LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK

Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, president, Children’s

Services Council of Broward County. The Florida Legislature is debating a bill that would ban discussion of sexuality and gender identity in schools, making teachers and school boards legally liable for noncompliance. Its outcome would erase the history and needs of LGTBQ+ students. Data is clear: National surveys show that 42% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide last year, while 94% of LGBTQ+ youth reported that recent political trends negatively impacted their mental health. Further pushing youth that identify as LGBTQ+ to the fringes makes them vulnerable to bullying and self-harm or worse. We don’t want these tragic consequences for our children.

Debbi Hixon, member, Broward County School

Board. Through innovative programs, magnet schools, NOVA, the Opportunity Scholarship Program, and reassignments, Broward County Public Schools offers students with different interests, talents and aptitudes distinct choices that help enhance their educational success. BCPS has many amazing and unique programs throughout the county, such as Marine Science, Health & Wellness, STEM/STEAM, Gifted Academy, IB, Military Academy, Montessori, Performing Arts, Dual Language, Career-Technical Academies, Engineering, Environmental Science and Law. Students can earn certifications, internships and college credits in many of these special programs. Students can apply for these programs through the school choice process, which closes Tuesday, Feb. 1. Please go to browardflc.scriborder.com to apply before the deadline.

Chip LaMarca, member, Florida House of

Representatives. I would like to offer my congratulations and the best of luck to our two newest Broward County commissioners, Torey Alston and Jared Moskowitz, recently appointed by Gov. DeSantis. They attended their first commission meeting this week. Commissioner Moskowitz brought up the idea of changing the name of Broward County to Lauderdale County, which is something that I proposed in 2012 while serving on the commission. We saw Miami-Dade County rebrand, and we can see the advantages that Lauderdale County would bring. I look forward to working with them and have no doubt Broward County is in good hands!

Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, president and CEO, Community Foundation of Broward.

Feb. 1, the Community Foundation of Broward launches a new source of support to help grassroots nonprofits tackle Broward’s most pressing needs. Small nonprofits face big hurdles to sustain and expand their critical services. Our new small-grants program provides a shot in the arm for small, often minority-led nonprofits. We are making it easier for these trusted, front-line organizations to get the resources they need to deliver programs and services that make life better in Broward. Visit cfbroward.org for more information about how support for grassroots organizations can help shape a better community for us all.

Kerry Ann Royes, CEO, YWCA South

Florida. In 1926, Carter G. Woodson, minister Jesse E. Moorland, and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) created what would eventually become Black History Month to celebrate the heritage and achievements of Black men and women. It is imperative to highlight the events and influential figures who have changed society with their genius, courage and contributions, past, present and future. At YWCA, we will take the time to help you learn beyond what you already know about Black history and get comfortable having conversations discussing race. Be on the look out for this year’s launch of the annual Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge.

Howard Simon, retired executive director,

ACLU of Florida. There’s a counterrevolution taking place, led by the newly reconfigured U.S. Supreme Court. The Court’s radical conservatives have targeted abortion rights and voting rights. Last week, the Court agreed to decide the constitutionality of affirmative action programs that use race as one factor in college admissions. The Court’s likely decision to ban race even as just one factor in college admissions will transform college classrooms. But because a racially diverse student body is so critical to the quality of a college education, admissions officers will need to identify substitutes for race in order to ensure a diverse student body.

Eleanor Sobel, former member, Florida

Senate. Republican state Rep. Mike Beltran recently proposed a measure that would limit the public’s ability to alter the Florida Constitution. The House Public Integrity and Elections Committee passed the measure, HJR 1127, which continues to move through the House committee process. Numerous Democrats who oppose the measure claim HJR 1127 is simply pushback to recently passed constitutional amendments. For example, through citizen initiatives, the public has passed initiatives that support felons’ voting rights, medical marijuana, eliminated greyhound racing and increased the minimum wage. HJR 1127 hinders Floridians’ ability to alter their state Constitution and further consolidates power in the Legislature.

Matt Willhite, member, Florida House of

Representatives. The Florida Legislature redraws the state Senate, state House, and Congressional district maps every ten years. This is a critical process that occurs due to the updated Census. The maps are redrawn to reflect population changes. Last week, the House Redistricting Committee approved a set of maps that will now be sent to the full House of Representatives. When the maps come to the House floor, it’ll be the first time that all members of the House of Representatives will have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in debates on the maps that the redistricting committees approved.