#6: La'Farrah Davis on Empowering the Hearts and Minds of Putnam's Youth

LaToya Robinson and I chatted with the organizer behind Juneteenth, Break a Leg, Saved By The Mask, and much more.

[This is a transcript of an interview from February 2023. It’s been lightly edited for clarity. The video version will be released this summer.]

Q: Hi, this is Mike Eidson. I’m the lead writer for The Putnam Possum, which is a brand-new newsletter for Putnam County that started this year. It’s been a lot of fun to do. We’ve got cartoons by Rikki Judson, we’ve got news about Florida, news about Putnam County.

This is my first Zoom interview for The Putnam Possum, and I have LaToya Anderson Robinson joining me. We became fast friends last year through her political campaign. And we have La’Farrah Davis, founder of Heart & Soul, so thank you both for joining me today.

La’Farrah, I was looking at your slate for 2023, and it’s almost like the ball was dropping on New Year’s Eve, and you were like, “I’m going to do a thousand projects next year.” And I love that you are so active in the community. I also want to go into your history. But before we do that: Break a Leg, episode 2, premiered yesterday, correct?

LD: It sure did. Episode 2 aired yesterday, Saturday, February 18th.

Q: What I like about it so far, if you missed it on Roku, you can go online. I found it on your Facebook page, the links to Episode 1 and Episode 2. Episode 1 really focused on the children of Heart and Soul.

LD: Yes. Heart and Soul Youth Fine Arts Club is a 501c3 organization that I started in Palatka, FL, that has now expanded to Green Cove Springs, and also in Jacksonville.

It’s an organization that is catered to young boys and young girls who love the arts. Our focus and our vision is to empower, inspire, and motivate young boys and girls through the arts.

Q: So Episode 1 focused on the children. You actually had a child interview you, which was great.

And then Episode 2, you interviewed a musician out of New Orleans, a trombonist who performed at Juneteenth. Can you remind me of his name?

LD: Strother Davis. Now, the reason you saw me interview Strother was because, unfortunately… The Break a Leg kids TV show has a kids host. And unfortunately, the kids host was not able to make it that particular day. And so we had to continue to roll, and continue to record. So it was me that evening.

Q: That was going to lead into my next question, which was, the format of the series, is it going to go back and forth between you and the children. But you were basically like the substitute host, is what you’re saying.

LD: Yes. I was the step-in for Episode 2.

Q: Okay. Well, he was a very interesting guest. I highly recommend everyone check out Episodes 1 and 2 online. [Editor’s note: Scroll down further for Episodes 3 & 4!] So that’s kind of your big news lately. One other current event before we go into Palatka, FL, I mean, all three of us were born and raised in Palatka, right?

LD: Right.

LAR: Right.

Q: One more to go before we dive into that: The Florida Black Expo. Is that based out of Jacksonville?

LD: No, actually, the Florida Black Expo is hosted in several different cities, it was just in Jacksonville during that time period.

It’s a national event, but different cities and states have a bid. And this particularly year it was in Jacksonville.

Q: And you were honored during this event. Could you tell our viewers and readers what you were honored for?

LD: Yes. Florida Black Expo has an award where they honor 20 professional leaders in the community. Actually, it’s nationwide. Whoever applies for that award. So any professional leader who someone sees is a mover and shaker, an entrepreneur, that is working inside of the city or state, they nominate. And once you are nominated, and you are notified of the nomination, there is a panel of judges who select the top 20. And, to God be the Glory, I was one of the 20 selected as a recipient of the award.

Q: Well, congratulations, that sounds really exciting and fun.

LD: Thank you so much. And you know, when I really knew I was nominated, I was honored, because the first thing I thought about was the children who I empower through the arts and the things that I do for Palatka. It was just a phenomenal honor to have been nominated, and then to receive the award.

Q: How’d you come up with the name for Break a Leg?

LD: When an entertainer or performer says “Break a leg,” it’s like, do your best! It’s something everyone hears before they go on stage.

Q: And how many of your young TV stars are like, “Okay, I’ll try to be on camera,” and how many gravitate to it: “The spotlight it on me, I can’t wait!” How are your kids feeling about it so far?

LD: I’ve started, at first, with episodes in Jacksonville. So I’ve started with my Jacksonville students, and there’s about eight of them. A lot of them have different personalities. This opportunity is actually bringing a lot of them out of their shells. So are there are some who were so excited and so welcoming to the opportunity, but there others who are excited, but shy away from the camera, and are getting a chance to come out in the front.

