THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP IS THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN POLITICS BEING LEFT IN THE HANDS OF GENERATION Z WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE YOUTH MOVEMENT COMING TO THE POLLS AND THE IMPACT YOUNGER AMERICANS WILL HAVE ON THE NOVEMBER MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

THE RESTORATION OF FORT MYERS BEACH AFTER HURRICANE IAN REACHES A MILESTONE WITH THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THE MULTI MILLION DOLLAR FISHING PIER.

AND IN EDUCATION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BALANCE WITH MORE THAN A MILLION FLORIDIANS AT RISK FOR A POTENTIAL DANGEROUS FALL.

WE FIND OUT HOW ONE COMMUNITY IS BRINGING STABILITY TO ITS RESIDENTS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

ACCORDING TO THE HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL JENS, THE VOTERS, THOSE BETWEEN AGE IS 18.

AND 29 HELP SWAY THE 2024 ELECTIONS TOWARDS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

BUT JUST 2 YEARS LATER, HARVARD'S NEW NATIONAL POLL OF YOUTH VOTERS SHOWS MOST YOUNG PEOPLE BELIEVE THE COUNTRY IS NOW HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

THE HARVARD YOUTH POLL REVEALS ABOUT ONE IN 4 SUPPORT.

PRESIDENT TRUMP AND CONGRESS, YOUNG PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE UNDER IMMENSE ECONOMIC PRESSURE AND THAT THEY'VE LOST FAITH IN THE CURRENT POLITICAL SYSTEM.

35% OF THOSE POLLED SAY THEY WILL DEFINITELY VOTE IN NOVEMBER.

POLICY ADVOCATE FOR PROTECT DEMOCRACY.

LAURA HICKS JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THE POWER OF YOUNGER VOTERS THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

THE FLORIDA PRIMARY IS BEHIND US.

YOUR GROUP SENT OUT JENS THE VOTING KITS REALLY TRYING TO ENCOURAGE YOUNGER PEOPLE.

AND WE'RE REFERRING TO THOSE BETWEEN 18 TO 29 TO GET OUT AND VOTE.

DIDN'T HELP.

>> I THINK IT DID OWN LEAVES.

WE'RE SEEING SOME REALLY ENCOURAGING STATISTICS AND TRENDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE TOOL KIT OR GEN Z ELECTION DEFENSE TOOL KIT WASN'T JUST FOCUSED ON VOTERS IN FLORIDA.

IT'S FOCUSED ON YOUNG VOTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND SO WHILE WE DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC YOUTH VOTER TURNOUT STATISTICS FROM THE PRIMARIES YET WE DO HAVE DATA FROM A PLETHORA OF RESOURCES IN INSTITUTIONS INDICATING THAT MORE YOUNG PEOPLE, THIS ELECTION CYCLE ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE COMPARED TO THE MIDTERMS IN 2022, IN FACT, 25 STATES HAVE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 18 TO 29, REGISTERED TO VOTE AND AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF POLLING AND RESEARCH THAT'S BEEN GOING ON.

THAT'S BEEN TRYING TO TEASE OUT WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE'S POLITICAL ATTITUDES ARE HEADING INTO ELECTION SEASON AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT'S FREQUENTLY ASKED OUR HOW LIKELY ARE YOU TO VOTE?

AND SO WE'RE SEEING HIGHER PERCENTAGES OF YOUNG PEOPLE SAYING THAT THEY'RE EXTREMELY LIKELY TO VOTE AND JUST ONE MORE NOTE ON THIS THAT I FIND REALLY FASCINATING AND ENCOURAGING THE INNER OPTIMIST IN ME IS SUPER EXCITED AND ACCORDING TO CIRCLE OUT OF TUFTS UNIVERSITY, WE'RE SEEING 56% OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THEIR RESEARCH INDICATING THAT THEY'RE EXTREMELY LIKELY TO VOTE DURING THE MIDTERMS.

THIS IS A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE CAN IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'VE SEEN ACTUALLY IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CYCLES.

