Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to community viewpoints.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Is Shawnnie feeling blessed and highly favored on this Sunday
morning we are empowering our community Black History Month.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
My prayers are answered. This morning.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
I have the privilege of interviewing Joyce Morgan, and I
will not put our titles behind her just yet because
she has many Good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Joyce, Good morning Shawnie.
Speaker 4 (00:21):
How are you, Joyce?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
I am well feeling blessed right now because you know,
we've been wanting to connect and I've been wanting to
talk to you about your accomplishments throughout the years and
what you've been doing. Today we're talking about something that's
very important. But if you would just highlight yourself this
morning and share with the community what you've been doing
in Jacksonville and around the community.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Thank you so much, Johnnie. First of all, I appreciate just.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
Having the opportunity to spend a little time with you.
I've known you for so many years and just have
seen you grow into this role that you're in now.
And I feel empowered just being your presence because you
have done some amazing things and I've watched you do
those things. I came to Jacksonville back in nineteen eighty eight.
(01:10):
At that time, I came to start a morning show
for Channel seventeen, which is now the CW. I believe
with the station with Channel four. But back in those days,
we were ABC and we were INBC, and John Gonne
and I started their very first morning show. So I
(01:33):
guess that's a little black history right there. I was
the first African American to host a morning show on
Channel seventeen in nineteen eighty eight. I went on to
be the main anchor, and I am told by some
that I was the first female black female to indeed
post the evening news for Channel seventeen as well. I
(01:57):
came out of Making Georgia out of Atta Georgia because
in Atlanta, Georgia back in nineteen eighty three. Boy, I'm
dating myself, sorry about that. In nineteen eighty three, I
became the first African American to host a show in
Atlanta call PM Magazine. So I go way back when
(02:18):
it comes to broadcasting. I was an anchor at Channel seventeen.
I was an anchor in Making Georgia on Channel twenty four.
I went on to Dallas, Texas on Channel five for
two years before coming back to Jacksonville and to WJXT
Channel four in nineteen ninety three. I stayed with Channel
(02:41):
four for eleven years. Then I did consulting work. I
did started the JTA Making Moves television show. I was
the anchor of the school Board Public Affairs show. Oh wow,
I can't what I didn't do.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
It's more of what I did do.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Eventually, I ended up running for political office, something I
never thought i'd do. But I can tell you that
back at Channel four, I had a photographer who came.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Into the studio one day. He said, Joyce, vote for Joyce.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Vote for Joyce.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
And I said, Carlos, I'm.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
Not running for anything. What are you talking about.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
She said, Ms.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Morgan, whatever you run for, I'm going to vote for you.
I didn't know that he was speaking into my life
at that point. And then I met a young man,
Ricky Anderson. And Ricky came up to me and said,
you know what, have you ever thought running for political office?
I said no, absolutely not, and he said you should
(03:52):
consider District one where you live. I thought about it
for ten months. I asked my husband, I asked my.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Kids, should I do this?
Speaker 4 (04:02):
They said, absolutely, Mom, absolutely, you do this. You're right.
I ran. I ran against four people, I got into
the runoff, and I won that election.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
I do that for eight years and now I was
elected property appraiser a year and a half ago, becoming
the first African American and the first female to ever
do this in Duroh County. So that's a synopsis of
who I am, where I've been, what I've done. But
through all of this, I will tell you one thing
(04:36):
stands firm for me.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
That word service, service to all mankind, which is what
you know my sorority speaks about all the time. I'm
an aka Alpha Kappa Alpha Incorporated, but that's what we
speak about, service to all mankind. That's what I've done
in all of these years, from nineteen eighty all the
(05:01):
way to now, and even before then when I was younger,
it was all about service to me. So that's who
I am. And now we got to get really down
to the work of why I'm really here, right, ma'am.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
You know when I introduced you, I had to just
say your name because, as you can see, community a
plethora of accolades behind this lady's name, but one stands out.
It is service, and that's why we connect. So I'm
watching her on TV, seeing her in the community, seeing
her thrive and strive for us and making moves. So
we are here today to talk about your position as
(05:36):
Duval County Property Appraiser and what are the deadlines that
is approaching us for the homestead exemption each year?
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Thank you for asking that.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
So the filing deadline for homestead exemption is actually March
the first, and as we all know, March the first
is falling on a Saturday, which means.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
That you actually have until my day, March the third,
to file. So people would say, well, what exactly is.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
That if you have a home, then you automatically qualify
for what we call our homestead exemption. And remember that
the Property Appraiser's office is in business for one reason.
That is to assess the taxable value of property here
(06:29):
in Duval County because the property taxes are what fuel
the city government. The city cannot run without property taxes
because fifty three percent, fifty three percent of the City
of Jacksonville's budget is derived from property taxes, our local
(06:51):
property taxes. So it's very important what we do in
my office. But it's also very important to you to
know that even though, we all have to pay property
taxes so the city can run, the city can build roads,
take care of roads, do the garbage pick up, all
of the city services, all of your parks, all of
(07:12):
your recreation that the city pays for is actually paid
through through your property taxes. So even though you have
property taxes, you do have an opportunity to get exemptions.
