Heather Dunhill

Sep 9, 2024 | sarasotamagazine.com | Heather Dunhill

A fourth-generation Sarasotan, Renée James Gilmore is a descendant of people who advocated for change—and made history doing so—in the Newtown community. She's the daughter of Dr. Ed James II, who was known for his activism and his nearly 50-year run as the host and producer of ABC7’s Black Almanac, one of the longest-running local public affairs programs. She's also the great-granddaughter of Mary Emma Jones, who led the 1955 “wade-in” efforts to desegregate our beaches.

Aug 20, 2024 | sarasotamagazine.com | Heather Dunhill

Since childhood, fourth-generation Sarasotan Walter L. Gilbert has modeled the community-minded elders of Newtown, where he was born and raised. Newtown was where Gilbert's grandmother told him stories about how Overtown—the town's name prior to Newtown—was a thriving Black community. Newtown was where he grew up with family and neighbors who had a clear vision for the neighborhood's future.

Jul 10, 2024 | sarasotamagazine.com | Heather Dunhill

Public transit operations expert Paul Toliver, 77,  was born in Baltimore, spent his formative years in Athens, Alabama, and moved to Cincinnati with his father when he was 10 years old. He graduated from high school at age 16, earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati, served in the U.S. Army's elite 111th Military Intelligence Group, and went on to earn his MBA in management and operations research (a forerunner to today's computer science degrees).

Jul 9, 2024 | sarasotamagazine.com | Heather Dunhill

Public transit operations expert Paul Tolliver, 77,  was born in Baltimore, spent his formative years in Athens, Alabama, and moved to Cincinnati with his father when he was 10 years old. He graduated from high school at age 16, earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati, served in the U.S. Army's elite 111th Military Intelligence Group, and went on to earn his MBA in management and operations research (a forerunner to today's computer science degrees).

Jun 17, 2024 | sarasotamagazine.com | Heather Dunhill

Born and raised in New York City, fashion industry pro Claudia Swan grew up in Brooklyn but immersed herself in the hip venues and culture of Manhattan as often as she could take a train into the city. After moving to London in 1969 to work for a marketing agency, she found herself at the epicenter of the fashion scene in London’s West End, specifically the iconic Carnaby Street. Her two years in the U.K. set the stage for her future in the fashion industry.