A Sarasota real estate agent, a Bradenton entrepreneur, and a Punta Gorda wealth manager walked into a meeting room. Two and a half months later, they (and 20 others from around our region) emerged as “leaders.”

In a sense, that’s what happened with the 23 graduates of our 2015 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute. They met—most for the first time—on a Friday in mid-April for their initial, eight-hour training class. Ten weeks and seven sessions later, they were all smiles as they ate celebratory cupcakes, huddled for a large-group selfie, and then stepped out into the bright sunlight with many things on their minds—and the tools to put them into action.

Of course, their accomplishment (and Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s investment) is far from that simple, or simplistic. For starters, the 23 very different participants in our latest Leadership Institute were all “leaders,” to some extent, when they entered the program. Applying to join and successfully demonstrating their potential and commitment to use what they would learn in service of their community showed us as much.

The role of GCLI, then, was to offer this collection of individuals with varied aspirations for their communities the skills, knowledge and, perhaps most importantly, new network to more effectively realize their goals. And to help one another do the same.

Louise Hill, an Instructor from the Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, leads our Gulf Coast program. Louise notes that, for some people, we talk a lot about leadership in the context of organizations and businesses, but we rarely think about leadership in the context of community. As someone who now thinks about that daily at Gulf Coast, but who first spent 25 years in the banking world, I appreciate her insight. (And full disclosure: I’m a proud grad of GCLI myself, an experience that certainly bridged my community-leadership knowledge and abilities.)

Louise has been with us from the start, when our first two leadership classes focused on the rapidly growing North Port community back in pre-recession 2006. At last month’s annual “State of the City” address in North Port, a pan of the room showed more Leadership Institute alumni than you could count on a hand. Nearly a decade on and still active in their community. Did our program make them leaders? Probably not. Did it make them better leaders able to better serve their community in collective and collaborative ways? I’d say so.

“Leadership is really about building relationships,” according to Louise. “How do you build relationships to move the community forward?” Just last week, more than a dozen members of our 2014 Leadership Institute class welcomed several 2015 alumni to their monthly get-together. The meet-up isn’t organized by Gulf Coast; it’s a product of these individuals’ collective motivation. It also honors their original commitment to use their leadership skills for the long-term benefit of the community.

The members of the group share updates and new projects, offer help and invite it from others and generally build the social capital that makes communities stronger. And then they walk out of the restaurant and head back to their respective communities, as leaders. 

Veronica Brady is senior vice president for philanthropy at Gulf Coast Community Foundation and a graduate of the 2010 Class of Gulf Coast Leadership Institute

Record low inventory characterized the Sarasota real estate market during June 2015.  The inventory of both homes and condos stood at 3,017 in June 2015.  This level of inventory is at a 10-plus-year low and is actually lower than the inventory on June 2004 of 3,262, which preceded the end of the real estate boom then present.

During June 2015, the inventory of Sarasota homes for sale decreased 24 percent to 1,976 while the inventory of Sarasota condos decreased 13 percent to 1,041.  Consequently, the months of inventories of homes and condos decreased to 2.5 months and to 3.0 months respectively.  With six months of inventory generally regarded as equilibrium, the Sarasota real estate market continues to overwhelmingly favor sellers at this time.

This record low inventory amid strong sales continues to push sale prices considerably higher.  The median sale price of homes rose 21 percent to $235,000 while the median price of condos rose 8 percent to $210,000 in May 2015.

Please note that all the information in this this report is derived from Trendgraphix, Inc., with data supplied by Mid-Florida MLS. Also note that in this report, the term "condos" includes condos, townhomes and villas as classified by  Mid-Florida MLS.

The market is poised for future price increases with high demand and record low inventory in place. Potential sellers should consider this an opportune time to sell as the market is overwhelmingly in their favor. Potential buyers who further delay their purchase will in all likelihood pay more for their residence. 

Jaime Carrion is a Realtor with Michael Saunders and Company

Sophie’s, the signature restaurant located on the second floor of Saks has launched a happy hour menu for the summer, complete with a partnership with Veuve Clicquot. Sophie’s is the ultimate dining and cocktail destination, blending elegance and style seamlessly with seasonal American cuisine. Sophie’s new happy hour menu features glass and bottle specials on Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label and Veuve Clicquot Rosé. Other drink specials include $4 beers, $6 wines, and $7 cocktails. Chef Dianna MacPhee has also created a fun menu perfect for a happy hour bite, including Crab Samosas, Plum Glazed Chicken Bites, and PEI Oysters on the Half Shell. Sophie’s Happy Hour menu is available Monday-Friday from 4-6pm. Sit down at Sophie’s for a refreshing end to your day.  

