March 1, 2024

Moving Forward by Looking Back

By Blog, Roxie Jerde, Homepage Spotlight Item, Homepage - Blog,

I had the honor of attending the Historical Marker Dedication hosted by Manasota Remembers recently. Set on Fruitville Road at the Unitarian Universalist Church, the memorial commemorates the…

February 1, 2024

Clarity and Curiosity

By Blog, Roxie Jerde, Homepage Spotlight Item, Homepage - Blog,

Some of you may recall that Frank Sinatra song, “On a Clear Day,” where he croons, “On a clear day you can see forever.” I’ve been thinking about that song lately…

January 1, 2024

New Year's Resolve

By Blog, Roxie Jerde, Homepage Spotlight Item, Homepage - Blog,

I recently had the profound experience of hearing from U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón, who was a featured speaker at the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) conference. It may be no s…

December 1, 2023

Gifts

By Blog, Roxie Jerde, Homepage Spotlight Item, Homepage - Blog,

I had the honor of attending a graduation ceremony at Alta Vista last week, and the joy of the occasion is a gift that will be with me for a long time. Let me set the scene: picture the Alta V…

November 1, 2023

Heartful Harvest

By Blog, Roxie Jerde, Homepage Spotlight Item,

Even in balmy Florida, fall settles into our lives in some ways: the crisper weather, pumpkin spice offerings at bakeries and coffee shops, and vibrant wreaths and decorations on our neighbors…

October 4, 2023

¡Mas Fuertes Juntos!

By Blog, Roxie Jerde, Homepage Spotlight Item,

The past three years, Sarasota has been ranked in the top ten on the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Live list, this year moving up to No. 5. Perhaps that spotlight is part…

September 6, 2023

In Common

By Blog, Roxie Jerde, Homepage Spotlight Item,

If you go by the headlines and listen to the podcasts and commentators, we appear to live in a nation of polarization where extremes in beliefs and identities dominate. This summer, though, I…

July 1, 2023

Land of Opportunity

By Blog, Roxie Jerde, Homepage Spotlight Item,

Last month I had the pleasure of attending a very special birthday party: the quinceañera for a girl who has become a dear part of my world. The party celebrated the 15th birthday of Ro…

May 1, 2023

Lift Every Voice and Sing

By Blog, Roxie Jerde, Homepage Spotlight Item,

In a world where a single click can deliver your ideas to a mass audience across the globe, it can be easy to overlook the power of local, community voices. These voices can become powerful, r…