On October 31, the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation announced that applications had opened for the “Fellowship Program for Teacher Renewal”, encouraging Sarasota County educators to seize this opportunity. The Foundation is willing to support as many as 25 fellowships for local teachers, each totaling up to $12,000, to help pay for projects that are intellectually revitalizing and personally renewing. COVID-19 and Hurricane Ian have only added to the existing pressures on teachers to advance quality education while still prioritizing their own mental health. Hence, the goal of the Foundation’s TIME–Time to Inspire Margie’s Educators–Program is to help rejuvenate each teacher’s curiosity and deepen personal and professional development. Overall, the Foundation wants to advocate for a total teacher TIMEout, so to speak, aimed at helping teachers recharge and remain with their life’s work.

What will teachers be doing? The projects themselves are largely chosen by the individual educators, but must be in pursuit of intellectual and physical journeys. Overall, educators should seek to explore their personal and professional growth by utilizing the resources allocated to them by the Foundation. Teachers may choose to conduct their journeys alone, or travel with a companion. Matt Sauer, the Foundation’s Collaboration and Impact Officer, said that some teachers find company with fellow educators, spouses/partners, family members, loved ones, and more.

“Charles and Margery Barancik were very passionate about teachers, in part because Margie was a teacher and knew how important and hard a job it is,” says Sauer. "We have long focused on teacher retention, wanting the best and the brightest to remain with the Sarasota School District, so this is aimed at them.” To be eligible for fellowship however, one must meet the following criteria: proof of status as a current classroom teacher, principal, or assistant principal with at least three years’ experience teaching in Sarasota County public schools. Part of the agreement for accepting the fellowship is to remain with the district for another three years. Overall, applicants must be established within the Sarasota County Schools community and expect to continue their craft for at least a few more years within the district.

The Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation views teaching as the most important job in the world and because of this belief, they are taking necessary steps to secure the future of their fellows as lifelong learners as well as teachers. Booker High School's Edna Sherrell, one of  last year's winners  spent a month in Africa and came back feeling renewed and ready to get back into the classroom. She says "The program gave me the chance to feel like teachers are special too." 

To learn more click here.

Art Center Sarasota (ACS) is actively seeking an artist to design a mural for a collaborative initiative it recently launched with the Boys & Girls Club of Manatee County. The selected artist will design the wall mural and outline the major details of the design. Youth who attend the Boys & Girls Club of Manatee County will
then paint the mural, with supervision, over the course of four days in January. What’s the concept behind the project? Jane Harris, ACS’s education director, says it fulfills two Art Center imperatives: to engage young people in the process of creating art and to foster public art. Harris adds that the initiative is sponsored by Joe and Gwen Ziomek, who are enthusiastic supporters of the arts and the Boys & Girls Club. Kinsey Robb, ACS’s executive director, emphasizes that this project signals the launch of what ACS and the Boys & Girls Club envision as a biennial initiative, with the artwork changing every two years. She explains that a vital element of the project is to be able to offer a rare opportunity to young people to become intimately involved with an art project from conception to completion. “They’ll experience interacting with artists, learning about the inspiration behind the artist’s design—and also learn how to paint a large outdoor mural. Finally, since this mural will be on public display for two years, they’ll bask in a sense of achievement over a significant period. It’s a tremendous opportunity for these youth and Art Center Sarasota is thrilled to be part of the process.” According to exhibitions coordinator, Christina Baril, the mural will be painted on the west wall of Art Center Sarasota’s building, and will be visible from The Bay’s Mangrove Path, “welcoming the many visitors enjoying the revitalized bay park,” she says. Artists must be 18 years of age or older and live in Sarasota, Manatee, Pinellas, Hillsborough, or DeSoto counties. The artist’s commission is $2,800 and includes materials. Submission deadline is Sunday, November 20. 

To learn more or to apply click here.

The local chapter of the American Advertising Federation, known as AAF Suncoast, is calling all local marketing and advertising professionals and students to submit their most creative work for the 2023 Local American Advertising Awards. Also known as the ADDY Award, the competition is the industry’s largest and most representative contest, attracting nearly 35,000 professional and student entries each year offered through local AAF chapters. Submissions are encouraged from both up-and-coming advertisers as well as experts across all advertising disciplines, regardless of career level. Conducted by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the local chapter phase is the first of a three-tier, national competition. Concurrently across the country, local entrants vie to win ADDY Awards - recognition as the very best in their markets. At the second tier, local ADDY winners compete against winners from other local clubs in one of 15 district competitions. District ADDY winners are then forwarded to the third tier, the national stage of the American Advertising Awards. AAF Suncoast will be hosting a wine tasting and information special session for those interested in entering the 2023 contest in November. Learn all of the key tips and tricks on how to submit your work, and how you can NOW take advantage of the club’s early bird special ($10 Discount Per Entry) from 11/01/22-12/01/22. The competition officially opened on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. Area businesses and agencies are also invited to support the 2023 ADDY Awards through sponsorship packages ranging from $375-$3,000. These packages have various opportunities to be showcased not only at the awards ceremony, but at annual events and marketing materials. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please go to www.aaf-suncoast.com or contact Christina Maksoud at president@adfedsuncoast.com. 