And the home set exemption is the most important. That's
twenty five thousand dollars off of your assess value, which
(07:34):
takes you down to a taxable value.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
And then that's what we.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Assess you for.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
How do you qualify for it? We all qualify for it.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
We all qualify if you have a home and you
live in that home on January first, on January first,
then what that means is that you have the opportunity
to claim homestead exemptions. Of course, you have to be
a US citizen or here on asylum, or you have
(08:07):
to have a permanent resident card, but those are the
only qualifications.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Community Shawnee speaking to Joyce Morgan, Duval County Property Appraiser.
She is here with us this morning, enlightening us, but
understanding this is Black History Month and this is about
our acres, if you are in the community, if you
have a home, this conversation is for you. So, Joyce,
what documents would the community need to apply for the
(08:36):
homestead exemption?
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Again, it's really really simple, and I really do want
people to understand just how simple this is. There's nothing
magical behind it. There's nothing that you have to worry
about and say, ah huh, I got you. All you
need is your driver's license with that homestead address on it, okay,
(09:01):
Or you could use your vehicle regist registration because when
you when you do your vehicle registration, it has your
home home address on it, or even a utility bill.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
So it's that simple.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
We just need verification that you are who you say
you are and that you are at that property and
that and that's it.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Building our community with this conversation.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Shawnie speaking to Joyce Morgan, one of the Shiras in
our community. Joyce, if you already have this uh homestead exemption?
Do you need to reapply every year for this benefit?
Speaker 4 (09:41):
Actually, you do not need to reapply. In fact, the
DULA Counting Property Appraiser's office sends out a renewal card
every single year. It's a white postcard that comes to you,
and on that card, it's going to say the receipt
for your tax exemption renewal. Now, as long as nothing
(10:03):
has changed, as long as you and your spouse or
a significant other are still in the house, then you
don't even have.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
To return that card.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
The only time you really need to return that card
is if something is different and would change your eligibility.
That's when you would need to change that card. And
one of the ways would be if someone passed away.
So if you and your husband are on the homestead
(10:37):
exemption and one of you passes away, then we would
need to know that, so you would.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Need to return that card.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
If you moved, you would need to return that card
and let us know that you are no longer there.
And that brings me to another thing, Charannie. The home
stead exemption can actually be removed. It can actually be removed.
Number one is just what I was just talking about.
(11:06):
If you're no longer a resident there. If you are
no longer a resident there, then it's going to be removed.
If that property is rented, you rent the property. You
can't claim homestead on a property that's rented. You can
only claim homestead on the property you live in Okay, Okay.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
And so again, if you.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
Moved and that card comes back to my office, if
it comes back to my office, then that's going to
trigger my staff to look and see what's wrong because
the card was returned. And so that's that's a whole
nother process that we're not even talking about today.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Community Shawnee speaking to Joyce Morgan this morning, Ashira in
our community standing on service and standing on everything that.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Revolves around can which is where we live.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Joyce, how can the community apply for homestead exemption if
they don't have it already.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
If you don't have it already, you can do it
several ways. Number One, you can always go online. That's
very simple there. You know a lot of people are.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Really using online to do everything. They're banking and buying things.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
So you can do this online as well. Of course,
you would go to our website which is www. Dot
doo vall p as a paul a as an Apple
dot com. And then once you get into that, you
will see our homestead exemption tab and you just click
(12:46):
that and it will take you right through the process. Again.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Of course, when you.
Speaker 4 (12:51):
Get ready to do it online, you will want to
have your Florida Driver's license with you so that you
know you can and put that information in and just
follow the prompts. It's pretty easy to do. The second
way is you can come see us at my office.
We're at the Yates Building, which is downtown Jacksonville. Actually
(13:15):
he's right across the street from the Florida Theater. If
you know where the Florida Theater is, and you know
where the tax Collector's office is, the tax collector and
the property appraiser are in the same building. That is
the Yates Building. That is two thirty one East for
Site Street, and you would come to the second floor.
(13:37):
The suite number is two six zero. So you can
always apply in person. My staff is waiting to help
you every single day.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Kimmand Shawnee speaking to Joyce Warden, Duval County Property Appraiser,
enlightening us of the next steps that we need to
do to empower our way of living. Joyce, I know
that I hear the smile in your voice because it
always seems as if you're empowering and having a good
time too. So with this job, what has been the
(14:10):
most rewarding part of the role as Duval County Property Appraiser.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
I think for me, Seanie, it's what we have talked
about already. For me, it's just absolutely service. It is
about this community. It's about making sure that the community
knows as much as possible about the Duval County Property Appraiser,
the importance of the office and how.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
We can help you.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
So for me, that's paramount. That's what I try to
bring to my staff, is that we serve this community,
and when we do a good job, it makes a
difference for everyone in this community.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
I love my seniors.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Of course, I spend a lot of time with senior
citizens and people will probably say why, well, number one,
I'm a senior citizen, so I'm definitely in that category.
