This week I witnessed vulnerability in action in our community, and it left me in awe. Admittedly, vulnerability is not my strong suit, so I often embrace those teachable moments when I can learn from others about how to become more vulnerable.

I think the author, Brené Brown, is accurate when she says, “We love seeing raw truth and openness in other people, but we’re afraid to let them see it in us.”

Good, bad or indifferent, we live in a society where leaders must display confidence, strength and resolute determination. “Onward to victory” is our standard leadership battle cry.

Yet, as we have endured the past six months with great uncertainty and enormous fluidity, I have come to appreciate the immense value in being vulnerable.

Vulnerability, essentially, is a position of risk.

It’s putting yourself out there without the shield of self-protection. It’s admitting a fear, acknowledging that you don’t have the answer, or exposing your deepest hurts.

 As Brené Brown goes on to say, “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.”

As we wrestle with life’s challenges—and boy, there are plenty!—I want to salute the courageous leaders in our midst.

Sarasota County just completed its first week of school and I saw vulnerability at every turn.

If you’re a parent who just sent your child to school while still weighing the agonizing decision of in-person instruction or remote learning; or you’re a teacher who made the difficult decision to retire early due to compromised health; or you’re a school bus driver who has little choice but to show up since you’re a sole provider—thank you for your courageous leadership.

If you’re a veteran teacher who postponed retirement to help fill the gap; or you’re a first-year teacher learning the usual new career ropes while navigating through this most unusual time; or you’re an avowed non-techie who spent the summer incorporating new technology with your teaching style so you’d be effective for online learner—thank you for your courageous leadership.  

We will continue to navigate uncertainty for a while, so we need to adopt an infinite mindset that opens the door to more opportunities to be courageous leaders—opportunities we might overlook if we don’t remain vulnerable.

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

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Many significant days in history are remembered because of the great difficulties or tragedies they mark. But how we choose to remember those events is where we can find power and purpose. Aug. 28 is an example of building traditions that are rooted in hope for the future while remembering the past.

On that date in 1955, the 14-year-old boy Emmett Till was killed. It was the same day that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech during the 1963 March on Washington. The organization Young Black and Giving Back Institute recognized the tragedy and triumph of these and other events that took place on Aug. 28 and turned their focus three years ago to mark the date with a national day of giving during Black Philanthropy Month to support Black-led and Black-serving nonprofit organizations in greater support of an equitable society.

For the first time this year, 15 local organizations based in Sarasota-Manatee area took part in Give 8/28, joining nearly 500 other nonprofit causes across the country. Altogether the 15-hour digital event – similar to our local “Giving Challenge” - raised $253,694 from nearly 2,300 donors. Our local participants garnered more than $20,000 and competitive rankings on the leaderboard. When the final gift was made at 11 p.m. last Friday night, three local organizations found themselves ranked in the top 20 overall: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe of Florida (2nd), who also received a prize for Most Donors; Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative (11th); and, Gamma Xi Boule Foundation (18th).

Take a moment and reflect on the significance behind these applaudable numbers. In a moment where our nation is reckoning with a past and present riddled with racial injustice, Give 8/28 and its host, the Young Black and Giving Back Institute, provided a proactive way to offer support for organizations working to address past wrongs and for individuals and communities to actively shape and invest in our shared future.

If we are indeed made by our history, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once famously stated, then our intentions and actions now will define who we are to become as a community. Made clear by our region’s philanthropic enthusiasm, the unifying spirit behind Give 8/28 is alive and well in our area, and I expect will continue to grow. At its heart, charitable giving ensures everyone has an opportunity to thrive while being respected and encouraged. As our community grows, remember that the small steps taken by each of us will combine to drive macro changes for generations to come. After all, that is how history is made. Let’s choose to write it with action and compassion.

To learn more about Give 8/28 and view results, visit https://www.give828.org.

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

The New College Foundation announces the 2020-2021 season of New Topics, a six-part lecture series showcasing national speakers from a broad range of disciplines exploring topical issues. To mark New College’s 60th anniversary, this year’s series features noteworthy alumni whose New College experience prepared them for lives of note and careers of exceptional impact. The series runs October through March and will be presented via the Zoom platform. Each lecture will be presented at 5 pm. Tickets are $10, and all proceeds go to fund student scholarships.

Speakers include award-winning journalist Alexis Simendinger speaking on October 1, Princeton University's Center for Economic Policy Studios senior research scholar William Dudley speaking on "Challenge and Response: Facing Hard Choices in a Time of Economic Crisis" on November 12, R. Derek Black, Allison Gornik and James Birmingham on the topic of "Inclusion at any Cost? When New College was 'Home' to a White Nationalist" on January 27, Cuban-American attorney, consultant, and human rights advocate Lincoln Rafael Diaz-Balart on the topic of "Reflections on a Congressional Career; Lessons for Today's Politics" on February 18 and " Cybersecurity and Civil Liberties" by the ACLU's surveillance and cybersecurity counsel Jennifer Granick on March 18. Registration is required and can be made at ncf.edu/new-topics or by calling the New College events hotline at 941-487-4888. 

