THIS THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES TO THE UPCOMING MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

BUT FOR VOTERS IN COLLIER COUNTY, REDISTRICTING HAS THROWN A WRENCH ON WHERE VOTERS NEED TO GO TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS.

MEANWHILE, AS LEE COUNTY PREPARES FOR WHAT COULD BE SEVERAL HOTLY CONTESTED RACES, ONE COUNTY COMMISSION RACE HAS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED BEFORE THE POLLS EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO OPEN AND FINDING TIME TO BE A MENTOR BETWEEN CLASSES AND KICKOFF.

MEET THE FOUNDER OF A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO HELP FELLOW STUDENTS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE DEADLINE IS FAST APPROACHING FOR VOTERS WHO WANT TO TAKE PART IN THIS YEAR'S MIDTERMS.

YOU HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT MONDAY, OCTOBER 5TH TO REGISTER TO VOTE FOR THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER 3RD ELECTION.

NOW IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT TIME TO REQUEST YOUR VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT.

AND IF YOU CHOOSE TO VOTE IN PERSON, MAKE SURE TO CHECK YOUR POLLING PLACE, LOCATIONS.

THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN COLLIER COUNTY.

WE'RE NEARLY 173,000 REGISTERED VOTERS WERE IMPACTED BY CHANGES TO FLORIDA'S CONGRESSIONAL MAPS.

I AM NOW JOINED BY MELISSA GLACIER, THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS FOR COLLIER COUNTY.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IN STUDIO.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

NOW.

COLLIER COUNTY HAS MORE THAN 260,000 REGISTERED VOTERS.

YOU JUST FINISHED SENDING OUT ALL THE REQUEST FOR THE VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS, ALL ALL ABOUT THEMSELVES HAVE GONE OUT.

THEY ARE ARRIVING AT HOUSEHOLDS THROUGHOUT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AS WELL.

HOW MANY DID YOUR COUNTY SEND OUT?

>> SO WE HAVE SO FAR MAILED OUT ABOUT 52,000 VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS, WHICH IS GREAT GOING INTO THIS ELECTION.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS QUITE A BIT LOWER THAN WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE FOR THIS GUBERNATORIAL GENERAL ELECTION.

BUT WE WILL BE WORKING ON THAT FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

AND VOTERS CAN STILL REQUEST A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT FOLKS NEED TO REMEMBER.

WE WILL NEVER AUTOMATICALLY MAIL YOU A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT.

YOU MUST REQUEST ONE BY LAW IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THEY HAVE UNTIL 05:00PM ON OCTOBER 22ND TO MAKE THAT BALLOT REQUEST.

>> WHY IS YOUR COUNTY SEEING DRAMATIC DECLINE IN THE REQUEST FOR THESE VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS?

>> SO IT'S NOT JUST COLLIER COUNTY'S ACTUALLY ACROSS THE BOARD, THE WHOLE STATE OF FLORIDA.

WE HAD SOME LEGISLATIVE CHANGES BACK IN 2021.

THAT CHANGED THE WAY FOLKS CAN REQUEST A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS.

SO YOU USED TO BE ABLE TO REQUEST A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT AND IT WAS GOOD FOR FOR ELECTIONS.

AND NOW IT'S ONLY GOOD FOR ONE ELECTION CYCLE.

SO THAT WOULD BE 2 YEARS.

SO EVERY 2 YEARS FOLKS HAVE TO RE REQUEST TO VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS.

AND I THINK UNTIL WE GET INTO THAT PATTERN OF REQUESTING EVERY YEAR.

IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR FOLKS NOW.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE DECLINE IN THE REQUEST FOR THE VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS?

WILL THAT >> IMPACT THE TURNOUT FOR MIDTERM ELECTIONS?

>> SO I DON'T ACTUALLY THINK IT'LL IMPACT THE TURNOUT PER SE, BUT IT IS GOING TO IMPACT THE WAY THAT FOLKS CAST THEIR BALLOTS.

SO WITH THE NUMBER OF VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS DECREASING ONE WOULD HOPE IN-PERSON VOTING IS GOING TO INCREASE OR IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING IN IN-PERSON ON ELECTION DAY WILL INCREASE.

NOW WE HAVE A VERY LENGTHY BALLOT IN COLLIER COUNTY THIS YEAR.