NORMALLY YOU WOULD THINK WE'D HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A DROP-OFF IN TERMS OF YOUNG PEOPLE, AS YOU KNOW, PERCEPTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTION.

BUT ACTUALLY, THESE RATES ARE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'VE SEEN SAY IN LIKE 2020.

AND WHILE VOTER REGISTRATION AND VOTER INTENTION IS NOT THE SAME AS THE ACTUAL INFORMATION OF DID YOUNG PEOPLE TURN OUT TO THEY ACTUALLY VOTED.

THEY ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE THESE 2 DATA POINTS ARE REALLY ENCOURAGING SIGNS THAT WERE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE HIGHER YOUTH TURNOUT IN THE MIDTERMS YEAR.

>> AND GEN Z IS MORE LIKELY TO REGISTER NONPARTISAN.

THEN BOOMERS.

IT'S THEY'RE SINGLE LARGEST CATEGORY IN FLORIDA.

AND THAT'S ACCORDING TO INDEPENDENT VOTER PROJECT, WHICH IS A NONPARTISAN GROUP.

WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS?

>> OH, THAT'S SUCH A GREAT OBSERVATION AND REALLY FASCINATING ABOUT MY GENERATION.

I DON'T HAVE LIKE A BUT FOR A CAUSE AS TO WHY THAT IS.

BUT BASED ON WHAT I KNOW FROM MY PEERS, FROM MY WORK AND FROM THE RESEARCH THAT I'VE DONE TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE VERY UPSET ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR 2 PARTY POLITICAL SYSTEM IS A PART OF THAT RIGHT?

IF YOU'RE NOT IDENTIFYING WITH CANDIDATES THAT ARE DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO REGISTER A NON-PARTISAN OR INDEPENDENT AND LOOK FOR CANDIDATES THAT ARE NEW THAT ARE FRESH, MAYBE CHALLENGE CURRENT SYSTEMS ARE THE ESTABLISHMENT AND THAT HAVE MESSAGING THAT RESONATES MORE WITH YOU IN THE SITUATION THAT YOU'RE FACING.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE KEY ISSUES THAT YOU ARE SEEING THAT ARE ENCOURAGING YOUNGER VOTERS TO GET TO THE POLLS?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO IN TERMS OF ACTUAL SUBSTANCE, I MEAN, I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW HARD IT IS ECONOMICALLY FROM MANY PEOPLE.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING HIGHER COSTS OF LIVING HIGHER COST OF HOUSING AND LIMITED HOUSING, HIGHER EDUCATION COSTS AND DIFFICULTY WITH PEOPLE IN RETAINING AND ALSO TRYING TO FIND JOBS.

ALL OF THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A HUGE PRIORITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND SO THEY'RE ULTIMATELY LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES THAT THEY FEEL CAN BEST DELIVER ON THOSE NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE THEIR ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO A WELL, A MEANINGFUL, PRODUCTIVE LIFE.

THEIR ABILITY TO GET AN EDUCATION.

THEY'RE BUILT ABILITY TO GET FOOD ON THE TABLE AND TO AFFORD A PLACE TO LIVE.

BUT BEYOND THAT, THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES THAT DON'T REPRESENT THE STATUS QUO.

YOUNG PEOPLE ARE PRETTY UPSET AND NOT CONFIDENT WITH HOW OUR CURRENT DEMOCRACY IS OPERATING AND HOW IT'S ABLE TO DELIVER ON ITS PROMISE IS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND ALL AMERICANS.

SO IF CANDIDATES ARE ABLE TO VERY YOU NOW, WELL ARTICULATE THEIR VISION FOR WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE'S FUTURES CAN LOOK LIKE AND HOW THEIR NEEDS CAN BE MET AND THEIR CAMPAIGNS THAT'S GOING TO BE APPEALING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE REGISTERING INDEPENDENT AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN GENERAL.

>> ALL RIGHT, LARRY HICKS, THANKS FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

WITH THE MIDTERMS APPROACHING, YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON POLITICAL ISSUES BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE.

WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP, SUPPLYING THE TOOLS NEEDED AS PART OF THE FORT MYERS BEACH, REBUILD.

WE HEAD TO THE ISLAND COMMUNITY AS A LOCAL HARDWARE STORE CONTINUES A TREND OF HURRICANE RESTORATION.

AS RECOVERY FROM HURRICANE IAN MOVES FORWARD ON FORT MYERS BEACH, THE ISLAND COMMUNITIES CELEBRATED A MILESTONE ON FRIDAY.

WGCUS TEDDIE BYRNE HAS MORE >> THIS PIER, IT'S MORE THAN JUST A FISHING PIER GUYS.

IT'S MORE THAN JUST A PLACE TO WALK IN TAKING A NICE VIEW.

THIS IS A SYMBOL.

IT'S A SYMBOL THAT WE'RE COMING BACK 4 YEARS AGO AS HURRICANE IAN RIPPED THROUGH FORT MYERS BEACH, THE ICONIC FISHING PIER WAS CAUGHT IN THE CROSSHAIRS LEFT BEHIND WAS A CONCRETE SKELETON.

ROSA PILINGS WERE ALL THAT REMAINED OF THE POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION.

BUT AS FORT MYERS BEACH CONTINUES, RESTORATION EFFORTS TO ITS DOWNTOWN CITY OFFICIALS HELD A GROUNDBREAKING TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF RESURRECTING THE CENTERPIECE TO TIMES SQUARE.

LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONER DAVID MULLICA REPRESENTS FORT MYERS BEACH.

HE SHARES WHAT THE PIER REPRESENTS THIS PIER IS THE EIFFEL TOWER.

>> CHAMBER OF COMMERCE POSTCARD LANDMARK STRUCTURE OF LEE COUNTY.

IT IS WHAT YOU SEE ON EVERY BROCHURE AND EVERY POSTCARD GROWN UP HERE.

AND IT'S A DESTINATION THAT SO MANY OF US HAVE GROWN UP HERE, ENJOYING AND TO SEE THIS, GET IT BACK WHEN IT'S COMPLETED.

WELL, TRULY BE A SYMBOL OF RESILIENCE, REGROWTH AND A FRESH START RESET FOR ALL OF US HERE IN LEE COUNTY, THE NEW PIER WILL NOT BE A FACSIMILE OF ITS PREDECESSOR, BUT A BEEFED UP VERSION.

>> RENDERINGS SHOW UP HERE ROUGHLY 1000 FEET LONG AND 12 FEET WIDE.

IT'LL BE 70% LONGER AND 50% WIDER THAN THE ONE LOSS TO HURRICANE IAN.

DURABILITY WILL ALSO BE A MAIN FOCAL POINT ON THE 14 MILLION DOLLAR CONSTRUCTION WITH REINFORCED CONCRETE PILINGS, A CONCRETE DECK AND ALUMINUM RAILINGS.

THE NEW PIER LOOKS TO BE READY FOR ANY POTENTIAL INCLEMENT WEATHER.

AND ACCORDING TO LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONER, TRISH BUT ROSKI, WE'LL CONTINUE TO SERVE AS AN ISLAND LANDMARK.

I'M HAPPY TO SEE IT COMING BACK.

>> BIGGER THAN EVER.

YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO SEE IT FROM YOUR BOAT.

WAY AWAY.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT FROM SOME OF THESE BIGGER, YOU KNOW, RIGHT RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE.

YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE WE'LL SEE A FORT MYERS PIER.

IT'S GOING TO BE A SHINING BEACON OF HOPE AND RESILIENCY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THE GROUNDBREAKING ALSO SERVED AS THE OFFICIAL REOPENING OF CRESCENT BEACH FAMILY PARK.

IT'S PART OF A RECOVERY EFFORT THAT OFFICIALS LIKE MULLICA HOPE WILL USHER IN A NEW ERROR FOR TOURISTS AND LOCALS.

>> AS A KID LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE, I REMEMBER MY GRANDFATHER WALKING ME DOWN THE PIER AFTER WE HAD ICE CREAM, A DAIRY QUEEN.

