850CapitalTea began after we watched our community speaking at the Tallahassee City Commission meetings. We saw the frustration – and felt the frustration – of speaking to an unhearing commission. Our passion grew as we watched the commission repeatedly voted against groups of neighbors asking for a pause on developments and construction. We saw Firefighters and their families speaking with raw emotion about financial struggles for 14 minutes to an empty Mayoral seat. We have seen TCAC ignored on multiple topics and requests for meetings with the commission.
As we watched more of the local government meetings we saw that this behavior extended to the Blueprint board where neighbors requested a grocery store in place of a distillery. Yet, the distillery won the majority votes. It was heartbreaking to see our neighbors lied to about a historic oak grove.
Seeing our neighbors wishes pushed aside for a small number of investors and developers inspired us to amplify the voices of the people of Tallahassee, our neighbors.
850CapitalTea’s First Post
On September 26th, 2023 we shared our first post. We started by sharing the realities of Firefighter families struggle to make ends meet with the pay from the City of Tallahassee. From there we evolved into amplifying our teachers and neighbors. We learned that people are afraid of retaliation from the local government, so we started to create anonymous surveys for you to speak freely without fear.
This social media project has grown rapidly because of all the likes, shares, and engagement we have received. We have learned that we truly are better and louder together. Within the first six months of starting 850CapitalTea, we met countless neighbors all with similar experiences of being unheard, dismiss, or retaliated against. Other neighbors offered help in educating us in web design and video editing. while other neighbors offered stories and encouragement.
What’s Next For 850CapitalTea
Tallahassee has a beautiful community that is comprised of many voices. It is harmful to everyone when a singular voice speaks over the rest. While we don’t have to agree with one another, when we all sit down at the table with respect we can accomplish a diverse city in which we are all proud of.
850CaptialTea is excited to continue this project with you. We will continue to amplify the voices of Tallahassee that have been ignored and talked over for too long. To be fact forward by bringing public information out into the sunshine for you to see and understand. And we will prioritize the safety of our audience. Remember, we are better and louder together. Keep the conversation going.
“Very great change starts from very small conversations, held among people who care.”
Margaret J. Wheatley
We have been asked by followers about ways to help us
As always liking, commenting, sharing and keeping the conversation going are the most impactful ways we can bring awareness to our neighbors about our local government and the impacts we are experiencing.
Some of our followers suggested financial aide, explaining that by us not offering a way for people to help fund us we are in a sense robbing people of the ability to help more or in other ways. After a few months of meditating on this idea we set up a way for our audience to contribute financially.
