What is a Lakelander?
PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL DESIGNED BY DANIELLE DOUGHLIN
At the beginning of this issue we revealed the origins of The Lakelander name, but who exactly is someone talking about when they say the now common moniker?
Instead of showing you data points or crafting an illustrative monologue of what we think a typical Lakeland resident embodies, we found individuals who we find are most characteristic of a Lakelander.
Take a peek into their lives and learn what is common and distinctive among our neighbors.
Cathy Kennedy
A Lakelander and Polk County school board employee for 46 years
Has taught all grades k-5 and served as an assistant principal
Currently teaches second grade at Scott Lake elementary
Mrs. Kennedy, as most people know her, deflects the idea that there has been a secret to her success as the longest active tenured teacher in Polk County Schools and instead focuses on why she still loves it.
In her second grade classroom at Scott Lake Elementary, she pulls several file folders with contents from years gone by to showcase what motivates her.
She pulls out a sloppy assignment with words written in a way that only teachers or parents of little ones can navigate, and then she pulls out a piece of paper with neat words assembled into properly ordered, meaningful sentences.
“That first one was at the beginning of the school year…and after many writing workshops, that second one is from the same student in March,” she says. “You show a kid at the end of the year how far they have come and they can’t believe it…that’s the kind of thing that keeps me coming back.”
Her first teaching job in Lakeland was as a special education teacher at Oscar Pope Elementary in the mid-1970s, a time whenever it was the only special education program in the county, and students would be bussed in from as far away as Frostproof.
“You show a kid at the end of the year how far they have come and they can’t believe it...that’s the kind of thing that keeps me coming back.”
Fast forward to nearly half a century later and Kennedy was thrust into teaching in the middle of a global pandemic using unconventional methods that didn’t even exist when she became a teacher.
She grins when talking about how she transformed the front of her classroom into a hub for virtual teaching that allowed her to follow health safety protocols while educating students who were on iPads, computers and tablets at home. The school’s multimedia staff set her up with several different monitors, a camera for Zoom and all the tools she need to be able to teach from her Smartboard remotely.
“The principal came in that year, and one area I was pretty much always just an ‘effective’ teacher was in technology,” Kennedy says. “But she came in and said, ‘I’ve got to give you highly effective on this one!’”
Just as she has evolved as en educator, South Lakeland was just a pea in a pod that had yet to sprout when Kennedy started at Scott Lake.
“When we first moved here there was nothing, just a few homes...and nothing south of Hallam,” she says. “There were projections that it was going to really grow though.”
And clearly, it did.
Even though Lakeland is now one of the 25 largest cities in Florida, Mrs. Kennedy says that the family-first atmosphere has always made Lakeland attractive to her.
“I remember calling my mom when my son was in kindergarten going, ‘You won’t believe this. They know what he had for lunch and how long his nap was!” she reflects. “He was in school, not private school, but that’s just how family oriented this place is.”
Mrs. Kennedy loves the local restaurants and shops, but not surprisingly she also adores local treasures that provide educational opportunities for kids, mentioning the Mulberry Phosphate Museum as one of her favorites.
She plans on teaching for at least two more years, and then deciding whether to start her next chapter as a Lakelander or retreat to a home she has in New Hampshire.
If history is any indication, she may be saying “hello” to former students for years to come.
One of mrs. Kennedy’s greatest joys is teaching children to read and write
Sergeant Chawn Hall
A Lakelander for nearly 25 years
Has worked for Lakeland Police Department for 20+ years
Currently serves six Lakeland schools as a supervisor of school resource officers
“Lakelanders...are kind, friendly, giving, engaging and take pride in their community.”
Every day Sergeant Hall and his colleagues aren’t just working to ensure the safety of students in Lakeland, they are setting an example of excellence and character for the next generation.
In part because of the rise in school shootings and to offset some of the negative media coverage on law enforcement over the years, Hall says he and his staff are extra diligent to build positive relationships at the schools they serve.
“We are here to help students and see them grow…hopefully to keep them out of trouble,” he says. “We want to keep them on a path that’s going to lead to greater things in their lives.”
Hall is an alum of Combee Elementary, as well as Polk State College, and he is also the father to three grown children, so he takes pride of ownership in Lakeland.
He said being a police officer in 2022 requires being able to assess new information and situations, often involving technology, and quickly make sound determinations.
Prior to working in the schools, Hall was assigned to LPD’s Drug Task Force Groups, where he experienced first-hand the evil and darkness that exists in our community, yet he still has a stellar regard for what a true Lakelander is like.
“The attributes that I most associate with Lakelanders are that they are kind, friendly, giving, engaging and take pride in their community.”
