St. Petersburg Leaders Discuss Community Engagement and Impact at LaunchPAD Forum
Leaders from the St. Petersburg area convened at the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus for a LaunchPAD (Pathways for Academic Discovery) Career Exploration program forum. The panel discussion focused on the interconnectedness of civic engagement, history, philanthropy, and community impact. Panelists included St. Petersburg City Council member Richie Floyd, local restaurateur and philanthropist Steve Westphal, and St. Petersburg Museum of History executive director Rui Farias. Dr. Harris Ambush, a USF adjunct professor, moderated the event. Each panelist shared insights from their careers and personal experiences, emphasizing the power of community. Council member Floyd highlighted the collaborative effort required to bring initiatives to fruition, while Westphal, who started as a busser and built a restaurant portfolio, stressed the value of networking and entrepreneurship. Farias discussed the importance of preserving and sharing local history, particularly through projects like documen... 
