Miami Shores resident Roni Bennett launched South Florida People of Color in 2015 to educate businesses and universities about marginalized communities and help them learn why diversity, equity and inclusion — DEI, for short — is important to the foundation of any company or organization. 

A decade later, Bennett has seen her work limited by Florida legislation affecting DEI that has been supported by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, including the 2022 Stop Woke Act. She estimates that her annual revenue, which once hovered around $300,000, has been cut in half because of the legislation. 

“We’re in trouble,” said Bennett, 54. 

Before Stop Woke, Bennett said South Florida People of Color had sufficient revenue to organize community events. That quickly stopped, she said, after DeSantis signed the act into law in 2022. Many of the businesses that she served stopped requesting the organization’s services.