A fourth-generation Sarasotan, Renée James Gilmore is a descendant of people who advocated for change-and made history doing so-in the Newtown community. She’s the daughter of Dr. Ed James II, who was known for his activism and his nearly 50-year run as the host and producer of ABC7’s Black Almanac, one of the longest-running local public affairs programs. She’s also the great-granddaughter of Mary Emma Jones, who led the 1955 “wade-in” efforts to desegregate our beaches.