Revolution Before Evolution Festival to foster togetherness and unity among residents.

Businesses, residents and leaders gathered in the Duval neighborhood in east Gainesville a day after Thanksgiving during the event to help the hosting organization increase unity in the community.

​Read more HERE.

17. Caring and Sharing Learning School's expansion in SE Gainesville helps school to grow

The distinguished charter school hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the official opening of its two new portable buildings.
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The two buildings, known as Buildings E and F, house the school’s kindergarten and Fifth grade classes and are located on the south side of the campus.

Read more HERE.

16. Go Legit Entertainment in east Gainesville strives to help local hip-hop artists succeed

A passion for music since childhood has led Desean “CEO Dee” Thompson to use his music and business expertise to help others achieve their dreams in the music industry.
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Born in Brooklyn, New York, Thompson was 6 when he moved to Gainesville, 6 where he later began his music venture.

​Read more HERE.

15. High school seniors from Alachua, Marion counties honored at cotillion ball in Gainesville

Ten high school seniors from Alachua and Marion counties were honored for their graceful transition into adulthood.

They were recognized during the inaugural Renascence Beautillion-Cotillion Ball sponsored by 100 Black Men of Greater Florida GNV and Wishful Thinking, a Gainesville-based nonprofit organization that provides cancer patient and family support services. The ball was held at the University of Florida Hilton Conference Center.
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The theme of the ball was “Dawning of A New Day.”

​Read more HERE.

14. Sweetwater Greenway Loop: 5-day festival celebrates historic neighborhoods in Gainesville

A celebration of Gainesville’s unique artistic, environmental and civic heritage was on full display for five days.
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Sarah’s Sweetwater Greenway Loop Festival hosted a five-day festival in historic neighborhoods as an initiative to talk to residents in neighborhoods about a proposed route of a greenway approved by the City of Gainesville’s Strategic Plan.

​Read more HERE.

13. Food activist urges Black community in Gainesville to embrace farming as a way of life

A food activist encourages the Black Gainesville community to embrace the power of farming and sustaining the livelihood of its families and neighbors.
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Activist and educator for food sovereignty, Malik Yakini, spoke to local residents at the Santa Fe College Blount Hall near downtown Gainesville on Wednesday about the importance of farming.

Read more HERE.

12. Gainesville trailblazers celebrated for integrating schools in Alachua County

A two-day celebration of courage, strength and perseverance honored trailblazers for their actions in desegregating public schools in Alachua County.
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The event was held to honor all students who entered former all-Black Lincoln High School as seventh-graders during the 1959-60 school year by extending them honorary membership into the LHS graduating class of 1965.

Billed as the "First of the First: Recognizing Lincoln High School Alumni Triumphs," it was held Friday and Saturday at the Mount Carmel Baptist Church T.A. Wright Family Life Center and hosted by the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at the University of Florida as part of its Challenging Racism at UF Public Program Series.

​Read more HERE.

11. 2 renown philosophers discussed truth and democracy at University of Florida

Two distinguished American philosophers who are best friends discussed politics, religion and humanity in front of a standing room only crowd at the University of Florida.
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The discussion featured Cornel West and Robert George as panelists as part of an event billed as “Truth-Seeking and Democracy” that was hosted by the Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education at UF.

Read more HERE.

10. Anthony Richardson attends home church on Sunday at DaySpring Baptist Church

Gainesville native Anthony Richardson was selected by the Indianapolis Colts as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Richardson was a star quarterback at Eastside High School before graduating in 2020 and going on to play quarterback at the University of Florida.

Richardson and his family attended their home church at DaySpring Missionary Baptist Church to worship with their church family.

​Read more HERE.

9. Black church cemetery in Archer receives state historical marker

Dead Blacks were honored and memorialized for their resilience on the first Saturday of Black History Month at a cemetery in the rural town of Archer in North Central Florida located less than 40 miles southwest of where the Rosewood Massacre happened on Jan. 1, 1923.
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The event hosted by the Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Cemetery Restoration Organization (BMECRO) was held to celebrate the church's cemetery as a state of Florida historic site.

​Read more HERE.

