Meaningful progress starts with listening. Our region is complex and growing, and the best way to understand what’s working and where we have opportunities to improve is to hear directly from the people who call it home. That is why we reimagined our most recent Regional Scan, conducting the largest community listening effort in Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s 30-year history. More than 1,500 of our neighbors from across Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties shared their perspectives through a region-wide survey and a series of group discussions, representing a more than 700% increase in participation compared to 2023. The Scan was developed collaboratively with our partners to ensure the insights gathered would be meaningful and actionable for organizations and individuals in all three counties. The results offer a clear, candid picture of what residents across our region are experiencing and prioritizing today.

Of everything we heard, empathy emerged as the defining theme. Residents consistently identified community priorities not just based on personal circumstances, but also on concern for their neighbors and the long-term well-being of the region. I find that both encouraging and instructive.

The top priority in the Scan, affordable housing, is the clearest example. Fifty-seven percent of residents identify it as a community concern, yet only about a quarter say it directly affects them. That gap matters to me. It shows that people are paying attention to how housing instability affects teachers, service workers, families, and older adults, and they understand that a stable, thriving community depends on everyone having a safe, affordable place to live.

This same sense of shared responsibility shows up in the other top two priorities residents named. Thirty-six percent pointed to protecting our natural environment, shaped by real experiences with flooding, red tide, and habitat loss. Thirty-two percent cited helping people in times of crisis, including homelessness, food insecurity, and disaster recovery. What stands out to me across all three priorities is that residents aren't just identifying what affects them personally. They're thinking about their neighbors and the kind of community they want ours to be. That’s a powerful signal of who we are as a community.

The results revealed an important truth we can’t ignore. Nearly half of residents say they don’t always feel a sense of belonging in their community, and among those, four in ten feel that local government doesn’t listen to them. Those are significant numbers, and they deserve to be taken seriously as we think about how we show up as a region.

One group stood out for having a distinct set of priorities: working families with children. While affordable housing was still their top concern, improving public schools and access to affordable childcare ranked close behind. Nearly every caregiver who participated said childcare costs too much, and many described making real tradeoffs around work and family just to get by. It's a reminder that affordability doesn't begin and end with housing. When families are stretched thin, that stress touches everything: their kids, their jobs, their neighbors, and ultimately the health of the whole community.

This scan doesn't belong to Gulf Coast Community Foundation. It belongs to our region at large. It was built with community at the core, and our hope is that organizations, leaders, businesses, and individuals across Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties will use it to inform their own priorities and decisions. The more voices that act on what residents have shared, the greater the impact will be. For those ready to take action right now, our Sarasota Housing Action Plan and Water Quality Playbook are two concrete resources already in motion, built around priorities this community has named.

I hope you'll read the full report at gulfcoastcf.org/readytoact. And if it sparks something for you, whether that's a question, an idea, or a desire to get involved, I hope you'll reach out. This work belongs to all of us.

Phillip Lanham is the President and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. 

Accountability has to start at home. A government that bypasses its own constituents has no standing to lecture the state about public participation.

This column is not about whether the County Commission reached the right decision. It is about how they reached it, and why that matters. The process lacked transparency and public participation. The commission may have arrived at the same conclusion through proper channels, but we will never know. What we do know is that community members, advocacy groups, and directly affected property owners were shut out entirely.

At an April 7, 2026 commission meeting, nothing on the published agenda signaled that affordable housing or property rights would be on the table. No county social media post, no commissioner communication, nothing hinted that a controversial item was coming. Yet one was.

This was not a minor housekeeping vote. The commission took action related to the Live Local Act, a state law that has been at the center of heated debate since its passage in 2023, amended in 2025, and still evolving in 2026. The law was championed by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo to cut through local government obstruction of affordable and workforce housing development. Both the Obama and Trump administrations had similarly identified excessive local bureaucracy as a core driver of the housing crisis, agreeing that communities were blocking necessary density increases under the guise of protecting neighborhood character and property values.

The irony here is striking. Sarasota County officials have publicly criticized the Live Local Act for stripping away local control and limiting community input. Those are fair concerns shared by many counties and municipalities. But the commission cannot credibly champion transparency while simultaneously making significant legal and financial decisions without public notice, without publicly published supporting documentation, and without calling for public comment as required by law.

What was absent from that meeting agenda was remarkable. There was no mention that the topic would be raised, no background materials, and no reference to a legal memo issued just two business days prior on the agenda, nor in the agenda packet. Court cases from multiple jurisdictions were cited during deliberations that the public had no opportunity to review. Commissioners read from pre-prepared motions and notes, making clear that at least a few were ready to discuss this, even as it appeared nowhere on the published agenda.

Voting on a controversial item with real budget financial consequences and direct implications for property rights should require notice. It should require supporting documentation. It should require giving affected parties a seat at the table. Asking for a future agenda item without prior notice is one thing. Quietly deciding a substantive legal and policy matter is something else entirely.

The commission has a choice going forward. If its members genuinely believe that transparency and community participation are values worth defending, then they must model those values themselves. Holding the state accountable for bypassing local input rings hollow when the county does the same thing on the very issue they complain about.

Christine Robinson is the Chief Executive Officer of The Argus Foundation. 

AI generated photo provided by The Argus Foundation.

On Thursday, the Manatee Young Professionals (MYP) honored leaders in our region through its annual awards program. As a priority initiative of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, MYP is an important resource for local professionals to connect, engage, and make an impact. These young professionals are making waves - not just with impressive results related to their jobs with local employers, but also with the ways they are serving non-profits, mentoring other young professionals, and developing their chops as advocates on issues that matter most to them. I encourage everyone in our region to celebrate these 2026 award winners as a way to inspire even more engagement and involvement.

