Perfect Timing
Manatee Education Foundation (MEF) President Mary Glass knows that when it comes to leadership transitions, timing is everything.
"I've been quietly interviewing for my replacement for years," she said. "From the moment Kathy Price expressed interest…
Ready, Set, Grow!
In an office at the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC), Andres Guzman settles in and begins another day helping families enroll in Florida's Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program, now celebrating its 20th year. For many families…
Where Hope Takes Flight
When families step into Feld Entertainment Studios on a special December day, they walk straight into a winter wonderland. A towering Christmas tree glimmers in the center of the stadium-sized room, next to a forest of evergreens. A working train…
Never Alone…
Here's a sobering statistic: One in 10 children in Florida will experience the death of a parent or sibling before turning 18.
That's 10 kids out of every hundred staring at an empty seat at the dinner table. That's two kids in every classroom who carry…
It Takes a Village…
You're staring, bleary-eyed, at a spreadsheet, and the numbers still don't add up. You're on hold with the insurance company (again). Your inbox just hit triple digits, and your laundry pile rivals Mt. Everest. Somewhere between rush-hour traffic and…
Girls Who Code
It’s 7:45 a.m. on a Tuesday, and one by one, fourth grade girls trickle into the STEM lab at Palm View K-8. They bring their differences—various backgrounds and personalities, likes and dislikes. But they walk together on common ground, drawn by…
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…
Booked for Lunch
Jenna Bush Hager may be a TV personality and bestselling author, but at the recent Booked for Lunch event in Lakewood Ranch, she felt more like a fellow book…
The Servant Leader…
Hope. A small word with life-changing power—and it's what Tim Pedon has dedicated his life to sharing. As a Program Specialist at Volunteers of America…
The World is Her Oyster
As I reached out to family, friends, and colleagues for a quote about Eleni Sokos for this article, it became clear very quickly that she is well respected…
