Author Archive
Data 2:0 Venice will Emphasize Economic & Community Well-being
The City of Venice, Venice Area Chamber of Commerce, Venice MainStreet andSCOPE invite everyone who lives and works in Venice to participate in a workshop on “community data for community change.”
What: Community Data 2.0: Venice - a half-day workshop
When: Friday, May 18 from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Where: Venice City Hall
This workshop will emphasize using community [...]
Why County-Scale Data is Insufficient When the Goal is Positive Community Change
Recently, a map generated last year by SCOPE was re-posted by SRQ Daily as a data factoid titled, “[Poverty] Income Below Poverty Level.” It was framed as evidence that Sarasota County is better off, economically speaking, than many counties in Florida. This is a great example of why everyone needs data at a more [...]
Month 2 Reflections of the Resident Community Changemakers
Each month, the Sarasota County residents who are participating in the Resident Community Changemakers fellowship record their reflections on developments in their neighborhood and their experience in the fellowship. Click here to listen to Robin Bongiovi reflect on her experience after the second month of the fellowship. The videoblogs of the other three Resident Community [...]
Promoting the Reflective Capacity of Resident Community Changemakers
One of the unique features of the Resident Community Changemakers (RCC) fellowship is that reflective consultation is the core strategy used to promote effectiveness. Not “teaching” people what they “should” know, or “training” people to “implement practices with fidelity,” but instead starting with the assumption that wisdom lies within every neighbor, and every neighbor has [...]
Let’s IGNITE neighborhood spirit!
At the upcoming Community of Practice session for Resident Community Changemakers, we will be trying out the IGNITE method as a way to share perspectives on our home neighborhoods. Each presenter will speak for 5 minutes, using 20 slides that will advance every 15 seconds, whether they’re ready or not! This method is already being [...]
A Collective Look at Data Here in Sarasota County
This month Debra Jacobs, who works for the Patterson Foundation (a philanthropy that is located here in Sarasota County), contacted SCOPE with a question. An email had been posted on the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations list serve by Joann Ricci, the Vice President of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. She was asking for examples of [...]
Local Innovation: Creating an Online Community Data Platform
Recently, Bob Richardson submitted a letter to SRQ Daily, an online magazine, suggesting Community Report Cards for the local community – that letter can be accessed here. SCOPE submitted a response, which was published several days later and can be accessed here. The “unabridged” version of the response is posted here on the SCOPE blog. It provides [...]
WE’RE A FINALIST in the Knight Community Information Challenge!
Exciting news– our community has made it to the SECOND ROUND in the Knight Community Information Challenge! This means we have the opportunity to participate in a NATIONAL challenge. As the Knight Foundation explains on their website here, the challenge is to develop creative and innovative local approaches to:
Increase our ability as community members to [...]
First Month Reflections of the Resident Community Changemakers
What does it take for any one of us to become connected with fellow neighbors and inspired to bring about positive change in our community, beginning in the place where we live?
Listen to four residents of Sarasota County as they reflect on the first month of their experiences as Resident Community Changemakers:
Robin Bongiovi (Highland Ridge) of North Port
Dorothy [...]
Community Data 2.0: North Port — the Countdown is On!
Next Thursday, March 15, people who live and work in North Port will be gathering for half a day to think and talk together about how everybody can use data to make their own community even better. SCOPE is co-hosting with the City of North Port. We are really looking forward to it – will [...]