When Sergeant Hall is not donning his uniform he enjoys checking out downtown festivities like car shows and supporting local sports teams including the Lakeland Magic, Florida Tropics and Lakeland Flying Tigers.
“I’m also impressed with the development of the downtown area and some of the specialty shops,” he says. “Now we’re kind of getting a small-scale city skyline!”
Jae Choe
A Lakelander since 1981
Founder and owner of Karate Beyond
Host of the Jae Choe Show podcast
Jae Choe moved to Lakeland from South Korea in 1981, and his first English words were “McDonald’s,” “french fries” and “ketchup.” No joke.
He honed his English, as well as his social skills, at Oscar J. Pope Elementary, Cleveland Court Elementary, Temple Christian (now Parkway Christian Academy), Southwest Middle School and Lakeland High School before earning a degree from University of Florida.
More than four decades after his family moved to our city, he is a bona fide Lakelander, and a successful businessman who is passionate about pouring back into the community.
Jae says one of the things that excites him most about the future of Lakeland is that many local entrepreneurs are “engaging in bold and daring projects for the people and the city.”
He can locate one of those said entrepreneurs each time he glances in the mirror or takes a photo for his lively social media feeds.
In 2018 he opened Karate Beyond, a modern evolution of traditional martial arts that is less repetitious and more free-form than the environments Jae grew up in as a student of the art. His studio offers classes for kids through adults and includes summer camps and afterschool programs.
His infectious personality plays out well as the host of the Jae Choe Show, a podcast that recently hit the 150th episode milestone by featuring local leaders and innovators who have stories to tell and ideas to share that can strengthen and build our community.
Choe says in his mind a Lakelander is someone who is staunchly devoted to Publix (everything else is second place, as he puts it) and many Lakelanders leave after graduation, only to come back after they realize what they once took for granted.
“[Lakeland] is like the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” Choe says. “The porridge is not too hot, not too cold, it’s just right.”
Kentia Blevens
Born in Lakeland, lived here for more than 33 years total
LPN of Internal Medicine at Watson Clinic for Dr. Michael RadivIlov
Has worked for Dr. Radivilov for more than 22 years
Kentia’s reassuring smile and kind words have been making a positive impact in the lives of Lakelanders for decades.
She was born in 1975 at Lakeland General Hospital and enjoyed her time as a student at Evangel Christian School and Lime Street Elementary (now called Philip O’Brien Elementary) before her family moved to Tennessee.
To Kentia, a true Lakelander is someone who “appreciates what a wonderful and special place this is to call home.” Thankfully, she was able to convince her husband to move back here in 1999, where they continue to raise their two children.
She started her career at Watson Clinic while earning a degree by taking night classes at Polk State College, and she hasn’t looked back. She calls her colleagues at Watson Clinic — a Lakeland-based medical group with more than 200 physicians practicing more than 40 specialties — her second family.
She appreciates the genuine sense of community that Lakeland offers, and she does not take for granted the beautiful scenery that makes up the landscape of the city and Polk County.
She loves the fact that Lakelanders strive to preserve charm at historic spots like the Polk Theatre and local entrepreneurs add to that charm by building distinctly Lakeland businesses like Black & Brew and Born & Bread Bakehouse.
“The faces you see and the people you know or meet here make it obvious that we love it here,” she says. “And when you love and take pride in where you live, work and grow, that will show.”
“When you love and take pride in where you live, work and grow, that will show.”
Kentia enjoys putting a smile on patient’s faces whenever possible.
Sara Roberts McCarley
Born in Lakeland, Lakelander for 20+ years
Lakeland City Commissioner
President of The Randy Roberts Foundation
Sara’s dedication and commitment to the Lakeland residents and the community prove her love for the place she calls home.
She has a unique perspective of understanding the challenges and opportunities better than most and has spent most of her adult life helping provide solutions to make Lakeland stronger and more vibrant.
She has served as a Lakeland City Commissioner since 2019, and she was Executive Director of Polk Vision for more than four years.
In those roles, as well as in running The Randy Roberts Foundation — an organization committed to raising up young civic leaders in honor of her late first husband — she has helped develop countless public-private partnerships, and she remarks she has lived in numerous places, but “not a more philanthropic community anywhere.”
“People here give their time and talent to so many things, great and small,” she says. “They love their neighbors, volunteer, care for their co-workers and in turn all those acts of kindness make Lakeland the great city it is.”
The Florida Southern College graduate loves how strangers will hold the door for you and say “hello” and that long-time residents and newcomers alike genuinely love all the city has to offer.
Sara is looking forward to the future of Lakeland in part because of the “great blend of tradition and innovation” that continues to lock arms as established businesses grow and new ones are planted.
“People here give their time and talent to so many things, great and small.”
