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…
Stock-Full of Potential!
Think about your life: every success you've celebrated, every hurdle you've overcome. Chances are, you only got there because someone helped you—a teacher, mentor…
All in This Together!
At just 10 months old, Liam's world looks a little different from other babies in his child care group. While his peers babble, interact, crawl, and scoot, Liam…
MCYC 2025…
February 1st was no ordinary Saturday for Manatee County's early childhood educators. The Manatee Conference on Young Children (MCYC), with its 300 attendees…
More than a League
Under bright gym lights, a team forms a perfect circle, arms outstretched like spokes in a wheel. The coach crouches low. "Your effort matters more than…
