In recognition of his dedication to the people and the State of Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis re-appointed CFUL President and CEO Glenton Gilzean Jr. to the Florida Commission on Ethics. Mr. Gilzean was first appointed to the Commission on Ethics in August 2019. This appointment is for a two year-term which is set to begin in January 2021.“I am humbled that Governor DeSantis has re-appointed me the Florida Commission on Ethics,” said Glenton Gilzean Jr. “It is a privilege to serve on a Commission whose mission is fundamental in preserving our democracy. Upholding the ethics of our public servants is critical to democracy and the Commission on Ethics ensures that the public can have full faith in their government.”This marks the sixth time that Mr. Gilzean has received a gubernatorial appointment and this is the third such appointment from Governor Ron DeSantis. In 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Mr. Gilzean to the Florida Census Statewide Complete Count Committee, which followed his 2019 appointment to the Florida Commission on Ethics. Previously, Governor Rick Scott appointed Mr. Gilzean to the Pinellas County School Board (2012), to the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) Board of Trustees (2013) and to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (2016).

Central Florida Foundation and Wells Fargo announced their support for the Enterprising Black Orlando Initiative, a new project that aims to strengthen local Black businesses and the community at large, by promoting racial economic equity. Central Florida Foundation will support the initiative with $50,000, and Wells Fargo with a $25,000 contribution as the initial seed investment for the effort. “The economic and health challenges of COVID-19 along with the loss of Black lives this year have made this a critical time for Central Florida to invest in equitable solutions that support Black businesses and communities in the region,” said Mark Brewer, President/CEO of the Central Florida Foundation. “Central Florida Foundation believes that we must all work together to build a community where everyone feels at home.” Black and minority businesses and households play a critical role in Central Florida’s economy, but they are also largely underfunded and under-represented. The Enterprising Black Orlando Initiative resulted from a yearlong partnership between Wells Fargo, and the Central Florida Community Collaborative – an alliance between the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, BBIF Florida and the Central Florida Urban League – to address this need. “The Enterprising Black Orlando Initiative is something we’ve been working on for about a year now, yet its importance has resonated even more in 2020,” said Glenton Gilzean on behalf of the Central Florida Community Collaborative. “The initiative provides an opportunity to apply proven best practices that help close the wealth gap in Black businesses and communities in Orlando. We are grateful to Wells Fargo for championing this effort and bringing together the Central Florida Foundation and the Central Florida Community Collaborative to make it a reality.”

Join Rep. Eskamani and The Florida Bar Foundation as we discuss the newest moratorium on evictions and foreclosures in Florida and review legal protections available to you during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rep. Eskamani will be joined by: (1) Sean Rowley, Advocacy, Director of Tenants’ Right Unit, Legal Services of Greater Miami(2) Jamos Mobley, Senior Housing and Consumer Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Orange County Bar Association(3) Jim Kowalski, President and CEO, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Please fill out the form to RSVP and share the link with others at bit.ly/FLHousing. This virtual event will be offered on Zoom and livestreamed on the Representative Anna Eskamani Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/AnnaForFlorida

Join us and Fifth Third Bank on Thursday for Empower U. To register for Thursday's session, click here. To register for Friday's session, click here.