Here's what's making headlines this week...

WORKFORCE HOUSING COALITION FORUM DRAWS A CROWD

The Sarasota County Workforce Housing Coalition, a group co-founded by SCOPE, and Congresswoman Katherine Harris held a Workforce Housing Forum on July 18th. Sponsored by the Sarasota Association of Realtors, Venice Board of Realtors, and Bank of America, the forum attracted real estate professionals, local employers, bankers, developers, and local non-profit. Engaged participants discussed possibilities for addressing the lack of affordable housing and increasing collaboration between all groups involved. Housing groups such as Habitat for Humanity and the Laurel Civic Association discussed the possibility of meeting on a regular basis to address the issue. The private sector and government looked at ways to work together. Local employers also addressed the issues inherent in hiring and retaining a quality workforce in Sarasota County.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES PLAY A PART IN AGING

SCOPE's Aging: the Possibilities group will be joined by Julie Morris, co-Director of the Environmental Studies program at New College and Assistant to the Provost, to guide us through a discussion of neighborhood and community on July 27th at 5:30 p.m. at the Center for Arts & Humanity, 1226 N. Tamiami Trail. Over the past 10 years, she has taught a course called, "Florida as Home." The course addresses the concepts of sense of place, neighborhood, community, immigration, and retirement in Florida. "Neighborhood Connections" is one of ten themes that emerged from SCOPE's community discussions on aging. Julie will help us understand the context and potential role of neighborhoods in the aging process. Please contact SCOPE at 365-8751 to let us know if you are coming and for more information.

WHAT DOES LIFELONG LEARNING MEAN FOR SARASOTA COUNTY?

SCOPE's Lifelong Learning Action Team, one of the Aging Initiatives' ten teams, invites you to participate in a conversation focused on the question "How can we work together to transform Sarasota County into a lifelong learning community?" On Monday August 1st from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Fruitville Library, 100 Coburn Road, Sarasota, directors of six lifelong learning programs in Sarasota County will share ways that lifelong learning can take shape in our community. Invitations to speak were extended to directors of the Sarasota Institute of Lifelong Learning (SILL), USF Senior Academy, Pierian Spring Academy, Flanzer/JCC Elderhostel, The Education Center of Longboat Key, and the Adult and Community Education Center of Sarasota County. You will also have the opportunity to learn about the various resources each program provides to Sarasota County. Please contact SCOPE at 365-8751 if you plan to join us.

THE ROLE DESIGN PLAYS IN AGING

Julie Cotton, an expert in lifespan design and owner of A Roomful of Possibilities, will speak August 3rd at 5:30 p.m. at the Center for Arts and Humanity at 1226 North Tamiami Trail. After a successful career as a consultant and human resource executive, Julie decided to shift her focus to interior design, specifically in lifespan design, a specialized area that focuses on aging. The concept focuses on how design can enable us to remain in our own homes as we age, how it can increase flexibility and ease of movement, and how it can enhances one's sense of independence, safety, and comfort. Watch for details on other speakers to come! Please RSVP if you plan to attend. Contact SCOPE at 365-8751 for more information.

CITIZENS CONNECT, EXPLORE POSSIBILITIES, AND IDENTIFY NEXT STEPS

About 35 community members are participating in facilitated conversations addressing race and cultural relations in our community. They are focusing on the question, "What can I do to engage all sectors of the community ?"  The group is exploring activities that connect individuals to one another. They include having get-togethers to connect diverse individuals, using the media to illustrate the often complicated and controversial issues around race and cultural relations through stories of life in Sarasota, and creating networking opportunities for like-minded community members and organizations. We're always widening the circle and we'd like to hear your voice. Please contact SCOPE at 365-8751 to become involved.

SCOPE HELPS CREATE AND ENHANCE CIVIC DIALOGUE AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL

Suzanne Gregory and Jake Thomas from SCOPE will facilitate a conversation at the Neighborhood Leadership Academy on July 30th at the Terrace Building. Workshop participants will consider techniques that enhance community dialogue and create opportunities for new conversations. Using a model of leadership that focuses on building connections, forming relationships and using powerful questions to create personal ownership, the participants will learn to better use the neighborhood associations for connecting individuals and inviting unheard voices to the conversation. Join the Neighborhood Leadership Academy and SCOPE in learning how to begin a conversation about change and inspiring leadership at the grassroots level. Contact the City of Sarasota Neighborhood Partnership Office at 941-954-2612 or Sarasota County Neighborhood Office at 941-861-5827 or cpilon@scgov.net for more information.

SCOPE HOSTED NEWTOWN BUSINESS & MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION LUNCH

On July 20th, SCOPE hosted the Newtown Business & Merchants Association lunch at the Center for Arts & Humanity. The group's lunches are held throughout the year, providing networking and professional development opportunities for business and merchant leaders in the Newtown area. Sponsored by Anthony Igwe, the CEO of Newtown Construction & Development LLC, the participants heard from DeWanda Smith-Soeder, of Smith-Soeder on "Developing Your Leadership Capabilities."

