WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Katelyn Disbro & Soar in 4
Across communities, certain places quietly shape the future. Libraries do it through books; parks do it through play. But Soar in 4’s new Soar Lab in west Bradenton brings learning and play together, promoting early learning standards and showing families how fun can build the skills children need for school.
Dr. Sheila Halpin, Director of Early Learning for the School …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
Every community has a pulse, and one of Bradenton’s strongest beats comes from a small building on 14th Street West. Here, an entirely volunteer-run organization called Stillpoint Mission has been meeting practical needs for twenty-seven years.
The mission’s work is humble yet relentless. It feeds families, helps with utility bills, and gives away diapers, shoes, and clothes. There are no fees, no paperwork beyond …
WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
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, we started chatting, and when the time was right, I knew I had found the right person.”
The Manatee Schools Foundation was established as part of the Manatee County …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
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, it’s their first step into the world of early learning education.
Andres remembers his own experience walking into a preschool classroom; it wasn’t called VPK yet. Back then, he barely …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
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, big enough to ride, clickety-clacks around the scene. Volunteer elves pass out snacks and smiles. And then Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive, not by sleigh, but atop …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
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 questions with no easy answers. But thanks to the compassionate work of The Mark Wandall Foundation, grieving children …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst & Katelyn Disbro
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 remembering to defrost the chicken, life starts to feel like one long to-do list that never ends.
But occasionally, amidst all the …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
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 a growing curiosity about coding.
They’re also all wearing the same shirt, and they’re excited. Because Tuesday mornings at Palm View belong to …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
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 fatalities, but one discovery shocked her most. In 2005, a reporter called, concerned about rising teen suicides. Connie dug into five years of data. “I thought drowning would be …
WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
“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 on February 21, 2023. That day, the Pittsburgh Pirates were hosting an event for the Manatee Chamber of Commerce. Among the attendees was avid sports fan Ernie Withers, who was in the outfield catching balls for …
WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
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 most vibrant celebrations, she was a proud Manatee High School Hurricane—Homecoming Queen, Class of 1997—with a heart for service and a natural flair for bringing people together. Her love for community and tradition was already shining through, especially after high school. …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
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 in Florida’s child welfare system. Kids shuffled between homes, struggling with untreated trauma and a lack of stability. Graci saw they needed more than temporary solutions. What if they had a place where they could heal, grow, and …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
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 for a much-loved program: Reading with the Dogs. One class at a time sits and reads to therapy-trained and socialized dogs and their volunteer handlers for a time of tale-sharing, tail-thumping fun. What better way to gain …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
Once upon a time, families in Palmetto watched as 10th Street transformed into the pages of their favorite stories. Presented by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC), the 77th DeSoto Children’s Parade continued its annual tradition with this year’s theme, “Once Upon a Parade: A Storybook Collection.” Along with performers and the usual conquistadors, story-worthy floats inspired by favorite children’s books …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
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 lover sharing stories with friends.
On April 4, the Library Foundation of Manatee County welcomed 300 guests to the Grove Restaurant for this sold-out fundraiser featuring Bush Hager as the keynote speaker. Educators, community leaders, …