IT IS ONE 17 INCH PAGE WITH CONTENT ON FRONT AND BACK WELL.

AND SO IT CAN TAKE VOTERS 10 TO 15 MINUTES IN THE VOTING BOOTH.

AND WHEN WE SEE FOLKS IN VOTING WAS LINES, THEN WE SEE LINES ALTOGETHER.

SO I'M I'M ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO EITHER REQUEST TO VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT OR PLEASE GET THEIR SAMPLE BALLOT MARKET BEFORE THEY GO TO THE POLLS THAT THEY ARE PREPARED WHEN THEY GET THERE TO VOTE.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED EARLY VOTING IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AS WELL TO AVOID THE LINES ON ELECTION DAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE WILL START EARLY VOTING IN COLLIER COUNTY ON OCTOBER 22ND.

WE WILL RUN DAILY THROUGH HALLOWEEN OCTOBER 31ST.

9 HOURS PER DAY.

SO 09:00AM UNTIL 06:00PM.

AND WE OFFER EARLY VOTING IN 11 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

VOTERS CAN GO TO ANY OF THOSE 11 LOCATIONS.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE ONE THAT'S CLOSEST TO THEM.

THEY CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

COLLIERVOTES DOT GOV.

WE POST WAIT TIMES ON OUR WEBSITE SO YOU MIGHT DRIVE A FEW MINUTES AWAY AND YOUR WAIT.

TIME CAN BE 15 MINUTES SHORTER.

>> NOW YORK COUNTY WAS DRAMATICALLY IMPACTED BY THE CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING MAPS.

YOU LOST 2 DISTRICTS AND YOU'VE ADAPTED 19 AND YOU'VE ALL SO GAINED ANOTHER DISTRICTS.

TESTS.

THIS AFFECTED, I BELIEVE ALMOST 200,000 VOTERS.

HOW IS THAT CHANGING YOUR WORKLOAD AND WHAT YOU ALL NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THOSE VOTERS WHO MIGHT BE IN A DIFFERENT DISTRICT THAT THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO THIS YEAR FOR THE MIDTERMS.

>> SO HOPEFULLY A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, CAME TO THIS REALIZATION DURING THE PRIMARY ELECTION THAT THEIR DISTRICT HAD CHANGED BECAUSE, YES, WE WENT FROM 3 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS TO 2 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS WITH NUMBERS CHANGING AND IN JUST REPRESENTATIVES COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THEY HAD BEEN IN THE PAST.

HOPEFULLY FOLKS ARE LOOKING AT THEIR VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS THAT WERE MAILING.

WE WILL BE MAILING THOSE SAMPLE BALLOTS OUT AND ABOUT A WEEK OR TAKE A LOOK AT THE BALLOTS BECAUSE YOU MIGHT BE HEARING A LOT ABOUT DISTRICT TO 19 WHERE HE MAY BE IN DISTRICT.

22 IN COLLIER COUNTY.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO AGAIN GO TO THE WEBSITE.

CHECK OUT YOUR INFORMATION.

MAKE SURE THAT YOUR REGISTRATION INFORMATION IS UP TO DATE AND LOOK AT WHAT DISTRICTS YOU RESIDE.

>> AND AGAIN, OCTOBER 5TH, THAT'S THE BIG DAY.

THEY HAVE TO REGISTER BY IS AT 05:00PM.

>> SO IT'S ACTUALLY A BY MIDNIGHT ON OCTOBER 5TH.

SO THAT'S A HUGE DEADLINE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAVE TO BE REGISTERED TO VOTE BY THAT DATE DIFFERENT THAN IN THE PRIMARY WHERE POLITICAL PARTY REALLY MATTERS.

SO PARTY AFFILIATION CHANGES THAT DOESN'T MATTER.

BUT YOU HAVE TO BE REGISTERED TO VOTE BY OCTOBER 5TH.

>> IS THERE ANY OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU WANT COLLIER COUNTY BOATERS TO BE AWARE OF THAT THEY MIGHT NOT BE.

>> I THINK REALLY IT'S JUST THE MOST IMPORTANT GOING INTO THIS ELECTION IS FOR FOLKS TO GO TO THE WEBSITE, CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION STATUS.

MAKE SURE YOUR VOTER INFORMATION IS UP TO DATE.

MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE MOST UP-TO-DATE ADDRESS ON FILE AND THAT THEIR ELECTION READY.

DOWNLOAD THAT SAMPLE BALLOT.

MAKE SURE DUPREE FEEL IT KNOW WHERE YOUR ELECTION DAY POLLING LOCATION IS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, JUST GET OUT TO VOTE.

AND YOU ALSO JUST RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A PARTNERSHIP >> COLLIER COUNTY, PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CHAMPIONS FOR LEARNING.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

>> HE'S SO WE ACTUALLY HOST AN ANNUAL ART FOR DEMOCRACY CONTEST WHERE WE ASK KIDS KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE TO DESIGN.

A PIECE OF ARTWORK THAT REPRESENTS WHAT DEMOCRACY MEANS TO THEM.

WHAT BEING AMERICAN MEANS TO THEM WITH THESE ONES GOING INTO NEXT YEAR.

SO 2027 WILL ACTUALLY TAKE SOME OF THE DESIGNS AND WILL CREATE AND I REGISTERED TO VOTE STICKER.

SO IT'S JUST A GREAT PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE WITH COLLIER COUNTY, PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CHAMPIONS FOR LEARNING.

AND WE APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT AND THE ARTWORK THAT WE GET FROM THESE KIDS IS FANTASTIC.

EVERY YEAR AND IT'S SO CREATIVE.

>> IT IS.

IT IS.

WELL, THANK YOU, MELISSA BLAZER, SUPERVISOR OF COLLIER COUNTY ELECTIONS FOR JOINING US TODAY IN STUDIO WITH SOME REALLY IMPORTANT REMINDERS.

SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

OUR PLEASURE.

>> COMING UP, AS VOTERS SORT THROUGH THEIR ELECTION NEEDS.

AS WE DRAW CLOSER TO THE GENERAL ELECTION, WE CAN TELL YOU THAT ONE HARD FOUGHT RACE ALREADY HAS DECIDED AMANDA COCHRAN WON A SEAT ON THE LEE COUNTY COMMISSION IN THE AUGUST PRIMARY DEFEATING TRUST.

BUT ROSKI BOTH RAN INTO COUNTYWIDE RACE IN AUGUST AND THERE IS NO OTHER CANDIDATE FROM ANY PARTY.

SO THAT MEANS THAT AMANDA COCHRAN IS ELECTED AND SHE WILL BE SWORN IN IN MID-NOVEMBER.

WGCUS MIKE WALCHER JOINS US NOW TO TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT HER PRIORITIES SAW WHEN SHE TAKES OFFICE.

>> YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, SHE IS PROMISING TO BE TRANSPARENT AND A FINE TIME TO TALK WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL POINTS OF VIEW ON THE ISSUES SHE BELIEVES THAT'S IMPORTANT.

SHE WILL FILL THE LAST 2 YEARS OF THE LATE MIKE GREEN WELLS TERM.

SOME CONSIDER VICTORY A SIGNIFICANT UP SHOP.

>> IT WAS A WILD RIDE THAT I ENJOYED MY FAVORITE PART WAS ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND GETTING TO KNOW THEIR CONCERNS AND THEIR HOPES FOR LEE COUNTY'S FUTURE.

>> WE MET THE COMMISSIONER ELECT ON THE GROUNDS OF THE OFF A MUSEUM.

COCHRAN IS A 6 GENERATION FLORIDIAN WHO GREW UP IN LEE COUNTY AND CAMPAIGN FOR WHAT SHE CALLS RESPONSIBLE GROWTH.

YOU BESTED THE ESTABLISHMENT HERE, WHICH IS NEVER EASY CARTER TO DO THAT.

>> I DID THIS VERY UNCONVENTIONAL STRATEGY WHERE I TOOK MY CAMPAIGN DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE OF LEE COUNTY.

AND I TOOK THESE BOOTS TO EVERY CORNER OF THE COUNTY.

SOME MIGHT SAY A DAVID AND GOLIATH SITUATION.

AND ON THAT NIGHT, I WAS JUST ELATED THAT THIS YEAR FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, IT FELT LIKE THE PEOPLE ONE.

THE PEOPLE WANT.

>> COCHRAN DEFEATED, CRISP, A TRUSTEE APPOINTED TO THE SEAT BY GOVERNOR DESANTIS LAST NOVEMBER.

