[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”About Next Gen: DO NOT EDIT” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ background_color=”#3a3f54″ custom_padding=”2%|0px|2%|0px||” locked=”off” collapsed=”off”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Time of Covid Row: DO NOT EDIT” _builder_version=”4.5.1″ custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”15px|0px|22px|0px||” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||” custom_padding_phone=”|0px||” custom_width_px=”1280px”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”NextGenRadio” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”Nunito|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”24px” text_line_height=”1.2em” header_font=”Oswald|||||on|||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”60px” header_letter_spacing=”5px” header_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#ffffff” header_2_font_size=”27px” header_2_line_height=”1.5em” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”600px” module_alignment=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Finding, coaching and training public media’s next generation.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”In the time of COVID: DO NOT EDIT” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”|||on|||||” header_text_align=”center” header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#4cbbf8″ header_2_font_size=”37px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”600px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”87px|||||”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Texts: DO NOT EDIT” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”Nunito||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”18px” header_font=”Oswald||||” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”600px” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”-30px|||” locked=”off”]is a set of audio and digital stories highlighting the experiences of people whose lives have changed dramatically during the pandemic. [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/dGIeho6-6H4″ admin_label=”YouTube Video” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text admin_label=”Standup Intro Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”18px”]<\/p>\n Reverend Crystal Muldrow\u2019s dedication to supporting the congregants of Unity Fort Myers during the coronavirus pandemic demonstrates how this church is more than just the building.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”HERO IMAGE OPTION 1: Background image: DELETE IF NOT NEEDED” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https:\/\/flnewsroom2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/01\/karina_emily_final-scaled.jpg” background_blend=”multiply” custom_margin=”-2px|||||” custom_padding=”16.7%||36.8%|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”10px||0px|||”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”10px||0px|||”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Illustrator credits” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Illustrated by Emily Whang<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”4px||17px|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_post_title date=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_font=”Oswald||||||||” title_font_size=”42px” title_letter_spacing=”2px” title_line_height=”1.2em” meta_text_color=”#04a3e3″ meta_font_size=”18px”][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||9px||”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em”]<\/p>\n \u201cIt was literally doing church in a new way overnight,\u201d said Reverend Crystal Muldrow. \u201cWhen we first heard about COVID, there was just so much information, as well as a lack of knowledge. And so people were trying to proceed. And then all of a sudden everything closed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Reverend Muldrow\u2019s 15 years\u2019 experience didn’t prepare her for ministering amid a pandemic. Adding to that challenge, Muldrow moved from Michigan in November 2020 to start a new role as senior minister at Unity Church in Fort Myers.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span>Other churches in the area, and other branches of the Unity church had already re-opened, so the pushback to get back to \u2018normal\u2019 among the Unity congregation was strong.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSecond day I got here, there was this huge pressure of opening up,\u201d said Muldrow. \u201cIt was a culture shock coming here because everything was shut down in Michigan. There [were] no ifs, ands or buts about it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_audio audio=”https:\/\/flnewsroom2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/01\/KarinaMaster.mp3″ title=”Staying Socially Connected while Physically Distant” artist_name=”Karina Cashman” album_name=”Next Generation Radio | Florida Newsroom | January 2021″ image_url=”https:\/\/flnewsroom2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/01\/Karina06.jpg” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#3251a3″][\/et_pb_audio][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” module_alignment=”center”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flnewsroom2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/01\/Karina01.jpg” title_text=”Karina01″ show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” admin_label=”Pastor” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”Nunito||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”Oswald|||on|” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”853px” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|61px||70px||” custom_padding=”|||0px||”]<\/p>\n Reverend Crystal Muldrow demonstrates her Zoom setup for Sunday sermons at Unity of Fort Myers on Monday, Jan 4, 2020. Sermons take place virtually every Sunday and are streamed on social media. (Photo by Karina Cashman)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Story Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em”]<\/p>\n However, according to Muldrow, it wasn\u2019t currently possible to get back to exactly how things were before the coronavirus. She set into action working with other staff, as well as the leaders of other ministries to determine how to keep the spirit of the organization alive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI’m a team player, you know, so I believe in engaging in the strengths of everyone, knowing that God’s presence and wisdom is in everyone and everyone has their own talents,\u201d said Muldrow. \u201cI find people who know what they’re doing and go, \u2018Okay great.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n One of the chaplains came up with wearing latex gloves if people meeting in person for prayers want to hold hands. Congregants are also able to visit remote areas of the church to pray as long as the area is disinfected after.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf you want to meet here, we could open up the buildings for you,\u201d said Muldrow. \u201cYou have to disinfect and make sure it’s clean. That’s a part of the contract. We just choose not to as a church to open.