Note: This story was intended to run in the July 5 issue.

As we celebrate Independence Day, the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County reflects with deep gratitude the freedoms that define our nation, and the creative spirit that continues to flourish because of them. Nearly two hundred and fifty years ago, a bold vision of liberty and self-determination sparked a revolution that forever changed the course of history. That same spirit lives on today in the hearts of artists, performers, writers, and dreamers across our communities.

At the core of the American experiment is the belief in the power of individual expression. The arts offer one of the most vital avenues of expression, giving voice to our challenges, hopes and dreams. Creativity is an act of freedom, and every brushstroke, song, sculpture, and performance affirms our right to imagine and to inspire.

The breadth and depth of artistry found in Sarasota County beautifully reflect the lived experiences of our citizens and visitors. From world-class performing arts and museums to community festivals and grassroots creative spaces, our region offers something for everyone. It is a cultural ecosystem that welcomes all, where every voice can be heard, every story can be shared, and every person can find meaning and connection. In many ways, our local arts scene is helping to fulfill the very ideals that gave rise to this nation. 

The Declaration of Independence set forth the unalienable rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”—principles we are still striving to fully realize. The arts not only reflect this ongoing journey; they propel it forward. Through creative expression, we examine our shared history and imagine a more just and compassionate future. The arts hold us to our highest values and help us grow closer to the country we aspire to be.

This Independence Day, we are especially proud to recognize our ongoing partnership with The Patterson Foundation and Patriot Plaza at Sarasota National Cemetery. The artwork exhibited at Patriot Plaza powerfully reminds us of the service, sacrifice, and courage of those who have defended the freedoms we celebrate today. Through our collaboration, we continue to train and support a team of dedicated volunteer docents who guide visitors through these meaningful installations, ensuring that the stories and symbolism behind each piece are honored, understood, and shared.

As fireworks light up the skies this July 4th, let us remember that freedom is not just a historical milestone; it is a living, breathing force, sustained by our shared commitment to expression, and imagination. Let us continue to uplift the arts as a vital part of our national identity and community wellbeing.

From all of us at the Arts and Cultural Alliance, we wish you a joyful, meaningful Independence Day. May we celebrate not only our country’s birth, but the ongoing freedom to create, connect, and dream.

Brian Hersh is the Chief Executive Officer of the Arts and Cultural Alliances for Sarasota County. 

Pictured: Night to Day, Here and Away by Ellen Driscoll is a vibrant mosaic mural located along the Rostrum and South Walkways at Patriot Plaza in Sarasota National Cemetery. The artwork symbolizes the journey of service members, traversing time, distance

According to UnitedForALICE.org's 2025 report, it’s estimated that a family of four in our region needs a combined income of $99,730 just to meet basic needs like meals, housing, transportation, childcare, and utilities. In comparison, the median household income of Manatee County’s 190,091 households is $79,524, while it’s $77,705 in Sarasota and $50,868 in DeSoto.

If that sounds daunting, it is.

In fact, 42% of households in Manatee, 43% in Sarasota, and 59% in DeSoto qualify as either ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) or poverty-level households. More than 40,000 of these are ALICE households - working parents or individuals who, despite employment, simply don’t earn enough to cover basic monthly expenses.

If you think you don’t come into contact with these folks, think again. They’re the people serving you in a restaurant, helping you in a store, providing childcare, or doing work at your home or in your yard. Many are young adults entering the workforce, or semi- and fully retired individuals whose job income or retirement benefits no longer stretch far enough to meet our region’s rising cost of living.

These are the very people who need our support, especially as we face nonprofit funding cuts, the impact of tariffs, and the impact of wages not rising on par with the cumulative inflation we have seen over the past few years.

Every day, these families face seemingly impossible decisions. Pay the power bill or put dinner on the table? Fill the gas tank or keep the phone on?

For a family of four, childcare is the biggest expense after housing. For many, it is more affordable for a parent to stay home than to send children to childcare (VPK or not). This lowers the workforce participation rate, which has an economic impact around the state of over $5.6 billion a year, according to the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

As you may know, I grew up in a third-world country and carry vivid memories that shape my perspective today. As one example: I was 7, it was dusk, and my mom and I were walking across a railroad track in downtown Buenos Aires, when we saw a young boy about my age. He was dirty with torn shoes and holes in his T-shirt, and was leaning on a rail, crying inconsolably.