THE LATEST FIGURES SHOW PETROSKI RAISED $326,000 FOR HER CAMPAIGN.

COCHRAN, ABOUT 205,000 NOW COMES THE HARD PART FOR COCHRAN.

>> DELIVERING ON PROMISES, PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

I THINK IT HAS BEEN RAPIDLY ERODED OVER THE YEARS.

I WOULD SAY NOT MAYBE FOR THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COUNTY RESIDENTS, BUT SEEMINGLY AT THE BEHEST OF OUTSIDE INTERESTS, IN MY OPINION AND ALSO ENSURING INFRASTRUCTURE KEEPS PACE WITH DEVELOPMENT.

COCHRAN RAN ON A PLATFORM TO TRY TO SLOW DOWN DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH.

>> DOES SHE HAVE A CHANCE TO BELIEVE NO.

>> KEITH TEEN GREW UP IN LEE AND OWNS LAND IN THE AL THE AREA.

>> I MEAN, I'M A PROPONENT OF SMART GROWTH.

>> BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMISSIONERS ARE BOUND BY THE LEAGUE.

PLANS LIKE DEVELOPERS ARE SO FEW ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY WITHIN THE RIGHTS OF THE LEE PLAN AND THE GOALS THAT ARE SET FORTH IN LEE PLAN, YOU CAN DEVELOP IT.

THE COMMISSIONERS ARE BOUND BY STATE PLAN, BUT THEY CAN'T DENY A DEVELOPER RIGHTS TO DEVELOP HIS PROPERTY BECAUSE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT IN PLACE.

SO ITS ALWAYS A CATCH UP.

ALWAYS.

IT HAS BEEN FOR EVER SINCE.

I'VE LIVED IN LEE COUNTY 60 YEARS.

IT'S BEEN SAME THING.

>> COCHRAN SAYS SHE WILL LOOK FOR COMPROMISE AND COMMON SENSE.

AND JUDGING DEVELOPMENT PLANS.

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT MY CHILDREN 20 YEARS FROM NOW AND SAY I DID EVERYTHING I COULD TO FIGHT.

>> FOR BETTER PRACTICES THAT WOULD HELP SUSTAIN US.

>> COCHRAN SAYS SHE'LL TRY TO EMULATE ONE OF HER HEROES.

THE LATE FRANK MAN WHO REPRESENTED THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE COUNTY FOR 15 YEARS UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 2022, HIS NICKNAME WAS 4 TO ONE FRANK BECAUSE HE OFTEN WAS THE ONLY VOTE TO SLOW GROWTH.

>> I THINK HIS LEGACY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF THAT HE DID HIS BEST TO PROTECT LEE COUNTY BUT TO PROTECT.

THIS AREA OF ALVA AND EAST LEE COUNTY AND LEHIGH ACRES AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE TAKEN CARE OF EVEN IF HE WAS A LONE RANGER >> SO RIGHT NOW IS A GOOD WAY TO PUT IT IN THE U.S.

OR WILL BILL BE THE LONG RANGER AND THEY WILL BE THE LONE RANGER.

>> BUT I'LL BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO MY CONSTITUENTS WHY I'M VOTING THIS WAY.

EVERY DECISION THAT IS MADE SHOULD BE MADE FOR THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE RESIDENTS OF LEE COUNTY.

AND I THINK IF WE DO THAT, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO RESPONSIBLE GROWTH MANAGEMENT THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF HOPE FOR THE COUNTY.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT.

>> THIS COMMISSIONER ELECT HAS NO DOUBTS THAT SHE CAN HANDLE THE JOB.

>> I AM ONE AMONG 6 SIBLINGS.

WE WERE BORN WITHIN 6 YEARS AND 5 OF THEM WERE BOYS.

SO MANY WOULD SAY I TRAINED FOR THIS THAT I HAVE.

I HAVE A TOUGH.

A TOUGH CONSTITUTION.

I'M UP FOR THE CHALLENGE.

>> NOW THAT WE KNOW WHEN AMANDA COCHRAN WILL OFFICIALLY BE SWORN IN.

>> YES, WE DO.

IT WILL BE EXACTLY 2 WEEKS AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION, IT WILL BE NOVEMBER 17TH AND SHE'LL BE SWORN IN.