But it's also because the seniors have done the work.
(15:15):
They have made the way for all of us, and
we pretty much stand on their shoulders. And so I
never forget that. I never forget that somebody came before me,
and I'm always going to take care of them, just
like I've always taken care of my family members, my
mother and my aunt. You know, anybody who is a
(15:39):
singer to us, you know there's a reverence and you're
close to respect them.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
And I do, absolutely, I do.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
And Joyce, the question I have is what does black
history mean to you?
Speaker 4 (15:54):
Black history means to me American history.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
It means American history.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
We are so ingrained in the fabric of America that
there is really no difference, no difference between Black history
and American history. We are what America is, and we
have truly built America. It's been built on the backs
(16:24):
of African Americans. And so number one, I'm proud to
say that.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
I'm African American.
Speaker 4 (16:30):
I'm so proud, so proud, and that's what black history
means to me. It just means that we need to
never forget our history. And if you go.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Back through the annals of American history, we have been
there since the very beginning, since the very beginning. That's
what it's all about to me.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Johnny, Well, you know the last question. And I know
that you work hard, and I know you play hard.
You said that you were part of the Akas. Other
than working, when you're not working, how do you unwine
and spend your free time?
Speaker 3 (17:05):
You know, my staff thinks I never unwind.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
They think that all I do is work, because all
they can say is, oh God, she came up with
something else.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
But I actually have been working out. I always have
been a marathon walker, so since probably two thousand. In
the year two thousand, I did my first Path marathon,
So I am a marathon walker. I love doing the River.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
Run, even though I won't get to do it this year, but.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
I love doing the River Run.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
I try to do it just about every year for
the last twenty twenty two years. But I did that
first walking marathon.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
And I do not run.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
I only walk, but that's what I do.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
I am now probably working out four to five days
a week. I have a trainer, and that's my unwinding.
I am just totally focused.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
On building strength and my body, my core, and so
that's what I do.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Other than that, my husband and I travel.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
All the time, and that is good.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
We need a balance, right Joyce. We work hard, we
play hard, yes, and so it looks like you have
created a balance in life. We have another conversation about seniors,
because there's a lot going on I think in what
I see, But that's another conversation. I want to thank
Vanessa for connecting us.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
I forgot to tell you, Shani.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
I'm also pursuing an executive Master's degree at Jacksonville University
in public policy.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
And with that degree, what is your vision?
Speaker 4 (18:58):
Well, number one, it makes me better at what I'm
already doing.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
I will tell you that.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
And we always have to improve our knowledge and strength,
right I do.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
I think learning is life.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
Long and that is also a Black history.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Yes it is, Yes, it is never stop learning.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Be empowered, Joyce and welcome back to community viewpoints and
Shawnee feeling blessed and highly favored on this Sunday Warning.
Speaking to Daisy mcclennan. On this Sunday Warning, we are
empowering our community. Black history means that we lift every voice.
Daisy mcclennan is here with us. She is the VP
Vice president of Zeta Amikai.
Speaker 5 (19:37):
We madame is Jacksonville Zeta Amiki. And again my name
is Daisy McClelland. And Data Amika is actually an auxiliary.
We are the friends of the Zeta by Data Sorority.
Zeta Amika was established some of the twenty seventh to
nineteen forty eight by the Five Pearls. We are there
to assist the Zeta by Data Sorority. However, we are
(20:01):
an auxiliary up under that umbrella. And the qualifications to
be as data a NIKA is that you cannot have
a four year degree. You can have a two year degree,
you can have some college, but you cannot hold a
four year degree. We are a group of professional women
that are in this auxiliary and we've been in Jacksonville
(20:23):
for seventy six years. This auxiliary has been in existence
with Jada Phi Data Bands of Jacksonville. So our group
we're responsible for partnering with Jada Phi Data and their
activities as well as having our own activities. So some
of the things that we do as data in our auxiliary,
(20:44):
we do service, we do scholarship, we do sisterhood, and
of course we are a finer womenhood. So we're just
getting started with data. This is my first year being
the vice president and we're taking it to a whole
different level. This year, we have partnered with Paste Girls
for Homes that is our sponsor school, and what we
(21:07):
do is we supply them with supplies that they may need.
We actually go to the school and we look into
the closet. We make sure they have all the personal
hygiene products that they need, and we do that maybe
once or twice a month. They are our primary focused
when it comes to scholarship, and again we're just like
(21:29):
rolling out our scholarship and we were able to offer
scholarship this year to a young man, which was our
very first one that we rolled out this year and
that was done in the month of November of last year.
