♪ GULF WINDS BLOW THROUGH CANOPY ROADS ALL THE WAY TO THOMASVILLE.♪ THE NATIVE NAMES WRITTEN ON THE LAND ECHO THROUGH THE RED CLAY HILLS.

♪ WHERE THE SCENT OF LONGLEAF FLORIDA PINE REACH UP ON PAST THAT GEORGIA LINE.

♪ STROLL THROUGH TALLAHASSEE TOWN OR SOUTHERN APALACHEE BOUND -- ♪ TAKE THE LOCAL ROUTES AND JOURNEY DOWN THE ROADS WE CALL OUR HOME.

♪ TAKE THE LOCAL ROUTES AND JOURNEY DOWN THE ROADS WE CALL OUR HOME ♪ >> WELCOME TO "LOCAL ROUTES."

I'M SUZANNE SMITH WITH WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA.

NATURAL PLACES ABOUND IN OUR LOCAL AREA, AND WITH IT LOTS OF WILD CREATURES.

BUT SOMETIMES THESE ANIMALS END UP IN MANMADE PLACES WHERE THEY NEED OUR HELP TO GET BACK WHERE THEY BELONG SAFE AND SOUND.

THAT'S OUR FIRST STORY TODAY ON "LOCAL ROUTES."

♪ ♪ >> YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE THIS CREATURE FROM A VIRAL VIDEO POSTED TO THE ST. FRANCIS WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION'S FACEBOOK PAGE.

IT'S A SMALL ADULT BEAVER GETTING A BATH.

AT ONE POINT IT STARTS TO HELP WITH THE SCRUBBING.

AT THAT MOMENT, A VIRAL VIDEO WAS BORN.

>> 4,500,000 PEOPLE HAVE USED THIS VIDEO -- VIEWED THIS VIDEO SO FAR OF THE BEAVER GETTING ITS BUBBLE BATH.

REALLY DID IT FOR PEOPLE, I GUESS.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE DON'T SEE A BEAVER CLOSE UP, AND JUST THE WAY IT WAS HELPING TO WASH ITSELF WAS ADORABLE.

>> I MEAN, IT WAS CRAZY, ACTUALLY, TO BE HONEST.

WE DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE -- WE THOUGHT IT WAS CUTE, OF COURSE, BUT WE THINK A LOT OF VIDEOS ARE CUTE, AND THEN WE PUT THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND NOTHING HAPPENS.YOU GET A FEW LIKES HERE AND THERE AND THINGS, BUT NOTHING EVER HAS EVER WENT SO VIRAL HERE, I GUESS, AT ST. FRANCIS.

>> EARLIER THAT DAY THE BEAVER HAD BEEN SPOTTED CLICKING TO A PIPE AT -- SLING R CLICKING TO A PIPE AT A LOCAL WATER TREATMENT PLANT.>> HE NEEDED HELP.

HE WAS CLINGING ON TO THE ONLY POLE HE COULD FIND.

LUCKILY, WE GOT OUR RESCUERS OUT THERE RIGHT AWAY.

WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER BASE OF PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE IN TALLAHASSEE, SO THEY'RE A LOT CLOSER TO ONLY OF THESE ANIMALS THAT WE ARE HERE IN QUINCY.

I THINK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED, ANIMAL CONTROL RESPONDED, EVERYONE WAS THERE TO HELP OUT.

THEY DID THE NET TO GET HIM OUT OF THE HOLDING FACILITY AND THEN GOT HIM IN THE CAR RIGHT AWAY AND GOT HIM UP HERE FOR US TO TAKE CARE OF HIM.

>> AND FOR THE POOR THING WAS JUST EXHAUSTED AND KIND OF WOBBLY, YOU KNOW, FROM ITS ORDEAL.

>> THERE WAS SOME WOUNDS ON THE BACK AND SOME ON THE FEET A LITTLE BIT, SO THERE WAS ONE TOENAIL THAT WAS BLEEDING, BUT ALL THAT WAS VERY SUPERFICIAL.

IT WASN'T ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, TOO SEVERE FOR THE BEAVER.

WELL, THE FIRST THING WAS TO GET THE WATER AND THE CHEMICALS OFF OF HIM.

THE CHEMICAL COULD CAUSE BURN FOR THE EYES, THE SKIN, EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

LUCKILY, THEY HAVE SUCH THICK FUR AND SUCH THICK SKIN, HE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY DAMAGE.

