In this episode of the TalkVisual305 Podcast, we sit down with Jared Beck, Director of the Homestead Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), for an in-depth conversation about revitalizing Homestead's historic downtown and the bigger forces reshaping the future of Florida's cities.

With over two decades of experience in urban planning and redevelopment, Jared shares the personal story that pulled him into city planning, why he chose to join Homestead's CRA right as state lawmakers moved to dismantle CRAs altogether, and what's really at stake for downtowns across Florida as the state chips away at home rule.

Topics covered in this episode:

🏛️ Why he joined Homestead's CRA amid legislative threats to dismantle CRAs statewide

🌆 The moment that sparked his lifelong passion for historic downtowns and redevelopment

🤖 How AI is already changing the way cities plan, review, and build

⚖️ Florida's shift away from home rule and what it means for local communities

🔮 His outlook on the future of Homestead's downtown and CRAs across the state

A must-listen for anyone who cares about historic preservation, smart growth, and the future of Homestead.

🔔 Subscribe for more South Florida conversations that matter.

📍 Covering Homestead & Miami-Dade County

#JaredBeck #Homestead #CRA #TalkVisual305 #SouthFlorida #MiamiDade #Podcast #UrbanPlanning #Redevelopment #HistoricPreservation #CommunityLeadership #HomesteadFL

In this episode of TalkVisual305, we sit down with Sasha Mazure, a Peace Corps volunteer and aspiring physician who shares her journey from growing up in Homestead to serving in a rural clinic in Eswatini, Africa. Sasha opens up about cultural immersion, language barriers, and what it truly means to serve underserved communities while living abroad.

We talk about the realities of Peace Corps life, the challenges of healthcare in resource-limited environments, and how these experiences are shaping her path toward medical school. From navigating isolation to finding purpose through service, this episode offers an honest and inspiring look at what it means to step outside your comfort zone and show up for others.

In this episode of TalkVisual305, we sit down with Yogini Modi, President of Homestead Executive Jet Center and Pilot Training Center Homestead, to explore her remarkable journey from India to South Florida’s aviation landscape.

Yogini shares how her passion for flying brought her to the United States, how she launched a flight school with just one plane during the depths of the 2010 economic downturn, and how she helped revive Homestead General Airport into a thriving aviation hub with over 40 employees. We dive into entrepreneurship as an immigrant, rebuilding during crises like Hurricane Irma, mentoring the next generation of pilots, and her vision for expanding aviation infrastructure in Homestead with a new 13,600 sq. ft. hangar.

This is a powerful conversation about grit, purpose, leadership, and why sometimes the best advice in business—and in life—is simple: just keep flying the plane.

For more information on Yogini Modi and the Homestead Executive Jet Center please visit: https://hejc.miami/