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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 24, 2023
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County’s Created Equal Event Examines Experience of Black Women in America
Yesterday, Leon County Government and The Village Square hosted the eighth annual Created Equal program entitled, “Created Equal: Black Women and the Fight for Equality.” Hundreds of residents gathered at The Moon, 1105 E. Lafayette St., for this award-winning program to examine the histories and current realities of Black women in America and the struggles they continue to face in the areas of health, economy, community, and education.
"We must acknowledge the disparities that our neighbors experience before we grow as a community,” said Leon County Commission Chairman Nick Maddox. “This is why Created Equal is so important. It’s extremely critical for us all to come together and have real, frank, and tough conversations about issues so that we can see different perspectives.”
The panel discussed the intersectional disadvantage due to both race and gender discrimination that Black women in America have historically faced. The panel included Bond Community Health Center Chief Executive Officer Dr. Temple Robinson, Florida State University’s Dr. Tamara Bertrand-Jones, neighborhood advocate Christic Henry, and Florida A&M University’s Dr. Shawnta Friday-Stroud along with Nicole Everett of Conversations with Nicole serving as moderator. Following the panel discussion, residents were invited to join the discussion with roundtable conversations.
“By understanding the experiences of others, this year’s Created Equal built upon the success of previous programs and continued to encourage frank conversations on race and racial inequity,” said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long.
Since 2015, the Created Equal program has brought thousands of citizens together to discuss race-related issues within our own community including previous topics, such as the anniversary of the Tallahassee Lunch Counter Sit-Ins and Florida Emancipation Day. This program has won numerous awards for exceptional programming and promotion from the National Association of Counties, Florida Public Relations Association, and the City-County Communications & Marketing Association.
“This impactful event provided a space for learning, sharing and community-building,” said The Village Square Executive Director Vanessa Rowse. “In this social climate, it’s important that we bring people of all different walks of life together to break down barriers and work toward a better, stronger community.”
The Created Equal program is part of Leon County’s Citizen Engagement Series which connects residents of diverse backgrounds, education, and age on a variety of topics that matter most in our community. Find the next upcoming discussion at LeonCountyFL.gov/GetEngaged.
For more information, contact Mathieu Cavell, Leon County Community and Media Relations, at (850) 606-5300 / CMR@LeonCountyFL.gov.
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