Going forward, our scholarships will be triggered towards the Pace
Home for Girls. I will say again that it is
(21:49):
a very well established auxiliary that's slow kated in Jacksonville.
And again we've been in business for seventy six years.
Our china has so we celebrated past weekend seventy six
years of being established in Jacksonville, Florida. We are currently
collecting for our scholarships. The scholarship will help us to
(22:10):
empower young women and expand our reach of Zata Amica
services locally in state. So we have a raffle for
a scholarship and that raffle will contribute towards our scholarship
for Pace Girls Home as well as the state of Florida.
The data Amica Auxiliary is located in every state in Florida.
(22:34):
In the month of April, we will meet in Hollywood, Florida,
and that is our big conference and in that conference
we have a Queen contest. The Queen Contest is triggered
towards raising funds for our scholarship. We're very heavy on
scholarships because we again we want to empower women to
(22:56):
move to the next level of their lives and whatever
we can do to aid that, that is what.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
We Dorindy Shawnee speaking to Daisy mcclinnan. She is the
vice president of the group Zeta Amika and they are
here to empower the community. Now, Daisy, talk and tell
how can the community get involved with this fundraiser. I'm
very familiar with the Queen's Drive as I'm an Eastern Star,
(23:23):
so I'm familiar with the fundraiser and how much fun
that could be. What are you doing and how can
the community get involved.
Speaker 5 (23:29):
What we're doing now is we help. We're holding a
raffle that's good until March to twenty ninth. The raffle
is for a fifty inch Bruco Smart TV. The donations
are one ticket for ten dollars, are two tickets for
fifteen dollars. We do have a website on our page
and we take donations if you don't want a TV,
(23:49):
but you want a sponsor to help us to help
young women achieve their goals and receiving a scholarship, we
will be more than grateful. That is one of the
fundraisers that we have going on at this time. There
will be additional fundraisers up forthcoming.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
I mean be understanding. You can always check out our
community calendar page. We do have this information on the
website so that you can check out what these ladies
are doing to empower our sisters. Daisy, if you would
tell me, with your drive and being vice president, looking
to move your group to a higher level, what does
(24:25):
Black history mean to you and how are you moving
with these ladies to empower the community.
Speaker 5 (24:32):
Black history, of course, is history that they cannot take
from us. Education of Black history, reminding them of who
we are with our five pearls Beta Phi Beta. The
fight that they had to say to say on top
Black history is so important. There is so much potential
in African American women and men. It is a drive
(24:55):
that we let the young ladies know that you are
somebody and never to under estimate who you are. So
we strive on providing additional information to our Pace girls
Home and other young women that we run across in
what Black history is.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Mandy Shawnee speaking to Daisy mcclennan. She is the vice
president of Zeta Amika and Daisy, if you would you
talked about the organization, what about you will tell us
a little something.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
About das well.
Speaker 5 (25:25):
I am actually I'm married. I've been married for thirty
five years this year. I have three sons three grandsons.
By profession, I am a government underwriter. I have been
an underwriter for over twenty years and I worked with
various lenders and reviewing credit reports and credit documentation. I
(25:47):
have a drive to give back to the community. I
love community service, have some activities that we work with
Clara White Mission, and I do remember you being at
Clara White Mission when we were feeding the children. I'm
all about giving back to the community and helping whereof
I can. I am like Michelle Obama, I reached back
to pull a sister up and for the youth, I
(26:10):
want to empower them to be all that they can
be and let them know that they can achieve whatever
goal they set to achieve. Even if they don't know,
we can talk to them, we can encourage them go
to school. There is always something to do to better yourself.
So that's a little bit about me.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Thank you so much for blessing us with everything that's
going on, understanding that we empower together as sisters. We
were at the feed this city and that's where we
connect this and I wanted to talk to you all
because I had not seen you out look out and
so I wanted to share. I always like to pull
up someone that has not been seen or heard, and
(26:50):
this month I am trying to lift every voice to
ensure that everyone has a spot or a light through
community viewpoints to your fundraiser. Back to engaging with the
community again, tell us that website and of course community
we have the information, but you know, as a group
(27:10):
that is a nonprofit, donations is what drives the bottom
line to empower.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
So allow the community to know your website.
Speaker 5 (27:20):
Okay, So you can go on pay PayPal and that
is Beta Alpha Zeta chapter and you can make a
note v a Queen contest and you can also send
the funds through zill at baz Treasurer at yahoo dot
com and please make a notation va Queen Contest. And
(27:41):
if you have any questions, you can always email us
at data Amika Jacks President twenty twenty four at gmail
dot com.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
And who is the young lady running for queen this year?
Would you like to mention the name?
