Best of Orlando 2025: Local Notables
Every single one of us, regardless of where we are born, has a Constitutional right to due process in this country. And if one of us loses it, all of our rights are on the line. The Orlando Center for Justice works to provide legal services to those who may not qualify for traditional legal aid, but also don't have enough to pay for a private attorney. Right now they are working around the clock across Central Florida to protect immigrant communities, as well as working in collaboration with direct service organizations to provide know-your-rights training, legal clinics, and free legal support for families targeted by unjust deportations.
The Contigo Fund was founded in 2016 in response to the Pulse nightclub tragedy. The nonprofit gives micro-grants to local LGBTQ+ organizations, infusing cash directly to innovative queer leaders and grass-roots startups working to ensure every person, no matter who they love, what they look like, where they're from or where they live, has equal opportunity to thrive in our community. The nonprofit's mission focuses on the intersections of queer, racial and immigrant justice, especially essential in this moment. Most recently Contigo Fund launched their "Immigrant Advocacy & Defense" emergency response, where donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000. Every dollar raised will resource frontline organizations protections for our immigrant neighbors.
Even nine years after the devastating mass shooting at Orlando's Pulse nightclub, questions about the club's safety, known code violations, and how aid was provided in the aftermath remain on the minds of many — including survivors and families of the 49 killed. Pulse Families and Survivors for Justice, a grassroots group formerly known as NoPulseMuseum, has held the line in efforts to ask the tough questions and get mainstream attention on them — even when they make city leaders, and others who might prefer to let sleeping dogs lie, uncomfortable. Mayor Buddy Dyer actually publicly described one still-unnamed associated individual as a "second terrorist." We stand with those who still have unanswered questions, and hope for all of those affected by the tragedy to find justice and peace.
"Dance like no one is watching," as the old saying goes ... but what if everyone is watching and it's the most incredible thing we've seen? Among the aggressive swans and questionable water quality, there is a gentleman who does laps around Orlando's Lake Eola — not jogging, not walking, but dancing salsa flawlessly. He wears shorts and a tank top, and his thighs are incredible. He does not stop, his footwork flawless — at times, he'll catch the eye of another Eola-circler, grab their hand and effortlessly lead them into the dance. Now that's notable. We don't know this man's name (please identify yourself, you beautiful gazelle!), but he heartily deserves this award.
With his second term, Donald Trump rammed his way into the White House and Americans' lives with two big ugly fistfuls of authoritarian legislation, rhetoric that threatens minorities and a whole slate of cuts to essential resources and programs. One of those cuts came in the form of a slash to Medicaid reimbursement for larger nonprofits that offer abortion care — just like Planned Parenthood. But in the face of this regime, Central Florida PP locations told us they won't be going anywhere anytime soon, and their vital services are still available to locals who count on them. That's one big, beautiful, badass F-you, Mr. Trump.
In an impactful win by Central Florida Jobs With Justice (a coalition of labor and social advocacy groups), Orange County government this year wiped out more than $472.5 million in medical debt owed by over 310,000 local residents, in partnership with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt. The county initiative, approved by the Orange County Commission last August, was funded by federal relief funds allocated to the county during the COVID-19 pandemic under the Biden administration's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). All in all, this has cost the county just $3 million of the roughly $270 million ARPA dollars, which was then leveraged by Undue Medical Debt to erase the debt for pennies on the dollar.
1st Place: Central Florida Jobs With Justice, cfjwj.org
2nd Place: Zebra Coalition, zebrayouth.org
3rd Place: Veterans Cannabis Care, veteranscannabiscare.org
1st Place: Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, petallianceorlando.org
2nd Place: Pet Rescue by Judy, petrescuebyjudy.com
3rd Place: Poodle and Pooch Rescue of Florida, poodleandpoochrescue.org
1st Place: Anna Eskamani, annaforflorida.com
2nd Place: Lulu the Cat, instagram.com/lulunleashed
3rd Place: Scott Maxwell, orlandosentinel.com/author/scott-maxwell