FIRST THING IN THAT MORNING AND SHE WILL TAKE HER SEAT ON THE COMMISSION THAT SAME DAY FOR THE MEETING ON NOVEMBER 17TH, NO GRASS WILL GROW UNDER HER FEET.

NOW IT'S COMING UP FAST.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MY FAULT OR >> WITH ONE MONTH TO GO BEFORE THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE STAYING UP TO DATE WITH ALL OF THE POLITICAL HAPPENINGS BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE.

WGCU DOT ORG.

WELL, BEING A HIGH SCHOOLER IS TOUGH BETWEEN ACADEMICS AND EXTRACURRICULARS FINDING TIME TO DO ANYTHING ELSE CAN BE A CHALLENGE.

BUT ONE GROUP OF LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLERS IS MAKING TIME TO HELP FELLOW STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY.

ONE CAN A VERY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT FOUNDED THE NONPROFIT CALLED ATHLETES ACTIVATING CHAMPIONS AND EMPOWERMENT OR ACE IN 2025.

ACE HAS NOW GROWN TO MORE THAN 40 VOLUNTEERS AND JUST WON A NATIONAL AWARD FOR HIS SERVICE TO OTHERS.

AND JOINING ME NOW IN THE WGCU STUDIOS, FOUNDER OF ACE NOAH MOON AND AMBASSADOR VICELIA BROWN.

BOTH CAN A VERY HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS.

WELCOME TO OUR PROGRAM, KID FOR US.

NEW STARTED THIS.

WHEN YOU WERE 15 YEARS OLD, THAT'S SO IMPRESSIVE TO YOU.

WHAT WAS BEHIND IN MOTIVATED YOU TO CREATE THE STOP PROFIT.

>> SO WHAT MOTIVATED ME WAS SEEING KIDS THAT ARE UNDER PRIVILEGED AND THEN HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES THAT.

I MEAN, WE HAVE TO SEE THAT.

WE DID WAS JUST GO TO THEIR SCHOOLS AND HELP THEM BECOME BETTER PEOPLE.

AND JUST HOW HAVE A TRUE ROLE MODEL FOR THEM.

>> WHAT IS THE MISSION OF ACE?

>> IT'S A MAKE CHILDREN FEEL LIKE THEY'RE VALUED.

SO WE PARTNER WITH DOLLARS HOUSE TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

AND SO WE'LL GO THERE.

AND WHAT TO THE CHILDREN AND ALSO PLAY WITH THEM.

AND A LOT OF THEM ARE EXPERIENCING DIFFICULT HOME LIVES.

AND SO WHICH I'M FOSTER LIKE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM AND JUST LET THEM KNOW THAT WE'RE THERE FOR THEM.

AND JUST TRY TO BE LIKE A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY FOR THEM.

>> AND YOU'RE BOTH ATHLETES THAT YOU BOTH PLAY TENNIS.

HOW YOU USE SPORTS AND ATHLETICS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE AND ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION.

>> WELL, FOR THE CHILDREN, WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO SPORT.

WHO HAS SPORTS DOES BILL THAT COMMUNITY AND IT TEACHES THEM COMMUNICATION, COOPERATION, SKILLS THAT THEY MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY LEARN AT HOME.

AND SO WE TRIED TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO THAT.

SO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, FEEL SUPPORTED DURING THOSE.

AND I UNDERSTAND YOU WORK AT VALERIE'S HOUSE, A NEW TUTOR.

CAN YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF?

>> OF THE IMPACT THAT YOU'VE HAD SO >> FOR THE IMPACT THAT THERE'S A HUGE IMPACT ON EVERY KID.

BUT MOST MAKE THE MOST IMPACT THEY'VE SEEN WAS THIS GIRL WHO GOT WHO'S NOT DOING WELL IN SCHOOL BEFORE WE START HEARING ARE THINGS SHOULD THEY GET 65 OR SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE AND AFTER TEARING SHE HAD AN 87 AND SO HER AND HER DAUGHTER JUST LIKE VERY GRATEFUL FOR A SINGLE WE'VE DONE FOR THE AND THAT A HUGE IMPACT ON THEM.

I WISH.

>> YEAH.

SHE HAD ALSO RECENTLY LOST HER MOTHER.

