Ep 019 - A Success Story of Preparation Meeting Opportunity with Chevalier Lovett and Florida Rising with Recovery Advocate Network

Welcome to Episode 19 and an amazing conversation with Chev from Florida Rising (I will allow him to share his full name as he pronounces it SO much better than I do!!). Chevalier Lovett (he/him, they/them) proudly serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Florida Rising. Born and raised on the historic West Side of Winter Park, FL - He has spent more than 15 years in senior leadership positions in local & national roles within the nonprofit sector, which includes positions with the YMCA, City Year, and legacy Organize Florida. A first-generation college graduate, he has done academic studies at several notable institutions. Chevalier is very active in the community and serves on several notable local, state, and national boards & committees, which currently include the Contigo Fund, Hope CommUnity Center, Executive Nominating Board for the City of Orlando, the Board of Trustees of the Winter Park Public Library, as an Executive Board Member for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando & Osceola County, Poverty Solutions and Opera America's Racial Justice national committee & National Trustees Committee. In recognition of his service to the community, he was named 2020's Most Influential by Winter Park Magazine. He was also named as a finalist in two categories in Orlando Weekly's Magazine Best of 2021 awards (Best Local Big Shot Who's Not an Elected Official and Best Local Leader During the Pandemic) and named as a finalist in Best of 2022 in three categories (Best Local Influencer, Best Local Big Shot Who's Not an Elected Official and Best Local Leader During a Pandemic). In 2023, he was named the Diversity Game Changer by the Orlando Magic & Florida Blue. Chevalier believes his existence is to be a voice and to fight alongside & with marginalized communities. Particularly those who come from low-income BIPOC communities, the LGBTQIA+ space, youth & education, young leaders, and those who are committed to the Peace Movement. He has been sought after as a speaker for his deep work in activism, DEI, and organizational & leadership development. Aside from spending time with family and his twin baby sons in his free time you can hear Chevalier as an active musician in several classical arts spaces across the US East Coast and as the Contemporary Worship Director for First United Church of Winter Park.

This episode contains several sensitive topics, including gun violence, murder, gender identity and sexual orientation discrimination, and poverty. If you feel triggered, we encourage you to contact your support system, therapist, or national and community support groups. We also discuss topics that some may find controversial, such as gun control, abortion laws, voting rights, etc., and hence want to remind you that the opinions expressed are the host and guest's own opinions and do not represent the opinions of any organization.

Guest Quote:

"I believe luck is preparation meeting opportunity. If you hadn't been prepared when the opportunity came along, you wouldn't have been lucky." ―Oprah Winfrey

Guest Links:

• Cultivating Leadership During The Coronavirus
• Organized Voices: Waking up to the history of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC Florida Politics
• Uplifting Marginalized Communities in Florida Amid "Anti-Woke" Policies
• Check out Chevalier Lovett's Story
• The Mission of Habitat literally changed my life
• After Pulse: Chevalier Lovett

Acronyms:

• AAPI: Asian American and Pacific Islander
• BIPOC: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
• LGBTQIA+: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or sometimes questioning), intersex, asexual, and others. The "plus" represents other sexual identities, including pansexual and Two-Spirit.

Donate Today:

• PayPal
• Venmo 
• Email: [email protected]

Additional Resources:

• Be a Coffee & Conversation Podcast Guest:  [email protected]
• Submit a Blog Post:  [email protected]
• Website: www.recoveryadvocatenetwork.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RecoveryAdvocateNetwork
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/RAN2Wellness
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recovery_advocate_network/