Community leaders spend a great deal of time talking about the future. We discuss opportunities, challenges, data, trends and possibilities. We focus on what comes next. But recently, I was reminded that understanding where we’re going requires understanding where we have been.

Last week, members of our Community Foundation of Sarasota County team took a trolley tour led by local historian and community advocate Vickie Oldham, who is also the executive director of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition. What I expected to be an educational experience became something much more meaningful: a morning filled with stories, music, history and perspective.

Our morning began with a prayer and song led by Brenda Watty, a former Motown Marvelette whose voice and stories set the tone for the journey ahead. Also on board was Odessa Butler, a former Miss Booker High and longtime community advocate whose oral history is invaluable. Throughout the morning, Mrs. Butler recalled her mother’s efforts to lead economic boycotts in pursuit of civil rights, while Brenda shared memories of performing on the Chitlin' Circuit, singing snippets of well-known hits and inviting us to join in.

At one point, as our trolley rolled through St. Armands Circle so that we could learn about the Lido Beach wade-ins, Brenda led our entire group in enthusiastically belting out “This Little Light of Mine.” It was joyful, unexpected and unforgettable. On a morning centered on history and remembrance, it was a reminder that music has always brought people together, carried stories forward and strengthened communities through celebration and struggle.

Away from the beach, the bulk of our morning was spent in Newtown, learning about the places and people that have defined Sarasota's Black community and individuals whose courage and determination helped shape our region. We stopped at the Historic Leonard Reid House, learned more about the legacy of the Booker schools and the woman behind their names, explored the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, and heard about Dr. John Chenault, the first African American physician granted practicing privileges at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and the critical role he played in providing healthcare to residents during a time when access was limited and inequitable.

What struck me was the spirit of resilience woven throughout every story. Again and again, we heard examples of people who faced barriers, exclusion and inequity, yet continued to build, create, educate, heal and lead. Their legacy is not defined by the obstacles they encountered, but by what they accomplished despite them.

That lesson feels especially relevant as we approach Juneteenth later this month.

Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when the last enslaved Americans learned of their freedom—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued. It is both a celebration and a call to reflection. It invites us to honor those who came before us, acknowledge our shared history and continue the work of building communities where opportunity is accessible to all.

At the Community Foundation, we believe that understanding community conditions requires more than data and demographics. It requires listening. It requires learning from lived experience. And it requires creating opportunities for stories to be shared and preserved.

That is one reason we are proud to support the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's upcoming Juneteenth celebration, a free two-day festival that includes live music, spoken word, dance performances, visual art, short films, food and more. As we think about those who shaped our community’s past, this celebration presents a dynamic opportunity to connect with artists, performers and leaders who are shaping our present, and our future. The celebration kicks off at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, June 19, and continues from 1 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 20. I hope you can make it.

I also hope that you have the opportunity one day to take the Newtown trolley tour, which brings history to life not through textbooks and slideshows, but through stories, voices, music and the people who lived it.

Jessica Muroff is the President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. 

Pictured: Odessa Butler. Photo courtesy of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

After our second annual Arts Summit at Asolo Repertory Theatre in May, I ran into a local artist, and she said something I won’t forget. She told me that sitting in that room, hearing what was being said, she felt heard, and happy that there was an organization advocating for people like her.

That’s exactly why we do this. Not just to share information or run the numbers. But to remind every person who makes a living creating, and every professional who dedicates their career to making arts accessible, we amplify the work to ensure they know they’re supported.

Now let’s talk about those numbers. Because part of what made this Summit so powerful was watching people in the room react to data.

The arts and culture sector contributes more than $1.17 trillion annually to the U.S. economy, representing 4.2% of our GDP and supporting more than 5.4 million jobs. These aren’t fringe numbers. This is a major economic driver.

Right here in Sarasota County, our nonprofit arts and culture sector generates more than $342 million in annual economic activity, supports more than 3,600 jobs, and pays $176 million in income to local residents. Arts audiences spend an estimated $107 million annually beyond ticket prices, at restaurants, hotels, shops, and businesses throughout our community. We are a cultural economy. We’ve talked about it before, and we’ll continue to beat the drum, because it’s important. We aren’t economists, yet we know inflation has risen nearly 20%, while arts organizations have raised ticket prices by only about 10%. Median earnings for full-time artists grew just 5% between 2015 and 2023, while cumulative inflation rose 28%. The people doing this work are highly educated and deeply committed. They are also consistently underpaid. That’s not sustainable, and that’s part of why this conversation has to keep happening.

