The Story Behind Sunland

Sunland News is named after Sunland Gardens, a neighborhood in Fort Pierce where my family has lived for decades. It's where I learned what real community looks like—and this newsletter is a tribute to that.

I started Sunland News out of frustration—plain and simple. I was tired of news that didn't feel personal. It didn't reflect the people I knew or the places I loved. With all the tools available to us today, I realized we didn't have to wait for better local coverage. We could build it.

Our long-term goal is to bring this model to other places that need it. We're starting four more editions across Florida in the next two years—focusing on cities and counties that have been underserved or forgotten.

We call these places news deserts. Our goal is to chase the sun and plant the garden. The garden is the stories, the resources, the tools—the things people need to grow where they are.

We're expanding beyond just news. Podcasts are coming by the end of 2025, and we're building tools that help people live more connected and more local lives.