GET A BUCKET OF SHRIMP AND GO FISHING.

THE END OF THE PIER.

SOME OF THOSE LIFETIME MEMORIES THAT I LOOK FOR GENERATIONS TO FOLLOW TO HAVE SIMILAR JOY IN THEIR LIVES FROM THE STRUCTURE FOR WGCU NEWS.

>> TEDDY BYRNE.

>> THE NEW PIER WILL HAVE EXPANDED WALKING PATHS.

3 SHADED STRUCTURES AND EXTRA SPOTS FOR FISHING.

THAT TOWN OFFICIALS HOPE THAT THE PAIR WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF SUMMER IN 2027.

THEY ALSO REMIND EVERYONE THAT AS CONSTRUCTION BEGINS PARTS OF THE BEACH WILL BE CLOSED OFF TO THE PUBLIC.

FORT MYERS BEACH IS ALSO WELCOMING THE RETURN OF BUSINESSES LOST TO HURRICANE IAN WDSU.

REPORTER KYUNG JOO PARK VISITED ONE GROUNDBREAKING 4 YEARS IN THE MAKING.

MAKING.

>> IN FORT MYERS BEACH, THIS THIS GROUNDBREAKING REVEALED DEEP ROOTS OF ITS LOCALS.

LONGTIME RESIDENTS, SALINAS BOATING SAYS THIS LAND WAS TO ROB BEING CROWNED OF HER SONS IN THE 1980'S.

>> VOICE, OF COURSE, OUR ORIGINAL BEACH BOYS ALONG WITH THE ELDER MOIST GRAHAM AND GRANT AND WE JUST BECAME FAMILY AS THE HOPE.

>> AND IF YOU'RE FOR HER SPEECH CHARLIE SPALDING REMINISCES ABOUT THOSE WEEKEND ACTIVITIES.

>> WE WAKE UP ON A SATURDAY MORNING IN NEED OF THE SOUTH OF THE ISLAND WHERE A LOT OF THIS KIND OF WENT DOWN THERE AND THEN WE WALKED IN WORD ON WHEN THE ISLAND THAT WAS NOT INJURED.

SO SUNSCREEN, UNFORTUNATELY.

>> DECADES SINCE THE KIDS HAVE CHOSEN TO DEEPEN THEIR ROOTS IN FORT MYERS BEACH.

AS BUSINESS OWNERS, THE HURRICANE IAN OF 2022.

NEARLY OBLITERATED THEIR DREAMS.

4 YEARS LATER ON THIS SATURDAY MORNING, A CROWD OF ALMOST 100 GATHERED TO BREAK GROUND ON A BUSINESS LOCATION.

OWNER GRAHAM FELKER TALKS ABOUT THE COMPLETE DEVASTATION.

THIS HARDWARE STORE NAMED THE CUTS.

>> INCLUDE A NIGHTMARE.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, BUILDING WAS GONE.

EVERYTHING INSIDE.

IT WAS GONE.

WORST DAY OF MY LIFE.

THAT WAS THAT.

>> HIS BUSINESS IS STILL OPERATING OUT OF 4 TRAILERS.

2 TRAILERS, HOUSE TOOLS AND HARDWARE.

PARTS FOR CONTRACTORS AND LOCAL HOMEOWNERS.

ONE TRAILER HAS SOUVENIERS FOR TOURISTS AND ONE TRAILER OFFERS A MUST HAVE FOR EVERYONE ON FORT MYERS SPEECH, ICE CREAM EMPLOYEE LARRY FOWLER SHOWS ITEMS FILLING UP EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY OF THE TRAILERS.

>> YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT PEOPLE WANT WE TRY TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING IN.

>> AS THE GOODS HARDWARE STORE SERVES, THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF ITS LOCAL CLIENTELE EMPLOYEE BRANDON HARVEY SAYS IT IS PROPPED UP BY OTHERS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

>> EVERYONE ON THIS >> YEAH.

LITTLE BLOCK THAT WE HAVE.

