Beyond The Blog

What does it really mean to be school-ready?

In this episode of Connecting Communities: A Beyond the Blog Podcast, host Leah Verier-Dunn is joined by Alison Nichols, Director of Elementary Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Learning for the School District of Manatee County, and Jennifer Harrison, K–2 Curriculum Specialist for the School District of Manatee County. Together, they unpack what school readiness truly looks like,...

In this inspiring episode, Pierrette Kelly shares her experience as a poll watcher, highlighting the importance of civic engagement and the vital role everyday citizens can play in upholding democracy. With clarity and passion, she encourages others to step up and get involved, especially as International Poll Worker Day approaches on August 12. Whether you're curious about what poll watching involves or looking for ways to se...

In the latest episode of Discover DeSoto, host Alicia Exantus sits down with Carol Mahler, a longtime resident and beloved historian of DeSoto County. This episode offers a heartfelt and enlightening look at the people, places, and moments that have shaped this amazing community over the years. Carol's gift of personal stories and historical insight reminds us that preserving local history isn't just about remembering the...

In the latest episode of Discover DeSoto, host Alicia Exantus welcomed a guest who embodies leadership, service, and local pride: Asha Campbell. She is a tax professional, business consultant, and CEO of the nonprofit JRpreneur Brunch. Asha's journey is rooted in the heart of DeSoto County, where she's lived since the age of five. Her deep connection to the community drives everything she does, from mentoring the youth to...

Rich Harwood's manifesto, The New Civic Path: Restoring Our Belief in One Another and Our Nation, boldly lays out a new path forward by which Americans might come together, amid our real divides, and create change. He's not a politician. But he's on a campaign to spread this message to every corner of the country. In this podcast, TPF Fellow, Andrew Spector, talks with Cheri Coryea, Initiative Lead for Aspirations to...

Rich Harwood's manifesto, The New Civic Path: Restoring Our Belief in One Another and Our Nation, boldly lays out a new path forward by which Americans might come together, amid our real divides, and create change. He's not a politician. But he's on a campaign to spread this message to every corner of the country. In this podcast, TPF Fellow Andrew Spector talks with Rich about why he wrote The New Civic Path and his...

Vickie Oldham, President and CEO of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition (SAACC), shares how her approach to fundraising shifted after participating in The Patterson Foundation’s Fueling Dynamic Fundraising initiative. Before the program, Vickie relied primarily on grant writing to support her organization. Afterward, she began focusing on donor stewardship, building relationships, and exploring various funding strategi...

In this episode, Laurie sits down with Beth Duda and Karen Windon to explore how summer can be a time of learning, growth, and connection, not lost progress. From simple tools like the Five Finger Rule to powerful programs like THIS BOOK IS COOL! and the Suncoast Summer Reading Challenge, they share how families and communities are helping children stay engaged and excited about reading all summer long.

Timestamps

• 00:27...

Through The Bay, the community is engaged in a multi-year journey to fulfill its vision to transform 53 acres of the city’s most precious land on Sarasota’s bayfront into a public park that is free, open, and welcoming to our diverse region while offering fitness, health, cultural, recreational, and educational activities and events. From the early beginnings, The Patterson Foundation (TPF)  has supported The Bay as a community-dri...

In this episode of the Nonprofit Thrivability Podcast, we sit down with Leah McDermott from the Florida Nonprofit Alliance to unpack the power and importance of advocacy for nonprofit organizations. Leah shares real-life examples—including how FNA helped protect Selby Gardens from burdensome property taxes—and offers practical tips for engaging boards, navigating legal boundaries, and building a clear policy agenda. Whether you&apo...

This podcast episode explores the Nonprofit Internship Program, a collaboration between The Patterson Foundation (TPF) and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Hosted by TPF Fellow Ericia Henry, the episode features a conversation with Dr. Don Bowman, lead consultant for TPF's Advancing Philanthropic Leadership initiative, as they discuss the program's purpose, evolution, and impact.

Key Podcast Themes

• History and p...

In this episode of Discover DeSoto, we sit down with Karissa Roosa, Director of All Faith’s Food Bank Food and Resource Center in DeSoto and a passionate Public Innovator. From connecting neighbors to essential resources to building collaborative partnerships and community-led solutions, Karissa shares her journey, leadership philosophy, and the heart behind her work. Tune in for an inspiring look at how one leader is helping DeSot...

Learning happens everywhere - inside classrooms and far beyond!

 In this episode of Connecting Communities, host Laurie Miller chats with Yu-Ling Cheng, Co-Producer of the national Remake Learning Days festival, and Leah Verier-Dunn, consultant with The Patterson Foundation. They explore the origins of this inspiring movement and the meaningful impact it's making across the Suncoast region. Listen to this episode to discover ho...

Discover how nonprofit organizations can thrive—not just survive—in the debut episode of the Nonprofit Thrivability podcast. In this episode, we sit down with Michael Corley, initiative lead, to explore the powerful concept of Nonprofit Thrivability—an umbrella of strategic initiatives designed to strengthen organizations through earned income, dynamic fundraising, advocacy, and digital optimization. 

Learn how initiatives like Marg...

Jake Saur, CPE, RPL, ENP, is the ECC Administrator for Arlington County, VA. Jake has dedicated over two decades to advancing public safety and emergency management, beginning as a Paramedic with the Manatee County Department of Public Safety in 2001. Jake is a nationally recognized leader in the 9-1-1 industry, with a track record of driving workforce development and adopting Next Generation 9-1-1 technologies. While in Sarasota, ...

Tom Kamber is the Founder and Executive Director of Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) and Senior Planet from AARP. He is a leading expert on aging and technology and is regularly featured in national media. While in Sarasota, FL, for the Suncoast Connect Symposium, Tom sat down for an interview with current TPF Fellow Andrew Spector. Tom and Andrew discuss the origin and early evolutions of OATS, OATS’s strategy and tactics, ...

John Ferguson is the Director of Member Programs for Indiana Philanthropy Alliance (IPA), where he develops and directs a comprehensive offering of IPA’s education, networking, and collaboration programming. Before joining IPA, John was a Fellow at The Patterson Foundation, where he contributed to creating and developing several innovative projects, including Digital Access for All (DA4A). While in Sarasota, FL, for the Suncoast Co...

By pursuing shared aspirations, we can strengthen ourselves and our communities. In this Discover DeSoto podcast, Alicia Exantus, Community Engagement Specialist with The Patterson Foundation,  interviews Cheri Coryea, the Initiative Lead for DeSoto County Ahead, to discuss the incredible work being done to strengthen the community. Cheri shares her insights on how collaboration, participation, and shared goals are driving meaningf...

What if a load of laundry could change a life? In this episode of Connecting Communities, we sit down with Jason Sowell and Kelli Karen Smith to explore how Pop-Up Neighbor Through Laundry is turning laundromats into spaces of dignity, connection, and care.

Timestamps 

• 00:28 - Intro
• 01:05 - Kelli explains Pop-Up Neighbor Through Laundry to a child.
• 02:22 - What inspired Jason to start the Laundry Project?
• 07:13 - Kelli walks us thro...