BUSY “B” BRITTANY LAMONT, 29 

Your nickname  “B”  Your Brand Work hard and stay honest. Would you rather be an inventor or a leader? Leader. Biggest A-Ha Moment?  For me, it happened when I took the role of Vice President [of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce]. It was during that transition I realized I was going from taking direction from my superiors to being given the autonomy to actually make those decisions for myself. It’s a scary/exciting time where you are forced to find your confidence and vision. When did you feel helpless?   My husband and I struggled for a few years to try for a family and there were many odds stacked against us. To go through something like that, where you are helpless, unable to “work harder for it” or  “study more to achieve a goal,” was foreign to me. I had a real problem letting go of my control issues. By the grace of God we are now parents to the most beautiful 19-month old daughter, Payton Elizabeth Lamont. Has Sarasota failed Millennials?  I don’t think that it has. People assume all Millennials are grouped into one category. While Sarasota may be behind the times in offering amenities for a single young professional looking to live downtown in a walkable community, for a young professional with a family, this area has everything I could ever dream—great schools, parks, attractions, shopping, etc. There is no place I would rather raise my family. My Heart Goes Out To . . . All of our nonprofits in the community. I am continuously amazed by the caliber of organizations we have here. They are doing work that is changing the lives of our citizens. It’s no easy task, and they all do it with such passion and grace. In Sarasota-Bradenton, we too much complaining and too little  action/collaborating for a solution. What's next? Life. Keep working hard at the Chamber and supporting our amazing businesses in Sarasota and to be the best mom and wife I can be. I am truly living a dream with my job and my family. (left in the photo)

 

FEMINIST OF THE FUTURE MOLLY SWIFT, 27

Your nickname Actually, Molly is kind of a nickname. My legal name is Mary, but everyone’s always called me Molly. When I’m older I want to shorten it to “Mo,” but I don’t think I’m quite there yet. Your brand Leave places better than how you found them. Would you rather be an inventor or a leader? I’d like to think of myself as creative and resourceful, like an inventor, but I think I’m a little bit of both.  Biggest A-Ha Moment?  After undergrad at New College, I became a flight attendant to visit friends and try on different cities. On an especially cold day in Chicago, it hit me that I want to live where I want to live, and visit where I want to visit, but I don’t want to live where I want to visit. It was only a couple of months before I was moving into my friends’ sunroom back in Sarasota.  When did you feel helpless?  I had some rough moments when I was attending USF for my Master’s of Social Work, working as the Program Coordinator at ALSO Youth and interning at Teen Court. I wanted to give my all to each role but I had to accept that there are only so many hours in a day. I pulled through with the help of my incredible support network that I’ve been able to build in this amazing small community.  Has Sarasota failed Millennials? We fail millennials every time we limit our discussions about them to which restaurants and bars have not been permitted to open, or if we’re only thinking of millennials as young, economically stable white people. Organizations, foundations, and schools are working hard to alleviate the economic and social boundaries that hurt young people of color and other marginalized groups within our community, but so much more needs to be done.  My Heart Goes Out To . . .  All of the social workers working with and advocating alongside individuals in impoverished and stigmatized groups. Keep fighting the good fight, y’all!  Your most recent social media post? A picture on Snapchat of the delicious tofu benedict I just ate at a vegan diner in Philadelphia. What's next? “Being a professional feminist, of course! I’m currently taking time to travel and study for my clinical licensure (LCSW) exam. As a queer person in Sarasota who has worked so long with LGBTQIA+ youth, I am still passionate about helping these populations. I’m currently fielding job offers and may be working as a counselor in the context of foster care and/or a transitional living program. Beyond that, I enjoy the idea of pursuing a Social Sciences PhD in future, but need some time to reflect on it, build confidence in my financial foothold, and enjoy the ride in the meantime.” (right in the photo)