Here's what's new with SCOPE...

SUNCOAST GEARS UP FOR CHANGING RACE RELATIONS EVENT

On February 1, 2005, thanks to the collaborative efforts and sponsorships of The Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Embracing Our Differences, Flanzer Jewish Community Center, Nuevo Advertising, RBC Centura Bank, Sarasota Coffee and Tea, SCOPE and Smith-Soeder Enterprises, Inc., local residents will have the opportunity to hear national race relations expert Dr. Deborah Plummer speak about race and gain some tools and strategies to help them address race and cultural relations in our community. Don't miss it. Call SCOPE at 365-8751 to RSVP.

EMBRACING OUR DIFFERENCES OPENS THIS WEEKEND!

Join SCOPE and many other organizations on the Bayfront at Island Park this Sunday, Jan. 30th, at 1:00 pm for the opening of "Embracing Our Differences."  The community art exhibit will be unveiled with a celebration of music, dialogue, and of course, art. The exhibit will showcase dozens of billboard-sized works of art by local artists expressing their ideas about diversity and embracing that which makes each of us unique. SCOPE is proud to have been a partner in planning the exhibit. For more information, visit www.flholocaustmuseum.org.

EMBRACING OUR DIFFERENCES ARTISTS, WRITERS AND ORGANIZERS TO HOLD PUBLIC DISCUSSION

Volunteers from the exhibit's Steering Committee and SCOPE will lead discussions about the ideas and issues expressed in the 39 artworks on display. Some of the artists and writers represented in the exhibit will be on hand for the conversations. Please join us at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at Island Park on Sarasota's Bayfront.

OVER 150 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN SCOPE AGING STUDY

Over 150 residents from across Sarasota County have participated in community conversations for SCOPE's latest study, Aging: The Possibilities. Conversations were held throughout the county in December and January, from Englewood to Newtown, from Venice to St Armand's Key. Participants included high school students, retirees, service providers, middle-year folks, young professionals and octogenarians. The goal was to create connections to the topic and among participants and explore new possibilities for making Sarasota County communities vital, vibrant, and supportive of people of all ages. The information gleaned from the sessions will guide the course of the study. Stay tuned for more information and engagement opportunities as the study progresses.

4TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY REPORT CARD TO BE RELEASED SOON

The 2005 Indicators Committee has completed its review of the latest edition of the Community Report Card. After reviewing the report individually, the group of about a dozen community members met twice last week to discuss statistics from the report. They made minor changes and provided a wealth of ideas for future quality of life indicators. These ideas include indicators of positive youth development and improved measures of culture and recreation. Look for the updated report on our website sometime in March. Also, don't forget to sign up for a presentation of Sarasota Stats, a trivia game based on local statistics from the Community Report Card's latest edition. Call SCOPE for more information.

COUNTY PROCLAIMS JANUARY MENTORING MONTH

At the January 25th Board of County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Paul Mercier read the proclamation announcing that the county recognizes January as Mentoring Month in Sarasota County. Nationally, celebrities and public figures such as Gloria Estefan, Cal Ripken Jr., Colin Powell, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Brokaw, and many others have lined up to promote mentoring. The Mentoring Task Force hopes to line up a celebrity to visit Sarasota County in 2006 for Mentoring Month and help raise awareness about the importance of mentors.

FAMILY VIOLENCE TASK FORCE UPDATE

SCOPE showed "Battered, Bruised, and Broken" and the Family Violence presentation to the Guardian ad Litem volunteers on January 27. Meanwhile, the Family Violence Faith Subcommittee has been meeting weekly in planning for the Faith breakfast on April 7. Stay tuned!

DON'T FORGET THIS FREE FILM FESTIVAL EVENT

The 2005 Sarasota Film Festival will feature the SCOPE documentary on family violence. As part of its community outreach programming, local actors are working with film festival staff to create a theater piece based on stories from the documentary film. Audience members at area high schools will have the opportunity to participate and change the ending of the skit by play-acting appropriate responses to domestic violence warning signs. This is an opportunity for a broad audience to view the film and connect to the issue of Family Violence. The student participation is also an excellent way to cultivate a sense of ownership of the issue.

REDEVELOPMENT AND INFILL TASK FORCE HELPS TO PLAN NEIGHBORHOOOD SUMMIT

A sub-committee of the Redevelopment and Infill Task Force met on January 26th to plan its workshop program for the Manasota Regional Neighborhoods Summit. The summit will be on Feb. 26th, from 9am to 3:00 pm (registration 8:30 am) at the Sudakoff Center at Sarasota-Manatee Campus of USF. Cost is $10 in advance and $15 at the door (includes admission and lunch). Register online at www.npo.sarasotagov.com. The Manasota Regional Neighborhoods Summit is a collaborative effort with the City of Sarasota, Sarasota County, Manatee County, SCOPE, City of Palmetto, and the City of Venice. The purpose is to provide a daylong training opportunity for neighborhoods and civic leaders from throughout the Sarasota-Manatee region. The summit will offer 10 training sessions in the morning, lunch, and one large session with nationally-known community development speaker John McKnight.

GULF COAST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF VENICE PRESENTS BETTER TOGETHER WITH MARC FREEDMAN

Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice presents Better Together: Creating Communities for All Ages featuring Marc Freedman, author of Prime Time: How Baby Boomers Will Revolutionize Retirement and Transform America and The Kindness of Strangers. The event will take place Thursday, February 17 at The Chelsea Center, 2506 Gulf Gate Drive from Noon until 1:30. Tickets are $35 and Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice has designated Senior Friendship Centers and SCOPE to receive all proceeds from the event. Advance reservations are required. Visit gulfcoastcf.org or phone 941.486.4600 for more information and ticket purchases.

LUCK OF THE DRAW FOR SCOPE AT THIS YEAR’S NONPROFIT FORUM

At this year's Nonprofit Resource Center's Forum, SCOPE was the lucky winner of a $1,000 grant from The Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Inc. Thanks Nonprofit Resource Center!

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

SCOPE would like to thank Bon Secours Venice Healthcare Corporation, The Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Barbara & Bill Little, RBC Centura Bank, and United Way of Sarasota County for supporting SCOPE both financially and organizationally.