• Engagement Award – honoring an individual who embodies the focus of MYP with enthusiasm and commitment while encouraging others to get involved - Shawn Osborne, Cox Chevrolet. Shawn has established himself as a top performer, driving growth in his company while also lifting others up through mentorship. He supports youth activities and serves on local non-profit boards and committees. He is a visible leader among young professionals and encourages others to find their own path to success.
• Bright Beginnings Award – recognizing an individual who has quickly made an impact in their field and our community - Karena Ballard, Pittsburgh Pirates / Bradenton Marauders – Karena plays an active role in both the Pirates/Marauders organization while also connecting deeply and broadly across our community. She brings an infectious enthusiasm to her work and volunteerism.
• Legacy Award – honors an individual for exceptional professional achievement while strengthening our community through their leadership - Amariah Dawes, Johnson Messal Bristow, PLLC – Amariah has been a driving influence within her company in shaping internal culture and outward community engagement. She is a passionate advocate for youth education, empowering young women, and supporting small businesses. She views her leadership and influence opportunities as an investment in the future.
• Employer Award – recognizes an employer that uses creative, supportive initiatives to attract, retain, and grow the careers of young professionals - Oysters Rock Hospitality – Oysters Rock and its family of local restaurants invest in its people, creating pathways for long-term growth and success. They have a clear commitment to developing young professionals by ensuring entry-level roles are not just jobs, but a starting point for a meaningful career. Their internal practices encourage development, mentorship, stability, and a long-term trajectory within the company with an emphasis on community involvement, too.
• Young Professional of the Year – Selected from among all of the year’s nominations to honor an individual for overall impact on our community and MYP programming - Aubrie Stevens-Polson, Harbor Chiropractic – Words used to describe Aubrie include leader, resilient, dedicated, authentic, and steady. She has played a vital role in growing her employer’s visibility, developed key partnerships, and represented the company throughout the community. She has overcome challenges with strength and determination to inspire others. Aubrie is not only an achiever, she strives to elevate others and is a trusted mentor to many.

As Manatee Chamber Chair of the Board Justin Phillips stated during the awards program, speaking directly to the more than 150 young professionals in attendance, “Let me say this clearly to each of you: you’re not waiting for your moment, you’re already leading in it. You are influencing change, bringing fresh perspectives, and helping shape where we’re headed as a community. The Manatee Chamber is proud to stand alongside you.”

It is to the benefit of us all that we honor rising leaders and position them to seize opportunities to excel. The most important resource of any business is its team. We must prioritize attracting and retaining young talent in our region by supporting their success and influence. If you are interested in learning more about the Manatee Young Professionals, please visit www.MYPonline.com or call Debbie McDermott at 941-748-3411.

Jacki Dezelski, IOM is the President and CEO of Manatee Chamber of Commerce. 

Pictured: 2026 Manatee Young Professionals Award Winners. Provided photo.

In a region where demand for rehabilitation services continues to rise, State College of Florida’s (SCF) Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program is equipping students to enter critical roles in patient care.

Often described as the “masters of movement,” physical therapist assistants play a vital role in patient recovery and rehabilitation. They focus on improving strength, endurance, coordination, and mobility, helping patients regain independence in everyday activities, from getting out of bed to walking across a room.

The PTA program at SCF follows a structured, hands-on model that emphasizes both academic preparation and real-world application. Students complete prerequisite coursework before entering the program. Once accepted, they progress through a two-year sequence that integrates classroom instruction, lab training, and clinical experiences. Graduates earn an associate in science degree and are eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination, a key step toward licensure.

The program’s quality is reinforced by its accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, recently renewed for another ten years. This distinction ensures students receive an education aligned with national standards and workforce expectations.

Clinical experience is central to the program. Students rotate through a wide network of healthcare settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, and schools. With more than 100 active clinical partnerships across the region and beyond, SCF prioritizes placements that both broaden experience and support student needs, including minimizing travel when possible.

For many students, these experiences lead directly to employment. That was the case for PTA student Shana, who shared her journey.

“I have just really enjoyed my experience in this program,” she said. “My clinical instructors at every location had worked with SCF students before, and they said that students are really well prepared. With my last rotation, they encouraged me to interview, and I actually secured a job there. Once I graduate and get my license, I’ll be working at the hospital.”

Shana’s experience reflects a broader trend. Employers consistently recognize SCF PTA students for their preparation and professionalism, and program outcomes support that reputation. Graduates consistently achieve licensure exam pass rates that meet or exceed national averages, reflecting the program’s strong academic and clinical foundation.

Learning extends beyond clinical training. Students engage in professional development opportunities that enhance their readiness for the field. They attend statewide conferences, participate in community health events, and practice skills in simulation labs that mirror real patient scenarios. These experiences build confidence and strengthen critical thinking in dynamic healthcare environments.

Looking ahead, SCF continues to innovate. A newly developed dual-track pathway allows PTA students to pursue a bachelor’s degree in health services administration alongside their associate degree, expanding opportunities for advancement into leadership and management roles within healthcare organizations.

The program’s impact extends well beyond the classroom. By combining academic excellence, hands-on training, and strong community partnerships, SCF’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program prepares graduates to step into high-demand roles and make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients across the region.

For more information, visit SCF.edu.

Tommy Gregory, J.D., is the President of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. 

Simulation photo provided by SCF.