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In this newsletter:
- The Word
- Reel Into Fishing Summer Camps
- Get Your Green On
- AI Outlook
- Gregg in the News
- Commish in the Community
- Volunteer Spotlight
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Every year, hundreds of children in Palm Beach County, after experiencing abuse, abandonment, or neglect, enter the dependency system known as foster care. Children in these situations need champions, trusted grown-ups who are on their side. Thatās where Speak Up For Kids comes in. Itās a local non-profit that champions child advocacy in the dependency system, focusing on the best interests of each child and supporting their enrichment needs. They provide a host of services and help kids make positive memories, offer counseling, and provide normalcy for kids who crave stability. Gregg was part of the group that founded Speak Up For Kids more than 15 years ago. At the April 26 Denim & Diamonds Gala, Gregg was honored with the 2025 Lifetime of Advocacy Award for laying the foundation for an organization that continues to provide hope, stability, and opportunities for foster children throughout the county. There are ways that you can get involved and contribute to their mission.
The County Administrator Task Force (CATF), tasked with helping select a new County Administrator, has had its kick-off meeting, picked a Chair and Vice Chair, and is now reviewing the resumes of eligible applicants. More than 200 people have applied to be considered. As Gregg told the paper, he is disappointed with the overall quality of the applicants, reinforcing his belief that weād been better off had we hired a recruitment firm to do a national search. The CATF is expected to present a list of five finalists to the Board of County Commissioners on June 3. Because our current County Administrator, Verdenia Baker, is retiring on May 31, thereās a need to appoint an interim County Administrator. The board has yet to make a decision on this while the clock is ticking.
Hurricane season runs from June 1 until November 30, so itās just around the corner. It's best to be prepared: stock up on supplies, check the shutters, and trim the trees. Several cities in our district (West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, and Lake Worth) have vegetation amnesty days. During this time, you can put out yard waste above what is normally allowed.
1909 is a West Palm Beach-based co-working space and incubator. Since 2018, 150 businesses have grown out of this non-profit, adding millions to our local economy. After having to vacate their prior spot, they are moving into a new space at 319 Clematis. The Grand opening is on Saturday, but Gregg, a 1909 supporter, had an opportunity to check it out on April 24 during an early sneak peek event.
Ginger told us about a broken traffic light on Belvedere Road at the intersection with Dixie Highway. Within a day, our county engineers were out there and fixed the light. Thanks, Ginger. We hope you, too, will let us know when something needs repair. We canāt fix it if we donāt know about it.
Happy Motherās Day to all the moms out there.
Thanks for being a reader!
| | Reel Into Fishing Summer Camps | | |
ļ»æPalm Beach County 4-H is proud to partner once again with the International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) for our 4th "Reel Into Fishing" Summer Camp! This free, 3-day camp is an unforgettable experience for youth ages 10-14 to learn the basics of recreational fishing and conservation, enjoy hands-on activities, and even head out on the water to fish for a variety of species.
Camp Location: 559 N Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33415
Camp Dates: June 9ā11, 2025
To Apply or Ask Questions: Email education@igfa.org
Spots are limitedādon't miss out on this amazing opportunity to cast a line and make lasting memories through our incredible partnership with IGFA!
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May is Mental Health Awareness and Trauma Informed Care Month
The many partners of the Birth to 22: United for Brighter Futures continue their efforts in celebration of the annual Get Your Green On campaign. The Get Your Green On campaign aims to raise awareness by creating visible support and fostering safe spaces to talk openly about mental health and trauma.
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From May 1-31, participate in the mental health scavenger hunt on GooseChase (GYGO Hunt ā25) - complete missions, earn points & win random prizes. Improve your mental health & awareness of local resources. Get Your Green On!
Download the GooseChase app:
Android | iPhone and iPad
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Whenever Gregg gives a talk on AI someone always asks if itās going to take peopleās jobs. Because AI is getting scary good. Repetitive roles? Factory lines, retail, customer service? AI could take those over. Even some āsmartā jobsālegal research, accounting, content writingāmight get edged out. But the wildly popular Wikipedia - edited by community volunteers - is putting human input first even as it embraces AI.
