{"id":330183,"date":"2026-07-05T21:11:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T21:11:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/330183\/"},"modified":"2026-07-05T21:11:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T21:11:17","slug":"the-young-independents-resident-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/330183\/","title":{"rendered":"The Young Independents \u2013 Resident News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Making their mark on their own terms<\/p>\n

As America marks its 250th anniversary this month, we\u2019re celebrating the spirit of independence by spotlighting a new generation of ambitious locals who are making an impact in our community and beyond. They are the entrepreneurs launching businesses, the creatives redefining industries, the young professionals leading with confidence, and the rising voices bringing fresh ideas, energy, and innovation to everything they do.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s \u201cYoung Independents\u201d represent more than success at a young age. They embody determination, vision, and the drive to carve out their own paths while helping shape the future of our neighborhoods, businesses, and community. Passionate, hardworking, and unafraid to think differently, these up-and-comers are already leaving their mark and proving that leadership has no age minimum .<\/p>\n

In a time when the nation is reflecting on independence, it felt only fitting to celebrate those carrying that same bold, independent spirit forward today. Meet the standout young leaders, innovators, and changemakers who are defining what\u2019s next right here at home.<\/p>\n

Reggie Agulto<\/p>\n

\"ReggieReggie Agulto<\/p>\n

When Reggie Agulto moved to Jacksonville with her family in the early 2000s, she began exploring all the city has to offer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like to give my parents credit for helping me fall in love with Jacksonville,\u201d she said. She enjoyed discovering parks, shops, and the unique identity of the area\u2019s bustling communities and found that riding the bus to and from school helped her feel like a part of the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of my favorite memories is from when I was in college and working at Sweet Pete\u2019s Candy downtown. Every Saturday morning when I stepped onto the bus for my shift, hearing the collective \u2018good morning\u2019 from familiar riders felt like such a small but meaningful joy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Agulto spends her time giving back to the community that welcomed her when she moved here, lending her skills and efforts to nonprofit organizations focused on youth development and community building. Her passion for nonprofit work began in high school, when she organized a denim drive for Teens for Jeans, a nonprofit that supports youth experiencing homelessness.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were able to collect 2000 pairs of jeans among the Paxon School for Advanced Studies community. This was the moment that made me realize the true power of the people, of how getting organized and rallying for a cause can lead to so much more than I imagined,\u201d she said. Recently, she\u2019s stayed busy with The Bloom Lab, a nonprofit focused on middle and high school students interested in the arts, agriculture, and entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n

In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors and visiting parks like Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park, the Jacksonville Arboretum, and Boone Park. One of her favorite dining spots she loves to visit with her husband is Curry Guys in Five Points on Lomax Street and Cicada Coffee located in the Cultivate Jax shop.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of my favorite things about living in the Riverside area is its walkability and proximity to so many local businesses,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

K\u2019cee Allen<\/p>\n

\"K\u2019ceeK\u2019cee Allen<\/p>\n

When K\u2019cee Allen moved to the Jacksonville area a little more than a decade ago, coworkers quickly became friends, and they helped her explore everything communities like Riverside and San Marco have to offer.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince then, I have fallen in love with so much more,\u201d she said. She loves how much the arts and culture are supported in the area, from writers and artists to bakers and restaurant owners. \u201cI\u2019m a huge fan of the Riverside Arts Market,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

A shutterbug at heart, she loves spending time in nature and taking photographs of her favorite natural spaces. And though she hasn\u2019t had much time for it recently, the area\u2019s generous green spaces have helped her rediscover her love of photography.<\/p>\n

\u201cJacksonville offers a plethora of parks and nature walks that allow me to dabble in it again.\u201d One of her favorite spots is the scenic butterfly garden in San Marco\u2019s Landon Park.<\/p>\n

A devoted bookworm, when she isn\u2019t visiting one of the area\u2019s parks, she\u2019s busy getting lost in a science fiction or fantasy novel.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am an avid reader,\u201d she said. Hockey is another passion of hers, and she takes in an Icemen game when her schedule permits. Allen also explores the city\u2019s culinary scene when she has time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI absolutely love San Marco,\u201d she said. \u201cIt has great bars and restaurants.\u201d<\/p>\n

Organizations focusing on women\u2019s health are important to Allen, and she enjoys supporting longtime nonprofit Planned Parenthood. Her work as an interventional radiology technologist means she helps people every day while using cutting-edge technology.<\/p>\n

\u201cI assist radiologists in using imaging technology to perform minimally invasive procedures inside the body and brain,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Her desire to work in the medical field stems from a personal connection.<\/p>\n

