The following are updates on SCOPE happenings...

REDEVELOPMENT AND INFILL TASK FORCE PRESENTS TO SOUTH VENICE 2010

In its continued effort to raise public awareness of its study and recommendations, the Redevelopment and Infill Task Force presented to South Venice 2010 this past Wednesday. SCOPE's Associate Director, Suzanne Gregory and study group member and development director of South Venice Civic Association Ellen Hillstrom, made a presentation of SCOPE's findings and discussed the benefits, challenges and barriers of redevelopment and infill. Call Suzanne Gregory at 365-8751 if you are interested in scheduling a presentation.

ADDITIONAL MEETING TIMES ADDED TO AGING STUDY

So far, the new SCOPE Aging study has drawn a lot of interest from the community, with nearly 100 people attending the community conversations. As a result of the new study's popularity, SCOPE is adding two additional meetings. Three community conversations remain: Jan. 20th, 4 to 5:30pm at the St. Armand's Key Lutheran Church. Jan. 25th, 9:30to 11:00am at the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce, and Jan 25th, 4 to 5:30 pm at the new North Library. For more information, call SCOPE at 365-8751.

NATIONAL AGING EXPERT TO VISIT SUNCOAST

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice presents Better Together: Creating Communities for All Ages featuring Marc Freedman, author of Prime Time: How Baby Boomers Will Revolutionize Retirement and Transform America and The Kindness of Strangers. The event will take place Thursday, February 17 at The Chelsea Center, 2506 Gulf Gate Drive from Noon until 1:30. Tickets are $35 and Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice has designated Senior Friendship Centers and SCOPE to receive all proceeds from the event. Advance reservations are required. Visit gulfcoastcf.org or phone 941.486.4600 for more information and ticket purchases.

PUBLIC INVITED TO "CHANGING RACE RELATIONS THROUGH FRIENDSHIP" EVENT

On Feb. 1st, thanks to the collaborative efforts and sponsorships of The Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Embracing Our Differences, Flanzer Jewish Community Center, Nuevo Advertising, RBC Centura Bank, Sarasota Coffee and Tea, SCOPE and Smith-Soeder Enterprises, Inc., local residents will have the opportunity to hear national expert Dr. Plummer discuss race relations and how having the ability to talk about it has become a critical competency that is necessary for navigating our increasingly multicultural world. Please join us for "Changing Race Relations Through Friendship" with Dr. Deborah Plummer on Feb. 1st, 7:00 p.m., Flanzer Jewish Community Center. The event is free and open to the public. Call 941-365-8751 for more information. RSVP is preferred but not necessary.

EMBRACING OUR DIFFERENCES COMMUNITY ART EXHIBIT

On Jan. 30th, the "Embracing Our Differences" community art exhibit will open at Sarasota's Island Park at 12:30 pm. The exhibit will showcase dozens of billboard-sized works of art by local artists expressing their ideas on embracing our differences. SCOPE is proud to have been a partner in planning the exhibit. For more information, visit www.flholocaustmuseum.org.

SCOPE PARTICIPATES IN MANASOTA REGIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS SUMMIT

The Manasota Regional Neighborhoods Summit is a collaborative effort with the City of Sarasota, Sarasota County, Manatee County, SCOPE, City of Palmetto, and the City of Venice. The purpose is to provide a daylong training opportunity for neighborhoods and civic leaders from throughout the Sarasota-Manatee region. The summit will offer 10 training sessions in the morning, lunch, and one large session with nationally-known community development speaker John McKnight.With three decades of community development research under his belt, John McKnight has helped community leaders across the nation by producing practical resources and tools for people to identify, nurture, and mobilize neighborhood assets. The summit concept was birthed following the 2003 Florida Neighborhoods Conference, which was hosted in Sarasota. Neighborhood leaders began requesting further training and development opportunities - and an opportunity to gather on an annual basis. The summit will be on Feb. 26th, from 9am to 3:00 pm (registration 8:30 am) at the Sudakoff Center at Sarasota-Manatee Campus of USF. Cost is $10 in advance and $15 at the door (includes admission and lunch). Register online at www.npo.sarasotagov.com

COMMITTEE TO REVIEW COMMUNITY REPORT CARD BEFORE RELEASE

The 2005 Indicators Committee will meet next week to review the updated 2005 Community Report Card. The Community Report Card is an annual publication of quality of life indicators for Sarasota County, exploring measurements of civic engagement, social environment, economy, health, natural environment and others areas of life in our community. The committee will give their input on the report before it is printed and released in late February 2005. Stay tuned.