Bill Castle
A Lakelander for 51 years
Head coach of Lakeland High School football since 1976
11th winningest high school coach in the history of football in America
Coach Castle was inducted in the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2002 - and 20 years later he is still piling up wins and giving locals something to cheer about on Friday nights.
Castle has coached and won more games than all other Dreadnaught coaches combined in the history of the program, and a 60-game win streak and seven state titles are among the most notable achievements by his teams.
He was born and raised in Hendersonville, Tenn. but the special players he has had the opportunity to coach and a community of people he calls “so friendly” have turned him into a Lakelander for life.
“I love going downtown on Saturday’s, after football season, with my wife, taking our two Jack Russell [Terriers] and walking around the farmer’s market and having lunch somewhere downtown,” he says.
He describes a Lakelander as “someone who likes to be active” and who truly enjoys living in-between two large metro areas full of opportunity.
He acknowledges the city of nearly 115,000 people is a different version of the place that was home to around 45,000 residents when he moved here.
“To be honest with you I would like to see it slow down and just keep improving what we have.”
He describes a Lakelander as “someone who likes to be active” and who truly enjoys living in-between two large metro areas full of opportunity.
Coach castle has been coming to work at the same place for nearly half a century
Jairus Rutherford
Opened his first barbershop in Lakeland 15 years ago
Extensively involved in supporting local youth athletics
Celebrating opening of Barber Skate Shop downtown in October
Jairus loves when potential is realized, whether it’s the kids and teens he has mentored over the years or the barber shops he has opened and grown.
His latest and most innovative venture to date is the Barber Skate Shop at 717 N. Kentucky Ave., scheduled to open in October. It marries his ability to help people feel better about themselves with his lifelong love of skateboarding.
Thirty-four years ago, as a 12-year-old growing up in Plant City, he started honing his skills cutting hair for local kids out of a neighbor’s shed; he says he could craft a fade his classmates kept coming back for.
Today, he runs Second to None Barbershop on North Florida Avenue, owns a bus he takes to skate tournaments around the country as a literal vehicle for cutting hair, and he’s amped for people to walk into Barber Skate Shop to get a cut while experiencing custom benches built with skateboards, urban metallic wall features and a wide variety of skateboards, roller skates and skating apparel to purchase.
His foray into the local skate scene started years ago when he and his sons by chance ended up at the opening of Lakeland Skatepark at Fletcher Park across from Lakeland High School. For years, Jairus had sponsored and helped youth sports teams, and with the opening of the park he saw a chance to introduce his sons to his favorite sport and help the community in the process.
He hosted the first official competition at that park, and that caught the eye of professional skater Ryan Clements, who instantly connected with Jairus and invited him to go on tour and cut hair at professional and amateur skating events.
“I started doing that and realized that I had a niche, and I felt like I could grow the business and start selling decks at the shop,” he says.
Jairus has used his platform to help raise money to fight cancer, he has been part of programs where young men learn etiquette and social skills and he pays homage on the walls of his new shop to local athlete’s he’s walked alongside who went on to play Division I sports.
“We’ve got to pour into the young people because they’re going to do it for the next generation.”
He said he loves Lakeland because it’s “like a miniature Tampa” and he’s excited to be part of its ongoing growth. “Lakeland people are friendly and welcoming…and yeah, they are cultivating.”
“We’ve got to pour into the young people because they’re going to do it for the next generation.”
Francisco Ayala
A Lakelander for more than 18 years
Pastor of Nuevo Comienzo Church
Executive Director of Nuevo Comienzo Resource Center
Francisco embodies what it means to see in others what it is most important to you.
The pastor and community leader says a Lakelander “is someone who is willing to go the extra mile to help others. They have a big heart, they are kind, passionate, courageous, and understanding.”
God’s call on Francisco’s life led him and his wife to Lakeland in 2004 and ultimately to open a church that is less about what goes on inside its four walls, and more about how Lakelanders “love their neighbors” by meeting their needs.
He responded to people struggling to put food on their tables and lack of access to everyday essentials by creating what now has become the Nuevo Comienzo (Spanish for Fresh Start) Resource Center.
When he’s not at the church, which is located by the entrance to Southeastern University, you can find him at the 6,200 square foot resource center on Reynolds Rd. that includes pallets of fresh food and home goods, as well as a thrift store where individuals and ministries can purchase like-new clothes, toys, furniture and more at affordable prices.
On an average month, Nuevo Comienzo provides more than 50,000 pounds of food to families across Florida, via its fleet of trucks and vans, and also through its weekly neighborhood outreach that meets the needs of more than 200 Lakelanders every Tuesday.
