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
Summer 2025
Recent Issues
The Truth About Safe Sleep
Parents of newborns often dread those long nights—the baby crying, the rocking, the desperate wish for sleep. But for some, the real nightmare is waking up to silence.
Retired law enforcement officer Connie Shingledecker spent decades investigating child…
A Real Lifesaver
"I remember it like it was yesterday." This is the quote I heard again and again when I spoke to several staff and attendees who were at LECOM Field…
Back to Her Roots with a Big Idea
Leah Brown's journey has taken her from Hometown Queen to Community Champion. Long before she was the visionary behind some of the Southeast Region's…
A Safe Place to Shine…
What if foster care wasn't just about providing a bed, but building a future? Decades ago, Graci McGillicuddy asked that question as she worked with children…
Tails At The Library…
To read is human; to listen without judgment is divine—or, in this case, canine. Every Thursday, students at Anna Maria Elementary School gather in the media center…
Once Upon a Parade: A Storybook Collection!
Once upon a time, families in Palmetto watched as 10th Street transformed into the pages of their favorite stories. Presented by the Early Learning…
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