My mom asked what was wrong, and he said his father had given him enough money to buy “two potatoes for dinner,” but that he had used it to play a video game instead. He said they had not eaten yet that day. It was 6 p.m.

My mom took us to a shop, bought him a sandwich and talked to him about how everyone can choose their own destiny, and how one bad decision does not define you - or your future. We walked with him to a church nearby. I sometimes think about him and feel grateful to now have a role in philanthropy, where I hope to make a difference for others like him.

Everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive, and every person deserves the chance to make a better life for themselves and their children. At Manatee Community Foundation, we are focused on mobilizing resources to help those in need; and we are grateful to our donor family for making those investments.

We can each find ways to support and create avenues for the success of others. A rising tide lifts all boats. Join the family of MCF donors, who are making a difference every day.

Veronica Thames is CEO of the Manatee Community Foundation, which has given over $66 million to our communities by working with nonprofit partners that improve the quality of life for people and animals in Manatee County. 

Pictured: Habitat For Humanity family proudly receiving keys to their habitat home. Provided photo.

This month marks my 20th anniversary at Visit Sarasota County, and my second as President and CEO – although, my tenure in our community began long before I ever thought about a career in tourism marketing.

I grew up here, was encouraged by my teachers and peers at Fruitville Elementary, McIntosh Middle, and Riverview High, and – on field trips and evening drives in my Honda Civic (a DX, the kind where you had to roll the window up and down by hand) – experienced the first of many attractions and businesses that I’d later have the privilege of promoting on the world stage.

I began my journey with Visit Sarasota County in 2005, back when Grey’s Anatomy just premiered, when texting on a flip phone felt futuristic, and when our tourism marketing agency was still called the Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau. While I knew I had a lot to give back to my hometown, what I didn’t fully realize was how much my hometown could give back to me.

I was fortunate to earn my chops alongside our local businesses, led by some of the most strategic hospitality leaders I’ve ever known, including my predecessor, Virginia Haley. What they’ve taught me and what I’ve discovered over two decades is that tourism’s job is not just about running ads and marketing Sarasota County – it’s also about managing the reputation and quality of life within our destination. And this has been a significant perception shift in our industry.

That’s why you’ll see our team involved in emergency preparedness to address hurricane recovery, Red Tide blooms, and other brewing crises. Close collaboration with our Chambers of Commerce, in addition to stewarding our own network of over 500 partners, helps us keep a pulse on local business needs. All the while, we’re actively soliciting resident feedback to make sure our efforts improve the lives of those closest to home; in fact, more than 1,500 voices came together to create our 2030 Destination Strategic Plan alone!

The tools of our trade naturally changed, too. Our Visitor Guides and ad campaigns used to have reader response cards in them that you’d tear out and mail back to us to request visitor information. No longer are vanity 800 phone numbers needed to avoid long-distance call charges, nor do travel journalists want to receive a package of microfiche or photos – that we would hope they’d send back to us to reuse. Instead of form, marketing now devotes attention to function, focusing on audiences and their behaviors that we can follow, measure, and tap into to encourage a trip (or several).

We’ve seen a similar shift in how we work with local businesses, moving from a transactional model of partnership to one that centers around relationship-building. The most impactful partnerships are those built on mutual investment: when we’re invited into their milestones, introductions, and ideas, we can better share the full story behind Sarasota County. And when that broader story is told well, it uplifts not just our destination but the individual businesses that help define it.

So, what hasn’t changed in these past 20 years? There is — and always will be — an art and science to highlighting the right aspects of our community to the right visitor at the right time. Encouraging people to choose Sarasota County as their destination of choice for leisure, business, and exploration as they look to relax or relocate to the Sunshine State remains as dynamic of a responsibility as it did on my first day back in 2005.

Turns out, the best way to promote a place you love is to never really leave it.

Erin Duggan, CDME, is President and CEO of Visit Sarasota County.