WE CALL IT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT'S JUST EVERYONE KNOWS EVERYONE WE USE NOW WE SUPPORT THEIR BUSINESSES.

THEY COME OVER AND SUPPORT OUR BUSINESSES.

THAT'S THE WAY THIS ISLAND ROUNDS.

>> CHARLIE SPOTTING POINTS TO AN EVENT THAT A PET IN MY XYZ BUSINESS SOLIDARITY IN THE HURRICANE'S AFTERMATH.

>> THE RESTAURANT CLOSED DOWN BECAUSE I GOT FLOODED OUT.

BUT THEY OPENED UP A TENT.

THEY'VE GONE DOWN THAT HAVE EMPLOYED AS THEY'RE WORKING ON HELPING TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR ALL THE WORKERS ARE DOWN THE ISLAND.

>> OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE ME TO TO CONNIE OF COLD STONE CREAMERY.

I CAN ATTEST TO THE SPECIAL QUALITY OF FORT MYERS SPEECH TO HIM, THE BUSINESS TO BUSINESS INTERACTIONS ARE LIKE THE OLD DAYS WHERE NEIGHBORS WENT TO ONE ANOTHER TO BORROW MILK AND MAKES.

>> IN MILAN DO DO IS THEY CAN LITERALLY NEXT TO US.

MISTER VIEW IS SUPER HELPFUL BECAUSE WE DO SMOOTHIES.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE SPACE FOR ICE MAKE OF A SO WE ALL IS DONE TO A MAN.

HE ALL THIS HOT FOR US TO KIND OF LIKE TO KNOW.

WHAT THEY WOULD NEED.

>> HE IS THAT HAS LANDED.

HARVEY SAYS SUPPORT FROM OTHER BUSINESSES IS INVALUABLE TO KEEPING HOPES ALIVE, HURRICANE OR NOT.

>> WITH SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, THE TOWN WORKER, PEOPLE THAT ARE >> ACCOUNTS WITH US SO THAT YOU DON'T WANT YOU TO LIVE SUS EVERY DAY.

>> AND PEOPLE KNOW THE GOOD.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A IT'S A LOCAL MAN TO BRAND THE PEOPLE.

>> WANT TO KEEP AROUND THEM ON AND OFF THE PLACE ON THIS ISLAND.

PEOPLE WANT TO SEE CRIME AND THAT SENSE OF CARE.

>> SOLIDIFIES THE RESULT OF CRAMMED ALKER.

>> TO REBUILD HIS NEW GOODS HARDWARE STORE HERE ON FORT MYERS BEACH.

I DO NOT GIVE UP EASY.

A VERY RESILIENCE.

I JUST KNOW DEEP DOWN THAT I CAN MAKE THIS WORK AND I'M NOT GIVING UP.

THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BE BUILT.

>> NEW FEMA, HURRICANE CODE TO WITHSTAND FUTURE STORMS.

AND WHEN IT'S READY FOR THE GOODS STORE AND THE FORT MYERS BEACH COMMUNITY, IT WILL BE A VICTORY >> WORTH CELEBRATING IDEA OF THE U.S.

>> WHERE DO YOU CHOOSE TO USE?

I'M NOT SURE >> FOR MORE STORIES ON HURRICANE RECOVERY AND THE RESTORATION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S TOURISM INDUSTRY.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG EARLIER THIS YEAR WE INTRODUCED YOU TO SEOUL RAISED AND IMMOKALEE TEENAGER WHO WAS INVITED TO ROME AS PART OF A GLOBAL PEACE INITIATIVE.

WELL, NOW THE 18 YEAR-OLD IS TRAVELING TO SWEDEN TO ACCEPT AN INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR HIS EFFORTS SUPPORTING MIGRANT FAMILIES.

REYES IS BEING HONORED AS THE UNITED STATES RECIPIENT OF THE 2026 YOUNG COURAGE AWARD IN STOCKHOLM THIS WEEK.

WGCU DAYNA HARPSTER HAS MORE.