SO STILL VERY DIFFICULT FOR HER.

BUT WE ARE ABLE TO HELP HER GET HER MATH GRADE UP, WHICH NOAH SAID.

>> AND HOW DOES THE TUTORING WORKER YOU?

ARE YOU VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME TO GO TO?

THAT IS YES.

SO WE HAVE A BUNCH OF VOLUNTEERS THAT IS ALL OF OUR FRIENDS.

>> TEXT OF AND SITS ON SATURDAYS.

SO WHERE CAN MAKE IT SHOWS UP?

AND WE HAVE A GREAT CUT TO TO GO AND HELP.

SO 3.

>> VERY.

AND THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HELPED PROVIDE THANKSGIVING MEALS LAST YEAR.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> JUST SO FOR THANKSGIVING, WE WE NEED THAT BAT IS FOR THANKSGIVING FOR TAKES ON ENTRY.

AND WE ALL I THINK I THINK IT'S 500 BAGS TOGETHER AND GIVEN TO THE KIDS IN EVERY CLASS AND THEIR ATTENDANCE IN SCHOOL WENT UP A LOT THAT DAY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR SHIRTS COMING.

FOOD FOR THEM FOR THANKSGIVING.

SO THEY'RE VERY GRATEFUL.

AND AND IT MADE THEM HAVE SOME THE E ON THANKSGIVING, WHICH IS GREAT.

>> SO HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO COLLECT ALL THE DONATIONS?

>> HOW DID YOU ACCOMPLISH THAT GOFUNDME?

SO PEOPLE WOULD IN WE'D ALL SHIP INTO.

>> I FEEL FOR THEM.

YOU JUST ARE CONNECTIONS THAT CAN A BRIS.

WELL.

>> WE HAVE A VERY GOOD COMMUNITY THERE.

SO IT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL THAT THEY WERE ALSO ABLE TO DONATE.

>> IT'S PRETTY REMARKABLE.

IT'S SO REMARKABLE THAT YOUR NONPROFIT WAS THE SOLE 2026 WINNER OF A NATIONAL SERVICE AWARD.

AND YOU'RE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., TO ACCEPT THE AWARD.

WHAT WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU AND WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT FOR THE NONPROFIT THAT YOU FOUND IT AT 15.

>> IT WAS GRAY MADE A HUGE IMPACT BECAUSE REALLY IT WAS JUST KIND OF LOCAL AND PEOPLE AROUND FORT MYERS KNEW IT WAS THEN TO GET NATIONAL RECOGNITION WAS LIKE VERY EYE-OPENING.

AND FOR ME TO SEE, I WAS LIKE WE HAD A HUGE IMPACT NOT ONLY IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT AROUND THE WORLD AROUND THE NATION AND YEAH, TOUCHED EVERYONE.

>> THAT'S THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

YOU ALSO HAVE PLANS TO EXPAND FROM CANTERBURY.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THOSE GOALS.

SO WE WANT TO EXPAND THE BISHOP FOR OWN OTHER SCHOOLS LOCALLY SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE MORE OF AN IMPACT ON THOSE CHILDREN.

AND HOPEFULLY MAYBE IN THE FUTURE WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO EXPAND TO OTHER COUNTIES OR REGIONS THREAT.

AND IF SOMEONE WANTS TO >> PARTICIPATE, EITHER VOLUNTEER AND GET INVOLVED IN ANY WAY OR FIND OUT.

HOW ARE THEY CAN'T GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED AND WHAT SHOULD THEY DO?

>> WE HAVEN'T SOCIAL MEDIA AND A WEBSITE IS TO EMPOWER AND SO THEY CAN GONE THERE AND THEY CAN CONTACT US OR ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL.

THEY'RE ABLE TO CONTACT THE STORE.

THIS IS JUST AMAZING.

I'M SO IMPRESSED.

>> AND I APPRECIATE YOU BOTH TAKING TIME TO JOIN US IN STUDIO.

YOU'RE GRADUATING YOUR BOAT HEADING OFF TO COLLEGE.

TELL ME WHERE YOU'RE HEADING AND WHERE YOU'RE HEADING.

>> WE'RE NOT SURE YET, BUT HOPEFULLY WAKE FOREST.

YES.

