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SRQ DAILY Jan 6, 2024

Saturday Perspectives Edition

Saturday Perspectives Edition

"If the county returned to a 56.2% completion rate, students here would receive $3.4 million in Pell Grant awards. "

- Jennifer Vigne, Education Foundation of Sarasota County
 

[Community]  New Year’s Resolutions, Resolved!
Roxie Jerde, roxie@cfsarasota.org

This time of year, many people are still committed to their New Year's Resolutions. It’s only a few days in, after all, and the resolve to stay on course is strong. As time goes on, however, many of us lose our grip on the determination to keep up the heavy lifting it takes to achieve these goals.

It makes sense that so many eventually abandon their resolutions. While we might naturally constantly seek self-improvement, achieving goals can be difficult, if not impossible, when everything else in our lives remains the same. Goals require extra attention and need to be supported.

While goals can be personal, they also extend to organizations, including nonprofits. The nonprofit sector, responsible in large part for the great quality of life we enjoy in Sarasota, routinely embarks on large projects in the name of carrying out their missions, which range the gamut: providing basic necessities like healthcare and housing to those who can’t afford them, creating the vibrant and notable arts scene that draws so many to our community, or protecting land and water quality to sustain the wellbeing of our environment. 

If some of these missions seem daunting, it’s because they are. The challenge of accomplishing these varied missions is compounded by the reality that the work is often carried out on a shoestring budget. 

Supporting the work of nonprofits is a priority at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, as it is through their visions and missions that we move closer to creating a community where everyone can reach their full potential. A key support is capacity building grants, which provide vital dollars for building the capability of nonprofits to achieve their goals. Whether these grants support staff, volunteer and board development, software that reduces the time and burden of daily workloads or tools that help them expand their reach, these investments help ensure that nonprofits can make new goals and stick with them, ultimately expanding their impact.

Recently, capacity building grants have gone out to various nonprofits to support a spectrum of goals. One, to Adventure for All, will help the nonprofit develop a strategic policy so that it can continue providing unique, empowering experiences to people with disabilities.  Another, to Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, will support the implementation of asset management software, enabling sustained focus on developing girls into strong leaders. 

Imagine if we all enjoyed support for achieving our New Year’s Resolutions. It seems many more would be realized, rather than discarded after a few months. Reaching goals is possible when the right support is put into place, and we’re grateful to have the opportunity to provide vital assistance to these nonprofit organizations that truly brighten our community. This funding helps ensure that innovations and new projects can be committed to and completed, empowering nonprofits to truly achieve the impact they imagine. 

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

Image courtesy Pixabay

[Education]  Resolve to Help Students Complete Their FAFSA
Jennifer Vigne, jvigne@edfoundationsrq.org

Every year, high school students across Sarasota County leave money on the table—thousands and thousands of dollars. The federal grants and scholarships they could receive by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) could be the difference between graduating with little to no student debt, or with a mountain of it. For some, it could determine if they can even attend college or technical school in the first place. 

In December 2020, the U.S. government passed the FAFSA Simplification Act, which instituted changes that are taking effect this year. It will now be much easier to complete this important application, with far fewer questions—and with increased eligibility for federal student aid.

Completing the FAFSA is a strong indicator of students’ likelihood of pursuing education after high school, yet last year only 55.4% of students in Sarasota County completed their FAFSA, down from 56.2% the previous year. So many students missed out on free money to offset the costs of college or specialized training. 

Thomas Williams, director of PLANit Sarasota, our local college access network in Sarasota, estimates if the county returned to a 56.2% completion rate, students here would receive $3.4 million in Pell Grant awards. With an increase to a 60% completion rate, the county would see an estimated incremental increase of $300,000.

In Sarasota County, according to the Florida College Access Network, 45.6% of residents aged 25-64 hold an associate degree or higher. Yet FCAN also finds that 60% of Florida jobs will require a degree or credential by 2030. A thriving local economy depends on an educated, agile, and ready workforce. And completing the FAFSA opens pathways to that degree or credential. 

Traditionally, the FAFSA window opened on Oct. 1, but this year, with these changes, the application opened on Dec. 31. While this date could get lost in the holiday season, it’s important that students and families complete and submit the application as early as possible because grants and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Through the collective effort of many community and education partners, the FAFSA rate in Sarasota County has avoided the significant dips other places experienced during the pandemic. However, the completion rate has also remained stubborn, hovering around the mid-50s. States like Tennessee and Louisiana, with universal FAFSA completion, record a completion rate in the higher 60s.

In January, PLANit Sarasota, in partnership with the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, Sarasota County high schools, State College of Florida and other partners, will host FAFSA open houses at area high schools. At these free events, students and families can work one on one with a FAFSA expert to complete their applications. 

More open houses will follow, and there will be free online resources available to help. But these resources are only effective if students and families take advantage of them.

That’s where we all come in. Improving the FAFSA rate requires a coordinated effort by multiple stakeholders. As we’ve seen countless times over these past few years, when a community comes together to solve problems, we accomplish great things.  

With the new year upon us, let’s work together to increase awareness of the FAFSA and to connect students and families to resources that will help them complete it. Teachers, counselors, administrators, friends, neighbors, colleagues, classmates—together we can spread the word about the FAFSA and actively help students complete it. 

When students and families complete the FAFSA, pathways open, and with each new pathway, students move closer to reaching their full potential and leading successful lives. I can think of few outcomes more worthy of our time and effort than that.