Q: I think that encouragement is part of what you do anyway, so I really like that. Okay, let’s talk about Palatka! And childhoods, y’all. LaToya, how was La’Farrah growing up? She said in one of the Break a Leg episodes that there wasn’t much in Palatka to do, like extracurricular activities. So you’ve got this cousin — Cousins, right?

LD: Yes. First cousins!

Q: You’ve got this cousin that’s just dying to be in the spotlight, and can’t wait to do things. And you’ve got Palatka, Florida. So tell me a little bit about that, LaToya.

LAR: Growing up as the older cousin to La’Farrah, I did have the opportunity to see her in Dana’s Dance World. And her other cousins, my sister was one, did a lot of performing at Dana’s Dance World. And I believe that was her foundation, in addition to church. The Easter plays, and stuff like that, that she participated in, that definitely gave her the foundation to do what she’s doing now.

I’ve had the chance to witness her gain a passion for dance. Through that, in high school, she was a cheerleader. She obtained a passion for cheering. And I can say, everything she wanted to do and set herself out to do, I think she’s checked it off her list.

So, Palatka: Dana’s Dance World definitely gave her the foundation for what she’s doing now.

Q: And La’Farrah, when you compare yourself to your 10-year-old self, do you feel like you’re filling that void in Palatka, Green Cove, and Jacksonville, in terms of fun stuff that kids you can do?

LD: Absolutely. I really think I am. Even at the age of 10, or nine when I started dancing, going through childhood to my young adult stages, I feel like I have had that same childhood passion. That same childhood dream.

Like my cousin LaToya has said, I’ve been crossing it off. I’ve been marking it off my list. “I’ve done this. I’ve done that.” It’s a phenomenal feeling to give back to Palatka.

Q: That leads into my next question. It’s something I’ve always admired about LaToya, and that I’m learning about you, La’Farrah, is you both have this idea of giving back. I came across this quote recently, and it was “It’s not enough to just live, you have to have something to live for.” I feel like you both really live for giving back to the community. Do you want to speak to any of that? How do you approach it? How do you pick what kind of projects you want to work on?

LAR: With me, what motivates me is “Be the change that you want to see.” And that’s what I strive to do. I don’t really initiate any projects, I pretty much join in on what’s already going on and just be a helping hand, to enhance that effort. But I’m always geared to help kids, to help families. That’s where my heart is. And I don’t have a problem helping where I can if it’s to benefit children and families.

And to segue to La’Farrah, with us being cousins, we have a strong family foundation. I think that’s what motivates us, or gives us the motivation we need, because we have a strong family support network. So we want to be in a position to spread that, to give others the opportunity to have that same joy, or a family feeling, or to know that somebody is here to support you, somebody is here to have your back, or whatever the need is. If we are able to do it, we are there.

Q: Excellent. How about you, La’Farrah, what speaks to you when it comes to the concept of giving back?

LD: As LaToya stated, the feeling is genuine. It’s something embedded in our family: our values, our morals. It’s about treating others the way we would want to be treated. And helping. And in that extra help, lean toward something.

You know, throughout the projects that I’ve had in the community, the first thing is I always know I can go to my family, because we all share that same value of helping, and making our community a better place.

Q: Yeah. Because we were trying to schedule this interview, and LaToya’s like, “I’m feeding the homeless that afternoon.” Not in a “look at me” way, but in a way that just says, that’s a typical weekend for you. Pretty much, right? It just shows that there’s a need out there.

LAR: There’s definitely always something going on in the community that I, or one of my family members, am involved in.

Q: I want to segue back to 2023 events. But before we do that, is there anything else to say about filling the void with the arts? I guess you would say, you are a vehicle for the arts. Reading, writing, drawing… do you do any drawing? Can you go through the list of the different types of arts that you are providing?

LD: Yes, we actually do provide an outlet for art. We have a student who designed our program and a painting for the first production of The Wiz back in 2018.

But we offer dance, theater, production, singing, artwork, painting, sculpting, and scriptwriting. So various visual and performing arts.

Q: I love it. We talked about Break a Leg earlier. That’s going to be a weekly show. How many episodes do you have planned?

LD: That’s a great question. The contract I’m on goes up to 2024. So, January 2024 will be the last episode. You get an episode every Saturday.

Q: Wow. So, possibly 50-something episodes.

LD: Right.

Q: Okay. Good luck! As someone who’s trying to do 50 newsletters, I sympathize.

LD: And each episode is 28 minutes, with an intro and an outro.

Q: Awesome. Next up on the docket — you listed your upcoming activities on your Facebook page — is The Lion King Jr.