\u201cI originally wanted to work in healthcare because of my mother. She battled cancer when I was a teenager, and I wanted to help patients and families the way her care teams helped her,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Ebonee Gatlin<\/p>\n

\"EboneeEbonee Gatlin<\/p>\n

Even as a young child, Ebonee Gatlin knew she wanted to spend her time changing people\u2019s lives for the better when she grew up.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever people would ask me what I want to do, what I want to be, I would always say, \u2018I don\u2019t really know, but I want to help people,\u2019\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She turned her love of the written word into a career focused on grant writing, which keeps her busy as the National Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer for Reach Out and Read. The nonprofit promotes literacy for children and partners with doctors and health care professionals, helping to provide books for kids and support for caregivers. As a writer, she uses her storytelling gift to help people understand the importance of causes such as child literacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s really cool to take a cause that you\u2019re working for, something that you\u2019re very passionate about, and then craft it into a story and then see other people fall in love with the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

When she isn\u2019t working, she spends time helping the Junior League of Jacksonville serve the community through various programs, especially food advocacy efforts. She also volunteers with organizations that support people experiencing homelessness, including Hubbard House and Sulzbacher Center. Gatlin also serves on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals as the Foundation Development Chair.<\/p>\n

In her free time, she said she loves doing \u201canything creative,\u201d including visiting Jacksonville\u2019s Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. She also likes to read and is part of a book club currently tackling thrillers. When she\u2019s in search of a new read, she peruses the towering stacks at Chamblin Bookmine.<\/p>\n

As a teenager, she lived in Jacksonville for a few years before going to college and heading Northeast to spend time in New Jersey and work in Manhattan. But she recently moved back to Jacksonville, to an area bordering Avondale and Riverside, while reacquainting herself with a city that has grown significantly since she first lived here.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like Jacksonville is in such a place of growth where a lot of things are coming into the city,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a great area.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jac Shacter<\/p>\n

\"JacJac Shacter<\/p>\n

Growing up in Jacksonville, Jac Shacter couldn\u2019t wait to leave the area and settle down in another city. But as an adult, and an active member of the close-knit Historic Springfield community, he\u2019s found home.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t imagine living anywhere else,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He spends his days working with TerraWise Homes, a builder specializing in energy-efficient and custom homes, a career path he\u2019s worn many hats for. He started out as an office assistant and worked his way up to sales engineer, eventually becoming director of sales and marketing. Now, he\u2019s the vice president of operations.<\/p>\n

\u201c[I] ended up falling in love with it,\u201d he said as he spoke about his ascension through the company.<\/p>\n

On any given day, he could be going over spreadsheets at his desk or out in the field, conducting home walkthroughs and meeting with clients.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love that my day is varied, and I never know what it will bring,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Shacter is an ardent supporter of the Springfield Preservation and Revitalization organization (SPAR). He and TerraWise Homes enjoy partnering with SPAR to \u201cgive back as much as we can to the community that supports us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Shacter is a self-described introvert and homebody. He\u2019s also a family man with four children and what he described as \u201ca whole zoo\u201d of animals, including two dogs, a cat, fish, rabbits, and chickens. He has regular spots he loves to visit for a meal and a coffee, including Artessence Coffee Shop on North Main Street.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey keep me fueled and caffeinated so I can stay on top of everything,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Shacter believes what truly makes his neighborhood community so special is the people. \u201cSpringfield is truly a community, sort of small-town vibes,\u201d he said. \u201cIn a time where folks increasingly don\u2019t even know their neighbors\u2019 names, it\u2019s nice to know the people around you, and that you can borrow some sugar or a potato if you\u2019re short.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brit Robinson<\/p>\n

\"BritBrit Robinson<\/p>\n

Brit Robinson first moved to Jacksonville with her husband when he was stationed here for flight school. Part of a military family herself, she\u2019s accustomed to moving to different parts of the country for short periods, but when it came time to choose where they wanted to settle down, she chose to return to Jacksonville.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe diversity of the people and potential of this city keep calling me back, which is why I\u2019m very happy to call Jacksonville my chosen home.\u201d<\/p>\n