AND HOPEFULLY UNIVERSITY OF >> IN FLORIDA, THERE ARE OVER 2 MILLION CHILDREN ENROLLED IN MEDICAID.

THIS ENSURES ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE AND LOW-COST HEALTH COVERAGE.

AND IT'S A VITAL SAFETY NET FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

HOWEVER, PEDIATRICIANS ARE NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED TO ACCEPT MEDICAID FOR ROUTINE CARE.

AND THAT LEAVES SOME FAMILIES TOO CONDUCT EXTENSIVE RESEARCH TO FIND A PROVIDER THAT ACCEPTS THEIR INSURANCE.

IT CAN ALSO LEAD TO WEEKS WAITING FOR APPOINTMENTS ARE TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES JUST FOR BASIC CARE.

>> CHRIS JOHNSON IS THE CEO AND FOUNDER OF BLUEBIRD KIDS, HEALTH.

>> HE JOINS US NOW FROM BOSTON FOR MORE ON THIS GROWING CONCERN AND HOW TO GET HELP FINDING PEDIATRIC CARE.

WELCOME TO OUR SHOW TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

CHRIS.

CAN YOU FIRST EXPLAIN WHAT IS MEDICAID AND HOW IT DIFFERS FROM MEDICARE AND AND WHO IT IS SUPPOSED TO HELP.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN YOU THINK OF THE U.S.

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, THERE ARE 3 PRIMARY PAYERS OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES, MEDICARE, WHICH PROVIDES INSURANCE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE 65 AND OLDER.

WE HAVE COMMERCIAL INSURANCE, WHICH IS MOST FOLKS RECEIVE THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYER.

WE'RE POTENTIALLY THROUGH THE HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGES AND THEN MEDICAID, WHICH IS ANOTHER GOVERNMENT PROGRAM THAT IS FOCUSED ON POPULATIONS THAT ARE LOWER INCOME AND CANNOT AFFORD COMMERCIAL INSURANCE OR HAVE VERY COMPLEX MEDICAL NEEDS.

>> ABOUT HOW MANY CHILDREN IN OUR COUNTRY ARE ARE ENROLLED IN THIS PROGRAM.

>> YEAH.

SO SO THE GENESIS OF ONE OF THE CORE POPULATIONS BACK IN THE 60'S WHEN IT WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT WAS TUPPER ENSURE THAT ALL CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES TODAY, NEARLY 50% OF CHILDREN IN THE U.S.

ARE COVERED BY MEDICAID OR ANOTHER PROGRAM CALLED THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM, WHICH IS SIMILAR OFFERING MEDICAL CARE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE.

>> AND WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING PARENTS WITH KIDS ON MEDICAID?

THEY NEED TO GET THEIR KID IN TO SEE A DOCTOR.

I'M GOING TO SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON FLORIDA AND SOUTH FLORIDA.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE?

>> YEAH, IT ACCESS TO CARE IS AN INCREDIBLY LARGE BARRIER FOR THESE FAMILIES AND IT REALLY FALLS INTO 2 CATEGORIES ONE IS THAT, WELL, 50% OF CHILDREN ARE COVERED BY MEDICARE, MEDICAID.

GENERALLY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE PEDIATRICIAN PANEL, WELL, UNDER 50% OF THAT PANEL, OUR CHILDREN, MEDICAID, IT'S ON AVERAGE 15 OR 20%.

SOME PEDIATRICIANS DON'T ACCEPT MEDICAID ON THEIR PANEL.

SO THERE'S THAT DYNAMIC OF JUST AND NOT ENOUGH.

PEDIATRICIANS ARE ACCEPTING MEDICAID.

THE SECOND CHALLENGE THAT YOU THEN SEE IS THAT WHAT THIS HAS LED TO WHAT WE CALL A PEDIATRIC CARE DESERTS WHERE AROUND ALL MAJOR METRO AREAS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LOWEST INCOME COMMUNITIES IN THOSE METRO AREAS, THE NUMBER OF PEDIATRICIANS IS ABOUT 50% AS THE HIGHER INCOMES OF CO.

SO THERE'S ACTUAL LIKE PHYSICAL ACCESS BARRIERS ON TOP OF JUST CHALLENGE IS ACTUALLY FINDING A PEDIATRICIAN IS GOING TO ACCEPT MEDICAID.

>> WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS?

IT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE MENTIONING.

