As Director of Land Protection at Big Waters Land Trust, Brooke Langston works with landowners across a nine-county region stretching from southern Tampa Bay to the northern Everglades to permanently protect land through purchases and conservation easements that prevent future development. Guided by a conservation plan focused on habitat health and water quality, the nonprofit conserves natural habitats, farmland, waterways and open spaces to safeguard clean water, wildlife and public access to nature for future generations. Founded more than 20 years ago as the Sarasota Conservation Foundation and later known as the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, the organization rebranded in 2024 to reflect its expanded service area across Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties and has permanently conserved more than 20,000 acres to date.

Rapid growth in Florida is making conservation more challenging as land values rise and developers offer premium prices. “Ranchers, particularly ranchers out east who have these big tracks of land, say the developers literally knock on their doors with a checkbook and say, ‘How much do you want?’ and some of these ranches have been in the family for up to six generations. They want to keep ranching and we need them to keep ranching, because we don't want all of our food to come from elsewhere when we can grow some of our own food here,” Langston explains.

Still, she emphasizes the organization is not anti-development. “We know that Florida's a popular place, and people are going to continue to move here, but we want the right houses in the right places. We want the right use for the right pieces of land. We'd like to see more infill in areas that are already developed and less destruction on big, vast tracks of land. But a little silver lining is that land owners are finally realizing that they need to act soon to protect their land.”

Residents can support Big Waters by volunteering in the office, assisting with fieldwork such as pulling weeds and planting native species, or helping at events like the upcoming “Wild About Nature” festival in March.

To read the full story, pick up the May/June edition of SRQ Magazine. 

Pictured: Brooke Langston, Director of Land Protection, Big Waters Land Trust. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.

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The earliest years of a child’s life shape everything that follows, including emotional wellbeing, school readiness and lifelong health. Yet for many families in rural communities, access to mental health support during this critical window remains out of reach. A $400,000 grant from the Florida Blue Foundation will help The Florida Center for Early Childhood expand infant and early childhood mental health services for families in DeSoto County, bringing care directly into the places families already turn for support. 

Sarasota Orchestra’s vision for a Music Center has taken another step, thanks to an additional $11.7 million investment and the release of new architectural renderings that offer a closer look at the future home for music, education and community connection. With the schematic design phase now complete and design development nearing its conclusion, the Orchestra is positioned to enter the final phase of construction planning as it advances the project. To learn more about Sarasota Orchestra’s Music Center, visit www.sarasotaorchestra.org/musiccenter. 

The Hermitage is a leading national arts incubator and the only major arts organization in Florida exclusively committed to supporting the creation and development of new work across all artistic disciplines. Located on Manasota Key in Sarasota County, the Hermitage provides accomplished and diverse artists with multi-week residencies to create original works of theater, music, visual art, literature, dance, and more. Hermitage Fellows have included eighteen Pulitzer Prize winners, multiple Tony, Oscar, Emmy, Grammy nominees and winners, Poets Laureate, MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellows, and hundreds of extraordinary artists from around the world. Hermitage artists, writers, and performers offer a unique glimpse into the creative process, sharing their original works-in-process with our Gulf Coast community. These free, hour-long programs take the shape of musical performances, play readings, concerts, visual art demonstrations, panel discussions, master classes, open studios, and more. Audiences can experience a unique level of engagement with these extraordinary talents at our year-round sunset programs on the Hermitage Beach and other partner venues throughout the region. To register for an upcoming Hermitage program or to make a tax-deductible, year-end gift in support of the Hermitage, visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org. 

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As Children First celebrates 65 years of service and CEO Philip Tavill marks 30 years of leadership, these milestone moments serve as an invitation for you to be part of what comes next. For over six decades, Children First has helped shape stronger futures for children and families across Sarasota County, growing into a nationally recognized leader in early childhood education. Today, our organization ranks in the top 1% of Head Start programs nationwide, is a five-time designated Program of Excellence, and was recently named a 2026 Top Workplace USA - reflecting both impact and a strong culture of care. There are many meaningful ways to get involved: attend signature events, volunteer in classrooms or across the community, support initiatives like early literacy and family strengthening, or serve as an ambassador. Every connection, contribution, and conversation helps extend this legacy - ensuring the next generation has the opportunity to thrive! 

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The Patterson Foundation has matched more than $177,000 total in investments toward four regional nonprofit organizations working to develop and implement revenue-generating plans to sustain their missions. Each organization is participating in Margin & Mission Ignition, a 30-month opportunity presented by The Patterson Foundation for nonprofits to strengthen organizational capacity, revenue and impact by learning and applying earned-income strategies. For more information about Margin & Mission Ignition, please visit thepattersonfoundation.org. 

Visible Men Academy (VMA) hosted an inspiring evening dedicated to celebrating the  potential of the young men they serve and the community that helps them thrive at the Shine On! Drean Big  Gala on May 8 at The Ora. The event raised more than $260,000 to support VMA’s academic excellence,  mentorship and leadership development, enrichment programs for their students, and opportunities that  help their boys grow into confident young men of character. The evening presented a powerful program of inspiring stories from VMA students, speakers, and video  highlighting the transformational work happening every day at VMA. For more information about Visible Men Academy and its programs, visit vmacademy.org. 

At Sunshine From Darkness, we believe creativity and music can change lives. We’re proud to support our producer EJ Porter of Drummerboy Entertainment and videographer Marquis Dawsey of Black Lemonade Productions as they travel to Africa to teach youth through music, rhythm, and creative expression using donated instruments.Together, we’re spreading light farther than we ever imagined. 

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Rebuilding Together Greater Florida (RTGFL) has received a $400,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County through the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund to support long-term hurricane recovery efforts for homeowners in Sarasota and Manatee counties. For many Florida families, recovery from Hurricanes Helene and Milton is still ongoing. Homeowners across the region continue facing damage, financial hardship, and barriers to returning to safe and stable living conditions. 

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Feeling safe when arriving for an evening class, dinner, or community event can determine whether an older adult stays engaged or stays home. A new $100,000 Impact Grant from the Plantation Community Foundation will help Senior Friendship Centers improve exterior lighting at its Venice campus, helping create a more comfortable and navigable environment for the seniors it serves. The project will replace and upgrade exterior lighting throughout the property, improving visibility in parking areas, walkways, and building entrances. For older adults, especially those with mobility or vision challenges, well-lit outdoor spaces can play a critical role in reducing the risk of falls and increasing confidence during evening programs and special events. 

UnidosNow is proud to announce a multi-year commitment of $600,000 from the Johnson Scholarship Foundation in support of the UnidosNow Future Leaders Academy. This four-year commitment will support the program through 2029. Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, a long-term champion of UnidosNow, is generously matching the funds for the first year of the grant, which is dedicated exclusively to the organization’s Future Leaders Academy and the College Completion Program.