WE FLUSHED OUT HIS EYES WITH SOME EYE FLUSH AND THEN PUT MINERAL OIL IN THE EYES TO ACT AS A BARRIER, I GUESS, SO NOTHING ELSE GETS IN THEM.

AND THEN WE STARTED PROCEEDING WITH THE BATH, OF COURSE, THAT EVERYONE HAS SEEN THE VIDEO.

[LAUGHTER]>> THAT MOTION HE WAS DOING, THAT'S WHAT THEY NORMALLY TO WHEN THEY, BASICALLY, ANYTIME THEY GO IN WATER AND COME OUT, THEY START SLOUGHING OFF THAT EXCESS WATER.

SO HE WAS JUST DOING NATURAL BEHAVIOR, BUT IT JUST LOOKED KIND OF LIKE HE WAS ASSISTING US WITH HIS BATH.

>> THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS AT ST. FRANCIS ARE USED TO TAKING CARE OF ANIMALS.

>> WE USUALLY SEE UP TO 3,000 ANIMALS A YEAR.

SOMETIMES IT'S OVER, SOMETIMES A LITTLE UNDER.

IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS.

THIS LAST YEAR, 2020, WE DID HAVE 2,995.

WE WERE, LIKE, JUST THERE AT 3,000.

[LAUGHTER] >> THE BUSIEST TIME IS BABY SEASON IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER WHEN MANY NEWBORNS GET ABANDONED OR LOSE THEIR MOTHERS.

LAST YEAR BABY SEASON WAS HARDER FOR ST. FRANCIS BECAUSE IT HIT RIGHT AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE STOPPED TAKING NEW VOLUNTEERS FOR 2020.

IT WAS VERY HARD ON THE STAFF.

WE WORKED LONG HOURS.

WE WERE ALL SO TIRED AND DRAINED BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THE SUMMER IS BABY SEASON.

WE GET IN THOUSANDS OF BABIES EVERY YEAR, AND WORKING OFF NONPROFIT STATUS PLUS HAVING SUCH A SMALL, SHORT, LIKE, STAFF HERE, IT'S DEFINITELY DIFFICULT THIS THOSE TIMES.

SO WE ARE NOW ACTUALLY STARTING TO TAKE SOME ANIMAL VOLUNTEERS AGAIN, JUST SLOWLY.

[LAUGHTER] AND WE ARE ASKING FOR PEOPLE TO EITHER HAVE RECORD OF THE VACCINE OR GET A TEST BEFORE THEY START WITH US.

>> THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING ST. FRANCIS COULD USE SOME HELP WITH.

>> SO OUR LAST BEAVER WHICH WAS A VERY DESTRUCTIVE BEAVER WAS IN THE ENCLOSURE AND CHEWED A LOT OF THE WOOD POSTS.

SO WE CAN STILL USE IT FOR OTHER TYPES OF SPECIES THAT AREN'T GOING TO BE CHEW AING, SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME RACCOONS IN THERE RIGHT NOW.

BUT ON THE BEAVER STANDPOINT, WE NEED TO PUT SOME METAL AROUND THE POSTS AND SOME THINGS BEFORE WE CAN EVER PUT A BEAVER BACK IN THERE.

[LAUGHTER]JUST FOR THE STRUCTURE OF THE CAGE AT LEAST.>> AS FOR THEIR NEWEST REHABBER, IT ENJOYED DAILY SWIMS UNDER SUPERVISION, OF COURSE, UNTIL THE OILS WERE BACK ON ITS FUR.

>> THE BEAVER IS DOING GREAT.

EATING EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE GIVING HIM.

[LAUGHTER] WE COLLECT BRANCHES EVERY DAY.

SO THEY NORMALLY EAT, LIKE, MOSSES AND BARK AND STUFF LIKE THAT.FUR IS VERY WATER RESISTANT NOW.

WE PUT HER IN THE POOL EVERY, ONCE THE WEATHER IS OKAY.

[BACKGROUND SOUNDS] SEE HOW THE WATER BEADS?

>> AND WITHIN 24 HOURS OF US RECORDING VIDEO OF THOSE WATER BEADS, IT WAS TIME FOR THE LITTLE BEAVER TO HEAD BACK INTO THE WILD AT LOWER LAKE LAFAYETTE.

[BACKGROUND SOUNDS] >> THE ARE RELEASE WAS POSTED ONLINE.

