“I always tell my freshmen that theater teaches you how to live in the world and get through it,” says Ricardo Robinson-Shinall, the Fine Arts Department Chair at Braden River High School and Florida Studio Theatre’s WRITE A PLAY educator of the year. Florida Studio Theatre’s WRITE A PLAY program is a year-round arts integration initiative that provides students with the framework and skills to write their own plays. This year, out of thousands of submissions, two of Robinson-Shinall’s students wrote a winning play, Vending Machine Envy and another received honorable mention for Worst Day Ever. On Saturday, May 14th, Robinson-Shinall will be recognized for his achievements in education in Florida Studio Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival Day.

"I’m The Marching Band of Pirates Colorguard Director at Braden River High School and I teach theater and dance. My day has a period of colorguard class, two dance classes, then three theater classes. Right after school I usually have a thespian meeting, and if we’re in musical season then I have a musical rehearsal, and after that I have a color guard rehearsal. I go from 7:30am to 7:30pm pretty much six days a week,” chuckles Robinson-Shinall.

Robinson-Shinall, who’s receiving his Bachelor's degree on Saturday, which would allow him to move into an administrative role, still isn’t ready to leave the classroom. “I feel like I have way too much magic left to make with these kids, so I’m just not ready yet.”

“I teach the vast majority of my students for four whole years. I go with them from being these nasty little freshmen to stepping off into the world as an adult. I think the best part of job is not only helping my students creatively, but rather helping them figure out who they are and giving them a safe space to experiment, to not be judged and to have a home. Our t-shirts this year say ‘I found the theater and I found my home’. I think that’s really the most important aspect of my job,” Robinson-Shinall adds. 

Pictured: Ricardo Robinson-Shinall. Photo courtesy of Florida Studio Theatre.

Thanks to the continued partnership of the Circus Arts Conservatory and The Ringling, audiences can enjoy world-class entertainment, once again, during the 2022 Summer Circus Spectacular. Circus fans of all ages, from near and far, can beat the heat at reasonable prices while experiencing the best of the circus arts at the Historic Asolo Theater on the grounds of The Ringling. Some of the circus world’s most exciting acts have signed on for the annual show, with performances presented for nine weeks this summer. The show runs from June 10 - August 13, 2022. This celebrated summertime event has become a seasonal highlight for locals, visitors, families and groups. To complete their circus experience, Summer Circus Spectacular patrons can enjoy access to the Circus Museum on the day they attend a show for just an additional $5 – an incredible value for a full day’s entertainment. Show times are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Tickets are $18/adults, $12/children 12 and under. To complete their circus experience, Summer Circus Spectacular patrons can enjoy access to the Circus Museum on the day they attend a show for an additional $5. Go to Ringling.org or call the Box Office at (941) 360-7399. 

Postscript: Hand balance contortion artist Ricardo Sosa.

To learn more, visit

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast and presenting sponsor Elizabeth Moore invite photographers of all ages and experience levels to enter their original work in Conservation Foundation’s annual Summer Photo Contest. If you love nature, the outdoors, and taking photos - this is the photo contest for you! In its third year, the exhibition will be entirely virtual with website and Facebook displays. Works submitted for this online juried exhibition should showcase the beauty of Florida’s natural lands and reflect one of four categories – The Big Picture, A Way of Life on the Land, Florida in Focus, and Attention to Detail. There is also a Youth Perspective category specifically for photographers age 15 and under. Jurors include presenting sponsor, Elizabeth Moore; noted photographer, Kerri Gagne Deatherage; multidisciplinary artist, Traci Kegerreis; fine artist, Mary Louise O’Connell; and fine artist Karen Chandler. Up to three photographs may be submitted per person and must be received via email no later than midnight on May 31. Jurors will review all submissions and select 10 per category for display in online galleries on the Conservation Foundation website as well as the Conservation Foundation Facebook page. The virtual competition will award prizes to category winners as selected by the jury as well as People’s Choice winners determined by popular vote on Facebook.   

Pictured: Sea Scallops at Sunrise. Photo courtesy of Conservation Foundation.