Last week’s New College Challenge launch week brought hundreds of attendees to the New College of Florida campus. Students, faculty and staff (along with business, community and higher education leaders) engaged in community conversations about coastal, economic and social resilience. THE NEW COLLEGE CHALLENGE: What it means for coastal resilience. The series began with a kickoff brunch on Tuesday, October 25, under the bayfront tent. New College President Patricia Okker, Ph.D. introduced the crowd to the unifying, year-long initiative. The New College Challenge, she explained, was designed to bring together students, experts and leaders from top universities and industries who will work to address the challenges facing our region and the world today. Throughout The Challenge, New College will become a community incubator for brainstorming new ideas and solutions for the future.  And the launch of The New College Challenge—with its series of discussions about protecting coastal campuses and communities—could not have arrived at a more critical time. Less than a month ago, Southwest Florida experienced the devastating effects of Hurricane Ian, prompting locals to reimagine how to better safeguard against future environmental impacts.New College has already enlisted experts and design teams from Harvard, Yale, the University of Florida, the University of South Florida, Kean University, Syracuse University and the University of Miami to lend their unique perspectives. 

To learn more click here.

This summer, six Ringling College Film students and alumni joined the inaugural production crew for Occult Detective, a new feature-length film written by Film Department Coordinator Patrick Alexander and Code Red Executive Producer, Vivian Owen. Having written the screenplay for this mystery-thriller with our local community in mind, Patrick, Vivian, and their team began production at two unique Florida locations--Cassadaga, "The Psychic Capital of the World," and Jewfish Key, an island off Longboat Key only accessible by boat. Ringling College of Art and Design invites you to a sneak peek of the film on Monday, November 14th starting at 5:30pm. The presentation panel for the evening includes Director, Patrick Alexander, Vivian Owen, Director of Photography, CJ Julian, and specaial guest, Producer T. Just Ross. Seating is limited. Please RSVP by Friday, November 11th to 941-309-0118 or special events@ringling.edu.

Ringling College of Art and Design. Larry R. Thompson Academic Center. 2363 Bradenton Road, Sarasota. 

The Suncoast Science Center/Faulhaber Fab Lab is excited to announce it has received a $40,000 donation from a generous anonymous donor. The donation will aid in developing a robust training and certification program for the Fab Lab's high school volunteers, student participants and, eventually, anyone who wishes to learn how to use the lab's state-of-the-art machinery. "SSC/Fab Lab is fortunate to have a diverse set of the latest 21st-century machinery available to support its numerous STEM programs. This up-to-date machinery is a key factor that helps to inspire all participants to learn and innovate," shared the donor. "The new certification program will challenge and incentivize volunteers and students to fine-tune their skillsets, preparing them for success in future STEM careers while simultaneously creating a more synergistic environment at the Fab Lab." The gift will also support a part-time machinery expert to teach and oversee the certification program development. Student volunteers involved in the lab's Building Unique and Innovative Lab Designs (BUILD) program will also assist in creating the certification curriculum. Among the planned material to teach machine proficiency are video tutorials, slideshows, safety checklists and self-directed projects, all of which will be housed on a user-friendly online platform accessible in and out of the lab. By completing the certification courses, volunteers and students will earn a badge that unlocks access to the equipment.

"Highly trained volunteers and students are pivotal to the success of our summer camps, STEAM Saturdays classes, remote control car competition, and all other programs," added Fab Lab Executive Director and co-founder Ping Faulhaber. "This investment is a catalyst to build a long-term succession plan among our staff, youth and adult volunteers and will help create a sustainable learning environment for future generations of innovators!" 

Pictured: Student volunteers Aaron, Olivia and Daniel undergo equipment and tool training. Photo courtesy of Suncoast Science Center.

To learn more click here.

In advance of the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, Manatee County Government properties will be given the green light . . . literally. Community and Veterans Services staff—along with Property Management workers—are preparing the green illumination from November 7 through 13 as part of Operation Green Light—a new national collaborative initiative of the National Association of Counties (NACo) to support those who have served in the military, as well as raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by many Veterans—and the resources that are available at the county, state and federal level to assist veterans and their families. Manatee County residents and businesses are encouraged to participate—by simply changing one light bulb to green. This can be an exterior light that neighbors and passersby see or an interior light that sparks a conversation with friends. By shining a green light, community members can let our Veterans know that they are seen, appreciated and supported. While this event is focused around the week of Veterans Day, participants are encouraged to keep shining the light year-round. Residents can share their participation on social media using the hashtag #OperationGreenLight. Visit Manatee County Veterans Services for more information about how to get assistance with Veterans benefits and available resources. For more information on Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @ManateeGov. 

The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County (DOH-Sarasota) is notifying the public of elevated levels of red tide detected at area beaches. Some people may have mild and short-lived respiratory symptoms such as eye, nose, and throat irritation like those associated with the common cold or seasonal sinus allergies. Some individuals with existing breathing problems, such as asthma, might experience more severe effects. Usually, symptoms stop when a person leaves the beach or goes indoors. Health officials recommend that people who are sensitive to red tide or experiencing symptoms avoid the beach or go into an air-conditioned space. If symptoms do not subside, contact your healthcare provider for evaluation. Due to elevated counts of red tide from Monday's beach water samples, DOH-Sarasota will be posting signage at several beaches to advise the public that red tide is present. The beaches with elevated levels of red tide include Venice Beach, Service Club Park, Venice Fishing Pier, Brohard Beach, and Caspersen Beach, Manasota Key, and Blind Pass. 

To learn more click here.