AND WHILE THAT VIDEO HASN'T RECEIVED AS MUCH ATTENTION YET, FOR THE STAFF, THEY SAY THE WAY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY ALWAYS HELPS OUT IS THE REAL WIN.

>> TO SEE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO HELP THIS BEAVER IN THIS TOUGH SITUATION IT WAS IN WAS JUST REWARDING.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE EVERY DAY, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T ALWAYS FEEL, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE BACKED BY THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEN THIS HAPPENS, AND WE'RE LIKE, WOW, WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT COMMUNITY HERE IN TALLAHASSEE.

FOR EVERYONE TO BE SO SUPPORTIVE AND WANT TO GO GET THIS BEAVER, GET HIM UP HERE AND SEE JUST HIS CARE AND THE REHABILITATION PROCESS, IT'S JUST WONDERFUL TO >> YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ST. FRANCIS WILD LIFE OH, BY HEADING TO THEIR WEB SITE OR ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE.

>>> MOST OF FLORIDA'S GEOLOGY IS HIDDEN AWAY BENEATH US UNDERGROUND.

BUT THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THE LAND CAVES IN AND WE CAN CATCH A PEEK OF WHAT'S BELOW.

THERE'S A PLACE NEAR TALLAHASSEE WHERE WE CAN DO JUST THAT.

WFSU PRODUCER ROB DIAZ DE VILLEGAS MET WITH GEOLOGIST HARLEY MEANS TO EXPLORE THIS AREA.>> IN A PLACE LIKE FLORIDA, IT'S HIGHLY UNUSUAL TO STUMBLE ACROSS AN EXPOSURE OF ROCK LIKE THIS MAYBE 10, 15, 20 FEET TALL.

>> YOU CAN HIKE THROUGH ONE OF FLORIDA'S GEOLOGICAL MARVELS.

>> WE ARE DOWN MANY IN JEFFERSON COUNTY ALONG TOES SCYLLA RIVER ON PART OF THE FLORIDA TRAIL THAT'S CALLED THE AUCILLA SINKS TRAIL.

♪ ♪ >> THIS IS ONE OF MANY PLACES WHERE THE AUCILLA RIVER, IT APPEARS TO GO UNDERGROUND.

NOW, THE HEADWATERS OF THE AUCILLA RIVER ARE UP IN SOUTH GEORGIA, SO WE GET A LOT OF SURFACE WATER THAT FLOWS AS THE AUCILLA RIVER OVER THE TALL A THIS IS SEE CLAY HILLS UNTIL IT TBOAFER OVER THE CODEY ESCARPMENT.AND ONCE THAT WATER REACHES THE WOODVILLE CRUST PLAIN, IN FAIRLY SHORT ORDER YOU START TO SEE THE RIVER DISAPPEAR THROUGH THESE TUNNELS, IF YOU WILL.

>> THE FLORIDA NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL PASSES OVER AND CONTINUES WHERE YOU CAN SEE SEGMENTS OF THE RIVER'S PATH AS IT MOVES BENEATH THE SURFACE.

IT MAY LOOK LIKE A SINGLE LIVE STREAM -->> THIS COP SENT OR IDEA OF A RIVER FLOWING UNDERGROUND IS NOT QUITE WHAT GEOLOGISTS WOULD CALL IT.

AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS YOU'RE SEEING THE ANCIENT CONDUIT SYSTEM THAT WAS SCULPTED BY GROUNDWATER OVER MANY, MANY THOUSANDS AND PROBABLY EVEN MILLIONS OF YEARS, ROB.

AND THE REASON WE SEE IT HERE IS BECAUSE THE SURFACE OF IT HAS COLLAPSED.

THE CAVE ROOF HAS COLLAPSED OVER GEOLOGIC TIME.

THIS IS NOT JUST A RIVER OR ONE PIPE, THIS IS AN INTERCONNECTED BUNCH OF ALL KINDS OF CAVE SYSTEMS AND LITTLE TUNNELS WHERE ONCE THAT WATER GETS INTO THE UNDERGROUND AQUIFER, IT HAS THE ABILITY TO FLOW QUITE VOLUMINOUSLY AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE DISCHARGE COMING OUT OF THERE.BUT THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT EXISTS UNDER ALMOST THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA.

>> AND UNDER THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA, THE LIMESTONE AQUIFER IS THE SOURCE OF OUR DRINKING WATER AND OUR SPRINGS.

