Florida Continues To Fail Seniors [Media]

Posted on July 24, 2020September 26, 2021 by Teresa Kennedy

TALLAHASSEE, FL. - Florida continues to fall short on protecting seniors from the predatory guardianship system. Instead, it seems like the Florida Department of Elder Affairs has a mandate to protect rogue guardians versus the elderly. The state continues to allow professional guardians who violate state law to practice. On July 23, 2020, Adam Walser from ABC Action News Tampa Bay reported on their investigation, which included the Lillie Sykes White case. Watch the WFTS piece: https://www.a...

I Can’t Breathe For Aunt Lillie [Video]

Posted on July 2, 2020September 26, 2021 by Teresa Kennedy

If two months in lockdown due to COVID-19 was driving you stir crazy, how would you feel after FOUR YEARS in lockdown? As of the filming of this video, Lillie has been in forced isolation away from her chosen family for 1403 days. It is simply inhumane. The attorneys that are spending down her estate are keeping her tucked away like property. Even with the global pandemic, they don't feel it's necessary to update her family regarding her wellbeing. They are treating her like a slave in "the ...

Netflix’s Dirty Money Dives Into Guardianships

Posted on March 21, 2020August 24, 2020 by Teresa Kennedy

Netflix's Dirty Money dives into the tragic world of guardianship scams in its second season. Esquire Magazine covered the investigative documentary series' new episode, "Guardians, Inc.," which has been called one of the show's most shocking. Read full story here.

Advocacy Efforts Gets Covered By Florida News [Media]

Posted on January 31, 2020January 21, 2021 by Teresa Kennedy

TALLAHASSEE, FL. - The Elder Dignity advocacy efforts this week made it on the 5 o'clock news in Florida. I flew to Tallahassee from New York on January 28th to speak at the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting re: SB 944 on guardianship. A handful of advocates traveled hundreds of miles to share their voices and concerns. The next day, a number of us did a media interview with Mike Vasilinda of Capitol News Service. Afterwards, fellow advocate Doug Franks and I staged an impromptu protest that...

Meeting With Secretary After Impromptu Protest

Posted on January 30, 2020September 26, 2021 by Teresa Kennedy

TALLAHASSEE, FL. - Florida's guardianship system is terribly broken and it took a slightly rogue move--which ended up making the 5 o'clock news--to finally get a meeting with leadership. After an interview with Mike Vasilinda of Capitol News Service, the day's schedule was fairly open. Our team of advocates, who had driven from across Florida to participate in the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on January 28th, was dispersing to head home. Fellow advocate Doug Franks and I were the only tw...

Elder Advocates Speak Up in Tallahassee [Video]

Posted on January 29, 2020September 26, 2021 by Teresa Kennedy

Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy speaking at the Senate Committee on Judiciary in Tallahassee, FL - January 28, 2020 TALLAHASSEE, FL. - Elder justice advocates in Florida and across the country traveled hundreds of miles to Tallahassee to speak for just one or two minutes at the Senate Committee on Judiciary meeting on Tuesday, January 28, 2020. State Senator Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, sponsored SB 994 to increase protections for seniors under guardianship. The bill passed by a vote of 6 to 0. Advo...

OPEN LETTER to Senator Kathleen Passidomo

Posted on January 26, 2020January 31, 2020 by Teresa Kennedy

Please SIGN THE PETITION to Governor DeSantis to free Dr. Lillie Sykes White. For more on involuntary guardianships, watch The Deception of Protection and Silent Torture: Trafficking Through Guardianship. Contributed by Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Founder of Elder Dignity.

OPEN LETTER to Governor Ron DeSantis

Posted on January 26, 2020January 31, 2020 by Teresa Kennedy

What If Madea Was Abducted? [Video]

Posted on January 24, 2020January 21, 2021 by Teresa Kennedy

The fictional character Madea is like a family member to millions. This video is a direct appeal to actor, producer and social activist Tyler Perry, calling for a creative approach to advocacy using the character to speak out against the separation and isolation of seniors and dependent adults for money. ©2020 Power Living Enterprises, Inc. Produced/hosted by Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy. Released January 23, 2020, 17:54 min. Categories: Social Impact, Arts for Justice. PLEASE MAKE COMMENTS DIRECTL...

Let America Be America Again [Video]

Posted on January 24, 2020January 21, 2021 by Teresa Kennedy

Artists cover important themes and hold a mirror up to society. Let America Be America Again is an Arts for Justice performance piece of the 1935 Langston Hughes poem that shines a light on the greed and oppression that existed, as well as being hopeful that we still can achieve the dream of equality and justice for all. It is presented by three generations of the Sykes-Kennedy family: Janie Sykes-Kennedy, Sheila Kennedy Bryant, James Scott Kennedy, Jr., Daniel Marsh Kennedy, and the host/prod...