SCOPE TO HOLD COMMUNITY DATA WORKSHOP

Organizations from across the Suncoast often call on SCOPE for community data. In response to their interest and in an effort to share SCOPE's data resources with the community, SCOPE staff will conduct a class with the Nonprofit Resource Center called "The Numbers Behind Life in Sarasota County."  This course will feature SCOPE's data reports  "the Community Report Card, People Count, and People Count: Race and Ethnicity? as well as an overview of how to use the Census website to obtain local data. If you're interested, the workshop will be held on Thursday, May 26th from 9 to noon. Check out the Nonprofit Resource Center's website for more information: www.suncoastnonprofits.org

SCHOOL DROPOUT TASK FORCE MEETS WITH SCHOOL BOARD

The School Dropout Task Force volunteers made two promises at the first work session with the School Board in September: to meet with the Board to continue their conversation and to support the Norris Plan. Tuesday, the volunteers made good on both promises, attending a second work session and discussing their in-depth analysis of the Norris Plan. SCOPE appreciates the opportunity to work with the School Board and thanks its members for the invitation to collaborate at an additional work session.

"BATTERED, BRUISED AND BROKEN" TO BE FEATURED AT SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL

On Feb. 1st, at 10:30 am, the SCOPE Stories Project documentary, "Battered, Bruised and Broken" will be featured at an event free and open to the public at Bayshore High School. An improv, directed by Sarasota Film Festival educational outreach assistant coordinator Amanda Schlachter, will follow immediately after the film. The short piece will feature three local actors: Monica Carrington, a Manatee County high school student and Julie and Barry Looke. The idea came from a short story written by Shae, a girl from the film who wrote about her experience with family violence. For more information, call the Sarasota Film Festival office at 302-6141.

MANATEE WOMEN'S LAWYERS GROUP SCREENS FAMILY VIOLENCE DOCUMENTARY

Yesterday, the Manatee Women's Lawyers group hosted a screening and discussion of "Battered, Bruised and Broken" at HOPE Family Services Conferences Center. About 30 attorneys and judges were on hand to talk about the current legal system and potential for change. Filmmaker Deb Hussong says she "thought the discussion was fruitful and relevant. The SCOPE Family Violence Study results and implementation procedures were a large part of the discussion. As far as the film was concerned, even though it is a SCOPE production, the attendees felt it had legs and could benefit a wide-range of communities and groups outside of Sarasota County."

ENGLEWOOD CHAT TO SCREEN "BATTERED, BRUISED AND BROKEN"

On Jan. 20th, the Englewood CHAT will host a screening of "Battered, bruised and Broken" and discuss current implementation efforts of the SCOPE recommendations.

FAMILY VIOLENCE FAITH SUBCOMMITTEE PLANNING AWARENESS EVENT

The Family Violence Faith Subcommittee met on Jan 12th to discuss goals for an event the group is planning for April. Members will invite leaders of the faith community as well as identify possible key note speakers to help raise public awareness of the role of faith leaders in preventing family violence.

FAMILY VIOLENCE TASK FORCE UPDATE

The Family Violence Task Force will meet with the Community Alliance Executive Committee on January 19th and the steering committee on January 24th to discuss ways to implement an Elder Abuse Training curriculum. Task Force members will also make a presentation to Guardian ad Litem on January 27th.

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

SCOPE would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Philip A. Delaney, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Michael Guley, Marilyn Harwell, Marge Maisto, Walt Cannon, Tim Dutton & Carol Butera-Dutton, Dr. Sarah H. Pappas, Dr. and Mrs. Louis Robison, Anita Rogers, and Jo-Anne Whalen for their continued support of SCOPE.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Don’t miss “Encounters, Gazes and Stereotypes,” an exhibition of objects and images that reflect historical and contemporary ideas about stereotypes. The exhibit, presented by Family Heritage House Museum at manatee Community College, will host its opening reception Friday, Jan. 21st, from 5 – 8:00 pm. For more information, call 752-5319.