Throughout our work at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, I stress the words of American inspirational author Orison Swett Marden: “There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something tomorrow.” This coming Tuesday, I, along with other community leaders and partners, will kickoff the dedication ceremony for Harvest House’s new Family Village. Not only is this a great personal pride point for our Foundation, but also a triumph for our community and a testament to the power of hope.

For many years, a collection of deteriorating, vacant housing units in the heart of the greater Newtown area was a center of squatting and criminal activity. Investigations revealed cases of child neglect, sex and drug trafficking, robberies and violence. After identifying the issue with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Harvest House looked to find partners to transform the area from a center of crime to a home of hope.

In early 2015, donors of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County along with the Lee Wetherington Foundation, a partner of the Community Foundation, invested more than a quarter of a million dollars to provide the necessary funding to purchase the land and 18 housing units out of foreclosure. Over the next year, with the support of Foundation partners, donors and volunteers, Harvest House worked to renovate the properties into affordable living solutions for the families of their Home Again program, specifically the families of U.S. military veterans and those who have been chronically homeless.

The program provides up to 24 months of supportive housing with case management and life skills classes to further prepare families for meaningful employment and housing stability. Additionally, the units provide a safe environment to promote school attendance and academic growth for children. Part of this program will directly align with the Community Foundation’s two-generation, or as we call it two-gen, approach, creating a cycle of opportunity for vulnerable families by creating opportunities for both vulnerable parents and children together. Through the two-gen lens, the program provides three key components:

• Educational opportunities, helping them with life skills, parental development, mental health counseling and job training.
• Economic supports, such as help with transportation, student financial aid and their subsidized housing.
• Social capital, providing access to a network of peer support including contact with family, friends, neighbors, various community organizations and employment contacts.  

This summer, after the ribbons have been cut, these new homes will provide the support and hope of a new tomorrow for families who are no strangers to crises. They will have the hope of a safe place to live, warm meals to eat, clean clothes to wear and a network of caring individuals who will embolden them to reach new heights in their lives and create better outcomes for their children.

I applaud Harvest House for their innovation, courage and determination in moving forward to create opportunities for the children and families in our region who need our help the most, not only now but over the last 25 years. I also congratulate them on their collaborative spirit and the impact they have shaped through their partnership with Gulf Coast Community Foundation at the North County Emergency Family Haven. Together, we all have the potential to impact another person, a cause, a community.

I hope you can join us for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony this Tuesday. You can learn more about the event on Facebook here, as well as watch the “before and after” video of the property here.

Roxie Jerde is the president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. 

Our community is fortunate in that we have so many post-secondary institutions that allow for our own residents, as well as those from outside of Sarasota, to access post-secondary education. The recent formation of the Consortium of Colleges on the Creative Coast allows for greater collaboration to maximize student benefits, provide a strong workforce and improve our quality of life.

Along with this incredible educational landscape is the increasing opportunity of internships for these students within our local community. Internships benefit the individual student as well as the business employer. Students gain work experience and skills, earn income and perhaps secure future employment. The National Association of Colleges and Employers 2015 Internship survey shows that around half of internships convert to full-time employment. Feedback from Chamber members indicates we mirror that rate of placement locally.

Businesses gain direct benefits through the ability to use internship programs to determine future needs and recruit future employees. Locally, businesses report that internship programs are useful to develop talent, and also in bringing new ideas and innovation to workplaces.

Mot only is the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce is not only a proponent of internships through sending out “Hire an Intern” information, we also regularly employ interns. Brittany Lamont, our director of Communications and Events, began her chamber career as an intern and is now a key manager in our organization. Gina White began her career at the chamber as an intern, then as a full-time employee, and is now the manager of Marketing and Communications at the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee. We currently have an intern from New College supporting the Talent4Tomorrow Partnership. We experience the benefits internship programs and have watched our interns grow in their careers and continue to serve in leadership capacities throughout our community.

Our members, including FCCI, Sun Hydraulics and many others, utilize internship programs and regularly employ interns in their workplaces. SRQ Magazine recently celebrated their 100^th intern. Many Sarasota business employers take advantage of this opportunity to bring students in, train them in an industry and hopefully to hire them as long-time staff.

So, why wouldn’t a business hire an intern? Some employers report obstacles such as lack of knowledge on how to recruit, lack of familiarity with the regulations and rules that apply to internships and funding concerns. We as a business organization are now in the process of completing an internship community scan to determine how to best proceed in increasing the quality and quantity of these kinds of opportunities for students. Other local resources are available that provide assistance and support internships. For instance, the CareerEdge Funders Collaborative offers a unique internship program that provides financial incentives to local employers to utilize interns in high-demand industries.