Speaker 5 (27:54):
Yeah, her name is Jandaiah Mitchell and she is currently
our president of Data A meet community.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Please check out our community calendar page. We have the
information on all the events empowering our community.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
It's Shawnee.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
Be empowered, stay empowered, and be a blessing with community
viewpoints
Welcome to community viewpoints.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Is Shawnnie feeling blessed and highly favored on this Sunday
morning we are empowering our community Black History Month.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
My prayers are answered. This morning.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
I have the privilege of interviewing Joyce Morgan, and I
will not put our titles behind her just yet because
she has many Good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Joyce, Good morning Shawnie.
Speaker 4 (00:21):
How are you, Joyce?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
I am well feeling blessed right now because you know,
we've been wanting to connect and I've been wanting to
talk to you about your accomplishments throughout the years and
what you've been doing. Today we're talking about something that's
very important. But if you would just highlight yourself this
morning and share with the community what you've been doing
in Jacksonville and around the community.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Thank you so much, Johnnie. First of all, I appreciate just.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
Having the opportunity to spend a little time with you.
I've known you for so many years and just have
seen you grow into this role that you're in now.
And I feel empowered just being your presence because you
have done some amazing things and I've watched you do
those things. I came to Jacksonville back in nineteen eighty eight.
(01:10):
At that time, I came to start a morning show
for Channel seventeen, which is now the CW. I believe
with the station with Channel four. But back in those days,
we were ABC and we were INBC, and John Gonne
and I started their very first morning show. So I
(01:33):
guess that's a little black history right there. I was
the first African American to host a morning show on
Channel seventeen in nineteen eighty eight. I went on to
be the main anchor, and I am told by some
that I was the first female black female to indeed
post the evening news for Channel seventeen as well. I
(01:57):
came out of Making Georgia out of Atta Georgia because
in Atlanta, Georgia back in nineteen eighty three. Boy, I'm
dating myself, sorry about that. In nineteen eighty three, I
became the first African American to host a show in
Atlanta call PM Magazine. So I go way back when
(02:18):
it comes to broadcasting. I was an anchor at Channel seventeen.
I was an anchor in Making Georgia on Channel twenty four.
I went on to Dallas, Texas on Channel five for
two years before coming back to Jacksonville and to WJXT
Channel four in nineteen ninety three. I stayed with Channel
(02:41):
four for eleven years. Then I did consulting work. I
did started the JTA Making Moves television show. I was
the anchor of the school Board Public Affairs show. Oh wow,
I can't what I didn't do.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
It's more of what I did do.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Eventually, I ended up running for political office, something I
never thought i'd do. But I can tell you that
back at Channel four, I had a photographer who came.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Into the studio one day. He said, Joyce, vote for Joyce.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Vote for Joyce.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
And I said, Carlos, I'm.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
Not running for anything. What are you talking about.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
She said, Ms.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Morgan, whatever you run for, I'm going to vote for you.
I didn't know that he was speaking into my life
at that point. And then I met a young man,
Ricky Anderson. And Ricky came up to me and said,
you know what, have you ever thought running for political office?
I said no, absolutely not, and he said you should
(03:52):
consider District one where you live. I thought about it
for ten months. I asked my husband, I asked my.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Kids, should I do this?
Speaker 4 (04:02):
They said, absolutely, Mom, absolutely, you do this. You're right.
I ran. I ran against four people, I got into
the runoff, and I won that election.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
I do that for eight years and now I was
elected property appraiser a year and a half ago, becoming
the first African American and the first female to ever
do this in Duroh County. So that's a synopsis of
who I am, where I've been, what I've done. But
through all of this, I will tell you one thing
(04:36):
stands firm for me.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
That word service, service to all mankind, which is what
you know my sorority speaks about all the time. I'm
an aka Alpha Kappa Alpha Incorporated, but that's what we
speak about, service to all mankind. That's what I've done
in all of these years, from nineteen eighty all the
(05:01):
way to now, and even before then when I was younger,
it was all about service to me. So that's who
I am. And now we got to get really down
to the work of why I'm really here, right, ma'am.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
You know when I introduced you, I had to just
say your name because, as you can see, community a
plethora of accolades behind this lady's name, but one stands out.
It is service, and that's why we connect. So I'm
watching her on TV, seeing her in the community, seeing
her thrive and strive for us and making moves. So
we are here today to talk about your position as
(05:36):
Duval County Property Appraiser and what are the deadlines that
is approaching us for the homestead exemption each year?
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Thank you for asking that.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
So the filing deadline for homestead exemption is actually March
the first, and as we all know, March the first
is falling on a Saturday, which means.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
That you actually have until my day, March the third,
to file. So people would say, well, what exactly is.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
That if you have a home, then you automatically qualify
for what we call our homestead exemption. And remember that
the Property Appraiser's office is in business for one reason.
That is to assess the taxable value of property here
(06:29):
in Duval County because the property taxes are what fuel
the city government. The city cannot run without property taxes
because fifty three percent, fifty three percent of the City
of Jacksonville's budget is derived from property taxes, our local
(06:51):
property taxes. So it's very important what we do in
my office. But it's also very important to you to
know that even though, we all have to pay property
taxes so the city can run, the city can build roads,
take care of roads, do the garbage pick up, all
of the city services, all of your parks, all of
(07:12):
your recreation that the city pays for is actually paid
through through your property taxes. So even though you have
property taxes, you do have an opportunity to get exemptions.