Article
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Learning a new language can be tedious. Especially if you're traveling to a country where you don't speak the language and want to know just enough phrases to get by. Introducing: Little Language Lessons, a set of three AI-powered tools from Google Labs, designed to make language learning fun and practical.
Here's how each of the three tools works:
- Tiny Lesson: Get vocabulary, phrases, and grammar tips for real-life situations like "taking a taxi" or "finding a lost passport"āwith audio, too.
- Slang Hang: Watch and listen to native-style conversations packed with slang, plus explanations to help you sound natural.
- Word Cam: Point your camera at objects around you and learn their names in another languageāyour environment becomes your classroom.
Little Language Lessons is an experiment from Google that you can play around with on your desktop. Want to know more? Here's a deep dive for nerds.
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ONE MORE THING:
š§ As we plan future editions of this newsletterā we want to spotlight AI tools that you actually want to learn about and use. So...
š What types of AI tools would you like us to feature more often? Whether itās tools for writing, meetings, photo editing, local government, or time-saving at workāweāre all ears!
š Just a heads-up: Weāre looking for realistic suggestions here. So unless someoneās invented an AI that predicts the lottery or walks your dogāletās keep it practical (but still cool).
Your ideas help us deliver useful, timely tools that matter to you!
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We're all caught up with no AI events on the horizon!
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| | If you would like to invite Commissioner Weiss to give a presentation in your community on artificial intelligence or any other topic, contact our office at district2@pbc.gov or 561-355-2202. | | |
Celebrations, anniversaries, meeting with agencies, recognizing community leaders, joining neighbors' festivities and going to neighborhood meetings ... Commissioner Weiss spends a lot of time in the community.
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"As an elected official, I want to be part of the community I represent," said Commissioner Weiss. "I want to understand the issues in my district, and that's why I spend many evenings attending events to listen and learn."
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If you'd like to invite Commissioner Weiss to your event, let us know.
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AI Talk at Delray Villas Clubhouse
Gregg stopped by the Delray Villas Recreation Association on April 30th for one of his popular AI talks. The group was all inācurious, engaged, and full of great questions. As always, the conversation hit on everything from excitement to concern, with one thing clear: AI isnāt going anywhere. Thanks for your warm welcome!
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2025 Lifetime of Advocacy Award: Denim & Diamonds Gala
At this yearās Denim & Diamonds Gala on April 26th, Gregg was honored with the 2025 Lifetime of Advocacy Award. As a Founder of Speak Up for Kids, Gregg laid the foundation for an organization that continues to provide hope, stability, and opportunity to foster children throughout Palm Beach County. He's spent years fighting for children and families in our community. But Gregg maintains, "It was never about me. It was and is about our kids in the foster care system". Kudos!
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Student Showcase of Films
The 30th annual Palm Beaches Student Showcase of Films on April 25th brought together the best of Floridaās next generation of filmmakers for a star-studded morning of cinematic celebration. Hosted by the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission, this yearās event received a record-breaking 617 entries from 85 schools across the state. From directors and writers to designers and digital artists, these rising stars lit up the stage. Gregg was proud to attend and support this world-class showcase of student talent.
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Culinary Studio Tour
As part of Economic Development Week, Gregg toured the brand-new Culinary Studio in Lake Park on April 25th. This 27,000-square-foot space features Oceana Coffee, Florida Canning equipment, 14+ vendor stalls, and a rooftop deck. Itās the first commercial kitchen of its kind in Palm Beach County, helping launch food startups and creating 60 new jobs.
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Raphael Clemente
After 18 years at the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA), with 14 of those years as its director, Raphael Clemente made a leap last year to a career in Venture Philanthropy. Working as Executive Director for the Quantum Foundation, Raphael focuses on commercial property acquisition, small business development, and mixed-use projects to revitalize historically underinvested neighborhoods. Raphael has an extensive background in planning and development, working in a variety of roles over his career, including a brief stint as Senior Planner at the county in the early 2000s.
Given his background, Gregg thought him an especially qualified candidate for the Planning Commission, where he serves as one of our district appointees.
An outdoor enthusiast, you might see Raphael riding bikes with his wife or daughters, catching a wave on a surfboard, or hiking a trail with the family. If heās not swimming, running, or biking, he and his wife Lois like to garden to beautify their backyard.
Thanks for volunteering your time, Raphael!ļ»æ
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