Moving Gainesville Forward

story by Anastasia Sims photos by Carolina Watlington

It’s early in the morning, and an annoying alarm is blaring until it’s slapped off by a hand that’s broken out of the warm cocoon of sheets. In the dreamlike haze of a brightly lit room, minutes seem to slowly tick by. But as everything seems to wake, the morning quickly becomes the crucial point where you must decide what the day is going to look like. For some, it’s going back to bed and trying again in half an hour. For others, it’s begrudgingly getting out of bed and prepping for a long day. But, for the very select few, they spring awake excited with the possibility of what the day may bring them.

Although this could be said for any place at any time, Gainesville is filled with people living out the Gator’s “Get Up, and Go” mantra. For some, “get up, and go” means “get up, and go make Gainesville a little better.”

The Grit Foundation is a local nonprofit that supports first responders and hometown heroes in the Third Congressional District. Although it only started in January 2017, people like Natalie Cimaglia help raise awareness and money for the foundation. She’s been the acting development and marketing manager since August, but she has been passionate about nonprofit work her whole life. In her position, she oversees all event planning and outreach for the organization, which means she’s heavily involved with the Grit gala, an event at the beginning of each year that helps raise money for the following year.

Most of the money, Cimaglia explained, goes toward supplies and equipment. This is especially important for the voluntary fire and police programs and small counties in North-Central Florida. One of the biggest — and most expensive — items is bulletproof vests. Cimaglia said Grit is dedicated to helping servicemen and servicewomen get counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder or any other mental illness. According to a study directed by Ellen Kirschman, a clinical psychologist specializing in police psychology, around 19% of all sworn-in police officers struggle with PTSD. Most officers don’t admit to For some, “get up, and emotional distress for fear of losing future promotions or getting pulled out of the go” means “get up, and force altogether. Although Cimaglia is currently a public go make Gainesville a relations senior at the University of Florida, her age hasn’t stopped her little better.” from making a difference in the local community. Working with Grit is give and take — especially with servicemen and servicewomen. “We should be wanting to run toward officers, not away,” Cimaglia said. “With everything going on and issues with police, [I think] officers need to know they aren’t cruel.” Even though most of Cimaglia’s job is helping raise and manage finances for Grit, she said one of the biggest aspects of the foundation is boosting and keeping the morale of our hometown heroes high. And for her, that starts with our local community.

Mary McCready agrees there’s value in being a part of your community, she said. Gainesville residents love connecting with one another. But that might be all Cimaglia and her have in common.

McCready is a stay-at-home mom who recently turned a longtime hobby into a small business venture. For most of her adult life, she’s had a knack at macramé, a style of art in which cord or string is knotted in different patterns. However, the only people who knew of her talent were the loved ones who’ve received plenty of homemade gifts over the years.

But in June 2018, McCready opened an Etsy shop, a website focused on selling handmade and vintage items. It had been a long time coming, she said. Friends and neighbors had mentioned she could sell her creations. When she first opened her online shop, named Clove and Cotton, McCready almost exclusively sold white macramé plant holders. She finds most of her inspiration from the outdoors and nature. And there’s plenty of inspiration to draw from in Gainesville. Alachua County is home to two state parks and several other local parks and lush wooded areas.

It didn’t take long for McCready to realize she could use her skills to create other pieces of art, including earrings and wall hangings. She also began creating her own dye made from plant-based ink and organic products to make different colors. Then, 10 months after she first started, she connected with the AUK Market, the curated mixedvendor marketplace attached to coffee shop Curia On The Drag. In April, McCready packed up some of her cord and drove across town to lead her first workshop on macramé plant hangers.

Since then, her little business is no longer just online. Instead, it has become a staple at the AUK Market. Once every few months, McCready hosts free mini classes to encourage community members to come together and try something new. It seemed to work; the attendance of each workshop grows in number and diversity. People of all ages, genders and races have tried their hand at macramé thanks to the AUK Market and McCready. Although she doesn’t work at a nonprofit or foundation, McCready is a perfect example of how one individual can help inspire their community.

Whether it’s through a nonprofit, a local business or anything in between, what you do has the potential to help make Gainesville a better place. What drives amazing people is their passion for things other than themselves — and it all can start with how you get up and go every morning. O&B