Video Archive
Video recordings of past events are now available on our YouTube channel here.
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May 2021
with Sherry Kitchens, Ed.S. LMFT
May 10th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Sherry Kitchens, Ed.S. LMFT is the President/CEO of the Child Advocacy Center in Gainesville, FL and has led the organization since 2005. Sherry graduated in 1992 from Emory University with her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. She obtained her Masters and Specialist degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy in 1996 from the University of Florida, College of Education. Sherry has been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 1999, Florida State Approved Clinical Supervisor since 2002.
Over the past 29 years, Sherry has had the privilege to work at the Alachua County Crisis Center, Gainesville Family Institute, CDS Family and Behavioral Services, and the Child Advocacy Center, Inc. Her work in Gainesville and surrounding areas, has included a focus on ungovernable, truant and runaway youth; traumatized and exploited youth; youth with substance abuse issues; and parents with concerns for their children’s safety and success. Sherry held a successful private practice in Gainesville 2001-2020.
Sherry provides training both locally and statewide on the commercial sexual exploitation of children/human trafficking, child abuse reporting, signs and symptoms of child abuse, child development, drug endangered children, normative childhood sexual development, sexual abuse of children, best practices in child abuse investigations, multidisciplinary team response, victim advocacy response, impact of trauma on children and their behavior, and many other related topics. She also provides direct services including trauma recovery therapy, forensic interviews, advocacy, case staffing reviews, crisis intervention, multidisciplinary team coordination and expert testimony.
Note that FFSF events are now online, hosted through Zoom. If you are a Florida Free Speech Forum member, you will automatically be sent an invitation to this event. Otherwise, to receive an invitation, please apply for membership.
Find out more »September 2021
with Richard MacMaster, coordinator of Gainesville’s Interfaith Alliance for Immigration Justice
September 13th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm
Note: Luncheons will now be held at the Holiday Inn Gainesville-University Center, 1250 West University Avenue
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November 2021
with Brian Kramer, State’s Attorney for the 8th Judicial Circuit and adjunct professor for the University of Florida, Levin College of Law
November 8th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Note: Luncheons will now be held online via ZOOM. Details to join the meeting are sent to everyone on our email list the week prior to the meeting. If you’d like to be added to our list, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list.
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December 2021
Dec 13th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Dr. Paul Broadie II began serving as Santa Fe College’s fifth president on February 1, 2020. In his inaugural address he pledged the following pillars would guide his leadership and path forward: student success, individual and institutional growth, innovation, partnerships, and evolution.
His priorities soon included expanding workforce development, shattering equity gaps, enhancing opportunities for professional development, and continuing to grow strong academic programs. During his first few months he engaged key leaders on and off campus in discussions of potential partnerships, took steps to bridge the digital divide by providing students in rural areas greater access to technology, and challenged college leaders to change the mentality, where it exists, that college is not for everyone.
During this luncheon, Dr. Broadie will discuss innovative approaches to creating a college-going culture and impacting the community.
Note: Luncheons will now be held online via ZOOM. Details to join the meeting are sent to everyone on our email list the week prior to the meeting. If you’d like to be added to our list,
please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list.
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Find out more »January 2022
Jan 10th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Speaker Biosketch
JAMES F. LAWRENCE JR., a native of Orlando, is director of Gainesville for All, a community-based 501c3 organized five years ago to find systemic solutions to the region’s persistent problems linked to race and poverty.
Lawrence, who is a graduate of Howard University in Washington, D.C., retired nearly seven years ago after 42 years as a full-time journalist. He currently writes a twice-monthly column for the Gainesville Sun.
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Find out more »February 2022
Feb 14th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Description:
It has become increasingly clear that America’s version of democracy is under severe threat and may not survive. This talk will discuss how serious that threat is and, after concluding that the dangers are all too real, asks what a post-democratic America would look like — including asking whether and how democracy could be restored, and how quickly.
Speaker Bio:
Neil H. Buchanan is the James J. Freeland Eminent Scholar in Taxation at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He holds a Ph.D. in economics and a J.D. and Ph.D in law. His work focuses on current generations’ obligations to future generations, tax policy, and the rule of law.
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Find out more »March 2022
March 14th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Speaker Bio:
Michelle Jacobs is an Emeritus professor, having just retired from twenty – eight years as a professor of law at the University of Florida College of Law, and the Racial Justice Term Professor for the 2020-2021 academic year. She taught Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, White Collar Crime, International Criminal Law and Critical Race Theory. Prof. Jacobs’ scholarship focuses on access to justice for communities marginalized in and by the law. In particular, she concentrates on Black women’s experience with violence perpetrated by the state, whether it is when they are accused of crime, as victims of crime, or at the hands of violent police. She tries to highlight the plight of Black women criminalized by the state for daring to protect their own lives against intimate partner violence, as well as the invisibility of Black women’s struggle against all forms of police violence. She is a frequent media commentator on racial bias in the criminal justice system, and on police violence, particularly as it relates to police murders and sexual assaults of Black women and girls. In addition, she gives frequent interviews to the press and lectures on the subject of Critical Race Theory.
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Find out more »April 2022
May 9th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Speaker Bio:
Our eighth forum talk of this year will take place next Monday, April 11th at Noon via Zoom. The speaker(s) will be one or both of the winners of this year’s Brechner Center for Freedom of Information Award, Hannah Dreier and Andrew Ba Tran of The Washington Post for their FEMA’s disasters series.
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Find out more »May 2022
May 9th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Speaker Bio:
Our ninth and last forum talk of this year will take place next Monday, May 9th at Noon via Zoom (see links below). The speaker will be Dr. Robert L. Knight, Director of the Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute speaking on “Saving Florida’s Springs – Time is Running Out.”
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Find out more »September 2022
Sept 12th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Speaker Bio:
Stacy Scott holds a BA from the University of Florida and a J.D. with honors from the University of Florida College of Law. She has worked in the private sector as a criminal defense attorney for over 20 years, litigating criminal cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felony cases. She has served as Assistant State Attorney and Assistant Public Defender. Stacy was appointed Public Defender of the Eighth Judicial Circuit in 2010 and has been re-elected since then. She has become an effective policy advocate in Tallahassee on issues relating to criminal justice and on funding for Public Defenders statewide. Stacy has received the 2017 and 2018 President’s Award for exemplary legislative advocacy on behalf of Public Defenders. She is an instructor in the Trial Practice program at UF’s law school and has been coach of the Trial Team, leading to two national civil rights championships.
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