Lakeland Mom Sues Furniture Industry in Her Toddler’s Death

Jun 11, 2019 at 4:34 pm CBS Miami

Meghan DeLong of Lakeland has been a crusade to spread information about furniture hazards ever since her two-year-old son, Conner, died after a dresser fell on him in 2017. She started a foundation, Conner’s Legacy (website) and last month sued two furniture industry organizations, CBS Miami reports. Her ask: $50 million in damages the she would use to lobby Congress on par with the furniture industry, her Miami lawyer tells House Beautiful.

Activism/ Events

Weeklong Polk Pride Kicks Off Today

Jun 8, 2019 at 7:32 am The Ledger

Polk Pride 2019, a week of events (schedule) celebrating the local LGBT+ community, kicks off tonight with a launch party at Lakeland Pulse and continues through next Saturday, ending with a daytime festival at Munn Park followed by Pride After Dark at LkldLive.

Activism/ Business

Lakeland Women’s Collective Plans Co-Working Space

Jun 5, 2019 at 3:42 pm LALtoday

The Lakeland Women’s Collective is organizing a co-working space that it says will be for female, femme-identifying and non-binary persons. The location: 818 E. Lemon St, near the Lake Mirror Center | website

Activism

Combee Connection Offers Free Water for Homeless

Jun 5, 2019 at 8:34 am Fox 13 News

Combee Connection Ministries offers free bottled water in coolers to help homeless people stay hydrated in the hot summer months.

Activism/ People

L.L. Bean Spotlights Local Fishing Non-profit

May 13, 2019 at 7:25 am Bay News 9

A “Welcome to the Catch” video (here) produced by outdoors outfitter L.L. Bean features Lakeland resident Will Dunn and his non-profit, Take a Kid Fishing. The company donated to his non-profit, supplied gear and clothing and paid the two teens featured in the video, Dunn said. | Learn more

Activism/ People

Alice Koehler Will Lead Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine

May 8, 2019 at 3:26 pm

Alice Koehler, whose career has focused on Lakeland non-profits since she returned here after two years in the Peace Corps, has been chosen as the next president and CEO of Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine. More

Activism/ People

Holocaust Survivor: Choices Foster Hate

May 2, 2019 at 10:57 am

When Rose Rosenkranz first visited Auschwitz, the former Nazi extermination camp where as many as 1 million Jews were murdered, she said she heard the voice of her grandmother, who was among those who died there along with her two young children.

“She said, ‘Speak for me and my two babies. I no longer have a voice. You must be my voice.’” More

Activism/ People

New Non-Profit Will Document the Good Work Others Do

May 1, 2019 at 1:30 pm

This is a story about how Kathy Wallen met Andy and Ashley McEntire six years ago and how the resulting friendship blossomed into a new organization that aims to share stories of good works to an international audience. More

Activism/ People

Survivor Will Speak at Holocaust Remembrance Day Event

Apr 10, 2019 at 10:23 am Jewish Press of Tampa

Rosa Rosenkranz, a child survivor of the Holocaust, will speak at Temple Emanuel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day observance May 1 at 7 p.m.

Activism/ City Hall

Commissioners Pledge to Add Housing for Homeless Kids

Apr 3, 2019 at 7:40 am

At a rousing faith-based rally Tuesday night, four Lakeland city commissioners pledged to reach a goal of adding 500 housing units for families with homeless children by 2023. Mayor Bill Mutz and commissioners Stephanie Madden, Justin Troller and Phillip Walker drew cheers for their pledges from the approximately 1,400 participants at the 19th annual Nehemiah Action rally of the Polk Ecumenical Action Council for Empowerment, or PEACE, at Resurrection Catholic Church in Lakeland. More