THE STORY OF THIS LIMESTONE STARTS MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO WHEN FLORIDA WAS BELOW SEA LEVEL.

>> A MODERN ANALOG TO WHAT WAS GOING ON 30 MILLION YEARS AGO WHEN THIS WAS BEING GOES STATED, WE CAN FIND IT RIGHT IN THE NEAR SHORE MARINE ENVIRONMENT RIGHT OFF OF FLORIDA TODAY.

SO THAT'S INTERESTING, TO THINK ABOUT THOSE HABITATS THAT HAVE EXISTED FOR MANY MILLIONS OF YEARS, AND THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR US HAVING FLORIDA.

[LAUGHTER] LIMESTONE IS COME -- COMPRISED PRIMARILY OF CALCITE, BUT SOMETIMES IT COMES IN DIFFERENT FORMS.

SOME OF THE MARINE ORGANISMS THAT YOU'LL FIND FOSSILS IN HERE, THOSE MARINE ANIMALS MAKE THEIR TESTS OR THEIR SHELLS, IF YOU WILL, OUT OF EITHER ARAG NIGHT OR CALCITE.

CALCITE IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING DISSOLVED AWAY BY ACIDICKING WATER.RAIN WATER IS NATURALLY ACIDIC E. ONCE RAIN WATER GETS INTO AND PERCOLATES INTO THE SOILS AND SEDIMENTS, IT CAN ACTUALLY PICK UP ADDITIONAL ACIDIC THINGS LIKE TANONS AND AND OTHER KINDS OF ORGANIC ACIDS, AND IT TURNS THE WATER BLACK.

♪ ♪ >> AND WE KNOW IN CRUST REGIONS THAT TYPICALLY THE UNDERGROUND PORTION OF WHAT WE SEE HERE CAN BE DESCRIBED, A GOOD ANALOG IS A SPONGE.

WE'VE GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF HOLES AND CONNECTED SPACES WHERE OUR WATER OVER MANY THOUSANDS TO MILLIONS OF YEARS HAS ACTUALLY DISSOLVED AWAY AND LEFT BEHIND THESE VOID SPACES THAT NOW THE AUCILLA RIVER FLOWS IN THE HERE.

♪ ♪ >> DISSOLUTION IS STILL OCCURRING SLOWLY.

WE CAN SEE WHERE SINKHOLES ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FORMING ALONG THE TRAIL AND MAY ONE DAY COLLAPSE AND OPEN UP.

♪ ♪ >> THE AUCILLA SINKS IS THAT RARE KIND OF PLACE WHERE WE CAN SEE FLORIDA'S GEOLOGY IN ACTION FROM ABOVEGROUND.

♪ ♪ >> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AREA, GREAT PLACE TO HIKE.

BUT WHAT YOU'LL REALLY TAKE AWAY FROM IT IS THE TRAUMATIC GEOLOGY THAT WAS ETCHED BY WATER.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, YOU CAN ALSO ENVISION THAT THIS SERIES OF RISES AND FALLS OF THE AUCILLA RIVER IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE THAT'S NEAR ENOUGH TO THE SURFACE WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT OF ALL THE PLUMBING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE DEEP SUBSURFACE BENEATH THIS.

AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY FLORIDA IS SUCH A UNIQUE STATE AND WE ARE BLESSED WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF WATER IN OUR STATE.

IT'S BECAUSE WE LIVE ON THIS GIANT SPONGE.

>> FOR WFSU, I'M ROB DIAZ DEVEGAS.

>> ROB HAS A FEW OTHER ADVENTURES WHERE HARLEY MEANS HAS SHOWN US THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE AQUIFER BENEATH US.

YOU CAN WATCH THESE SEGMENTS ON WFSU ECOLOGY BLOG.

>>> WFSU-TV HAS A NEW INTERN THIS SEMESTER, BUT SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE WORKING AT A STATION LEARNING ABOUT TELEVISION.

FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE PBS SERIES "AGE OF NATURE," SHE'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE APALACHEE AUDUBON GROUP ON THEIR MANY PROJECTS AT TALLAHASSEE'S LAKE AL BEAR DA.

LET'S TAKE A MINUTE AND MEET CLOWE BY THOMPSON.

>> HI, MY NAME IS CHLOE THOMPSON, I'M A NINTH GRADER, AND I AM WORKING AS INTERN FOR WFSU AND APPALACHEE AUDUBON.