“By doing this, the church has grown immensely,” he says. “We go into our church building to worship but we have to go out in the community to show people what we are doing.”
Francisco and his staff recently celebrated the move to the new warehouse, where trucks are frequently going in and out, thanks to sponsorships and partnerships with the likes of Humana, One More Child, Simply and others.
“The people [of Lakeland] are eager to help one another and it gets me excited to know that together we can make our communities better,” he says.
“The people [of Lakeland] are eager to help one another and it gets me excited to know that together we can make our communities
better.”
Jeff Odro
Born in Lakeland and has lived here for 30+ years
Manages Day-to-day operations at Union Hall
Jeff has been a Lakelander so long that when he grew up in South Lakeland he had to commute across town daily to Kathleen High School because George Jenkins High School had not yet been built.
“I remember driving down 540A when it was two lanes and nothing but orange groves on the other side. There was no Valleyview (Elementary School), there was no Jenkins, there were no communities,” he says.
Nearly three decades later, his daughter Chelsea is a junior at George Jenkins High, just minutes from their home.
Jeff, 47, said he’s never really thought specifically about the characteristics of a Lakelander, but he describes Lakeland as “a big town with a small town feel” where people have access to everything they want, but without some of the challenges of a metropolitan area.
He remarked that it’s common for Lakelanders who grow up here to leave for a while and then eventually find their way back, often because their families and social networks are still here and it’s a safe place to raise a family.
Jeff knows that sentiment well because it’s his story. After graduating from Kathleen (he’s also an alum of Carlton Palmore and Lakeland Highlands Middle School) he went on to earn a history degree from University of Central Florida. He stayed in Orlando for about 15 years as he got married and started a family. Then, in 2010, after working for several Orlando-area home builders and earning his state residential contractor license, he moved back to his hometown, in part because his mom was battling a serious illness.
“Lakeland is a big town with a small town feel.”
He settled back into Lakeland, but he still commuted for work.
Last year, he knew he was ready for a major change, and a long-time Lakelander Sam Houghton, attorney at Houghton, P.A. and owner of Union Hall and Lean Spaces, ran an idea by him.
“I came to Sam to open up my own businesses…and then he kind of talked with me about running Union,” Jeff says.
On January 1, 2022 Jeff took over the day-to-day management of Union Hall, a downtown music and entertainment venue that he has been tasked with transforming into a private event space.
He has had success creating a space for business networking gatherings of city entrepreneurs and influencers, and many Friday and Saturdays are booked with weddings and parties.
Jeff said he has enjoyed running into some old high school classmates on occasion in his new role, and he is glad to be part of a downtown scene that has been built and cultivated by familiar names and faces from his childhood.
Johansi Santana
Owner of Divicious Deli and Coffee Shop in downtown Lakeland for 8+ years
Opening Bodega Market downtown later this year
It’s no secret Johansi Santana makes delectable food, evidenced by the popularity of Divicious Deli and Coffee Shop in downtown Lakeland, but the origin of the name of the New York style deli might be a secret to many Lakelanders.
Nerolie, Johansi and Amaury’s youngest daughter, is glad to share the inside scoop on the name of the family business that strives to make its customers feel like extended family.
When she was about 12 years old her mom made a batch of cookies. “My mom gave me a cookie and I said, ‘Oh mom, it’s divicious!” recalls Nerolie, who is scheduled to graduate from University of Central Florida this fall. “She then looks at me and says, ‘What’s that?’ I then say, ‘Mom, divine and delicious, duh!’”
Within a few years Divicious opened, and Nerolie said it felt like a “Grammy award winning” moment seeing the name come to life.
That passion and excitement is what has helped the family establish themselves as an integral fabric of the Lakeland community over the past eight years.
“It’s exciting to see when everyone comes…and whatever is going on in their life, it is my mission to try to be that extra support just for happiness, just to take a little bit of a load off while providing things that they like,” Johansi says.
The family has its roots in St. Thomas and New York, but Johansi’s contagious smile comes alive when you ask her what it means to be a Lakelander, and how locals have supported her business. She has built such a strong connection with clientele that it gave her confidence to open bodega Market, a soon-to-open 1,500 square foot convenience store in the space next to Divicious.
When asked how she describes a Lakelander, she says they have roots from all over the world but generally share a love for local businesses, as well as show a deep spirit of generosity.
“Unfortunately we have the homeless around here (in Munn Park across from her business)...but [Lakelanders] care for them,” she says. “You know, a lot of my clients come and buy them a sandwich or a drink, and that says a lot about a big city versus Lakeland.”
“It’s exciting to see when everyone comes…and whatever is going on in their life, it is my mission to try to be that extra support just for happiness, just to take a little bit of a load off while providing things that they like.”