And the home set exemption is the most important. That's
twenty five thousand dollars off of your assess value, which
(07:34):
takes you down to a taxable value.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
And then that's what we.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Assess you for.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
How do you qualify for it? We all qualify for it.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
We all qualify if you have a home and you
live in that home on January first, on January first,
then what that means is that you have the opportunity
to claim homestead exemptions. Of course, you have to be
a US citizen or here on asylum, or you have
(08:07):
to have a permanent resident card, but those are the
only qualifications.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Community Shawnee speaking to Joyce Morgan, Duval County Property Appraiser.
She is here with us this morning, enlightening us, but
understanding this is Black History Month and this is about
our acres, if you are in the community, if you
have a home, this conversation is for you. So, Joyce,
what documents would the community need to apply for the
(08:36):
homestead exemption?
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Again, it's really really simple, and I really do want
people to understand just how simple this is. There's nothing
magical behind it. There's nothing that you have to worry
about and say, ah huh, I got you. All you
need is your driver's license with that homestead address on it, okay,
(09:01):
Or you could use your vehicle regist registration because when
you when you do your vehicle registration, it has your
home home address on it, or even a utility bill.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
So it's that simple.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
We just need verification that you are who you say
you are and that you are at that property and
that and that's it.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Building our community with this conversation.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Shawnie speaking to Joyce Morgan, one of the Shiras in
our community. Joyce, if you already have this uh homestead exemption?
Do you need to reapply every year for this benefit?
Speaker 4 (09:41):
Actually, you do not need to reapply. In fact, the
DULA Counting Property Appraiser's office sends out a renewal card
every single year. It's a white postcard that comes to you,
and on that card, it's going to say the receipt
for your tax exemption renewal. Now, as long as nothing
(10:03):
has changed, as long as you and your spouse or
a significant other are still in the house, then you
don't even have.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
To return that card.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
The only time you really need to return that card
is if something is different and would change your eligibility.
That's when you would need to change that card. And
one of the ways would be if someone passed away.
So if you and your husband are on the homestead
(10:37):
exemption and one of you passes away, then we would
need to know that, so you would.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Need to return that card.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
If you moved, you would need to return that card
and let us know that you are no longer there.
And that brings me to another thing, Charannie. The home
stead exemption can actually be removed. It can actually be removed.
Number one is just what I was just talking about.
(11:06):
If you're no longer a resident there. If you are
no longer a resident there, then it's going to be removed.
If that property is rented, you rent the property. You
can't claim homestead on a property that's rented. You can
only claim homestead on the property you live in Okay, Okay.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
And so again, if you.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
Moved and that card comes back to my office, if
it comes back to my office, then that's going to
trigger my staff to look and see what's wrong because
the card was returned. And so that's that's a whole
nother process that we're not even talking about today.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Community Shawnee speaking to Joyce Morgan this morning, Ashira in
our community standing on service and standing on everything that.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Revolves around can which is where we live.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Joyce, how can the community apply for homestead exemption if
they don't have it already.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
If you don't have it already, you can do it
several ways. Number One, you can always go online. That's
very simple there. You know a lot of people are.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Really using online to do everything. They're banking and buying things.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
So you can do this online as well. Of course,
you would go to our website which is www. Dot
doo vall p as a paul a as an Apple
dot com. And then once you get into that, you
will see our homestead exemption tab and you just click
(12:46):
that and it will take you right through the process. Again.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Of course, when you.
Speaker 4 (12:51):
Get ready to do it online, you will want to
have your Florida Driver's license with you so that you
know you can and put that information in and just
follow the prompts. It's pretty easy to do. The second
way is you can come see us at my office.
We're at the Yates Building, which is downtown Jacksonville. Actually
(13:15):
he's right across the street from the Florida Theater. If
you know where the Florida Theater is, and you know
where the tax Collector's office is, the tax collector and
the property appraiser are in the same building. That is
the Yates Building. That is two thirty one East for
Site Street, and you would come to the second floor.
(13:37):
The suite number is two six zero. So you can
always apply in person. My staff is waiting to help
you every single day.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Kimmand Shawnee speaking to Joyce Warden, Duval County Property Appraiser,
enlightening us of the next steps that we need to
do to empower our way of living. Joyce, I know
that I hear the smile in your voice because it
always seems as if you're empowering and having a good
time too. So with this job, what has been the
(14:10):
most rewarding part of the role as Duval County Property Appraiser.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
I think for me, Seanie, it's what we have talked
about already. For me, it's just absolutely service. It is
about this community. It's about making sure that the community
knows as much as possible about the Duval County Property Appraiser,
the importance of the office and how.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
We can help you.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
So for me, that's paramount. That's what I try to
bring to my staff, is that we serve this community,
and when we do a good job, it makes a
difference for everyone in this community.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
I love my seniors.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Of course, I spend a lot of time with senior
citizens and people will probably say why, well, number one,
I'm a senior citizen, so I'm definitely in that category.
