Contents
August/September 2019
PUBLISHER
Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County
EDITOR
Darrell King
PRODUCTION EDITOR
Kelly Harbour
DESIGN EDITOR
Mara Stork
PHOTOGRAPHY
Whitney Patton
Wendy Dewhurst
Nancy Guth
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Kara Chalmers, Jen Colombo, Amy Bell,
Carlee Colonneso, Jessica Schubick,
Ana Rodriguez, Bre Jones Mulock,
Sophie Williams, Ashley Murcia, Ruth Lando
CALENDAR OF FAMILY EVENTS
Bradenton Macaroni Kid: Denise Granata
ADVERTISING SALES
Niki Richards: nrichards@elc-manatee.org
PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION
PCI Communications, Inc.
CONTACT NEXTGEN
EDITORIAL ............................... 941-757-2912
ADVERTISING ........................ 941-757-2904
FAX ....................................... 941-757-2917
EDITOR
editor@nextgenmagazine.org
COMPETITION ENTRIES
competitions@nextgenmagazine.org
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES
advertising@nextgenmagazine.org
ADVERTISING SUBMISSIONS
adsubmissions@nextgenmagazine.org
ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS
articles@nextgenmagazine.org
EARLY LEARNING COALITION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTEES
Adam Mohammadbhoy (Chairman)
Robert Bell (Secretary/Treasurer)
Andrew Minor
PRIVATE SECTOR APPOINTED MEMBERS
Tim Pye, Joseph Miller, James R. Chatham,
M.D., Diane Neeves, Lupita Wells,
Len Tabicman, Dr. Sharon Otis,
Michael Rampino, Christina Riggio,
Rev. Nathan Speck-Ewer
LEGISLATIVELY REQUIRED MEMBERS
Rachel Kendzior
Children With Disabilities
Program Representative
Annette Larkin
Private, For-Profit Provider Representative
Dr. Robin Thompson
Manatee County School Board Designee
Jennifer Passmore
Board of County Commissioners' Appointee
Kathy Patreka
Head Start Director
Maritza Gonzalez
Department of Children and Families Designee
James Disbro
CareerSource Suncoast
Dr. Carla McGill
County Health Department Designee
Dr. April Fleming
Florida College System Designee
Marjani Jones
Faith-Based Provider Representative
Paul Sharff
Chief Executive Officer
SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE BOARD
Linda Guritz
MANATEE COUNTY
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Dave Miner, Scott Hopes, Charlie Kennedy,
Gina Messenger, Rev. James Golden,
Cynthia Saunders, Superintendent
8 BEYOND GENEROUS
Housing Kindness…
14 CHILDREN’S CHAMPION
A vision for Manatee’s children
28 BON APPETIT
First family of frozen custard…
41 ELC INSIDER SECTION!
49 CATCH THIS NEW PROGRAM...
54 DIVE INTO READING…
Amazing summer literacy push
60 BLUE BUTTERFLY…
No child should grieve alone
66 EXECUTIVELY SPEAKING
Meet Kevin DiLallo of MMH
70 THE BIG PRIZE!
Win a YMCA family membership
72 SUPERSTAR CRAFT
74 Calendar of Events
August - September 2019
78 Kids in the Kitchen
79 On the Bookshelf
84 THE BIG PLAN?
Find out from United Way!
86 MANATEE’S GOT TALENT!
A masterpiece in the MAEC-ing!
92 2019/20 SCHOOL CALENDAR
96 GRADE LEVEL
NEXTGEN and the Early Learning Coalition do not endorse or warrant any products or services contained READING LATEST…
herein, unless otherwise expressly noted. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors. Submitted
materials will not be returned. Whole or part of this publication may not be used or duplicated in any way
without written permission from the Early Learning Coalition.
The Early Learning Coalition is a 501-C (3) nonprofit organization committed to ensuring affordable and
creditable early child care and early education through School Readiness and Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK)
programs. Sponsorship by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County and the State of Florida, Office of
Early Learning and Manatee County Government.
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