What we do
NEXTGEN is the official family resource of Manatee County, featuring local events and good news around our community and is brought to you by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, Inc (ELC). The educational and family resource magazine is distributed to the parents of 25,000 elementary school children in 47 Manatee County schools, with an additional 8,000 distributed to over 200 childcare facilities, libraries, medical offices, hospitals and other business offices throughout the county. Our new website features local events, community updates and interactive activities and games for children of all ages.
Latest Issue
Winter 2024
Recent Issues
Stronger than a Hurricane
Once you've lived in Florida long enough, you likely don't bother with daily weather updates. From May to November, it's hot, with those predictable 4 p.m…
Aktion Packed!
Margaret J. Wheatley once said, "There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about." In the heart of Manatee County…
Goodness Will Prevail…
When I sat down to chat with Maribeth Phillips, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee (MOW), she was in the midst of handling their Stuff The Bus event, providing meals…
A Kickoff to Literacy!
Who says the most exciting plays happen on the field? Tampa Bay Buccaneer #95 C.J. Brewer traded the playbook for a storybook as he promoted literacy at The Bishop…
Little Minds, Big Adventures!
In a lively preschool classroom, excited children gather around a tub of water. Four-year-old Jackson grips a shiny metal spoon. "What do you think, friends—will it sink…
The Goals That Matter Most!
For nearly five decades, the Manatee Area Youth Soccer Organization (MAYSO) has been more than just a soccer program—it's been a community where kids thrive…