Now, if anybody caught The Wiz, this will be the next production from you guys. So, can you go into The Lion King, Jr. a little bit? Do you have a production date for that?

LD: It’s tentatively set for September 2023. I don’t have an exact date, but usually our productions are mid-month, and it’s always held at the CL Overturf school… I think it’s now the educational center for Putnam County School District.

Q: Are auditions started yet?

LD: Yes, as a matter of fact, our first audition was in January. We’re going to have another one in March. So if anyone missed out in January, we’re definitely going to have another one. The plans are to start rehearsals, with the cast’s roles to be distributed, in April.

Q: LaToya, did you catch The Wiz?

LAR: I did, yes. I had the opportunity to work with some of the kids during practice, and help out backstage.

LD: As a matter of fact, Michael, it was LaToya’s husband, Mr. Tommy Robinson, who played Uncle Henry in The Wiz, the first one. Also, my cousin Tevon Adams played the tin man in the first production of The Wiz.

Q: Right, because y’all did more than one year of The Wiz.

LD: Right.

Q: Yeah, I saw the second one at Jim Pignato Theater. And that’s where The Lion King will be performed.

LD: The same one. Yes. Jim Pignato Theater!

Q: It’s going to be a lot of fun. And it’s a great show to begin with.

LD: It is.

Q: Saved By the Mask: Part 2. Tell us a little bit about Saved By the Mask: Part 1, how that whole concept got together, and then we’ll talk a bit about Part 2, if you don’t mind.

LD: I don’t mind at all! The vision for Saved By the Mask came into play when we were on lockdown. Everybody was not able to go into social atmospheres. A lot of the parents of Heart and Soul Youth reached out to me and asked if I would do something virtual. They asked if virtual dance classes and theater classes. I said, “Why not? Let’s do it.”

And within the time frame that I decided to do that, I also discovered that we were hearing so much about the adults’ perspective of the pandemic, but no so much of the children’s perspective. So that’s when it popped in my mind: I think in our world, today’s society, the adults also need to get that perspective of our young children. And that’s how that came to play.

I selected nine students of Heart and Soul to become published authors. And those nine students really go in-depth into discussing their heartwarming thoughts and perspectives of how they felt during the pandemic, as young boys and young girls.

Q: It was fantastic. I’ve seen the preview pages. I love the way — first of all, my daughter knows a couple of the children-authors, and it was cool to have them be in the spotlight. And they had an important message to go along with it. So I just thought it was a really cool book.

LD: A great thing about it is the students can actually go into two of the Putnam County School Libraries and check it out.

I got a call, probably a week ago, my niece, Nola McCullough, and she said, “Auntie, Auntie! Did you know that I saw your book in our library?!” And I was just floored, because it was just the fact of her seeing her auntie’s book with these students that she knows! It was just phenomenal.

So there are two of the Putnam County School Libraries that students can go into and check out the book.

Q: That goes back to boosting confidence and making people feel empowered. What’s your approach to the second book?

LD: With Part 2, I would love to go into the same concept, but this time it’s the aftermath. Post-knowing the initial education. How do children feel now that they’re back at school, and back to their social lives? But some may still be wearing their masks. Some may decide not to. So it would be a comparison of how they felt during the pandemic to considering how it is now.

COVID is still out there. But everybody is out and about without masks. They’re not thinking too much about it as they did before.

So that’s Part 2.

Q: That’s a great idea. Because it’s almost like a grey area, where some people want it to be over, when it’s not over. So I think that’s a great approach to it. Are you going to have the same children-authors, or are you going to have a brand-new batch?

LD: It’ll be a brand-new batch. There may be a summary of the nine authors who were in Part 1, but Part 2 will be a new batch, just to give the students another opportunity to be published authors.

Q: I love that. Moving along, we’re only halfway through your 2023 docket — oh, let me back up to an earlier question. What made you want to do so much this year?

LD: [pauses] I think I just can’t be still. [laughs]

LAR: She’s got to keep herself busy.

LD: Yes. And again, I think it’s the family value of giving back. We have love for our community. That’s what it is.

Q: So this will be the Third Annual Juneteenth Event coming up, that you’ve been in charge of that Palatka has experienced.

LD: Yes.

Q: Two years ago, it was at the Family Life Center. Last year, it was at Palatka Jr.-Sr. High School. Where will it be this year?

LD: It’s going to be Saturday, June 17th, again at the Palatka High School. 12pm-5pm. Inside and outside the common areas. The desire is to host it at the high school annually.

