The following are news and events from the SCOPE world we'd like to share with you...

PUBLIC INVITED TO WHITE HOUSE DESIGNATED COMMUNITY ASSEMBLY ON AGING

You are invited to the "Community Assembly on Aging: Exploring the Possibilities Together" brought to you by SCOPE and Senior Friendship Centers. The assembly, which will be held on April 9, 2005, 9:00 am - noon at the Senior Friendship Centers in Sarasota, has been designated as an official White House Conference on aging. Ideas gleaned from public participation will be sent to the White House as part of an overall report to the President and Congress on aging issues and public policy. Please join SCOPE and the Senior Friendship Centers and prepare our community and our country for the future. Let's make this assembly on aging the beginning of conversations that matter. For more information, contact Suzanne Gregory, SCOPE Associate Director, at (941) 365-8751.

MENTAL HEALTH COORDINATOR HIRED FOR SARASOTA COUNTY

One of the keystone recommendations from the 2003 SCOPE Mental Health Report was for the county to have a Mental Health Coordinator to create a community vision for mental health services. Thanks to the Community Foundation of Sarasota, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, and Sarasota County government, Michael Theall will start in this position next week. Michael has over 16 years of experience in the fields of mental health and substance abuse and has worked on a range of related topics like community outreach, HMOs, and operating a community mental health center. The Mental Health Implementation Task Force is looking forward to working with him as resources to continue to implement the recommendations of the report.

SCOPE SPEAKS TO SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY CLASS AT SARASOTA HIGH SCHOOL

Thanks to teacher Cynthia Hughes for inviting SCOPE to her Social Psychology class at Sarasota High School. Joe Naroditsky and Suzanne Gregory presented an overview of SCOPE and engaged the students in conversation about their connection to the community and their insights about the gifts of youth and seniors.

DROPOUT STORIES PROJECT FILM PART OF SCHOOL BOARD CITIZENS ACADEMY CURRICULUM

The Citizens Academy of the School Board of Sarasota County has incorporated the SCOPE Stories Film about school dropout into one of its sessions. This Academy is an enjoyable experience that gives people an opportunity to learn more about the public schools and encourages communication and cooperation between the school district and citizens of the county. It happens twice a year and runs for nine weeks, with eight sessions on Thursday evenings from 6:00-9:00pm, and one daytime tour of schools. SCOPE appreciates the efforts and support of Peggy Wiggins, Director of Academic Intervention, who shows the film and discusses the complexity of the dropout issue with participants.

SCOPE TO PRESENT REDEVELOPMENT & INFILL STUDY TO LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

SCOPE Associate Director Suzanne Gregory has been invited to give a presentation on the Redevelopment and Infill study to the Central Cocoanut Neighborhood Association on Tuesday, April 5th, 6:30pm.

SCOPE INVITED TO LAST OF 19 WORKSHOPS ON COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING FOR COUNTY

SCOPE has been invited to participate in the Redevelopment Public Workshop on Tuesday, March 29th from 6 - 8 pm at the Fruitville Library meeting room. This the last of 19 workshops held to gather input on comprehensive planning topics/issues for Sarasota County.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION SPEAKER TO TALK ABOUT "SARASOTA AT THE CROSSROADS"

On March 31, at 7:30 pm, internationally noted author and lecturer, Dr. William J. Murtagh, will discuss the importance of local preservation efforts and the symbiotic relationship between the public and private sectors in a talk entitled, "Sarasota at the Crossroads." The cost is $10 (free to Alliance members). Support historic preservation by attending this special event to be held at GWIZ. For more information, log on to www.historicsarasota.org.

SCOPE TO PRESENT "NUMBERS BEHIND LIFE IN SARASOTA COUNTY" TO LOCAL NONPROFITS

On Thursday, May 26, 9:00 am to noon at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Jake Thomas and Cat Clouse of SCOPE will present the "Numbers Behind Life" workshop to local nonprofits through the Nonprofit Resource Center. The three-hour session will show how to work with local statistical tools and SCOPE's Community Report Card and People Count documents. The class is free. For more information, log on to www.suncoastnonprofits.org.

SCOPE COLLABORATING WITH "COALITION AGAINST HATE"

In response to recent hate-related activity in our community, a diverse cross-section of citizens and community leaders have come together to collectively create a community response to hate in Sarasota. SCOPE is collaborating with the "Coalition Against Hate," offering its community facilitation skills as the group wrestles with how to best express their anti-hate values. Do you want to plug in? Email Jake Thomas at jthomas@scopexcel.org.

SCOPE PARTICIPATES IN NEW DIVERSITY GROUP OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

In accordance with the Race and Cultural Relations SCOPE study, SCOPE is at the table with the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota's Diversity Sub Group. The newly formed EDC Diversity Group is charged with exploring the idea of diversity as a powerful tool for economic development. The partners are currently defining their mission. Stay tuned for more!

DON'T FORGET UPCOMING SOAR ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM

Plan to attend the upcoming SOAR (Sarasota Openly Addresses Racism) annual symposium on the morning of Friday April 8th, 8:30am to noon at the Van Wezel. SCOPE is proud to be a partner of SOAR in planning the symposium this year. The symposium will feature keynote speaker Tony Cornish, Jr., President NAACP, and panel guests Gary Norris, Superintendent of Schools, Peter Abbot, City of Sarasota Police Chief, and Michael Connelly, Executive Editor of the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

LOCAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FAMILY VIOLENCE

The Faith Subcommittee of the Family Violence Task Force has been working on an All Faiths Breakfast scheduled for May 6. Religious leaders from throughout Sarasota County have been invited to attend and learn ways they can help prevent family violence. Attendees will see "Battered, Bruised, and Broken" as well as a presentation on family violence given by Judge Nancy Donnellan and Pastor Bruce Wismer. A meeting of the Family Violence Implementation Task Force is scheduled for April 8.

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

"Battered, Bruised and Broken" will be featured at the upcoming Ybor Film Festival of the Moving Image. The documentary will air on Sunday April 3rd at 1:00 pm at the Ybor Room Theater. All shows are $5 for general public, $3 for students and Tribal elders. For more information, go to www.yborfilmfestivl.com or call or email David Audette at 813-935-9232, info@yborfilmfestival.com.

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

A special thanks goes out to Sarasota Ford, Bob Carter and Millie Headdy for their recent gifts of financial support to SCOPE! If you too would like to support SCOPE, please visit our website at www.scopexcel.org and click on "support SCOPE." Every little bit helps. Thank you!