I WILL BE HELPING WITH A FEW OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND LAKE ALBERTA.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'M GOING TO BE DOING IS ORGANIZING A TRASH CLEANUP TO HELP CLEAN UP THIS BEAUTIFUL PARK.

I WANTED TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.

THAT WAS SOMETHING I REALLY WANTED TO DO.

SO EVEN AFTER I'M, LIKE, DONE BEING AN INTERN HERE, I STILL MADE AN IMPACT OF SORTS.

IT'S NOT, LIKE, JUST ME SITTING AROUND FOR FOUR MONTHS AND NOT DOING ANYTHING.

I THOUGHT THAT THIS INTERNSHIP WOULD REALLY HELP ME SEE ALL THE INS AND OUTS OF THINGS AND THAT THERE'S MORE THAN JUST A BEAUTIFUL PARK TO LOOK AT, THERE'S MORE THAN JUST TO WALK AROUND AND SEE THE THINGS.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY HELP MAKE WORLD, THE EARTH WE HAVE A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE I WANT TO LIVE HERE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

>> WE DOCUMENTED APALACHEE AUDUBON'S EARLIER WORK FOR THE W OR FSU ECO-CITIZEN PROJECT IN 2019.YOU CAN SEE THAT ON WFSU'S ECOLOGY BLOG.

AND AS I SAID EARLIER, CHLOE'S INTERNSHIP IS FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM "AGE OF NATURE."

LAST FALL THEY FUNDED OUR EXPLORATIONS OF THE APALACHICOLA BLUFFS AND RAVINES REGION.

>>> TALLAHASSEE'S FRENCHTOWN COMMUNITY RECENTLY RECEIVED TWO NEW MURALS, AND IT MAY JUST BE THE BEGINNING OF MORE.

WFSU PRODUCER DEVON BITNER BRINGS US THE STORY OF HOW AN ARTIST, AN ORGANIZATION AND A NEIGHBORHOOD CAME TOGETHER TO BRING ART THAT WAS DESIGNED TO INSPIRE AND PAY HOMAGE TO TWO POWERFUL LEADERS.

>> IF YOU'VE DRIVEN AROUND TALLAHASSEE, YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN COLETTE HARDIMAN'S WORK.

SHE'S A MURALIST FROM THE AREA WHO RECENTLY MOVED TO AUSTIN, TEXAS, BUT HAS LEFT HER MARK IN A VARIETY OF PLACES AROUND TOWN.

>> EVERY TIME I WALK UP TO THE WALL, A LAYER IS PULLED BACK ON ME.THERE IS A VERY POWERFUL MOMENT WHEN I WALK UP TO ANY WALL AND IT'S BLANK, AND IT'S SOMEBODY'S MILLION DOLLAR PROPERTY.

IT'S A $10,000 FIX IF I MESS IT UP.

AND IT'S A BLANK WALL, AND I PUT THE FIRST STROKE ON IT.

THAT, THAT OVERCOMING OF FEAR THAT HAPPENS AT THE VERY FIRST PART, AT THE END OF THE JOB I LOOK BACK AND I CRY ON EVERY JOB.

>> IN NOVEMBER 2020 TWO OF HARDIMAN'S MURALS WERE UNVEIL ISED ON MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BOULEVARD IN FRENCHTOWN.

THE MURALS DEPICT THE LATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG WHO PASSED LAST SEPTEMBER AS WELL AS THE LEGENDARY CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST ROSA PARKS.

WHILE THE MURALS ADD A SPLASH OF COLOR TO A PART OF TOWN WITH AN ALREADY RICH HISTORY IN AIRPORTS AND CULTURE, THEY ALSO TELL THE STORY OF THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN AN ARTIST, THE ADVOCATE SIT ORGANIZATION AND THE CONTINUED REVITALIZATION OF ONE OF THE OLDEST BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

THESE MURALS STARTED WITH THE SUGGESTION OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO COMMISSIONER RICK NINER WHO SAW AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEW MURAL SHORTLY AFTER RBG'S PASSING.

>> THE IMPETUS WAS A CELEBRATION.AND THAT WAS HOW THE WHOLE IDEA WAS MANIFESTED WITH JODI.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A WALL.

SHE WANTED TO KNOW IF I WAS WILLING, AND SHE WOULD FIGURE OUT THE REST, AND SHE DID.