I'M JOINED IN STUDIO BY SO RAY IS A RECENT GRADUATE OF IMMOKALEE HIGH SCHOOL AND RECIPIENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL YOUNG COURAGE AWARD FROM THE EMBASSY OF SWEDEN IN WASHINGTON, D.C., THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

STILL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TELL US WHAT A STUDENT ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE IS ALL ABOUT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHY YOU WERE AWARDED THIS CORRECT?

OF COURSE.

YES.

ON THE FOUNDER OF THE STUNTS ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE, ITS YOUTH LED NONPROFIT NOW.

BUT 2 YEARS AGO, WE STARTED AS A GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WE'RE FOCUSED KIND OF AN HONOR STUDIES, BUT WHAT HAPPENED IN OUR COMMUNITY KIND OF WIND AND SOME OF THAT IN AND STARTED TO START TO THINK ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS AND C STARTING TO SEE THINGS THAT WAS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND INJUSTICES THAT ARE HAPPENING AND WE STARTED TO WHEN IT WANTED TO PLAYING IN AS HUGHES AND CREATE KIND OF AN IMPACT.

SO WE STARTED SINCE ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE.

WE START OFF WITH CARE PACKAGES.

COMMUNITY CARE PACKAGES THAT WE GAVE AWAY TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THAT HYGIENE ITEMS ARE FARM WORKERS.

AND THEN IT ALSO HAD A KNOW YOUR RIGHTS CARDS.

AND WE ALSO DID TRAVEL REUNIFICATION BAGS FOR FAMILIES THAT WERE AFFECTED BY A LOT OF THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT INJUSTICES.

>> WOODY WOODY MEAN SPECIFICALLY?

>> OF COURSE, YES.

A FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS AND ESSENTIALLY TARGET OUR COMMUNITY FOR THESE PAST 2 YEARS AROUND EARLY WINTER TIME LAST YEAR, WE STARTED TO SEE AN INCREASE, AN ESCALATION AND AND FREQUENCY OF OF RAIDS HAPPENING IN HERE TARGETING OF OF VANS, WORK, VANS AND WORK.

BUSES AND IT'S IT DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS AND IT REALLY HAS BEEN AN INJUSTICE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S TARGETING OR PHARMERICA COMMUNITY.

IMMOKALEE ITSELF HAS BEEN A COMMUNITY FULL OF FARMWORKERS IN SUNDAY'S INCIDENT IN A DID.

AND THERE'S YOU KNOW, LARGE MIGRANT POPULATION AND ONCE 2.87 G GAME WAS SIGNED, WE SAW A LOT OF KIND OF THOSE THAT THAT THAT TALK THAT IN THE ESCALATION IN TACTICS USED ON OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS SPECIFICALLY.

>> YOU ARE CHOSEN FROM AMONG NOMINATIONS FROM 15 COUNTRIES.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT GOING TO SWING AT TO RECEIVE THIS HONOR AND WHAT WILL YOU DO?

THEIR OF SUPER THRILLED.

I MEAN, IT WAS A NOMINATION PROCESS AND MY FRIEND NOMINAL ACTUALLY FROM SUNRISE FOUNDATION, THE GROUP, I'M A PART OF AS WELL.

>> HE NOMINATED ME FOR THE WARD AND IT ALL STARTED ON INSTAGRAM.

IS THAT NEAR RIO AND WAS AND WAS TELLING ME ABOUT KIND OF WHAT IT WAS AND WHO THE SWING AND MISS ESPN WAS AND DOES EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM IS TO CREATE THINGS.

AND AS I WAS OVERJOYED TO BE NOMINATED BY HIM AND THEN KIND OF WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH HIM AND IT'S BEEN SO AMAZING.

AND I WAS KIND OF IS A WEEK AWAY.

IT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN.

I'M SUPER EXCITED.

I BET.

>> THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE TRAVELED OUT OF THE COUNTRY FOR AND I'M ALREADY THERE EARLY THE SUMMER.

YOU WENT TO ROME, RIGHT?

AS PART OF PROJECT OXYGEN.

>> WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?