COMMUNITY HOUSING TRUST REPORT TO BE PRESENTED TO BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

The community housing trust report will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners at the Robert Anderson Center in Venice on Tuesday July 26th at 9:00 a.m. This report is the culmination of nine months of work in creating a community-based nonprofit that will help preserve affordable housing already in-place in the community as well as promote its increase. SCOPE facilitated the steering committee's work over the last nine months. For more information contact SCOPE at 365-8751.

SCOPE'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TIM DUTTON, TO MODERATE PANEL DISCUSSION FOR THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP

SCOPE'S Executive Director, Tim Dutton, will moderate a panel of speakers around the topic of workforce housing for The Downtown Partnership at noon, Tuesday July 26th at the University Club. The panel members are Harvey Vengroff of Vengroff Williams & Associates, Don Hadsell of the Sarasota Office of Housing & Community Development, and Steve Queior, President and CEO of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. They will look at issues such as defining workforce housing, how rentals will fit into the equation, and if certain incentives for workforce housing should be given. For more information contact The Downtown Partnership at 951-2656.

BOUNDARY CROSSER TREE DEDICATION SET FOR AUGUST 16TH

Just a reminder to mark your calendars for the August 16th tree dedication in honor of the late Syd Adler, SCOPE's "Boundary Crosser" award recipient. A small ceremony will be held at 5:00 p.m. at The Hermitage, an artist retreat founded by Syd.  Syd was a frontiersman in creating change by crossing boundaries, such as government, social agencies, race, and ethnicity, which typically divide communities. He excelled at connecting individuals, getting them to talk and take actions that have moved Sarasota County forward in a healthy and vibrant way. Among these efforts are his creation of The Hermitage, the preservation of rural east county, and leadership in the Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations. For more information on the tree dedication, contact SCOPE at 365-8751. RSVP to SCOPE.

PASTOR BRUCE WISMER PRESENTED PLAQUE AS "BRIGHTSPOT ON THE SUNCOAST"

SCOPE's Joe Naroditsky presented Pastor Bruce Wismer of Pines Shores Presbyterian Church with a plaque honoring him as ABC 7's "Brightspot on the Suncoast" recipient for July. During his July 17th Sunday service, Pastor Bruce was honored in front of his congregational family, being recognized both as a spiritual and community leader. As an example of community members committed to making Sarasota County a vibrant place to be, Pastor Bruce has dedicated himself to both SCOPE's School Dropout and Family Violence studies. In both of these studies, he has risen to the forefront by connecting individuals to SCOPE recommendations and many other community efforts. Hats off to Pastor Bruce!

LAWYERS AND JUDGES TO LEARN TO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS

A continuing education course for lawyers and judges on how to effectively work individuals with mental illness has been set for Friday, September 16th 2005 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Terrace Building's Room 1004 in Sarasota. As part of the Mental Health Implementation process, participants will learn basic facts about mental illness and substance abuse and acquire the tools necessary for appropriately handling situations involving this population. Information on community resources and programs available to mental health clients will also be provided. The course will be co-taught by local clinicians and local lawyers. This course seeks to provide effective and efficient service to clients filtering through Sarasota County's legal system. Involved in this effort are Miriam Lacher of Bayside Center for Behavioral Health, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, Carrie Springer of Coastal Behavioral Health Care, Davis Tornabene of the Sunnyside Assisted Living Facility, Jan Jung of the Sarasota County Bar Association, Mark Zimmerman of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and Mary Alice Jackson of Jackson Boyer Law Firm.

GROUP COMMITTED TO IMPROVING SYSTEM FOR VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE

The newly formed Family Violence Task Force held its first meeting on July 20th under the leadership of Judge Nancy Donnellan. The group is comprised of community individuals and agencies who work directly with the family violence system, including representatives from the judicial, criminal justice, and service provider fields. The group identifies and outlines ways to improve the day-to-day functioning of the family violence system to ensure that victims of family violence in Sarasota County have appropriate access to services and protection. A few of the key organizations include representatives from the County Sheriff's office, the City of Sarasota Police department, the Public Defender's office, SPARCC, and the Senior Friendship Centers. The group will continue to meet on a monthly basis.

NOKOMIS RESIDENTS TAKE A LOOK AT REDEVELOPMENT AND INFILL IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD

SCOPE Associate Director Suzanne Gregory presented the short film "Faces of Places," a SCOPE documentary on local redevelopment and infill to sixty members of the Nokomis Area Civic Association (NACA). The program also included a presentation on smart growth and mixed-use from Henry Rodriguez, NACA member and local developer, and a discussion of possible changes to the Nokomis area revitalization plan.

HIP HOP ART EXHIBIT OPENING NEXT WEEKEND

The Hip Hop Art Exhibit, entitled "Hip hop is?", will have an opening next weekend on Saturday July 30th at the North Sarasota Library. It examines the issues surrounding hip hop culture. Open to public through the end of the summer. Contact the North Sarasota Library at 861-1360 for more information

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

SCOPE graciously thanks Dr. Mary Elmendorf, Dr. & Mrs. Louis Robison, and Mr. Larry Thompson of Ringling School of Art & Design for their generous support of SCOPE. Their faith in our efforts allows SCOPE to engage Sarasota County citizens in planning for our future together.