Q: Okay. What I love about it is it’s a celebration of African-American freedom and culture. It’s also a great spotlight for small businesses, wouldn’t you say?

LD: Absolutely. You’re right. It’s an opportunity to commemorate, celebrate, and recognize those who were enslaved during that time period.

But it’s also to highlight entrepreneurs, businesses small and large, just to come out and enjoy themselves under one umbrella. It’s a celebration.

Q: Last year I was there as part of a local grassroots group. LaToya, you were there as part of your political campaign. Can you tell us your takeaway about the Juneteenth event?

LAR: I just like to see a group of people come together for one common cause. The unity that it brings. We’re able to socialize with different avenues… different businesses, different organizations. And we are able to see what we actually do have in our community.

Because some people might not know all of the organizations that are here. And it gives us an opportunity to understand what that organization gives to the city and to the community. It gives an opportunity to socialize with other people. Entertainment, different types of food, treats, and all of that. So my takeaway is that it brought a lot of people out.

Q: Yeah. There’s food trucks set up there. Live music. Poetry — that poet last year was phenomenal. I can’t remember her name off the top of my head. [Editor’s note: Melissa Clemons.]

So are you expecting more of the same type of artists, and all of that… I guess you’re going to start seeing who will sign up pretty soon.

LD: Yes. The goal is to reach out to everyone who participated last year. They just recently had an Emagine Arts display, at the Larimer. [Editor’s Note: For Black History Month, Emagine Arts and the Arts Council presented an exhibit entitled “Metamorphosis: The Evolution of the Black Artist.] And I’m inviting them to come out to showcase their artwork.

But the goal is to have everyone who was there last year to come back, and for those who didn’t find out about it until the last minute, who didn’t get a chance to participate, to participate.

Q: Excellent. Okay, moving along. Now this one I know nothing about except for the five words you put on your Facebook post, so this is brand-new to me: Boot to Cancer Kickball Game.

LD: Oh, wow, okay.

Q: Is that in the works?

LD: Yes! It is. Last year, in October, I did the Boot to Cancer Kickball Game in Jacksonville at the JP Small Baseball Park. I actually partnered up with the church and arts program. And it was phenomenal. It was a success. It was sort of like at Juneteenth where you come out, but we were there to raise awareness for breast cancer, or any other type of cancer.

So my desire is to bring it to Palatka. If there is an organization that would like to partner up, we can definitely get it together, but I would love to have it where it’s not just in Jacksonville, but it’s a movement. A movement.

Q: Excellent. And it looks like you have two Christmas events coming up… oh, I missed one. I’m sorry! Let’s rewind back to Juneteenth. Can you talk about the Mr. and Mrs. Juneteenth Pageant? What is it, exactly? I know that you pick a young boy and a young girl.

LD: Yes. First, I want to say that all of the events and activities that you see that I host, my family are 100% supporters. They’re behind the scenes making sure that they’re lending their helping hand, and my cousin LaToya is one of them that is always there. It’s like, every time I ask, they say yes. Sometimes I don’t even have to ask. They’re already there, thinking of ideas. So I just want to commend and thank my family so much for their support and their hard work and dedication to the ideas I have that are manifested. So, thank you.

Q: That’s great.

LD: So, like you stated, this will be the third year I do the Juneteenth event. Last year, I was thinking, I want to do something different. So I added the Mr. and Mrs. Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant as a new component. So it’s giving scholarships. And that’s one of the missions and focus of Heart & Soul, is to be able to provide scholarships for young boys and girls.

Q: Awesome.

LD: So last year, we did that. This year, I’m trying to figure out who was the organizer for the A. Phillip Randolph sign, because he was a Juneteenth activist. And I read in the newspaper somewhere that whoever organized that signage, or that ceremony, they’re interested in doing scholarships for Juneteenth. So my desire is to find out who that organizer was, and to see if they would like to partner with the Mr. and Mrs. Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant. To see if there’s something we could implement with that activist, because I think the activist was from Crescent City.

LAR: Crescent City, yes.

LD: So if anyone knows who…

Q: We are going to use this interview to find that person for you.

LAR: I’ll see what I can do.

LD: Awesome, because I would love to partner with them, based on reading that article, it was an amazing article, and they wanted to reach out. And they wanted to reach out to sponsor scholarships. So yeah, if you can help me find out who it is, I will be fully appreciative.

Q: Sounds good. Just to wrap things up in terms of your event list: you have two Christmas events. One is a Youth Formal Holiday Dinner. The other is a Ball. Can you go into your thoughts and plans for those two events?