By trade, she is an interior designer and seamstress. Recently, she\u2019s become active in the community, running for Congress in Florida\u2019s Fourth Congressional District. Her desire to help her community through civic duty stems in part from the adversity her family faced during her high school days.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was entering high school, my mom became seriously ill and couldn\u2019t afford health insurance. Our family had to rely on food assistance, we were evicted, and I ended up moving across the country to stay with family and friends just so I could finish school,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Her family\u2019s experience stayed with Robinson into adulthood, instilling a passion for helping others in times of need.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat experience is what drives my work today. I believe in building a community where people are supported before they reach a crisis point, and where systems are designed to lift people up, rather than leave them behind,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She loves living in the Springfield area with easy access to some of her favorite local spots, including 1748 Bakehouse and Juice Wine Bar.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re never short on things to do, and it\u2019s so easy to walk from place to place,\u201d she said. Military life can make it hard to find people to connect with, but Robinson has found community in Jacksonville.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s often challenging as a military family to connect with others because people are always coming or going \u2026 so it\u2019s been a great change to find people who support each other and love this city and its people enough to try to make a positive impact,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Jessie Drew Hawkins<\/p>\n

\"JessieJessie Drew Hawkins<\/p>\n

Jessie Drew Hawkins is a true-blue Jacksonville native.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy roots here run deep,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Her family lineage in Jacksonville goes back several generations and can be traced back to the H & W.B. Drew Company on Bay Street, a paper goods store started in the early 1800s by one of her relatives.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing from Jacksonville has always been a big part of my identity and something my family takes a lot of pride in,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Hawkins is the owner of Gwei Media, a social media marketing and strategy company.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I love most is being able to take something off our clients\u2019 plates and help them show up consistently and creatively online. We get to blend creativity with analytics, which is such a unique balance,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s also passionate about supporting Jacksonville\u2019s expansive community. Hawkins has a deeply personal connection to the organization Angels for Allison, which provides support to families who have lost a child. The nonprofit is named after Allison Brundick Haramis, who was Hawkins\u2019 cousin and best friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing part of continuing her legacy means everything to me,\u201d she said. Hawkins is also involved with The Women\u2019s Board of Wolfson Children\u2019s Hospital, which provides life-saving care to infants and children. Hawkins\u2019 work with the two organizations goes hand in hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne supports families in loss, and the other supports children in healing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

In her free time, Hawkins enjoys visiting the beach, checking out her favorite Asian-inspired restaurants, and attending church. She lived in Hong Kong for a decade, but when she moved back to Jacksonville, she knew it was meant to be.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing back has been incredibly special. It\u2019s a place that feels like home in every sense, and I\u2019m so grateful to be part of a city that my family has been connected to for so long,\u201d Hawkins said.<\/p>\n

Joey Jenkins<\/p>\n

\"JoeyJoey Jenkins<\/p>\n

Originally from Tennessee, it took some time for Joey Jenkins to settle into the Floridian lifestyle after moving to Jacksonville. But he found kindred spirits in the city\u2019s lively music scene. A solar energy technician by day for solar installation and maintenance projects, his trade gives him plenty of time to pursue his passion, music.<\/p>\n

Between practice, studio time, and touring, he stays busy. He spends nights playing bass in the punk rock music scene, and likes being a devoted spectator as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI enjoy the local emo [and] punk shows that take place around the city,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Jacksonville boasts several popular live music venues featuring up-and-coming bands. Just a few of Jenkins\u2019 recommendations for checking out local talent include Island Tropics Restaurant on N. Main Street, Hard Love Co. on Post Street, and The Albatross on East Bay Street.<\/p>\n

He also enjoys supporting Jacksonville-based causes focused on inclusivity and marginalized communities, including the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, and Food Not Bombs, a vegan-based food-sharing organization that provides food and supplies to locals in need.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very passionate about activism in our community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

When Jenkins isn\u2019t practicing or playing a show, he can be found at one of his favorite Park Street establishments, Hawkers, a staple in the Five Points area of Riverside, specializing in gourmet Asian street food.<\/p>\n

Olivia T. Smith<\/p>\n

\"OliviaOlivia T. Smith<\/p>\n

Olivia T. Smith is proud to call herself a \u201cJaxon,\u201d a lifelong resident of Jacksonville. She\u2019s called the city home since she was a baby, and her love for it has only grown.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I\u2019ve gotten older, I\u2019ve continued to fall more and more in love with this city and the people who live here,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Smith serves as a senior director of development for the YMCA of Florida\u2019s First Coast, where she nurtures donor relationships, leads fundraising initiatives, and collaborates with staff and volunteers to advance community-wide objectives.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have the really beautiful opportunity to do what I love every day\u2013connecting people and their passions to programs that bring their passions to life,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Helping people has always been a passion for Smith. She spent a lot of time at the Jewish Community Alliance as a teenager while her mother worked to provide for her and her brother. At 14 years old, she began working at JCA as a swim instructor and swim team coach and provided administrative support when needed. She also worked as a camp counselor. As an adult, she wanted to work with organizations like JCA that offer a safe space for young people and their families.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy passion is people \u2013 lifting them, connecting them, and helping them thrive,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Over the years, the former Junior League of Jacksonville member has had the opportunity to help found and serve on the Pace Center for Girls Jacksonville Young Professionals Board. She currently serves as the secretary of the board of directors for Haven Retreats, Inc., a nonprofit organization that fosters sustainability in foster care, and is near and dear to Smith\u2019s heart as a former foster parent and adoptive mom.<\/p>\n