Invitations to participate in the Brain Health Initiative (BHI) brain health pilot study will soon be arriving in the mailboxes of randomly selected Lakewood Ranch adult residents. The overarching Brain Health Initiative is working to create brain healthy communities that proudly protect brain health, promote optimal performance, fight brain illness (for people of all ages), while decreasing the gap between lifespan and “brainspan.”

The study includes a confidential, online questionnaire and series of cognitive computer games. Participants will be asked about current health habits, medical conditions, social relationships, recreational activities, as well as experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants will also be asked to share information about health behaviors such as exercise, nutrition, smoking, alcohol usage, sleep patterns, as well as demographic information.

“Understanding what causes brain health problems and how best to prevent brain illness remains one of the biggest medical mysteries of our time,” said Dr. Jennifer Bencie, Health Officer for the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County. “Especially now – when discoveries related to brain health and brain illness, across the lifespan are critically needed worldwide – I hope every community member who is contacted will step-up to help this team of scientists and our region by participating in the study.”

Community participation is a critical component of the BHI pilot study. Andy Guz, CEO of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, points out that area residents have a rare opportunity to participate in the pilot of what will become a world-class comprehensive initiative of brain health to create brain healthy communities. 

The School District of Manatee County and MCR Health are excited to celebrate the grand opening of the Manatee Elementary School Based Health Center at 9 am on Thursday, September 10, 2020. The new School Based Health Center is the product of a partnership between MCR Health, School District of Manatee County, Manatee Elementary School - A Community Partnership School ™, Children’s Home Society of Florida and University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee. Manatee Elementary School, A Community Partnership School ™ is located at 1609 6th Avenue East in Bradenton. There are more than 2,500 School Based Health Centers in the United States, and these centers have been linked to improved academic outcomes, such as improved GPAs, attendance, grade promotion, college preparation, and reduced rates of suspension. This falls right in line with the Manatee County School District Mission of providing education and development to all students today for their success tomorrow.

The Manatee Elementary School Based Health Center is open to enrolled students for their pediatric and behavioral health needs with parental consent. Some of the ongoing services available to Manatee Elementary students through the center include: Well Child Exams, Sick Visits, Counseling Services, Immunizations, Vision Screenings and Dental Services. The Manatee Elementary School Based Health Center includes a Family Practice that also provides adult family medicine services to the general public including Annual Wellness Exams, Sick Visits and Immunizations. MCR Health accepts most insurance including Medicare and Medicaid and as a Federally Qualified Health Center a sliding fee scale is available for those who qualify. This is the second School Based Health Care Center of its kind in Manatee County. The first opened at Southeast High School in February 2020 and offers on-site medical care services to enrolled students who have parental consent. The Southeast High School Based Health Care Center is not open to the general public. 

The Sarasota Consortium, a joint administration of Sarasota County and the City of Sarasota through the Office of Housing and Community Development, will be making rental assistance available for those affected by COVID-19.

The Consortium has received a distribution of $695,069 in Coronavirus Relief Funds from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Residents of Sarasota County who have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and have experienced unemployment or underemployment may apply for rental assistance to prevent eviction. The funds can cover rental arrears dating back to March 1, as well as current rent due. Assistance may not exceed five months’ worth of rent and $9,000 in total.

Applications will be accepted starting Sept. 8, and the application period will end Sept. 30, or when all funds are expended, whichever occurs first. Links for applications will be available on the Office of Housing and Community Development pages on the City of Sarasota website and the Sarasota County website beginning Sept. 8.

A limited number of paper applications will be available Sept. 8 at each public library in Sarasota County and at the City Hall Annex, 1565 First St. Applicants submitting hard copies must send the application by mail to the Office of Housing and Community Development, 111 S. Orange Ave., Suite 103, Sarasota, FL 34236. 

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effective Tuesday, September 8, 2020, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota is revising the Temporary Visitor Policy allowing visitors in certain areas. Visiting Hours are 8am- 12pm, seven days per week. All persons authorized to enter the hospital must practice hand sanitization upon entering the hospital and upon entering and exiting a patient’s room and must wear a mask at ALL times, including in a patient’s room. All visitors will have their temperature taken and be screened for illness. Patients may also consider using phone, Skype, or FaceTime to communicate with family and friends. 

The City of Sarasota has extended its declaration of a local citywide public health emergency through Sept. 11 following a weekly review, as required by the City Charter, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.The City’s temporary street closure program allows additional space for outdoor dining to help restaurants and retailers severely impacted by the pandemic. A partial closure of Lemon Avenue, from Main Street to State Street, is scheduled for 3:30pm to midnight Friday and Saturday. Face coverings are now required in all indoor and outdoor public spaces in the City limits, whenever proper social distancing cannot be maintained in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The temporary face covering is in effect through October 28.


 

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