Volunteer Recruitment Call: Checks & Balances Blogspot/Integrity Balance Inc

 

Any volunteer can make effort make an impact upon their community issue by contributing whatever your 'gifts' might be; physical, time, talent, ideas or even prayer. What is unique about this forming & norminh phase is that youth and adults will both be permitted to serve on the Leadership Board togther.

This is a call for actiob, volunteers and monetary contributions.

Progress on turning the blog into a grass roots organization may just rely on what occurs in 2026!

Contact info: (727) 643-5527

atyodabrooks@gmail.com 

Contributions at this time can only be made via cash app or by contacted directly the founding leader as to where checks can be brought and/or mailed. 

@atyodabrooks

                 "For faith is the most powerful engine on earth" 

Cite: https://www.pexels.com/photo/volunteer-search-party-10349598/

A City Known for Arts an Diversity: Highlighting Story:

 

Pinellas County artist on why grants go toward 'investing in community'

WUSF | By Matthew Peddie, 

Meleah Lyden

Published January 26, 2026 at 5:00 AM EST

"One Pinellas County artist says it's "dismissive and disrespectful" how the county voted to defund a nonprofit organization that distributed grants to local artists." - "John Gascot is the co-owner of Studios at 5663 and founder of Diversity Arts Inc, which is a group that provides materials and space to underserved adults and youth."

Cite: https://www.wusf.org/arts-culture/2026-01-26/pinellas-county-artist-why-grants-go-toward-investing-community?utm_source=npr.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=local_headlines&utm_content=homepage

https://www.wusf.org/arts-culture/2022-07-13/st-pete-pier-named-one-of-top-urban-design-projects

Our Voice and Unity is Our Power

                                           Our Voice and Unity is Our Power

St. Pete: The Science Center - Unpublished

 Work to bring back the St. Petersburg Science Center are wort attention.

Source: https://stpetecatalyst.com/vintage-st-pete-the-science-center-part-one/

https://stpete.foundation/programs/the-science-center/

A Staging Ground for something better - We Love St. Pete

A Staging Ground for something better - We Love St. Pete.

Donate: $Atyodabrooks

Continuing Tribute to Weedon Island Preserve, a legacy of Indigenous Heritage

 Continuing Tribute to Weedon Island Preserve, a legacy of Indigenous Heritage within Pinellas County Florida. Prayer of Conservation I spoke in the park, one of two such prayers. The other 'prayer for creation and nature' will be shared under a separate post, both said over that land yesterday while exercising alludes me.  Each time visiting this public park & preservation I felt a release of stress. 

 

 

 

Prayer of Conservation 

 Divine spirit of the Earth

We gather in reverence for the conservation of the planet.

May we inspired to protect the natural world, recognizing the sanctity of every

Sentient species, ecosystem, life and landscape.

Help us act as stewards preserving the

Earth's natural beauty 

for generations to come.

Amen. 

 

    Why was he not with family, friend or a caretaker is the question I posted in social media and the same on this blog. The statement is not a political statement; my wise mother advise me some time ago that I cannot to wear my heart on my sleeve. Blessings and peace to the family and legacy of the missing youth. Readers please review this story yourself as its not my job to go in details on such matters.

 https://www.wkrg.com/state-regional/florida/body-found-in-weedon-preserve-identified-as-missing-st-pete-teen/?nxsparam=1 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-origins-of-wearing-your-heart-on-your-sleeve-17471279/ 

Anti-Trump No Kings protests flood American streets ahead of military parade

    This is a national movement Checks & Balances blogspot unapologetically supports. I attended the peaceful rally in St. Petersburg , FL on June 14, 2025. What was lost was not diversity which was sufficiently represented but this was historically already USA Flag Day! I am not offended by persons who fly the Trump Country flags when they do such asserting that above the stars & strips the official flag of the United States of America that goes beyond politics. Fly them together is they must!  Proudly supporting democracy freedom while opposing extremism and damn politicly zealots. A lengthy video of the event can be found under not just my instagram but that of other peaceful activists. Peace, love and unity. - A. T. Yoda Brooks

"No Kings protests rippled peacefully across dozens of cities, both in the U.S. and overseas, to stand against the Trump administration's large-scale military parade on Saturday. But they came against the backdrop of apparent political violence in Minnesota, where a state lawmaker was killed in her home.

Organizers estimated that more than 5 million people participated in more 2,000 planned protests, according to spokesperson Eunic Ortiz. Events were also held in Germany and France, according to the AP. While protests were peaceful, police in Culpeper, Va., arrested a man who "intentionally accelerated his vehicle into the dispersing crowd," at the end of a protest. One person was hit, but no one was hurt, police said." 

Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/06/14/nx-s1-5432708/no-kings-protests-military-parade

'No Kings' protests span multiple cities across Los Angeles area

St. Pete also representing well during the June 14, 2025 Non Kings Peaceful Protest. I have not yet vetting the No Kings organization itself however its platform and structure appears to be similar to Move.org which is a respectful grass roots group. Representing St. Petersburg FL lets move this momentum forward to win elections! Do not be afraid to express democratic rights standing in the gap for those not able to be there due to health reasons, disability, fear, our fragile communities, or on the fringe lets do what WE can to support, incircle & protect them.  Peace, love and democracy! - A.T. Yoda Brooks

Happy Pride 2025!!!

                            Happy Pride 2025!!!  Celebrate with pride, respect and dignity.

100-mile border rule?

 

How does this work in real life?: CBP on Buses and Transportation

As part of its immigration enforcement efforts, CBP boards buses and trains in the 100-mile border region either at the station or while the bus is on its journey. More than one officer usually boards the bus, and they will ask passengers questions about their immigration status, ask passengers to show them immigration documents, or both. These questions should be brief and related to verifying one’s lawful presence in the U.S. Although these situations are scary, and it may seem that CBP agents are giving you an order when they ask you questions, you are not required to answer and can simply say you do not wish to do so. As always, you have the right to remain silent.

Refusing to answer CBP’s questions may result in the agent persisting with questioning. If this occurs, you should ask if you are being detained. Another way to ask this is to say, “am I free to leave?” If the agent wishes to actually detain you — in other words, you are not free to leave — the agent needs at least reasonable suspicion that you committed an immigration violation to do so. Also, if an agent begins to question you about non-immigration matters, say to ask about drug smuggling, or if they haul you off the bus, they need at least reasonable suspicion that you committed an offense in order to briefly detain you while they investigate. You can ask an agent for their basis for detaining you, and they should tell you.

The longer CBP detains you the more suspicion they need — eventually they will need probable cause once the detention goes from brief to prolonged. If the agent arrests you or searches the interior of your belongings, they need probable cause that you committed an offense. You can ask the agent to tell you their basis for probable cause, and they should be able to articulate their suspicion.

"The answer to the below questions hopefully would be "yes" it is being respected."

Is the rule being observed? https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/border-zone

"In the spirit of Mr. John Lewis; good trouble up to the line of freedom we out to hold the line! And yes its not my place to tell anyone what to do but the I am not asking anyone to be quite about injustice & inequality"

Speaking Out Against Violent Gangs!

     Remembering our best leaders and their example while speaking out against violent gangs. Alternatives for our youth include the arts, sports and music programs. Crime within our Communities the statistics however our American people & youth are not simply statistics. This week WE honor, send respect to those who serve, have served and shall serve as they have determined that to be their pathway forward even as young adults. Remembering those who contributed to War domestic and abroad; uniform an civilian in the name of liberty, democracy and freedom. Two such youth I would like to mention leading the way showing excellence in diversity (music and business) as many graduate this Spring are my niece and Mr. Kayden Kelly. Always lean towards peace, communication and education before aggressive tactics no matter the side.

   Reaching other non-profits within this fine community doing good work with the goal to unite. Not just here in the beautiful City of St. Petersburg Florida but throughout the region. Supporting our schools and recovery communities, allies within it, rather it by day by day, one good idea, or volunteer by volunteer.

 I have not decided if I am going to serve a partisan political party again, but it is time that our best leaders stand up. Advocating for additional funding of all these programs. Community Service Officers (CSOs)". Efforts to expand such were at one time where many people felt the nation was pivoting towards politically. My question is what happened to that political resolve to solve one of many vexing issues throughout America?

Peace, love, democracy and faith. A vision of unity I envision for this great country we call the United States of America. Which is one the purposes for creating this independent blog. - A.T. Yoda Brooks

Source: https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/friends-from-tampa-to-south-beach-mourn-drag-queen/2123723/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ftCOXVetjI&t=15s

Supporting the Carter G. Woodsen Capital Expansion Fund - Grow St. Pete Grow!

 

Support the Capital Campaign 

"A concern citizen supporting this cause regardless of information put out there regarding the traditional Tropicana Field and/or the land it sits. Forward with or without!" Please follow the below information to support. Consider this a pubic service announcement -A.T.Yoda Brooks

The Woodson and Pinellas Community Foundation have joined forces to raise $40 million through a capital campaign for a new and expanded museum.

 The existing museum operates in the former community center of Jordan Park, the site of one of our nation’s first African American developed public housing communities. As a result of The Woodson’s growth and popularity, the museum has exceeded the use of its current single-story, 4,000-square-foot facility.

In 2023, The City of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Hines Development team reached an agreement to move forward with a new state-of-the-art ballpark and the transformative development of the Historic Gas Plant District, an 86-acre site where the team’s current stadium is located. This agreement includes expanding and relocating The Woodson African American Museum of Florida to this site.

 Source: https://woodsonmuseum.org/support/