But it's also because the seniors have done the work.
(15:15):
They have made the way for all of us, and
we pretty much stand on their shoulders. And so I
never forget that. I never forget that somebody came before me,
and I'm always going to take care of them, just
like I've always taken care of my family members, my
mother and my aunt. You know, anybody who is a
(15:39):
singer to us, you know there's a reverence and you're
close to respect them.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
And I do, absolutely, I do.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
And Joyce, the question I have is what does black
history mean to you?
Speaker 4 (15:54):
Black history means to me American history.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
It means American history.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
We are so ingrained in the fabric of America that
there is really no difference, no difference between Black history
and American history. We are what America is, and we
have truly built America. It's been built on the backs
(16:24):
of African Americans. And so number one, I'm proud to
say that.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
I'm African American.
Speaker 4 (16:30):
I'm so proud, so proud, and that's what black history
means to me. It just means that we need to
never forget our history. And if you go.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Back through the annals of American history, we have been
there since the very beginning, since the very beginning. That's
what it's all about to me.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Johnny, Well, you know the last question. And I know
that you work hard, and I know you play hard.
You said that you were part of the Akas. Other
than working, when you're not working, how do you unwine
and spend your free time?
Speaker 3 (17:05):
You know, my staff thinks I never unwind.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
They think that all I do is work, because all
they can say is, oh God, she came up with
something else.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
But I actually have been working out. I always have
been a marathon walker, so since probably two thousand. In
the year two thousand, I did my first Path marathon,
So I am a marathon walker. I love doing the River.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
Run, even though I won't get to do it this year, but.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
I love doing the River Run.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
I try to do it just about every year for
the last twenty twenty two years. But I did that
first walking marathon.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
And I do not run.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
I only walk, but that's what I do.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
I am now probably working out four to five days
a week. I have a trainer, and that's my unwinding.
I am just totally focused.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
On building strength and my body, my core, and so
that's what I do.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Other than that, my husband and I travel.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
All the time, and that is good.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
We need a balance, right Joyce. We work hard, we
play hard, yes, and so it looks like you have
created a balance in life. We have another conversation about seniors,
because there's a lot going on I think in what
I see, But that's another conversation. I want to thank
Vanessa for connecting us.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
I forgot to tell you, Shani.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
I'm also pursuing an executive Master's degree at Jacksonville University
in public policy.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
And with that degree, what is your vision?
Speaker 4 (18:58):
Well, number one, it makes me better at what I'm
already doing.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
I will tell you that.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
And we always have to improve our knowledge and strength,
right I do.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
I think learning is life.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
Long and that is also a Black history.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Yes it is, Yes, it is never stop learning.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Be empowered, Joyce and welcome back to community viewpoints and
Shawnee feeling blessed and highly favored on this Sunday Warning.
Speaking to Daisy mcclennan. On this Sunday Warning, we are
empowering our community. Black history means that we lift every voice.
Daisy mcclennan is here with us. She is the VP
Vice president of Zeta Amikai.
Speaker 5 (19:37):
We madame is Jacksonville Zeta Amiki. And again my name
is Daisy McClelland. And Data Amika is actually an auxiliary.
We are the friends of the Zeta by Data Sorority.
Zeta Amika was established some of the twenty seventh to
nineteen forty eight by the Five Pearls. We are there
to assist the Zeta by Data Sorority. However, we are
(20:01):
an auxiliary up under that umbrella. And the qualifications to
be as data a NIKA is that you cannot have
a four year degree. You can have a two year degree,
you can have some college, but you cannot hold a
four year degree. We are a group of professional women
that are in this auxiliary and we've been in Jacksonville
(20:23):
for seventy six years. This auxiliary has been in existence
with Jada Phi Data Bands of Jacksonville. So our group
we're responsible for partnering with Jada Phi Data and their
activities as well as having our own activities. So some
of the things that we do as data in our auxiliary,
(20:44):
we do service, we do scholarship, we do sisterhood, and
of course we are a finer womenhood. So we're just
getting started with data. This is my first year being
the vice president and we're taking it to a whole
different level. This year, we have partnered with Paste Girls
for Homes that is our sponsor school, and what we
(21:07):
do is we supply them with supplies that they may need.
We actually go to the school and we look into
the closet. We make sure they have all the personal
hygiene products that they need, and we do that maybe
once or twice a month. They are our primary focused
when it comes to scholarship, and again we're just like
(21:29):
rolling out our scholarship and we were able to offer
scholarship this year to a young man, which was our
very first one that we rolled out this year and
that was done in the month of November of last year.
