Here are some recent SCOPE headlines we'd like to share with you...

JOIN SOAR FOR ITS ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM TOMORROW MORNING!

You’re invited to the upcoming SOAR (Sarasota Openly Addresses Racism) annual symposium tomorrow morning, Friday April 8th, at 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 Abbott, City of Sarasota Police Chief, and Michael Connelly, Executive Editor of the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

PUBLIC INVITED TO COMMUNITY ASSEMBLY ON AGING SATURDAY MORNING

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 9th, from 9:00 am to noon at the Senior Friendship Centers in Sarasota, is an independent gathering designed to provide input to the Policy Committee of the 2005 White House Conference on Aging. 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.

SCOPE PRESENTS REDEVELOPMENT & INFILL STUDY TO LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

SCOPE Associate Director Suzanne Gregory presented the Redevelopment and Infill study to the Central/Cocoanut Neighborhood Association on Tuesday, April 5th. Highlights of the study were covered including the importance of increased community awareness and participation in determining the way our community looks and increased collaboration between local residents and developers.

CITY OF SARASOTA HIRES CONSULTANTS ON WORKFORCE HOUSING

“Affordable” housing, “workforce” housing, “attainable” housing – however you name it, the City of Sarasota needs more. That’s why the city hired the Economic Research Associations (“ERA”) consulting firm to research and help the city develop a workforce housing game plan. ERA will start meeting with local officials this month. Stay tuned for continuing developments.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM CONNECTS WITH SCOPE

SCOPE staffer Jake Thomas met with Haile Burke, Shatrevia Spikes & Benjamin Cody, participants in a youth leadership program based out of the Greater Newtown Redevelopment Corporation. Called “YouthBuild Sarasota,” the participants learn leadership and construction skills through programs like building affordable housing. The group is currently building affordable housing units in Newtown as well as organizing community clean-ups and other activities. Discussion included a desire for a continuing relationship between SCOPE and YouthBuild Sarasota to look for opportunities for future collaborations.

FINDING COMMON GROUND IN DIVERSITY: A GRASSROOTS FILM FESTIVAL IN SARASOTA

The nascent film festival community collaboration, “Finding Common Ground in Diversity,” is off the ground and running. The group, which is planning a diversity themed film festival in January 2006, had its first community meeting this week. Led by the American Jewish Committee, community partners, including SCOPE, are forming work groups to make the film festival a reality. There are seats at the table for interested community members to participate. Contact SCOPE to plug in.

“BATTERED, BRUISED AND BROKEN” DOCUMENTARY TO RUN IN FT. MYERS FILM FESTIVAL

SCOPE Stories Project documentary, "Battered, Bruised and Broken" has been accepted into the Fort Myers Film Festival, which will run April 21st to the 24th. Producer Debbi Hussong will be on hand for film commentary and to share what she learned while collecting stories of family violence in Sarasota County.

SCOPE MEETS WITH SARASOTA POWER SQUADRON

SCOPE associate director Suzanne Gregory shared SCOPE activities and community impact with over 60 members of the Sarasota Power Squadron on March 31st. If your community group, neighborhood association, or colleagues at work would like to learn more about SCOPE, please give us a call at 365-8751. Speakers from the SCOPE Speakers Bureau are always happy to visit and share news about our ever-changing and ever-growing community.

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION MONTH

May is the first annual Mental Health Education Month. Through a full calendar of activities, a coalition of service providers and community groups will work to increase public awareness about mental illness and end the mystery and stigma that surrounds this issue. The calendar will be available on SCOPE’s website and will air on Access 19 throughout the month of May. Don’t miss out! May activities are brought to you by the coalition of NAMI Sarasota County (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill), Coastal Behavioral Healthcare, Bayside Center for Behavioral Health, First Step, JFCS (Jewish Family and Children’s Services), Mental Health Community Centers, Alzheimer’s Association Florida Gulf Coast Chapter, SCOSA (Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse) and SCOPE.

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Many thanks to Linda Holland and Mr. & Mrs. Louis Robison for their continued financial support of SCOPE. In honor of creating new conversations that matter rather than focusing on the past, SCOPE renamed its donor levels to reflect the work our volunteers and donors do in this community to bring us to the tipping point of positive change. The new levels are Friend (up to $99), Connector ($100 to $499), Boundary Crosser ($500 to $999), Community Steward ($1,000 to $4,999) and Civic Champion ($5,000 and up). We hope you choose to participate at one of the following new levels and help SCOPE continue its work. Thank you!

DON’T FORGET NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK APRIL 17TH TO 23RD

SCOPE would like to take this chance to thank all of its volunteers, from study group members, to Committee and Board members, to bulk mail “angels,” for the hours of commitment they to give to SCOPE and all the other worthwhile nonprofit organizations in our county. You are the life blood of many of these organizations and it is not just during this week that you are recognized and appreciated, but all throughout the year! Thank you!