We're excited to share the following SCOPE headlines with you...

SCOPE RECIEVES OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE DESIGNATION FOR ASSEMBLY ON AGING

Sarasota County residents have been given the unique opportunity to contribute to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging by participating in SCOPE's "Community Assembly on Aging" on April 9, 2005. The first of several to be scheduled over the course of the year, this assembly, hosted by Senior Friendship Centers, Inc., is part of SCOPE's latest community study, Aging: the Possibilities, and will help gather citizen ideas for ways of making our community a viable place for active aging. With the pending impact of 78 million baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) that will begin to reach retirement age in 2011, the issue of aging is fast becoming a national priority. Sarasota County's unique demographics offer local residents the advantage and opportunity to focus on the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly aging and diverse population and help shape local and national policy. Please join SCOPE and the Senior Friendship Centers for this event. Your input is valuable to both your county and to your country. Call Suzanne Gregory, SCOPE Associate Director, at (941) 365-8751 for more information.

MANASOTA REGIONAL SUMMIT BRINGS ASSET-BASED TOOLS TO THE SUNCOAST

The Manasota Regional Neighborhoods Summit was a great success with over 130 people attending on February 26th! Participants included neighborhood associations, civic-minded residents and elected officials. SCOPE was one of several partners who planned and organized this community study. Other partners included Sarasota and Manatee County Governments and the Cities of Sarasota, Venice and Palmetto. Associate Director, Suzanne Gregory, presented a workshop on the Redevelopment and Infill study which included an informal panel of experts, many of whom are members of the Redevelopment Study Task Force: Anne Merrill, Joe Barbetta, David Brain, Jane Grogg and Michael Raposa. Keynote speaker, John McKnight, spoke about the community-based asset approach as the key to successful community building.

REDEVOLPMENT AND INFILL PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS

SCOPE Associate Director, Suzanne Gregory, gave a presentation about SCOPE to the Rotary Club of Sarasota on March 2nd and has been invited to participate in a Sarasota County Public Workshop on Redevelopment on March 29th, Fruitville library at 6:00pm.

SCOPE PRESENTS NEW COMMUNITY REPORT CARD TO OPX

On Thursday, March 3rd, SCOPE presented the updated 2004-2005 Community Report Card to Sarasota OPX. Members in attendance discussed various indicators and ways to make the CRC more useful and informative.

SCOPE COLLABORATES ON FILM FESTIVAL CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

Volunteers from SCOPE's Race and Cultural Relations effort have started collaborating on a film festival celebrating diversity. The lead organization in the effort is the American Jewish Committee which is in the process of bringing a diverse group together to plan the event tentatively scheduled for winter 2006. SCOPE and volunteers are proud to be helping get the project off the ground. Do you want to plug in? Contact Jake Thomas at 365-8751. Stay tuned for more...

SCOPE SUPPORTS RECENT ANTI-HATE EFFORT

In response to recent hate activity in the community involving a self-professed Nazi leader and white supremacist in a childcare position at a local day care, a cross section of concerned citizens and community leaders have come together to discuss an appropriate community response. In its effort to support the public dialogue on race and cultural relations, SCOPE supports and will participate with the group in convening concerned community members to dialogue and respond to hate activity in the community. Do you want to become involved? The group will hold a meeting this Friday March 18th at 10:00 am at the Jewish Federation on 580 South McIntosh Road. Come to the meeting or call Jake Thomas at SCOPE for more information.

SAVE THE DATE FOR SOAR ANNUAL EVENT

Mark your calendars for the upcoming SOAR (Sarasota Openly Addresses Racism) annual symposium on the morning (8am-noon) of April 8. SCOPE is proud to be a partner of SOAR in planning the symposium this year. Look forward to a key note speaker and panels addressing education, law enforcement and media as it pertains to race in our community.

FAMILY VIOLENCE TASK FORCE PRESENTS TO MCC CLASS

This evening, SCOPE will conduct a Family Violence presentation to an MCC Sociology class. A screening of Battered, Bruised, and Broken will be included. If you would like a presentation, please contact Joe Naroditsky at 365-8751.

SCOPE DOCUMENTARY AIRS AT WOMEN’S HUMAN RIGHTS DAY IN NATION’S CAPITOL

On March 8, International Women's Day, the SCOPE family violence documentary, "Battered, Bruised and Broken" aired at the DC Independent Film Festival. Hosted by the Amnesty International DC Women's Human Rights Action Team, the event focused on violations at home and abroad of women's human rights. Filmmaker Debra Hussong was on-hand as part of a panel discussion on the issue. Other partners included Amnesty International USA Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, the DC Women's Human Rights Action Team, and the National Capital Chapter of the US Committee for UNIFEM (UNIFEM/USA/NCC).

GLOBAL LENS 2005 TOUR ARRIVES IN SARASOTA

Beginning March 18, 2005, the Sarasota Film Society will be one of Fourteen Major Arts Institutions Nationwide Presenting Acclaimed Films from Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Mali, Turkey, Uruguay, and Vietnam to promote cross-cultural understanding through cinema with ten feature films from the developing world. For show times and movie backgrounds, visit www.filmsociety.org.

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Many thanks to Diane McFarlin and Zoller Associates Architects & Interior Designers for making SCOPE's work possible through their continued financial support.

SAVE THE DATE: SCOPE ANNUAL EVENT

Due to a scheduling problem, SCOPE has changed the date of its annual event from June 30th to June 16th, 5:30 pm at the Venice Little Theater. Please mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.