Going forward, our scholarships will be triggered towards the Pace
Home for Girls. I will say again that it is
(21:49):
a very well established auxiliary that's slow kated in Jacksonville.
And again we've been in business for seventy six years.
Our china has so we celebrated past weekend seventy six
years of being established in Jacksonville, Florida. We are currently
collecting for our scholarships. The scholarship will help us to
(22:10):
empower young women and expand our reach of Zata Amica
services locally in state. So we have a raffle for
a scholarship and that raffle will contribute towards our scholarship
for Pace Girls Home as well as the state of Florida.
The data Amica Auxiliary is located in every state in Florida.
(22:34):
In the month of April, we will meet in Hollywood, Florida,
and that is our big conference and in that conference
we have a Queen contest. The Queen Contest is triggered
towards raising funds for our scholarship. We're very heavy on
scholarships because we again we want to empower women to
(22:56):
move to the next level of their lives and whatever
we can do to aid that, that is what.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
We Dorindy Shawnee speaking to Daisy mcclinnan. She is the
vice president of the group Zeta Amika and they are
here to empower the community. Now, Daisy, talk and tell
how can the community get involved with this fundraiser. I'm
very familiar with the Queen's Drive as I'm an Eastern Star,
(23:23):
so I'm familiar with the fundraiser and how much fun
that could be. What are you doing and how can
the community get involved.
Speaker 5 (23:29):
What we're doing now is we help. We're holding a
raffle that's good until March to twenty ninth. The raffle
is for a fifty inch Bruco Smart TV. The donations
are one ticket for ten dollars, are two tickets for
fifteen dollars. We do have a website on our page
and we take donations if you don't want a TV,
(23:49):
but you want a sponsor to help us to help
young women achieve their goals and receiving a scholarship, we
will be more than grateful. That is one of the
fundraisers that we have going on at this time. There
will be additional fundraisers up forthcoming.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
I mean be understanding. You can always check out our
community calendar page. We do have this information on the
website so that you can check out what these ladies
are doing to empower our sisters. Daisy, if you would
tell me, with your drive and being vice president, looking
to move your group to a higher level, what does
(24:25):
Black history mean to you and how are you moving
with these ladies to empower the community.
Speaker 5 (24:32):
Black history, of course, is history that they cannot take
from us. Education of Black history, reminding them of who
we are with our five pearls Beta Phi Beta. The
fight that they had to say to say on top
Black history is so important. There is so much potential
in African American women and men. It is a drive
(24:55):
that we let the young ladies know that you are
somebody and never to under estimate who you are. So
we strive on providing additional information to our Pace girls
Home and other young women that we run across in
what Black history is.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Mandy Shawnee speaking to Daisy mcclennan. She is the vice
president of Zeta Amika and Daisy, if you would you
talked about the organization, what about you will tell us
a little something.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
About das well.
Speaker 5 (25:25):
I am actually I'm married. I've been married for thirty
five years this year. I have three sons three grandsons.
By profession, I am a government underwriter. I have been
an underwriter for over twenty years and I worked with
various lenders and reviewing credit reports and credit documentation. I
(25:47):
have a drive to give back to the community. I
love community service, have some activities that we work with
Clara White Mission, and I do remember you being at
Clara White Mission when we were feeding the children. I'm
all about giving back to the community and helping whereof
I can. I am like Michelle Obama, I reached back
to pull a sister up and for the youth, I
(26:10):
want to empower them to be all that they can
be and let them know that they can achieve whatever
goal they set to achieve. Even if they don't know,
we can talk to them, we can encourage them go
to school. There is always something to do to better yourself.
So that's a little bit about me.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Thank you so much for blessing us with everything that's
going on, understanding that we empower together as sisters. We
were at the feed this city and that's where we
connect this and I wanted to talk to you all
because I had not seen you out look out and
so I wanted to share. I always like to pull
up someone that has not been seen or heard, and
(26:50):
this month I am trying to lift every voice to
ensure that everyone has a spot or a light through
community viewpoints to your fundraiser. Back to engaging with the
community again, tell us that website and of course community
we have the information, but you know, as a group
(27:10):
that is a nonprofit, donations is what drives the bottom
line to empower.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
So allow the community to know your website.
Speaker 5 (27:20):
Okay, So you can go on pay PayPal and that
is Beta Alpha Zeta chapter and you can make a
note v a Queen contest and you can also send
the funds through zill at baz Treasurer at yahoo dot
com and please make a notation va Queen Contest. And
(27:41):
if you have any questions, you can always email us
at data Amika Jacks President twenty twenty four at gmail
dot com.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
And who is the young lady running for queen this year?
Would you like to mention the name?
Speaker 5 (27:54):
Yeah, her name is Jandaiah Mitchell and she is currently
our president of Data A meet community.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Please check out our community calendar page. We have the
information on all the events empowering our community.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
It's Shawnee.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
Be empowered, stay empowered, and be a blessing with community
viewpoints
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