Kanika Tomalin is the deputy mayor of St. Petersburg, Fla., but she doesn't see herself as a politician.

 

She was appointed to the job in 2013 and says she never had her sights set on becoming a public official. Her family has been in St. Petersburg for five generations, and her family members span across socioeconomic lines. That vantage point, she says, gives her a unique understanding of deep-rooted issues around generational poverty and health disparities, which she's spent her tenure trying to eradicate. 

"It's time for action, for change, for constructive movement, for a goal of ending racism and empowering women," Deputy Mayor Dr. Kanika Tomalin said during her powerful and timely speech. Her words brought the audience to its feet for a standing ovation at Women of Color Leading Change.  

 

The event held a the University of South Florida St. Petersburg in the Grand Ballroom filled to capacity with professional women of all colors, races, and occupations. Mayor Rick Kriseman was also in attendance. The unparalleled gifts and expertise of the panelists was astounding.  

 

 

St. Petersburg Preservation will launch the new season of its new walking tours Saturday.

 

The tours, which will be conducted Saturdays through April, will include downtown, the waterfront and historic neighborhoods. They will start at 10 a.m., except for the Historic Gulfport tour, which will begin at 3 p.m., and last for two hours.

 

 

Among a breezy fall-like October night in front of a crowd of over 5,000 , the Tampa Bay Rowdies secured their place in the 2017 playoffs.

 

The team's regular season home finale, unusual for a Wednesday night, ended in a 3-1 win against the New York Red Bulls, moving the Rowdies into second place among the USL's Eastern Conference, clinching their space in the upcoming playoffs.