YOU KNOW, THEY MAY LACK ACCESS PHYSICALLY TO GET TO A CLINIC, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT ITS ROLE.

BUT THE INTERESTING THING IS, IS ALSO SUBURBAN.

SO EVEN WHEN YOU WHEN YOU LOOK AT COMMUNITIES LIKE FORT LAUDERDALE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT JACKSONVILLE, THE PEDIATRICIANS THAT ARE THERE TEND TO BE CLUSTERED IN THE MIDDLE TO HIGHER INCOME COMMUNITIES AND LOWER MIDDLE CLASS TO LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER ACCESS BARRIERS.

AND THAT'S TRUE OF RURAL COMMUNITIES.

BUT IT'S ALSO KIND OF AN URBAN SUBURBAN CHALLENGE THAT CAN EXIST AS WELL.

>> AND YOU FOUNDED BLUEBIRD KIDS, HEALTH.

I KNOW YOU RAISED.

I THINK IT WAS 31 MILLION IN CAPITAL FROM INVESTORS LAST YEAR.

WHAT DOES YOUR COMPANY DO AND WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE COMPANY?

>> YEAH, OUR ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL CARE SO ALL CHILDREN CAN THRIVE.

THAT'S OUR MISSION.

THAT'S AT THE CORE OF WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE MAY CALL FOR DECISIONS.

WE ACTUALLY BUILD A RETAIL PEDIATRIC PRACTICES.

SO THINK IN LARGE SHOPPING, PLAZAS, WE LOCATE THOSE IN AREAS THAT ARE WHAT WE CALL PEDIATRIC CARE DESERTS.

SO WE MAP GEOGRAPHY AS WE LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN.

LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF PEDIATRICIANS PER 1000 CHILDREN AND WE FIND THE COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE GOOD ACCESS TODAY.

BUILDING NEW ACCESS POINT THERE.

AND THEN WE ENSURE THAT WE CONTRACT WITH ALL THE INSURANCE PLANS IN A COMMUNITY.

SO WHETHER YOU HAVE KIND OF A CADILLAC AND, YOU KNOW, COMMERCIAL INSURANCE PRODUCT OR YOU'RE COVERED BY ONE OF THE MANY MEDICAID PRODUCTS IN THE STATE WERE ABLE TO GET ACCESS AT OUR AT OUR CLINIC.

>> WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR MOMS AND DADS WITH KIDS ON MEDICAID?

THERE ARE NO PROVIDERS ARE.

THEY'RE STILL WAITING TO GET THEIR KIDS SCENE.

YOUR FACILITIES AREN'T IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA YET.

WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT WILL BE COMING TO SOUTH OF FLORIDA SOON.

HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF 2027.

SO AT THAT POINT, WE HOPE WE HOPE YOU'LL COME TO BLUEBIRD KIDS, HEALTH.

IN THE MEANTIME, IT REALLY IS, YOU KNOW, BEING IN A ROW, A STAUNCH ADVOCATE FOR YOUR CHILDREN CALLING AROUND TO ALL OF THE PEDIATRICIANS IN THE COMMUNITY, CALLING THAT PEDIATRICIANS THAT ARE FILLED WITH LOCAL HEALTH SYSTEMS.

REALLY THAT KIND OF KNOCK KNOCK DOWN THE DOOR AND BE ABLE TO TO TO GET THROUGH UNFORTUNATE.

THERE'S NOT A GREAT, YOU KNOW, SECRET STASH OF PEDIATRICIANS AROUND TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS.

IT IS ONE WHERE YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT FOR ACCESS TO THAT JUST DON'T GIVE UP.

PEDIATRICIANS WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

THEY WANT TO PROVIDE CARE FOR ALL CHILDREN ARE SOME OF THE STRUCTURAL BARRIERS AROUND MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT CAN MAKE THAT QUITE CHALLENGING TO THAT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

CHRIS JOHNSON, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, A NEW WORKFORCE PROGRAM HAS LAUNCHED TO HELP FILL THE NEED FOR SKILLED HEAVY CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.

THE FLORIDA CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IS PAYING FOR THE TRAINING AND ITS EFFORTS TO BUILD UP A LABOR FORCE NEEDED TO COMPLETE MAJOR ROAD AND BRIDGE PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HAD TO WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.