8. Gainesville historian Tyler Smith saves home of Cora Roberson in historic Black community

A historian’s passion to keep legacies alive was met with gratitude by family members of a historic Gainesville figure.

Historian Tyler Smith was the lead coordinator for the move of a 100-year-old dogtrot home of the late activist Cora Roberson. The home was once located at 1106 NW Sixth Place inside of the historic Fifth Avenue neighborhood.

​Read more HERE.

7. Legendary Birthdays

In 2023, four elders celebrated a milestone in Gainesville.

Read below the stories here: Jessie Heard, Sallie Mae Hollis (article can't be found), Magnolia Bradley Jackson, and Mildred Robinson.

6. NE 19th Street in Gainesville named in honor of the late Rev. Samuel Jones Jr.

The late Rev. Samuel Jones Jr. had a street named in his honor in front of the church he led for more than 45 years in northeast Gainesville.
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The street dedication ceremony was held Sunday on Father's Day after the morning worship service at Open Door Ministries at 601 NE 19th St., the church Jones founded in 1976 and pastored until he turned over the leadership of the church to his son, Pastor Timothy L. Jones Sr. and his wife, Lady Nona Jones.
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Samuel Jones passed away at the age of 78 in April of 2022, and the Gainesville City Commission in April of this year voted to the renaming of Northeast 19th Street as "Pastor Samuel Jones Jr. Blvd."

Read more HERE.

5. Gainesville community celebrate's Vivian Filer's 85th birthday with an enstoolment

Vivian Filer transitioned into Queen Motherhood with a celebration attended by many from the Gainesville community to help celebrate her 85th birthday.

Hosted by the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center and Florida African American Heritage Preservation Network, the enstoolment of Filer was held on Saturday at the Best Western Gateway Grand Hotel.
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The theme for her birthday was "Life Is Under The Wings of a Mother."

​Read more HERE.

4. Gainesville unveils street sign in honor of community activist Charles S. Chestnut III

Family, friends and community members gathered across from Chestnut Funeral Home to witness the unveiling of the street sign named after the late Charles S. Chestnut III.

Chestnut, who died on Dec. 4 at age 83, was a longtime community activist, business owner, local politician and friend and mentor to many in the community.
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The sign unveiling ceremony took place at the intersection of Northwest Eighth Avenue and First Street.

​Read more HERE.

3. East Gainesville honors Tamari Davis for her part in USA's Gold Medal win at world meet

World Athletics Championship 2023 Gold medalist Tamari Davis was the guest of honor at a home in east Gainesville to celebrate her achievement.

Read more HERE.

2. Sankofa statue honoring the late Patricia Hilliard-Nunn replaces Confederate "Old Joe."

Photo By Tim Rodriguez, Special To The Gainesville Sun

The statue of a Confederate soldier known as "Old Joe" has been replaced with a statue that represents the legacy of the late Patricia Hilliard-Nunn, Ph.D., a Black woman who shined the light on the ugly history of racism, slavery and lynchings in Alachua County.

Hundreds gathered on the west lawn of the Alachua County Administration Building at 12 SE First St. to witness the unveiling of the Sankofa bird statue in honor of Hilliard-Nunn, who was a University of Florida senior lecturer, historian, community activist and much more.
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The Sankofa bird is a symbol of wisdom from the Akan people of West Africa. While holding an egg in its mouth, its backward-looking pose signifies the importance of learning from the past to shape the future. 

​Read more HERE.

1. Crowd gathers in Gainesville to remember Rosewood Massacre and to celebrate the future

Descendants of the Rosewood Massacre gathered with friends and family to recognize their history and discuss ways to create a better future during an event held to remember the centennial anniversary of one of the most horrific incidences of racial brutality in Florida and the nation.

The Real Rosewood Foundation Inc. sponsored the event attended by about 100 people at the Bo Diddley Downtown Community Plaza in downtown Gainesville. It featured speakers, stories of hope and reconciliation, and live performances by local musicians.

​Read more HERE.

​Thank You For Reading!
That's a wrap for the top stories I covered in 2023!
I am excited for my multimedia journalism journey in 2024!

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​Have A Great Year!