SHE ASKED ME HOW I FIND WALLS, AND I TOLD HER I USE LOCAL CONNECTIONS ON FACEBOOK.

HEY, I'VE GOT A PASSION PROJECT, AND I'D LIKE A WALL.

THAT WAS ALL IT TOOK FOR HER.

SHE HAD A LIGHTBULB MOMENT, AND SHE SAYS I KNOW JUST THE PLACE.

SO SHE REACHED OUT TO KAREN AT FPAC AND THEY, OF COURSE, GAVE US THE WALL.

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

SHE'S, LIKE, WE HAVE TWO WALLS.

>> WE CALL IT FLORIDA PAC BECAUSE IT'S EASY, FLORIDA PEOPLE'S ADVOCACY CENTER, WE, THAT NAME WE WANTED TO HAVE FLORIDA PAC AS THE SHORT NAME BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE THINK OF PACs AS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE ARE.

WE ARE THE PEOPLE'S ADVOCACY CENTER.

SO INSTEAD OF RAISING MONEY FOR POLITICIANS, WE'RE RAISING VOICES TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION AND DIALOGUE ARE AT THE CAPITAL.

FOLKS WE WORK WITH AROUND THE STATE, THEY'RE LOW-INCOME POVERTY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, FARM WORKERS GROUPS, IMMIGRANT RIGHTS GROUPS, CHILDREN'S GROUPS.THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

AND WHEN THEY DO COME TALLAHASSEE, THEY'VE GOT TO STAY IN HOTELS, RENT BUSES OR THEY COME UP FOR ONE DAY, NOT EVEN A WHOLE DAY AND GO BACK, AND YOU DON'T REALLY LEARN THE PROCESS THAT WAY.

SO FOR A LONG TIME, I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A PLACE THAT PEOPLE COULD STAY SAFELY AND FOR LOW COST OR NO COST AND STUMBLED UPON THIS BUILDING REALLY BY ACCIDENT.AND IT IS THE PERFECT LOCATION.

AND WE HAVE ROOMS THAT PEOPLE CAN STAY WHEN TODAY COME TO TALLAHASSEE TO LOBBY.

IT'S NOT OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.IT'S ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE WORK ON ON SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE ISSUES.

>> IN ADDITION TO HOSTING ADVOCATES WHO TRAVEL TO THE CAPITAL CITY DURING LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE CENTER ALSO HOLDS OFFICES FOR VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN TOWN.

ONE OF THOSE OFFICES BELONGS TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FRENCHTOWN REVITALIZATION COUNCIL, NAIS HEALTH CARE A MITCHELL.

>> SINCE THIS IS AN ADVOCACY CENTER THAT'S PRETTY MUCH DEDICATED TO THAT TYPE OF WORK, THE PEOPLE WHO COME HERE FOR OFFICES TYPICALLY ARE DOING ADVOCACY WORK, ORGANIZING, OR YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TYPE OF WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO IT'S JUST A PERFECT PLACE FOR ME TO DO MY WORK.

IT REALLY IS A WONDERFUL WAY TO BE, YOU KNOW, PLACED IN OUR COMMUNITY TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE GREAT WORK EVEN THESE WOMEN HAVE DONE WITH JUDGE GINSBURG AND MRS.

PARKS.

EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, YOU KNOW, CHOICE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO SOCIAL JUSTICE WORK.

>> OUR VISION WAS ALWAYS TO DO MURALS, WE JUST HADN'T GOTTEN AROUND TO IT YET.

SO SHE HAD THE IDEA AND ASKED IF I WOULD BE INTERESTED.

I SAID, OF COURSE.

BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HAVE A FEMALE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BUILDING, AND I'D LIKE TO SURVEY MY NEIGHBORS ABOUT WHO THEY'D LIKE TO LOOK AT EVERY DAY.

I WENT DOOR TO DOOR, WENT TO A FARMERS' MARKET -- ROSA PARKS BEAT OUT HARRIET TUBMAN BY ABOUT TWO VOTES.

>> I AM A THIRD GENERATION PAINTER, AND WHAT I MEAN IS SHERWIN E WILLIAMS TRUNKS PAINTING THIRD GENERATION.

SO CONCEPTUALLY HOW I APPLY TO THAT IS I WORK FROM THE BACK TO THE FRONT.

I LAYER IT.