OF COURSE, AND PROJECT OXYGEN WAS 40 STUDENTS, INCLUDING FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

FOR OUR FOR MOUNT DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

IT GOES AROUND FIFTHAND SAME AMOUNT OF AND 15 COUNTRIES.

AND THEN WE ALL MET IN ROME AND THE VATICAN CITY AND WE HADN'T REALLY EMPOWERING TALKS ABOUT WHAT PIECE MEANT TO US AND WHAT PEACE CAN MEAN FOR FOR OTHER GENERAL FOR THE FUTURE GENERATION, OUR GENERATION AS WELL.

AND WITH THAT, IT LOOKS LIKE IN AND THEN ALSO WE WERE JUST SHARING STORIES OF, YOU KNOW, THE PAIN AND THE STRUGGLE THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH AS USE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM UKRAINE.

WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT THE WAR WITH RUSSIA AND NOW IS GIVING, YOU KNOW, INSIGHTS ON WHAT.

AND I WAS HAPPENING IN IMMOKALEE.

AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE THE DISAPPEARANCE OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SO WE SHARED A LOT OF THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT PAIN THAT SAYS STRUGGLE.

BUT THEN WE ALSO TALK TO IT.

WHAT WHAT?

WHAT WE CAN START DOING TO COMBAT THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS YOUTH AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY THINKING ABOUT CHANGE AND THAT'S KIND OF BEEN AND THE NARRATIVE IN ALL AND EVERYTHING THAT I DO.

>> AND WHAT HAS INSPIRED YOU TO BE SUCH AN ACTIVIST FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.

>> OF COURSE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, JUST BEING A YOUTH GOING UP IN IMMOKALEE IN AND BEING IN THE HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM AND AND BEING AROUND.

A LOT OF MY FRIENDS AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE, AS YOU WANT TO BE A PERSON IS CREATING CHANGE WHEN WHEREVER THEY ARE IN KOREAN COMMUNITY.

AND IT REALLY WHAT IT IS.

IT'S IT'S IN US.

IT'S JUST THAT SHARED KIND OF EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAVE.

WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT TO WORK IN.

AND AND YEAH, SO FOR ME, IT'S KIND OF BEEN AND IS BEING PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON AND NOT NOT FALLING INTO COMPLACENCY.

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO REYES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

THANK YOU.

SO WHAT?

>> HERE'S ANOTHER FACT FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

THE YOUNG COURAGE AWARD HONORS RECIPIENTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 TO 20 YEARS OLD FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

ACCORDING TO THE SWEDISH INSTITUTE, THE AWARD WAS ESTABLISHED TO COMMEMORATE THE LEGACY OF SWEDISH DIPLOMAT RAOUL WALLENBERG HE IS CREDITED WITH SAVING 10'S OF THOUSANDS OF JEWISH CITIZENS DURING WORLD WAR.

2, THIS YEAR'S CEREMONY WILL BE HELD ON AUGUST 27TH IN STOCKHOLM.

AFTER THE BREAK.

IT'S A POSITION NO ONE WANTS TO FIND THEMSELVES IN WITH OVER A MILLION FLORIDIANS CONSIDERED A POTENTIAL FALL WRIST.

ONE COMMUNITY IS GETTING AHEAD OF AN UNEXPECTED STUMBLE BY TEACHING BETTER BALANCE.

THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL REPORTS MORE THAN 1 BILLION OLDER FLORIDIANS EXPERIENCE A FALL EVERY YEAR.

THAT MAKES AN INTENTIONAL FALLS.

THE LEADING CAUSE OF BOTH FATAL AND NON-FATAL INJURIES.

WGCUS CARY BARBOR TAKES US TO NAPLES WHERE SENIORS ARE LEARNING HOW TO PREVENT FALLING.

>> 2, WHY A A.

>> JIM AND I FELL TWICE RIGHT SMACK ON MY FACE AND I WAS VERY UNHAPPY AFTER THAT.

SO I SAID I'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING >> WATCH OUT FOR YOUR THAT'S YVONNE MENARD.