To find a FAFSA open house at your child’s school, visit: edfoundationsrq.org/events/

To learn more about the FAFSA and the resources available, visit: edfoundationsrq.org/students/financial-aid/fafsa/

Jennifer Vigne is President and CEO of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. 

Image courtesy Pixabay



[SOON]  GRAB BAG: Fresh Harvest Farmers Market at Wellen Park , June 25 – May 31, 9 am to 1 pm

Visit Fresh Harvest, the newly launched weekly farmers market in Downtown Wellen. Fresh Harvest offers a selection of local goods from nearly 40 local vendors. Fresh Harvest takes place every Sunday in Downtown Wellen from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees can peruse different vendor booths and stock up on a variety of goods. Vendors will offer a wide variety of locally grown and produced food, including herbs, spices, cut flowers, teas, canned and preserved fruits and vegetables, syrups, baked goods, pickled foods, fresh seafood, meats, poultry, eggs, milk and prepared food and beverages. A limited selection of craft vendors also participate in the farmers market. For a listing of participating vendors and more information on Fresh Harvest Farmers Market, visit wellenpark.com/events/fresh-harvest-farmers-market. Downtown Wellen, 19745 Wellen Park Blvd., Venice.

[SOON]  PERFORMANCE: Sights and Sounds at Waterside Place , July 28 – May 31, 6 to 9 p.m.

Head out to Waterside Place for a rocking evening as part of the Lakewood Ranch Sights and Sounds Program. Enjoy a live concert in partnership with Easterseals and EveryoneRocks, featuring artists who are rocking their spectrum. This event is free and open to the public; there is limited seating at the Plaza, but attendees are welcome to bring their own seats. Food and beverages will be available from numerous Waterside Place merchants. For more information on shows, dates, and times, visit lakewoodranch.com/sights-sounds/. Waterside Place, 1560 Lakefront Dr., Sarasota.

[SOON]  BUSINESS: Lets Connect at Oscura in Old Manatee , August 31 – December 26, 8:30-10am

Connect with local business owners at every Thursday at Oscura. Lets Connect is a community of collaborative business professionals from the Manatee and Sarasota County areas. RSVP on Eventbrite to attend, admission is free.

[SOON]  MUSEUM: Working Conditions at The Ringling , August 26 – March 3, varied times

Explore labor through The Ringlings Working Conditions photography exhibit, running until March 3, 2024. The Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries radically changed the nature of human labor. That era is defined by a global shift from producing goods by hand to manufacturing by machines and technologies that emphasized efficiency. Working Conditions explores the myriad ways in which photographs have communicated ideas about labor since the nineteenth century through examples from The Ringlings photography permanent collection. For more information, visit ringling.org.

[SOON]  FOOD: Siesta Key Rum Distillery Tours , September 2 – September 30, Various times

Siesta Key Rum runs free year-round tours for guests to learn the story of the craft distillery, the awards they have won and the secret to how they make their rums taste so good. During our 30-45 minute tour we will discuss the following topics: history of Siesta Key Rum, an overview of the awards our small company has won, what makes our rums taste so good, the rum-making process from mashing and fermentation to distillation, barrel aging and bottling of our rums. After the tour, we welcome you to sample a freshly made Siesta Key Rum cocktail, stock up on your favorite rums and browse our gift shop. 2212 Industrial Blvd., Sarasota.

[SOON]  FOOD: Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch , September 3 – September 30, 10am-2pm

Experience some of the best food and flavors of the region with more than 100, and still growing, curated vendors. The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch has fast become a favorite weekly tradition for people from all over the region seeking farm-fresh produce, delicious prepared foods, and specialty items and gifts. Aside from all the goodies you can shop at the Farmers Market, find your flow in a free yoga class or have the kiddos get creative during weekly-hosted workshops. 1561 Lakefront Dr., Lakewood Ranch.

[SOON]  GRAB BAG: Bradenton Market Returns , October 7 – May 25, 9am-2pm

Realize Bradenton is happy to announce the return of the Bradenton Market to its weekly schedule. This beloved community gathering will be held Saturdays through May 25, 2024 from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm on Old Main Street in Bradenton. Founded in 1979, the Market has expanded to include more than 90 local vendors. In addition to the weekly shopping and music, the Market hosts special event days throughout the season. Halloween at the Market will be held on Saturday, October 28. This family-friendly event includes trick or treating with vendors, face painting with Manatee School for the Arts Academic Team from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, and a dance performance by Slick Motion Studios at 10:00 am. For more information, visit RealizeBradenton.com.

[SOON]  MUSEUM: Shinique Smith, Parade , January 4 – January 5, Various times

Enjoy the extraordinary opportunity to experience the work of contemporary artist Shinique Smith in conversation with the collection of European art at The Ringling. Unfolding across six galleries of the Museum of Art, the exhibition creates a series of unique stories that together form an abstract narrative of the parade as a metaphor for life. Well known for her monumental sculptures created from an array of materials, including luxurious textiles, personal clothing, dyed fabrics, ribbon, and wood, and for her abstract paintings of calligraphy and collage, Smiths work in this exhibition speaks to various facets of the European artistic tradition, such as classical drapery and religious iconography, while foregrounding notions of Black femininity and the history of the circus. Learn more at ringling.org.

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

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