FOR INSTANCE, RBG AND ROSA PARKS HAD A WHY NOT BACKGROUND -- WHITE BACKGROUND, I WOULD SPRAY WHITE HERE, JUMP OVER TO NEXT ONE AND SPRAY WHITE THERE.

THEN I'D FADE IN THE BLUE.

I ONLY TOUCH A COLOR ONE TIME.

AND IT CUTS DOWN AND STREAMLINES YOUR PROCESS BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WITH MURALISTS, AND I'VE SEEN IT EVERY TIME.

THE MORE DIFFICULT WE MAKE IT, THE LESS PASSION IT INVOLVES, THE LONGER IT TAKES, AND WE FEEL BROKEN AT THE END.

>> BOTH WOMEN IN THEIR DIFFERENT WAYS, IN DIFFERENT ROLES ARE THE EMBODIMENT OF WHAT WE STRIVE TO DO HERE AT THE CENTER BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE, WE'RE WORKING FOR ENGAGEMENT, INVOLVEMENT, EMPOWERMENT OF THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, PEOPLE WHO ARE OFTEN LEFT OUT.

SO IT WAS REAL APPROPRIATE FOR THEM TO BE ON THE BUILDING.

>> OUR YOUNGER GENERATION IS NO LONGER LOOKING IN BOOKS.

IF THEY WANT TO LEARN SOMETHING, THEY HAVE TO DIRECTLY SEEK THAT QUERY.

AND SO THE BEST WAY THAT I HAVE FOUND TO TEACH THE YOUNGER GENERATION ABOUT OUR PAST AND EVERYBODY WHO HELPED GET US TO WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IS TO PUT STREET ART IN THEIR FACE.

>> I LIKE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THESE TWO GREAT WOMEN SO THAT YOUNG PEOPLE GET TO KNOW PEOPLE, YOU KNOW?

THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT RUTH BADER GINSBURG.MANY KNOW ABOUT ROSA PARKS.

BUT THEY DON'T KNOW THE STORY, THE REAL STORIES BEHIND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.SO TRYING TO EDUCATE THEM, HISTORY IN THEIR CULTURE AND THEIR VALUES.

BECAUSE THESE WOMEN HELD SOME VERY HIGH VALUES AND PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDED THEIR WORK.

>> OUR PLAN IS TO DO MORE MURALS OUTSIDE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I SHARED WITH MY NEIGHBORS WHO ALL SAID THEY HAD SEVEN WOMEN THEY WERE CHOOSING FROM AND A BLANK LINE, AND THEY SAID WELL ALL OF THESE WOMEN.I SAID, NOT TO WORRY, THEY'LL BE SOMEWHERE IN THE CENTER, ON THE OUTSIDE, ON THE INSIDE.

>> IF YOU'RE A BUDDING ARTIST OUT ARE THERE AND YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU CAN DO, COME THIS WAY.

WE'VE GOT A SPACE FOR YOU ON THE WALL.THERE ARE MANY, MANY WALLS AROUND THIS BUILDING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, AND WE DO HOPE THAT WE CAN GET PARENTS ENGAGED, SOME YOUNG PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY BEGIN TO PAINTING WINDOWS, YOU KNOW, OR PAINTING THE WALLS, DOING THEIR OWN MURALS THAT WILL BE HELPING US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR WORK HERE.

>> SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK OF FRENCHTOWN AND THEY THINK, OH, IT'S JUST A POOR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND FRENCHTOWN IS REDEVELOPING AND STRIVING, AND ART IS SOMETHING THAT BRINGS EVERYBODY TOGETHER.IT'S NOT A POLITICAL -- [AUDIO DIFFICULTY] OF BEAUTY AND RESPECT, AND THAT'S GOOD FOR PEOPLE TOO IN THE COMMUNITY TO SEE ART, BEAUTIFUL WORKS OF ART ALL AROUND THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> FOR WFSU, I'M DEVIN BITNER.

>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORK FLORIDA PAC DOES OR HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN THEIR NEXT ART PROJECT, VISIT FLORIDAPAC.ORG.

>>> YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED DURING OUR STORIES TODAY THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE WE WERE INTERVIEWING WERE WEARING MASKS, OR THEY WERE BEING INTERVIEWED ONLINE.

MUSICAL ARTISTS HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH PLENTY OF CHALLENGES SINCE THE COVID-19 SHUTDOWNS LAST YEAR.