The Summit wasn’t only about economics. It was also about something harder to quantify, but just as real. Just two hours of arts engagement per week has been linked to significantly better mental wellbeing in adults. New research has connected long-term creative practice to younger-looking brains and lower biological aging markers. Nearly 70% of Americans believe arts and culture positively impact health and wellbeing, and more than 80% support public funding for arts initiatives tied to mental health outcomes.

Someone might look at a room full of arts leaders at an Arts Summit and say, “you’re preaching to the choir.” They’re not wrong. But here’s what I’ve come to believe: the choir needs to sing together sometimes. When you’re running an arts organization, actively pursuing funding, trying to serve your community, doing more with less, it can feel isolating. Getting everyone in the same room, singing from the same score, and realizing you are not alone in what you’re facing? That matters. That’s momentum.

I was also reminded that we need more voices at that table. It's for every organization doing the work, at every scale. If you've been on the fence about coming, consider this your invitation. The more of us in the room, the stronger the chorus.

One more thing before I close, because I get asked every year: no, the arts don’t slow down when the snowbirds head north. Sarasota’s cultural community is actively programming through the summer, with youth arts camps, performances, exhibitions, and community events that serve our year-round residents. Visit sarasotaarts.org to find what’s happening near you.

The work doesn’t stop. And neither do we.

Brian Hersh is the CEO of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County. To learn more, visit sarasotaarts.org.

Pictured: Aude Monde, Director of Advancement. Photo: Sorcha Augustine Photography.

When nonprofits are doing their best work, they attract and retain talented and experienced volunteer leaders who make the organization and the community stronger.

I remember unsuccessfully trying to recruit a woman to a local board because she understood what it was like to be on the receiving end of services. She would have contributed to important conversations in ways others could not. She understood what it felt like to be both a donor and a client. I still think of how strong that board would be with her. But she couldn’t see herself in the position, and truthfully, I could have done a better job of explaining why her voice was valued.

It’s a credit to all of us when incredible people get involved because they believe they have something to offer or because we show them.

Volunteer leaders who power strong nonprofit boards can make a significant difference in the success of our collective community, especially during this inflection point in our rapidly changing world. Boards that are built from inquisitive contributors with independence, interest in the community, and willingness to keep learning can be exceptional.

During our site visits with grant applicants at the Selby Foundation, we require a board member to join us. Their leadership matters. We learn from hearing them talk about the organization’s work and explaining the ways their board meaningfully partners with the CEO, but also, their broader understanding of the region.

Outside of commonly sought after professional backgrounds, three types of skills/knowledge are among those that stand out as we talk to board members.

Board Members Who Know the Landscape

A board member who is knowledgeable about other nonprofits in Southwest Florida with related or complementary missions has priceless contributions. Appreciating the landscape contributes to better decisions. For example, a relationship with a nonprofit partner may better leverage community resources. In another instance, knowing the community might lead to a decision to reduce the number of programs the nonprofit offers, concentrating on few programs that provide the greatest impact. This can allow other entities to do what they do best too.

Questions your board can ask: Who else is doing similar work? Are both needed? If so, how can we work together to better support our community as a whole?

Board Members Who Ask Thoughtful Questions

Good boards have diversity in thought. The chair creates an environment that encourages thoughtful questions—not as challenges to operations or the CEO—but as doorways to achieve nimbleness, opportunity, or affirmation in the face of new situations.

Questions the board can ask: Are we scenario-planning for our changing environment in Sarasota and Manatee? What creative options allow us to meet new or expanding needs? Is it our role to tackle this challenge?

Board Members Who Have Lived Experience

Board members who have experience as participants in the types of programs the nonprofit provides offer genuine and essential insights. These invaluable perspectives in the boardroom give direction where big decisions are made. These are the voices that have equal parts “heart” and “smarts.”

A question the board can ask: How does the board honor the voices of those with direct experience with the types of services our organization provides?

The summer is a great time to think about what personal leadership can look like for yourself. And if you serve on the board of a nonprofit already, it’s a good time to think about your role in recruiting others that can achieve more impact with the precious resources available to create a better community, not just a better organization.

Susie Bowie is the President and CEO of The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation. 

Pictured: Izzy Stark, Tammy Flores, and Amandine Louis-Charles are three Selby Scholar alumni who served in key roles to help the Selby Foundation decision-making process this year based on their experiences. Photo courtesy of Selby Foundation.