The following are SCOPE headlines making news this week...

SCOPE AGING STUDY DESIGNATED AS OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON AGING EVENT!

On April 9, 2005, the SCOPE Aging Assembly, held in conjunction with the Senior Friendship Centers, has been designated as an Official White House Conference on Aging event. The 2005 White House Conference on Aging will be held in Washington D.C. in October. Delegates from across the US will decide on a number of recommendations to be sent to the president and congress that are designed to guide national aging policy for the decade to come. SCOPE is honored to be able to include recommendations made by Sarasota County residents. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

SCOPE HOLDS COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS WITH NATIONAL SPEAKERS

SCOPE held two community conversations today with national speakers Peter Block, John McKnight, and Rev. Damon Lynch each visiting the Suncoast to contribute their knowledge and expertise on strengthening community. The first, held this morning at the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation, was focused on the issue of "Getting the Gifts of Those at the Margin To the Center." The second, held at the Center for Arts and Humanity, was focused on "Creating Conversations That Matter." Attendees included elected officials, neighborhood association leaders, nonprofit organizations and government staff involved in community building.

MANASOTA REGIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS SUMMIT TOMORROW

Residents and community leaders from across Sarasota and Manatee Counties will have the opportunity to hear John McKnight speak tomorrow at the Manasota Regional Neighborhoods Summit Event. The day long event will feature asset-based community building tools for local residents, volunteers and leaders who want to make the most of their neighborhood's assets. Summit registration begins at 8:30 am tomorrow morning at the Sudakoff Center at Sarasota-Manatee Campus of USF. Cost is $10 in advance and $15 at door (includes admission and lunch). For more information, call 954-2612 or visit www.npo.sarasotagov.com.

RACE AND CULTURAL RELATIONS GROUP LOOKS AT ACTION STEPS

The Race and Cultural Relations group met yesterday to discuss action steps they can take to have a positive impact on race relations in the community. Areas of focus include the Janie Poe housing issue, economic development as a tool for empowerment, and enabling the community to discuss and address issues of race and cultural relations. On Feb. 16, SCOPE staffer Jake Thomas attended the Newtown Business and Merchants Association meeting to share the current efforts of the SCOPE Race and Cultural Relations group.

SCOPE HELPS CONVENE TIGER BAY PANEL ON IMMIGRANTS AND EMPLOYMENT

Yesterday, Tiger Bay hosted a panel of experts on the topic of immigration and employment in Sarasota County. The panel, which SCOPE helped convene, was a follow up to a similar discussion held in October. Local leaders from the Hispanic community addressed the issue of our economy and how it is significantly affected by and dependent on immigrant laborers, from dishwashers to computer programmers. SCOPE hosted meetings with the panelists to help plan for the discussion and provided statistics about the Hispanic population in Sarasota County from our recent publication People Count: Race and Ethnicity.

SCOPE TO PRESENT INDICATORS TO OPX AT COUNTY

The 4th annual Community Report Card is coming off the presses soon with the latest numbers behind life in our community. SCOPE will present the quality of life indicators next Thursday to the Sarasota County Government's management team meeting, OPX. We'll share the newest information on topics such as civic participation, the economy and the natural environment. Stop by SCOPE in March to buy your copy ($10) or download your free copy at www.scopexcel.org.

FAMILY VIOLENCE TASK FORCE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION EFFORTS

On Feb. 18, SCOPE and Senior Friendship Centers made a presentation on Family Violence and Elder Abuse for the Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center continuing education training. This morning, SCOPE staffer Joe Naroditsy and task Force volunteers showed the documentary "Battered, Bruised, and Broken" and presented recommendations from the Family Violence Study Group report for the Catholic Charities' monthly staff training in Port Charlotte.

REDEVELOPMENT AND INFILL TASK FORCE PRESENTS TO VENICE NEIGHBORHOODS COALITION

On Feb. 14, SCOPE volunteers from the Redevelopment and Infill Task Force met with the Venice Neighborhoods Coalition to present findings from the group's study. If you or your neighborhood association would like to learn more about how you can contribute to community change, please call the SCOPE Speakers Bureau at 365-8751.

SCOPE ANNUAL EVENT IN THE WORKS—SAVE THE DATE!

Don't forget to mark your calendars for June 30, 2005 for SCOPE's 5th Annual Event. The SCOPE Communications Committee has an exciting evening planned for the night of the 30th at the Venice Little Theater in Venice (VLT). Special thanks to the VLT for donating the space! The program will begin at 6:00 pm. Stay tuned for more information!

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

SCOPE would like to thank Denise and Hugh Henkel, Mr. & Mrs. Louis Robison, James Tollerton, and the Sarasota Council of Neighborhood Associations, Inc. for helping make SCOPE's work possible through their financial support.