We are working on addressing business concerns and providing useful resources through workshops and other tools so that those that do wish to engage in an internship program are able to do so in a successful and effective way. Outside of the positives in terms of career pathways, many of these interns are our own community’s kids and grandkids. Retaining their talent and skills provides a variety of positive gains for all of us.

Amy Farrington is vice president of Public Policy and Sarasota Tomorrow Initiatives for The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. 

I like TED Talks. I listen to them when I run and I find when I’m completely absorbed in the talk, I don’t even realize how far I’ve gone. Simon Sinek is a great example. His TED Talk, How Great Leaders Inspire Action, has generated over 26 million views since it first aired in 2009. He introduces his topic by asking powerful, thought-provoking questions. “How do you explain when others are able to achieve things that seem to defy all of the assumptions? What's your purpose? What's your cause? What's your belief? Why does your organization exist? Why do you get out of bed in the morning? And why should anyone care?”

These are important questions leaders to contemplate and answer confidently and persuasively if we want to see our organizations grow, thrive and be relevant in our community. At the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, we’ve been having extensive conversations, meeting with a variety of stakeholders, challenging assumptions and clarifying our value proposition with even greater vigor than ever before.

We’re also dispelling myths, such as one that we are an independent nonprofit organization that is exclusively designed to provide philanthropic support to Sarasota County schools, teachers and its students. As a 501c3 charitable organization, our governing body is our own board of directors. We are not governed by the Sarasota County School Board and we are not under the school district.

Interestingly though, that just tells you our “who” and our “what” – it doesn’t explain the “why.” So in true Simon Sinek form, I’d like to share our “why.”

We believe every child deserves to reach their full potential and we relentlessly pursue this ideal through strategic philanthropy that supports Sarasota County public education.

An example of this is one of our core programs called Texcellence, a program that aims to ensure every student in Sarasota County public schools has access to technology outside of the classroom so they have the opportunity to be successful in the 21^st century. This year alone, we provided over 4,500 students and families with home computers and we just opened our 27^th digital learning lab, a technology hub strategically placed throughout the community to give students and families access to technology. Why does this matter?

Because there will be 1 million more computing jobs than students to fill them, 30 percent of jobs in the next decade will require technology and coding skills. Yet with a disparate gap evidenced by 52 percent of Sarasota County School students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch, it is incumbent upon us to bridge the technology gap for our underserved youth. We have an urgent call to action to prepare, equip and inspire our children to aim high and believe in a brighter future. There’s simply no other option. Education changes lives. We can strengthen our community by powering the potential of the next generation, which is why investing in a child’s future is the best investment one could ever make. 

It’s easy to get up in the morning for a “why” like that.

Jennifer Vigne is executive director of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.  

This year Sarasota is included in a senate district with new boundaries carved out to conform with new guidelines. The new boundaries shifted several times in proposals before being determined by the Supreme Court of the state.

On May 9, the Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations, will hold an early forum for the candidates campaigning for the District 23 seat among the state senators in Tallahassee. There is no incumbent running for the seat. The candidates who are vying for the seat are Frank Cirillo, Doug Holder, Rick Levine, Nora Patterson, Ray Pilon and Greg Steube. The election primary is in August.

Founded in 1961, CONA represents neighborhood, condominium, homeowner and other civic associations plus individual members, and is dedicated to working to protect neighborhood interests and keeping members informed about community concerns and public interests.

Unusual question formats and quick timing are the hallmark of CONA candidate forums as they make an effort to provide its members and the public with a more thorough understanding of the positions of each candidate than usually achieved at other candidate forums.

Aiming to show candidate positions on as many topics as possible instead of allowing candidates an opportunity to reiterate well-rehearsed platform statements about a few anticipated topics, CONA first reveals the positions of the candidates on as many topics as possible, asking for nuances only to probe differences in positions of great interest to members.

CONA forums are followed by a lively Q&A session where questions from its members are peppered with ones submitted by other audience members during the meeting, which is free and open to the public.

The meeting will be held on at 7pm on Mondayat the Sarasota Garden Club, 1131 Boulevard of the Arts, at the northwestern corner of its intersection with Tamiami Trail, just south of the Municipal Auditorium. Parking and the entrance are reached from Van Wezel Way. More details are available at www.conasarasota.org/meetings.html.

Preceding the 7pm meeting is a social gathering that begins at 6:30pm during which the candidates mix with guests, gather signatures to qualify, distribute literature and signs and give interviews to media. Video of the meeting will be posted to the CONA web site and archived.