Smith calls the Lakewood area home and loves how close she is with her neighborhood community.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people, especially the ladies, who live in my neighborhood are genuinely so amazing,\u201d Smith said. \u201cWe have a group chat of all the ladies in the neighborhood, and everyone just shows up for one another as neighbors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kalani Rose<\/p>\n

\"KalaniKalani Rose<\/p>\n

Kalani Rose is a San Diego native who experienced some culture shock after moving from California to Florida. But she soon fell in love with all Jacksonville has to offer, and she\u2019s built a full life in the Bold City.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started my musical career here, met the love of my life, and started our little family,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

As a singer-songwriter, she loves putting smiles on other people\u2019s faces through music.<\/p>\n

\u201c[One of] my absolute favorite parts of performing is getting to bring joy to others. Connecting with strangers over music is something so healing. Music is like therapy to me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Rose was inspired as a young girl by singer-songwriter and pianist Norah Jones. She would often fall asleep at night listening to Jones\u2019 critically acclaimed album, \u201cCome Away with Me,\u201d and reading song lyrics.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had a love for music since a young age,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Over the years, music has allowed her to support organizations championing causes near and dear to her heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love supporting any organization that protects women,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She also supports organizations that help the disabled community, a passion she\u2019s pursued since high school and loves sharing her other passion \u2013 music \u2013 with other people.<\/p>\n

When Rose and her family take a short break from travel and performances, they love visiting Jacksonville\u2019s parks to unwind.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love all the new parks that have been built in Downtown Jax,\u201d she said. \u201cMy family loves that it\u2019s become such a safe and vibrant place to bring your family.\u201d<\/p>\n

When she needs some girl time, Rose and her friends visit Biscottis in Avondale.<\/p>\n

When Rose hits the road for a show with her band, they perform as Kalani Rose and the Vibe and incorporate grooving originals like \u201cProtect Your Peace\u201d into performances.<\/p>\n

As a business owner, she runs her own production company, K.Rose Productions, focusing on special events, luaus, and weddings. She has a passion for Polynesian dance, which she discovered as a young girl and for which she said she has a deep respect.<\/p>\n

Ben Siebold<\/p>\n

\"BenBen Siebold<\/p>\n

After moving to Florida from the Washington, D.C. area, Ben Siebold became a business owner. He oversees Sergeant Seamless, formerly known as AA Gutters.<\/p>\n

While getting to know the area, he came to appreciate the city\u2019s entrepreneurial spirit, its welcoming attitude toward military families, and its beautiful weather.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love all that the Jacksonville area has to offer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

His business approach at Sergeant Seamless is influenced by his own background in the military.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Army background shapes how we run things day-to-day. I served as a Staff Sergeant in the 29th Infantry,\u201d Siebold explained.<\/p>\n

Contributing to the economy, both directly and locally, is important to Siebold. He said he wanted to produce something that consumers need and focus on hiring local workers. From weather to equipment maintenance and scheduling, he enjoys the fact that his business always keeps him on his toes.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy favorite part of running my own business is that every day is different,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Coffee shops provide the perfect atmosphere for getting administrative work done on the fly, and he frequents both Southern Grounds in Avondale and Flamingo Coffee in Murray Hill.<\/p>\n

Siebold leads an active lifestyle and supports JAX Fray, an organization connecting people who want to join recreational sports leagues, meet up for pickup games, and check out events around the area. He\u2019s also lent his skills as a craftsman to places that need help in Jacksonville, particularly at churches in the city\u2019s Northside area.<\/p>\n

The business owner decompresses from work by stepping outside to appreciate nature. He loves the community and natural flair of the Avondale and Riverside areas.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe historic homes and the older trees that have large trunks and stretch across an area are just so beautiful to me and speak to longevity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Making their mark on their own terms As America marks its 250th anniversary this month, we\u2019re celebrating the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":330184,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[116,118,117],"class_list":["post-330183","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-jacksonville","tag-jacksonville","tag-jacksonville-headlines","tag-jacksonville-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/330183","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=330183"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/330183\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/330184"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=330183"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=330183"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=330183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}