ONE LOCAL MUSICIAN, BRANDON BROWN, USED A COMBINATION OF VIDEO TECHNIQUES, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL DISTANCING TO CREATE A SONG WITH THREE OTHER MUSICIANS.

HERE'S THEIR SONG.

IT'S CALLED "THE ONE."

♪ ♪ OPEN YOUR EYES AND YOU'LL SEE.

♪ GIVE ME ONE NIGHT, IT'S ALL I NEED --♪ TO HAVE YOU RIGHT NEXT TO ME.

♪ BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ONE THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ME.

♪ IF I'M WITHOUT YOU, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'D BE.

♪ WHEN YOU'RE GONE, I FEEL SO UNCOMPLETE.♪ JUST COME CLOSER, AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT I MEAN.

♪ INSIDE MY HEART I FEEL YOUR EVERY BEAT.

♪ IT'S THE START OF US, SO BITTERSWEET.♪ IT'S SO HARD TO LEAVE, OH, I CAN'T BREATHE.

♪ OPEN UP YOUR HEART AND BE WITH ME, 'CUZ YOU'RE THE ONE FOR ME.

♪ I'VE BEEN THINKING OF YOU ALL NIGHT.♪ AND I CAN'T GET YOU OFF MY MIND.♪ YOUR PERFECTION, IT DRIVES ME WILD.

♪ BECAUSE I'M BY YOUR SIDE ALL THE TIME.

♪ BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ONE THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ME.

♪ IF I'M WITHOUT YOU, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'D BE.

♪ WHEN YOU'RE GONE, I FEEL SO INCOMPLETE.♪ JUST COME CLOSER, AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT I MEAN.

♪ INSIDE MY HEART I FEEL YOUR EVERY BEAT.

♪ IT'S THE START OF US, SO BITTERSWEET.♪ SO HARD TO LEAVE, OH, I CAN'T BREATHE.♪ OPEN UP YOUR HEART AND BE WITH ME, 'CUZ YOU'RE THE ONE FOR ME.

♪ WHEN YOU'RE GONE, I FEEL INCOMPLETE.REALLY HATE WHEN THERE'S A ROAD ALWAYS IN BETWEEN.

BABY, JUST COME BACK TO ME.

I'LL LET YOU TAKE YOUR TIME.

FORGET THE PAST, BABY, WE JUST GOT THE FUTURE NOW.

NOTHING TO HOLD US DOWN.

FREE TO FRY, I GO HIGH WITH YOU BY MY SIDE.

♪ INSIDE MY HEART I FEEL YOUR EVERY BEAT.

♪ IT'S THE START OF US, SO BITTERSWEET.

♪ IT'S SO HARD TO LEAVE, OH, I CAN'T BREATHE.

♪ OPEN UP YOUR HEART AND BE WITH ME, 'CUZ YOU'RE THE ONE FOR ME.

♪ >> YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS SONG AND THE PEW DECISIONS INVOLVED, BRANDON BROWNE, KAYLA RAY, IZZIE ISLAND AND THAT KID RYAN AT A SPECIAL BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO ON OUR WEB SITE.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS EPISODE OF "LOCAL ROUTES."

YOU CAN SEE THESE STORIES AND MORE ON OUR WEB SITE, WFSU.ORG/LOCALROUTES.AND WHILE YOU'RE ONLINE, GO AHEAD AND FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM.

PLUS, THERE'S ONE MORE THING YOU CAN DO WHILE YOU'RE ONLINE, GO AHEAD AND SIGN UP FOR WFSU'S COMMUNITY CALENDAR NEWSLETTER DELIVERED WEEKLY TO YOUR E-MAIL, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO STAY UP TO TATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING LOCALLY AND IN THE VIRTUAL WORLD.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, EVERYONE.

FOR EVERYBODY AT WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA, HAVE A GREAT DAY.

♪ MAGNOLIA TREES GREET THE SOUTHERN BREEZE IN THE LAND THAT RIVERS WIND.

♪ SEEDS THAT SPRING UP FROM THE PAST LEAVE US TREASURES YET TO FIND.♪ WHERE OUR CHILDREN PLAY ALONG THE LAND OUR FATHERS BUILT WITH HONEST HANDS.

♪ TAKE A MOMENT NOW AND LOOK AROUND THE PARADISE WE HAVE FOUND.

♪ TAKE THE LOCAL ROUTES AND JOURNEY DOWN THE ROADS WE CALL OUR HOME ♪