School Board candidate Robyn Marinelli spent most of her career in the Sarasota school system. After teaching for five years in Kentucky, she worked in Sarasota as a guidance counselor and later as a district level administrator for the Sarasota County School District.

But after seven years of retirement, she’s not happy with the direction the district has taken. “I’ve seen changes in how parents have not been included in some of the decisions that have been made and are they not listened to,” she said. “Areas of the curriculum have concerned me, and also the lack of transparency.”

Now she’s running for an open District 4 seat on the School Board; incumbent Shirley Brown is not seeking re-election.

While Marinelli holds concerns about spending decisions, her greatest fear is about a potential loss in student performance that could threaten the district’s long-held A grade. “I don’t want to sound negative,” she said. “Our teachers and support staff are absolutely wonderful and they have had to work under some trying conditions.”

That includes several years working under a controversial superintendent Todd Bowden, who stepped down in 2019 following a sexual harassment investigation. And it includes years dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Sarasota schools were among a handful in the state who enforced a mask mandate part of this year despite an executive order by Gov. Ron DeSantis prohibiting such policies . 

“But aside from the pandemic, because every one of the 67 counties in Florida went through the same thing so you cannot totally blame that, the learning experience for kdis was different and very difficult,” she said.

Marinelli also sides with the governor on a controversial new state policy requiring conversations about gender identity and sexual orientation take place with parents. A new law signed by DeSantis has been decried as the “don’t say gay” bill by critics, who suggest the legislation could lead to outing students who do not face supportive environments at home. But Marinelli returns to her days as a guidance counselor. There, she spoke with students about a variety of personal struggles.

“I want students to be able to talk to their teachers and counselors, whoever that safe person in,” she said. “But as a former counselor, I would never want to keep something from a parent. In those situations where a student is in danger, there are systems in place and you can absolutely call on agencies outside of that. I dealt with every situation you could deal with. But I would tell students ‘We have to talk to your parents. I will be there with you but we have got to let your parents know.’”

She has heard from some upset their students navigated issues like gender identity completely separate from their parents. Sometimes the children learned from library books parents didn’t know were on the shelves. That said, Marinelli does stress she doesn’t want any books banned or censored in the schools.

A neophyte to politics, Marinelli has faced controversy. She recently faced criticism when an individual associated with the Proud Boys planned a fundraiser; she ultimately distanced herself and declined to attend.

But she said her main priority if elected to the board will be making a system that allows input regardless of what a parent’s views are and to have a system inclusive for all.

“I’m for all kids of all parents,” she said. 

In the July/August 2022 edition of SRQ Magazine, we interviewed Rick Yocum, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Manatee County as part of our In Conversation feature about nonprofit leaders. Below is an excerpt published in the magazine in which Yocum shares his insights with SRQ readers on community growth and changes.

What do you think is unique about the nonprofits in our area?

There are a couple of unique characteristics that exist in this area. One is that every one of the leaders in this area wants the other leaders to succeed. I've said the word collaboration more in the last six years than I've said my entire life, it is a very unique quality here, the collaborative effort. There is such a strong network of support amongst the nonprofits in this community. Everybody supports everybody, and a lot of us are serving the same people, so there's a ton of crossover from all the different organizations. So, it's not like I only have people at the Humane Society that we're helping, those same people are getting help, and direction, and given opportunity in many different other areas in the community. So, as I travel around the country and talk to other nonprofit leaders, I can't talk enough about those unique qualities that we have here that make this a great place to be an executive director or CEO of a nonprofit, it's just amazing. 

The Humane Society of Manatee County, 2515 14th St W, Bradenton, FL 34205. 941-747-8808.

To read the full article, click here.

Our community is filled with many incredible young people doing such amazing things. This summer, we are featuring some of these young people in our Thursday Family & Education edition. Each of the students we are highlighting has been chosen as one of this year’s SRQ Magazine’s top youth leaders based on their values, determination and outstanding achievements in different aspects of their lives in and out of school.

Miranda is an eighth grade student at Sarasota Middle School who is involved in both basketball and track. She has been at Girls Inc. since kindergarten and is a 2019 recipient of Girls Inc.’s She Knows Where She is Growing award.

We asked Miranda what inspires her to be a leader.

"I think what inspires me to be a leader amongst my peers would be my desire to better myself by creating an environment where my peers and I can challenge each other to learn and grow," she said. "When I see my peers struggle in any way, be it intellectually, physically, or emotionally, I want to try my best to help them in any way I can, by helping them myself or pointing them in the right direction to help them help themselves." 

Pictured: Miranda M., an eighth grade student at Sarasota Middle School. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.