SINCE THOSE UNFORTUNATE FALLS, SHE STARTED ATTENDING BALANCE CLASS NEARLY EVERY WEEK AT THE CARLYLE IN NAPLES WHERE SHE LIVES.

THE CLASSES TAUGHT BY FALL PREVENTION SPECIALIST CHRIS WILLIAMS.

>> IF YOU'VE KNOWN ANYONE OVER THE AGE OF 65 THAT HAS FALLEN.

OR BROKEN A BONE AS A RESULT OF THAT FALL, IT BECOMES A DOWNWARD SPIRAL.

IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL, I JUST READ RESEARCH THAT STATED IN A 5 YEAR PERIOD FOR THOSE THAT FALL OVER THE AGE OF 65 AND BREAK THEIR FEMUR.

THE MORTALITY RATE AT THE FIVE-YEAR MARK IS 56%.

SO FOR THESE GUYS TO STAY STRONG MEANS THEY STAY MOBILE.

FACED A MOBILE, THEY STAY INDEPENDENT.

>> ACCORDING TO THE CDC EACH YEAR, THERE ARE ABOUT 3 MILLION EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS BROUGHT ON BY OLDER PEOPLE'S FALLS.

THEY'RE ALSO THE LEADING CAUSE OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

THE FALL PREVENTION CLASS HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR EXERCISE CLASSES ON THE DOCKET.

WILLIAMS TEACHES BALANCE AS WELL AS STRENGTH, WHICH HELPS PEOPLE STAY UPRIGHT AND INJURY FREE.

NATALIE LEWIS HELPED RECRUIT WILLIAMS TO TEACH THE CLASS.

SHE KNOWS THAT HER FELLOW RESIDENTS APPRECIATE IT.

THIS TALK AFTER THE CLASSES THAT WAS GREAT.

I FEEL BETTER.

>> AND SO IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY BALANCE.

>> BECAUSE AS CHRIS SAID, THE UNITED STATES ONE PERSON FALLS EVERY 11 SECONDS.

>> MARY BRADLEY IS A BIG FAN OF THE CLASS.

SHE SAID THAT SHE'S GETTING STRONGER SINCE SHE STARTED ATTENDING.

>> I'VE DONE IT EVERY WEEK.

AND I SIT DOWN.

YOU WANT TO SHOW YOU HOW A SHIP SURE SHOW YOU HOW GOOD I AM AT THIS.

SEE LIKE THIS.

AND I DO MY HOMEWORK.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

SO NOW I'M GOING TO SIT DOWN.

AND SHUT UP.

>> TO IMPROVE YOUR OWN BALANCE AND STRENGTH.

WILLIAMS RECOMMENDS STARTING BY SIMPLY SITTING DOWN IN A CHAIR AND STANDING UP.

HE SAYS TO GO SLOWLY COUNT TO 4 ON THE WAY DOWN AND 4 ON THE WAY UP.

DO THAT 5 TIMES OR SO RIGHT DOWN THAT A NUMBER AND THE TRIED TO DO MORE AND EVEN MORE THE AND SO ON.

AS FOR THE CARLISLE RESIDENTS, THEY'LL BE HAPPY TO KEEP COMING TO CLASS.

>> I COME EVERY TUESDAY AT 11, 30, I GET HERE EARLY JUST TO PRACTICE.

IT'S A WONDERFUL CLASS.

I'VE I'M VERY GLAD THAT HE'S HERE IN PERSON.

YEAH.

AND I LIKE HEARING HIS STORIES AND DOING THE EXERCISE AND DO THE HOMEWORK.

AND NOT FOLLOWING KNOCK-ON WAS.

>> FOR WGCU NEWS ON CARY BARBOR >> COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, THE USDA CRACKS DOWN ON SNAP RECIPIENTS IN FLORIDA BY RESTRICTING THE NUMBER OF FOOD ITEMS THAT ARE DEEMED LOW NUTRITION.

THE GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT COMING AS THE AGENCY IN TUCKER, FLORIDA'S GROWING OBESITY CRISIS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU VISIT W G C DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.