To learn more, click here

CenterPlace Health, a federally qualified health center that provides high-quality, low-cost health care to those in and around Sarasota County, is pleased to announce that Tiona Settles has been hired as a Community Health Worker focused on health equity. The fourth Community Health Worker at Center Place Health, Settles will work to build trust and vital relationships in the community. She will assist patients with access to services, improve the quality and cultural competence of care, create an effective system of chronic disease management, and increase
the health knowledge and self-sufficiency of underserved populations. Miss Settles has extensive experience in working with clients of diverse backgrounds and will serve the community by helping CenterPlace Health expand their reach. She graduated from Florida A &M University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science and a Master of Public Health. She has an
extensive background in the Health and Human Services both locally and in Tallahassee. She is a member of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Group.
Miss Settles will work closely on a Health Equity collaboration between CenterPlace Health, Charles & Margary Barancik Foundation and other community leaders and activists. This collaboration is seeking to improve health equity by improving the outcomes for residents of underserved communities dealing with diabetes and obesity. 

The Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is presenting Suncoast Remake Learning Days, an exciting 10-day, free, regional learning festival from Friday, April 29, 2022, through Sunday, May 8, 2022, in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties. This multi-venue open house will celebrate the joy of adults and children learning side by side.  Suncoast Remake Learning Days, presented by the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading with the support of The Patterson Foundation, consists of more than 140 events over 10 days hosted by more than 165 organizations, including schools, museums, libraries, after school organizations, early child care centers, universities, media outlets and more. All the events are free and designed to be hands-on, relevant, and engaging educational experiences for youth of all ages (PreK through high school) and their families, caregivers, and educators. Suncoast Remake Learning Days gives us all the opportunity to spark learning innovation. This festival is a fun and creative way to establish and affirm parents and families as learning allies. Learning events are grouped by the following themes: Arts, Maker Spaces, Outdoor Learning, Science, Technology, and Youth Voice. There are also Professional Development opportunities for parents and educators. 

To learn more, visit

Premier Sotheby’s International Realty has announced the appointment of Paige Good to its leadership team as global advisor concierge. In this role, she will be responsible for leading and managing the onboarding process for the company’s new sales associates. Paige previously served as a sales associate at Premier Sotheby’s International Realty’s Park Shore sales gallery. A seasoned real estate professional, she has over two decades of industry experience and business expertise. 

Goodwill Manasota is proud to not only provide jobs for team members who may have barriers to employment but also offer on-the-clock coaching, training and education to boost employees’ job skills and earning potential. One area of concern for Goodwill is that many team members lack financial literacy skills. To address this issue, the Wells Fargo Foundation has recently awarded a $10,000 grant in support of Goodwill’s efforts to provide financial literacy skills training to its team members, through its GoodPartner Coach program. The funds will pay a portion of the salary of one Goodwill GoodPartner Coach. Every Goodwill employee is assigned a GoodPartner Coach. These coaches work with team members to do needs assessments to determine barriers to self-sufficiency and identify areas that could be strengthened through training as well as determine access to basic needs such as housing, food and healthcare. Other program elements include helping to write an individualized development plan and offering case management services to address any issues that might be a barrier to their success.

Financial literacy is a key component of the GoodPartner Coach program, with information to help team members become banked, develop a personal budget, guidance on improving credit scores, and even assistance – through its Homebuyer’s Club – for employees seeking to purchase a home for the first time. When emergency financial needs emerge, coaches are able to direct the team member to a resource – whether internal or community-based – to help meet the need. Coaches assign online financial literacy skills training to employees using Goodwill’s Learning Management System. In-person budgeting classes are also available to those who want more in-depth training. GoodPartner Coaches also provide training regarding the benefits of filing taxes, utilizing VITA (free tax assistance) sites, and how the Earned Income Tax Credit works. In partnership with United Way Suncoast, Goodwill hosts VITA sites at its offices and trains its coaches to provide support at these sites. 

Pictured: Goodwill Manasota GoodPartner Coach Dana Knuuti (left) with team member Dennis Burton. Photo Courtesy of Goodwill Manisota.

To learn more, click here