Speed Date Your Local Leaders

Let’s do democracy: Let the speed dating begin!
Date and TimeWednesday, April 3, 2024 @ 6:00 pm
LocationGoodwood Carriage House

Maybe you’ve never tried it yourself, but everyone’s heard of speed dating. First offered by an Israeli rabbi to help Jewish singles find love, now there’s Christian speed dating, graduate student speed dating, even speed dating for pet adoption and – for the truly noncommittal – online speed dating.

But have you heard of civic speed dating? At a time when good civic conversations are either hostile or practically non-existent nationally, it’s probably past time for a little local “matchmaking” for the good of our hometown. It’s a format so cool and so unique that we were featured in USA Today when we launched it.

Thanks to our funders Community Foundation of North Florida through a grant from the Knight Foundation for making Speed Date possible.

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Single or married, Speed Date Your Local Leaders gives citizens the unusual opportunity to, well, “Speed Date Your Local Leaders” – enjoying yummy food from Jeri’s and chatting informally with the people who lead in our community. (see participating leaders who have already confirmed, below – and check back for new confirmations). Here’s how it works: Leaders will rotate from table to table every 7 minutes, offering each group of participants an opportunity to ask questions or offer ideas that might never have rated a phone call or public testimony, but are the grist of good citizenship and good governance nonetheless.

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Panelist

Curtis Richardson

City of Tallahassee Commissioner
Panelist

Jack Porter

City of Tallahassee Commissioner
Panelist

Carolyn Cummings

Leon County Commissioner
Panelist

Rick Minor

Leon County Commissioner
Panelist

Brian Welch

Leon County Commissioner
Panelist

David O’Keefe

Leon County Commissioner
Panelist

Cecka Rose Green

Children’s Services Council Executive Director
Panelist

Lawrence Revell

Tallahassee Police Department Chief
Panelist

Rocky Hanna

Leon County Schools Superintendent
Panelist

Mark Earley

Leon County Supervisor of Elections
Panelist

Katrina Rolle

Community Foundation of North Florida President & CEO
Panelist

Keith Bowers

Office of Economic Vitality
Panelist

Stephanie Shumate

Commission on the Status of Women and Girls Director
Panelist

Kathleen Spehar

Council on Culture & Arts Executive Director
Panelist

Jeremiah Murphy

Connection First President

Made possible by support from our sponsors and partners