Kafi Benz is president of the Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations. 

The "roar" from the April 21st "Hear Me Roar" Women in Business Leadership and Awards Luncheon produced by SRQ Media could be heard from North Port all the way through Palmetto as this year's winners and finalists were announced at a sold-out lunch at The Francis in Downtown Sarasota. Kicked off by Keynote Speaker entrepreneur and Silicon Valley darling Anna Zornosa and founder of Ruby Ribbon with her message of passion for the team, the Women in Business Initiative recognized this year's recipient of the "Hear Me Roar" Trailblazer Award, author, philanthropist and former editor in chief of Town & Country magazine Pamela Fiori. Her top 10 tips for success were one of the event's most treasured take-aways. Once the awards ceremony was underway, stellar women leaders from diverse regional industries were revealed as the WIB Judge's selections for induction into the 2016 Leadership Circle. Share in the celebration of empowerment with photos from the event. 

See Photos.

Five-year-old Griffin Roberts, son of SRQ's own Lisl Liang and Wes Roberts, has added junior chef to his many interests and has been spending a lot of time in the kitchen mastering the perfect omelette technique.  Griffin loves gathering the ingredients, breaking the eggs and mixing everything together while Dad is on hand to oversee and clean up. The young kitchen magician is honing his skills in preparation for Mother's Day and plans to make his Mom a very special cheese and mushroom omelette creation. The father-son team has created a nifty omelette recipe instructional sheet with visual directions perfect for little chefs.  If you would like a copy of Griffin's recipe and technique, email Wes Roberts at wes.roberts@srqme.com.  

www.srqmag.com

The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau recently announced the destination will be exclusively featured on Crawford Entertainment’s Emmy award-winning 'How to do Florida' television series during the season seven premiere, airing in June 2016. Shot entirely throughout Bradenton, Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key, the seventh season premiere,hosted by long-time host and TV personality Chad Crawford, takes viewers on an adventure through the Bradenton Area. Show highlights include off-shore fishing, shopping on Pine Avenue, family fun at TreeUmph!, a stop into Dakin Dairy, and of course, visits to the Bradenton area’s world class beaches. Select episodes of the show are now available on Emirates Airlines on Orlando bound flights as well as on iTunes and the “Discover Florida” Roku channel. 

Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

1.Book a spa treatment for your mom and while she is being pampered, do all the chores at home so she can relax when she returns. 2.Cook her favorite meal for dinner, then watch a movie together sharing a bag of Sirard's signature chocolate covered popcorn. 3.Instead of flowers, bring Mom a bunch of Sirard’s Chocolate Roses. 4. Knock her off her feet with a relaxing foot massage using a homemade chocolate foot scrub: Sirard's Chocolate Sugar Scrub 1 and 1/2 cup brown sugar 1tbsp coco powder 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup almond oil 1/2 cup coconut oil. Mix all together store in an airtight container. 

Sirard’s Chocolate

What lasts longer than flowers, costs less than a vacation, and is easier than preparing breakfast in bed? A Mother's Day gift from Fleet Feet Sarasota. Whether you (or your mom, or the special woman in your life) are seeking new shoes, apparel, or essentials, Fleet Feet Sarasota is your one-stop shop for active mamas. Top pick: the ‘Mom's Just Wanna Have Run’ tee-shirt is soft and inspirational. Wear it for a jog, workout or for just running errands. 

Fleet Feet Sarasota

Are you a singer/songwriter?  Join Music Compound's Music Director, Denise Verheul and Paul Luther today Saturday May 7, from 2-4pm for a Singer/Songwiriter Workshop amd next Frida, May 13, from 6-8pm for your chance to perform original music for friends and family.Register at the link below or call 941-379-9100 

Music Compound

May is national 'Older Americans Month' and pays tribute to this valuable population. Goodwill knows that older workers are assets to the workplace and have the experience and skills to be valuable employees, but they are often overlooked for job opportunities because of age. Goodwill Manasota helps older workers through employment with the organization and through its Job Connection and GoodPartner Coach programs. Last year, Goodwill employed 278 team members ages 55 or older, including an 84-year-old attended donation center employee working in Venice. The GoodPartner Coach program, which helps team members develop a plan and provides supports and assistance to overcome obstacles, assisted 278 team members in increasing their employability skills.The free Job Connection employment service assisted 535 clients ages 55 and older, including 148 ages 66 or older. Last year, Job Connection placed 129 job seekers over 60 years old. 

Goodwill Manasota