LD: Yes. So, Christmas in Palatka, this is our fifth year. I may have lost count, we could be coming up on the sixth. That will be catered towards young girls and boys. But the Gala: I’m always catering to the youth, but I have the mindset also to cater to our elders. Our seniors.

Q: Oh, wow.

LD: So that’s one thing that came up in my mind: to have a Senior Christmas Gala.

Q: That’s perfect. And I think the last thing on here was just a reminder that you do have classes in Green Cove Springs, in Jacksonville, and in Palatka. I guess you kind of spread that out — first of all, how many people do you have on staff?

LD: [laughs]

Q: You’re laughing at the idea of staff? Is it just you?

LD: That’s a good question, because after every event, I always say I wish I could put my family on staff and compensate them. [laughs]

LAR: I think she likes it. I have offered to be her business manager several times. To help her coordinate all of this. But she seems to have it pretty much under control. But she’ll eventually have a staff.

LD: Yes.

Q: So your CashApp is heart2soul. I’ll put your Zelle and Paypal in the description for this interview. Tell us what you mean when you say tax-deductible donations, what you’re asking for from the public to help you out with all of your different ventures.

• Mail: PO BOX 1182 Palatka, FL. 32178

• Cash App: $heart2Soul

• Zelle: 813-943-5499

• PayPal: lydavis82@yahoo.com

LD: Okay, so Heart & Soul is a 501c3 organization, so if there is an individual, an organization, or a business that would like to donate, their donations are tax-deductible. They can do write-offs during tax season.

Q: Right. So we are looking for donations. Just to help out the kids, y’know? And to make sure they have the activities that can help them grow. That’s what it’s all about.

LD: Every donation or sponsorship goes back into the community. Expenses for any of those listed activities that you mentioned.

LAR: And I want to add that La’Farrah has come out of her own pocket tremendously, if she is lacking in any area. So not only is she putting in the sweat equity, it is financially most of it coming out of her own pocket. That, in and of itself, says that she definitely wants all of her events to be successful, in every way. And for the kids to benefit from it at max capacity.

Q: Yeah. To me, this is community work that she is doing. So we need the community to help her. We need the community to help back her to do all of this great work.

This might be a question out of left field, here. When you were building up hype for Break a Leg, and you were like, “I got something big in the works!” And I said something like, “Is it politics?”

Now, I know LaToya is already getting tired of me talking about her future in politics, but I wanted to ask you, La’Farrah, do you have any plans?

LD: [laughs] No plans.

Q: You were dancing with Charlie Crist last year, so…

LD: Yeah I was running around in circles with Charlie Crist. [laughs] But, no, I’ve never thought about politics. but I will say when my cousin LaToya ran for office, I was elated. I was so ecstatic and overjoyed. Just to see her heart and her passion, to go out… not just for the title, but to make a difference, to make a change for Putnam County. So I’m definitely going to keep rooting and keep encouraging my cousin to keep going after that goal, to become what it is she needs to be. But, title or not, she is still a phenomenal leader.

LAR: Thank you.

Q: LaToya, I guess we are three months removed from the election. And I know, last time I talked to you about this, you said, “Hey, I just want to focus on community work.” I’m sure that’s your answer today, right?

LAR: Absolutely. That is still my answer. I will say that that run is a one-hit wonder. I think whatever it was I supposed to benefit from it, I have succeeded in that.

I will mentor, if needed, and help coach the next person. But at this moment, I don’t have a desire to run for office.

Q: It’s a huge amount of energy. Mental, physical, financial.

LAR: All of the above. Yes.

Q: All right, do y’all have any kind of parting comments for The Putnam Possum, before we close things up?

LD: I’m just grateful and thankful that you and my cousin took the time out to co-host and host this interview, giving me an opportunity to speak to the Putnam County community. And I look forward to continuing to receive the support for all of these events.

LAR: I want to say thank you as well for giving La’Farrah another platform to showcase all the things she wants to do in Putnam County, as well as Clay and Duval Counties. Each platform is definitely beneficial to get the word out there. And Putnam Possum is definitely an avenue to do that.

Q: Thank you. I’m just so thankful for the work you’re doing for the community. It means a lot, and I’m sure that on your days where there’s a lot of drudgery to it, and you’re just maybe not feeling it, especially on those days, remember that the community cares about this. We thank you very much for your hard work.

LD: Thank you.

Q: And that’s about it! The full video will be on our Patreon next month, and available for everyone around the time of Juneteenth. Thank you, everyone!