The Board of Trustees of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens has elected three new members. Attorney Morgan Bentley, journalist Mary Braxton-Joseph, and philanthropist Audrey Robbins each will serve a three-year term on the Board. Their Board service began on July 1. Bentley is managing partner of the law firm Bentley Goodrich Kison. A highly regarded attorney, he concentrates his practice in litigation involving business and real-estate disputes. He handles both trial proceedings as well as complex arbitrations and administrative hearings. Bentley is a former president of the Sarasota County Bar Association, a former member of the board of governors of The Florida Bar, and a past chairman of the Florida Commission on Ethics. Braxton-Joseph is an Emmy-award winning television journalist and media consultant. From 1990 through 1995, she was Senior Advisor for Media Relations and Public Affairs for the Council on Foundations. Prior to that, Braxton-Joseph served as Manager of Community Affairs and Editorials for WJLA-TV 7, the ABC network affiliate in Washington, D.C. She also served for five years on the Rhodes Scholars Selection Committee. Robbins is a retired educator and a community volunteer and philanthropist who is active in local nonprofit arts organizations. She previously served as Math Department chair at the Out-of-Door Academy. Currently, she serves as a trustee of The Sarasota Ballet, and she chaired the Gala Committee for the 2022 Sarasota Opera Gala. The other members of the Selby Gardens Board of Trustees are Daniel “Pat” Ball, Aaron Bellamy, Ariane Dart, Norbert P. Donelly, Renée James Gilmore, Jean Weidner Goldstein, Teri A Hansen, Marcy Klein, Katherine A. Martucci, Cornelia Matson, Marianne D. McComb, Keith Monda, Dr. Joel Morganroth, Michael Quillen, Jeannie Russell, Pauline L. Wamsler, Margaret Wise, and Jennifer O. Rominiecki, President & CEO of Selby Gardens. McComb and Morganroth were reelected as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, for the current year of Board service. Former Trustees J. Allison Archbold, Esq., and Michael J. Wilson, Esq., each completed nine years of service on the Selby Gardens Board at the end of June.

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Downtown Wellen will have an enhanced focus on health and wellness with two new medical offices. Florida Lakes Vein Center, Florida Lakes Spa and Dr. Jeffrey Seymour Smiles Orthodontics are the newest tenants announced for Downtown Wellen, the vibrant central hub and gathering place for Wellen Park and the region. The first phase of Downtown Wellen is under construction with businesses expected to begin opening by the end of 2022. The pedestrian-friendly mixed-use destination is 90% leased and offers restaurants, retail shops, medical offices, beauty and professional services, public community spaces and outdoor recreational opportunities. “Countdown to Downtown,” a monthslong series of special events and pop-up experiences celebrating Downtown Wellen, continues through the summer.  To learn more about living at Wellen Park, call 941-960-7805, go to wellenpark.com or visit the Welcome Center at 12275 Mercado Drive in Venice, Fla. The Welcome Center is open Monday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

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Realtor Valerie Mallia has joined RE/MAX Alliance Group as a member of Lisa Zambuto’s Alpha Team in the Venice, Florida, office. Mallia has extensive customer service experience in a variety of fields, including corporate travel management, hospitality and health care. Born in Manhattan and raised in Rockland County, New York, she attended the University of South Florida in Tampa. Mallia enjoys theater, baseball games, going to the beach, and spending time with her family. She has been married 27 years and has four children and six grandchildren. The RE/MAX Alliance Group Venice office is located at 1314 E. Venice Avenue. Mallia can be reached at (845) 551-2619 or valeriemallia1@gmail.com. 

Sarasota-based law firm Bentley Goodrich Kison is pleased to announce that five members of the firm have been chosen for the 2022 Florida Super Lawyers list, including Morgan R. Bentley, Brian D. Goodrich, Amanda R. Kison, Jennifer L. Grosso, and David A. Wallace. Only five percent of attorneys in Florida receive this distinction. Selection for the Super Lawyers list is based on independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. Recognition is a reflection of the excellence an attorney brings to his or her practice and the quality of work provided to clients. Bentley Goodrich Kison focuses primarily on business and commercial litigation. Businesses throughout Southwest Florida turn to the firm for pointed advice and assertive legal representation. The team is well-equipped to handle even the most complex, high-profile commercial matters in an effective manner. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is the most widely distributed legal magazine in the country reaching more than 13 million readers and has one of the top-viewed legal websites. 

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The Central West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (CWC-FPRA) will present “A Seat at the Table: PR and Communications in the C-Suite,” featuring Erin McLeod, President & CEO of Senior Friendship Centers. The professional development program will take place on July 19, 2022, from 5:00 - 6:30 pm at Senior Friendship Center Inc. (1888 Brother Geenen Way, Sarasota). “From crafting internal messages to authentic stories, communications professionals are the perfect ally to an organization’s C-Suite of executives, and yet so many face challenges securing a seat and say at the table,” says Melanie Reda, APR, CPRC, president of the CWC-FPRA. “We hope that this discussion will provide advice for communications professionals looking to advance their careers and be better positioned for leadership within their organizations.” Senior Friendship Centers (SFC) is a regional nonprofit with a $15M+ annual budget that has served seniors, families and caregivers since 1973 and has a mission to promote health, dignity and quality of life throughout the journey of aging. McLeod began in 2004 as SFC’s communications director, became chief operating officer in 2006, senior VP in 2012, and was appointed president and CEO in January 2016. In this after-hours conversation, McLeod will share her journey from PR Pro to CEO and critical lessons learned along the way. In addition, attendees will learn about the components of creating their own brand and how to position themselves for strategic growth in their career and business on the way to the C-Suite. Tickets for the in-person program are $25 for FPRA members and $35 for guests.  

To register click here