Sophie's Sarasota

Goodwill Manasota is thrilled to be collaborating with various folks from the Veterans Task Force to present “Keep the Spirit of ’45 Alive!” -- a nationwide program that they are bringing to our community and would love for you to be a part of.  This event marks the 70^th anniversary of the end of World War II and an opportunity to say a much needed and deserved “Thank you” to those who served in uniform and those who supported them on the Home Front.  There will be an Opening Ceremony on August 14, a 1940’s theme Dinner Party where the community can thank the veterans on August 15, and on the 16th, there will be a Memorial Service and Presentation of the Wreath to remember those that gave the ultimate sacrifice and to those who have passed since August 14, 1945. We want every veteran and individual in the community to know about the festivities and join us in celebration of their service! 

Goodwill Manasota

Earlier this week, All Faiths Food Bank welcomed Brady Koch-Feeding America’s director of program capacity- to learn firsthand about the Food Bank’s summer food assistance programs. This year, All Faiths was one of 29 food banks awarded with a grant from the national hunger relief organization Feeding America, in conjunction with the ConAgra Foods Foundation's “Hunger-Free Summer” Program Grant. Being selected for a site visit is an honor, and Jenna Jones, Director of Nutrition Education at All Faiths took Koch on a distribution center tour and a visit to see summer food programs in action. All Faiths Food Bank’s Campaign Against Summer Hunger has yet again garnered attention from the national hunger relief organization for its ground-breaking plans, partners, and programs which showcase a network of organizations committed to helping All Faiths feed children during the summer when they face hunger the most. The Food Bank enlisted program partners including the school district, local libraries, and more than 100 food assistance agencies. 21,000 Sarasota County children face hunger when school is out, and thanks in part to the ConAgra Foods Foundation’s grant award, All Faiths Food Bank has provided programs that offer free food to kids and families all summer long. 

All Faiths Food Bank

This July marks the 40th year of the existence of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. On July 7, 1975, the doors to the gardens opened in honor of William and Marie Selby, who established the Selby Foundation, which was and still is an enormous source of support for the Sarasota community at large. Now, 4 decades later, Selby Gardens invites everyone to celebrate this anniversary of serving the public through exploration, conservation, and education. The next 12 months will be filled with special events and programming to commemorate this important occasion. Join Selby in the festivities this next year and celebrate the wondrous legacy of William and Marie Selby.  

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Fuzión Dance Artists, Sarasota’s contemporary dance company, presents its “ Second Annual Summer Dance Festival” July 25 – August 1, 2015, at the New College of Florida. The festival has become a hub for dancers who want to train in Countertechnique, perform, and create work that will be presented at the end of the festival. In addition, this festival will feature an imaginative and innovative dance performance by Bubble Dance. Bubble Dance is a show crossing the lines of the raw athletic dance and absurd theatrical elements to pose a question about what we see from outside vs. inside. Inspired by concepts of personal space and a “personal bubble”, the choreographer-performers and company co-founders Shannon Healey & Debbie Maciel. They set out to create a piece that would showcase just how different perception can be from reality if we just burst the bubble. The show, placed in a racquetball court, is an inquisitive and enjoyable experience in which the audience moves in, out, and around the “bubble”, forcing, creating, and witnessing change. Fuzion is entering its 10^th season and is proud of the contemporary dance culture being cultivated and nurtured in Sarasota. 

Fuzion Dance Artists

Art Center Sarasota welcomes young artists to use their imagination and creativity during two summer camps. Creative Kids camp is for youth ages 6 to 10. Emerging Artists camp is for pre-teen and teens ages 11 and older. The weekly themed sessions run through August 21, Monday through Friday from 9:30am-3pm.  According to Lisa Berger, Art Center Sarasota's executive director, both camps offer young people the opportunity to create art that is unique to them. "Our goal is to spark the imagination of young artists, allowing them to express their creativity through a variety of media." She explains that each week is themed to include educational components along with "fun projects that are inspired by what they have learned. Campers work on long and short projects in both two- and three-dimensional media. At the end of the week, they present their creations in a gallery reception for family and friends. It's a big boost to the young artist’s self-confidence to see their works displayed publically and receive positive feedback."  

Art Center Sarasota

Kevin Monsen, a Florida State Senior majoring in Economics, was the winner of the two year lease on a brand new Ford Mustang courtesy of Sarasota Ford (a Presenting Sponsor for this year’s 31^st Annual Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Festival). Matt Buchanan, Operating Partner for Sarasota Ford, generously included the car raffle as an additional way to raise money for Suncoast Charities for Children that produces the Festival and Bayfront Fireworks.  Kevin Monsen arrived home for the July 4th holiday to visit family and enjoy the Grand Prix Festival. When visiting the festival website to check the race schedule, he noticed the car giveaway on the home page and decided to enter.  "When I received an email that I was a finalist on race weekend I was surprised but still not convinced.  Then on Sunday night (July 5) on my way back to school I received an email that I was the winner.  I called my parents and they did not believe me, and I was not able to convince them until the next day.  This opportunity could not have come at a better time in my life, and will help me get a good start out of school", said Monsen.   

Suncoast Charities for Children