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Story Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” custom_padding=”8px|||||”]<\/p>\n Between virtual and drive-thru events, mandatory masks, sanitizing stations, social distancing and rigorous disinfecting, the church has been working to ensure it implements coronavirus precautions and keeps members as safe as possible. The main building has been closed, but the church still functions virtually with a few outdoor events.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe’re still participating even outside of the church as actively as possible,\u201d said Muldrow. \u201cYeah, the buildings of the church are still closed, but the church is not closed because the church is not the building.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Unity offers virtual meditations Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, as well as coffee talks, and a food distribution service in which volunteers donate bread and pastries to people who need it. Food can be picked up at the church and some is sent home with foster kids who come for distanced group services. Additionally, an on-site chaplain is available for distanced praying with participants wearing face masks.<\/span><\/p>\n Muldrow also uses Facebook and Zoom to produce a mix of pre-recorded and live-streamed sermons for her congregation weekly. The church held a small, outdoor, physically distanced service for Christmas that was also broadcast virtually, but there is hope that it can start transitioning to more socially distant, in-person events by Easter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>The vaccines are coming out,\u201d said Muldrow. \u201cAnd I know several of our members have already been vaccinated since it’s a more elderly population. So we’ll see if it opens up any earlier than Easter.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n While every day is another step towards overcoming the challenges that the pandemic has presented, Reverend Muldrow is still optimistic that the world will be stronger for all that we have suffered.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For now, her deepest concern is keeping up the morale of her church congregants.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOur world, our thoughts of what the world is like and what it should be, is gone,\u201d said Muldrow. \u201cAnd as much as we say, \u2018let’s get back to normal,\u2019 what was, is in the past. So now we have this opportunity of going, \u2018So how are we going to proceed now?\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Despite having to keep a congregation desperate for connection at bay, and continuing to pay for employee salaries in addition to the management of grounds and buildings that are no longer in use, Reverend Muldrow sees light on the other side of this pandemic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat’s the interesting thing about devastation,\u201d said Muldrow. \u201cI mean, you look at history, some of the most incredible inventions or things that we have found out about are in times of despair. And I don’t think this is going to lack in that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n In balancing the realities of the pandemic with the needs of her congregants, Reverend Muldrow has fostered a community separated by circumstance.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis community has been a blessing,\u201d said Muldrow. \u201cWhat my faith did was to show me once this is all over with, what a wonderful time we’re going to have to create.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flnewsroom2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/01\/Karina05.jpg” title_text=”Karina05″ admin_label=”Masks and San.” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”Nunito||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”Oswald|||on|” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”600px” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||”]<\/p>\n Unity of Fort Myers church requires mandatory face masks, and offers gloves for participants who would like to hold hands during private prayer services. This is one of many disinfecting stations placed throughout the buildings, which are only in use on occasion and by request. (Photo by Karina Cashman)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flnewsroom2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/01\/Karina02.jpg” title_text=”Karina02″ align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Bread” _builder_version=”4.7.7″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”Nunito||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”Oswald|||on|” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”600px” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||”]<\/p>\n Volunteers from Unity of Fort Myers will pick up this box of bread to donate to people in need, including a group of foster children. (Photo by Karina Cashman)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/3FO0kP42X64″ thumbnail_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.6)” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Congregants of Unity of Fort Myers church sit in physically distanced quadrants on Thursday, Dec 24, 2020, during the candle-lighting ceremony of a Christmas sermon, which is also broadcast virtually. (Photo by Karina Cashman)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flnewsroom2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/01\/Karina04.jpg” title_text=”Karina04″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Peace Pond is part of the sprawling campus of Unity Fort Myers. The grounds and buildings continue to be maintained even though the church is not holding regular in-person services. (Photo by Karina Cashman)<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Footer – DO NOT EDIT BELOW HERE” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” background_image=”https:\/\/flnewsroom2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2020\/09\/water_footer_wusf.jpg” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_module=”44″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” collapsed=”off”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” admin_label=”Footer Row” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px||” animation_style=”fade” make_fullwidth=”on”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”100px|10%|100px|10%” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” padding_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”Oswald||||” link_font=”||||||||” ul_font=”||||||||” ol_font=”||||||||” quote_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#04a3e3″ header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_font_size=”40px” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” header_2_line_height=”1.5em” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”||4%|” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Texts” _builder_version=”4.6.3″ text_font=”Nunito||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_font=”Oswald|||on|” header_text_color=”#DCA57D” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#DCA57D” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”||6%|” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n\u201cIn the Time of COVID-19\u201d<\/h2>\n
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About NextGenRadio<\/h2>\n