The Tampa Bay Times will launch Spotlight Tampa Bay, a series of community conversations that focus on the region’s most pressing issues.
The first conversation, which will be at the Palladium Theater in downtown St. Petersburg, will feature Bob Buckhorn, former Tampa mayor and executive vice president at Shumaker Advisors Florida; Melissa Zornitta, executive director of the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission; Jeff Brandes, former state senator and president of the Florida Policy Project and Rebecca Liebson, real estate reporter for the Times. Michael Van Sickler, the Times’ assistant managing editor for news, will lead the panel in a discussion on the future of housing in Tampa Bay.
“We’re excited to engage with the community,” said Mark Katches, the Times’ editor and vice president. “We play an important role in Tampa Bay – not just as a trusted source of news, but also as a convener that can bring thought leaders and stakeholders together to further the dialogue around issues and topics that impact us all. This series of events promises to deliver on that front.”
Tickets for Spotlight Tampa Bay are $30 in advance and may be purchased at mytbtickets.com. The Aug. 16 event will begin at 5 p.m. with registration and refreshments. The program will start promptly at 5:30 p.m.
All proceeds from the event will go to the Times’ journalisms funds, which help support the organization’s groundbreaking work.
For more information about Spotlight Tampa Bay, visit mytbtickets.com or email akeeler@tampabay.com.