For 20 years, the annual Sustainable Communities Workshop (SCW) has been a day of learning and community-building, a source of inspiration for local community members with an interest in sustainability. The theme for this milestone year is “Then, Now, Next: 20 Years of Sustainable Communities.” This year, we are coming together to celebrate past and current accomplishments in our community, observe current community challenges and innovations, and envision and act towards a more sustainable Sarasota region.
Then: Impact and Growth from the First 19 Years
SCW’s Beginnings and the First Workshops
Jodi John and Nina Powers. Credit: UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability
The first Sustainable Communities Workshop took place in 2006 led by Nina Powers and Jodi John. Both Jodi and Nina were original staff members on Sarasota County’s sustainability team when the program began in 2002. Lee-Hayes Byron, Sarasota County’s UF/IFAS Extension Director and close friend to Nina, described Nina as the “most well-connected Sustainability professional [she] has ever known.” Nina brought excellent speakers from all over the country and local experts to SCW until her retirement in 2015.
The Sustainable Communities Workshop has always focused on current community needs and related “hot topics” addressing environmental issues and real-time impacts. Early topics of focus at the workshops included green building, green businesses, renewable energy, and electric vehicles. Lee-Hayes Byron reflects on the start of the first ever workshop in 2006 –
The kick-off to the first Sustainable Communities Workshop in 2006. Credit: UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability
“[The first SCW event] started with a news conference announcing Sarasota County as the National Renewable Energy Lab’s first Renewable Community Demonstration project. The concept was to pair renewable energy with plug-in vehicles to power homes and transportation with solar energy. That was before EVs were commercially available, so it was an inspiring and exciting vision that brought together community leaders, builders, car dealers, and more. There were demonstration plug-in vehicles around for people to see and commissioners [enjoyed] test [driving] them.”
Topics of Discussion Grow over the Years
Sara Kane, Sarasota County’s Sustainability and Resilience Manager, has been involved with planning, oversight, and support in some fashion for almost all SCW’s years. She describes the progression of topics addressed at the workshop over the years –
“Some of the early years we had topics of investing in our future, growing our green economy, innovation… partly because we had a lot of new green businesses and those industries starting in the area, and it was very innovative at the time…. Later we added in more water topics, with a focus on water quality, resilience, and green infrastructure; strategies to reduce flooding and improve water quality. During those times we had devastating red tide events and in the last few years flooding, climate pollution and extreme heat.”
Topics of focus represented over 20 years of annual Sustainable Community Workshops from 2006-2025. CREDIT: Michelle Marinangel, generated using wordclouds.com.
Community-Driven, Solutions-Focused, and Hopeful
A focus on community and solutions has always been at the heart of SCW. One of the most
Inspiring youth share their projects and campaigns creating positive impact on our communities and the environment at SCW in 2019. Credit: UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability.
praised discussions by our community members was the Growing a Greener Generation youth panel in 2019. Sean Russell, founder of the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit and Director of Youth Engagement at EarthEcho International, kicked off the discussion and led a panel of local youth sharing their projects and initiatives contributing to a more sustainable future. Featuring inspiring youth leaders and voices in our workshop has continued since then with project displays, discussions, video contests, and more.
Impactful Speakers from Around the Country and Beyond
During our first 19 years, the Sustainable Workshop hosted a variety of impactful leaders, scientists, innovators, and dreamers. The following are only a sample of impactful memories from them.
From an early workshop, Lee-Hayes Byron remembers Michael Duranko, coffee shop owner and Green Business Partner at the time. “[He] compared the environmental and social impacts of his products to those of national chains, with details that stuck with me and drove home
Sara Kane and Nicole Stott at SCW in 2018. Credit: UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability
the importance of supporting local food and businesses.”
In 2018, Astronaut Nicole Stott presented insights into her time in space, how space can be a model for adopting a more global, wide-scale or “orbital” perspective, and our resulting approach to action here on planet Earth. Three lessons she learned from her time in space can be summarized as “we live on a planet, we are all earthlings, and the only border that matters in that thin, blue line of atmosphere that blankets us all.” Sara Kane shared that these words from Nicole have stuck with her and shaped her perspective as a sustainability professional.
Last year’s workshop welcomed John Francis, known as “the Planetwalker,” to our stage. Rebecca Beckham, a Sarasota County community educator, shares how his words impacted her –
“[He] was such an inspiration and testament to what one voice can do…it’s easy to feel overwhelmed in our singular efforts to live a more sustainable life, John was a wonderful reminder of how far-reaching our individual actions can be.”
Now: Celebrating the Past, Present, and Future of our local Region
The SCW Community Experience
Many say the workshop refreshes, inspires, and encourages them to pursue their goals and work towards a more sustainable tomorrow, while providing the knowledge and connections to do just that. Alia Garrett, Sustainability and Resilience Manager at the City of Sarasota, shares, “It’s meaningful to continue seeing the familiar faces who return year after year. People who’ve helped shape this community and remain committed to its future. That mix of fresh voices and steady presence is what makes this event so impactful.” Megan Barry, Public Outreach Manager at the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, spoke to the value of the knowledge gained at each workshop. “Each year, attendees are presented with a wide array of topics, ranging from environmental and social science to architecture and activism. It creates an opportunity to learn together and bond over optimistic, real-world solutions that create a better tomorrow.”
This Year’s Workshop: Then, Now, Next: 20 Years of Sustainable Communities
In our 20th year, we look forward to reflecting on the past, observing our present challenges and actions,
The 2025 SCW logo celebrates our 20-year milestone. Credit: Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability
and planning for the future of our local region. Our community will hear from panelists with expertise on climate communication, resilient architecture, and green business practices. Featured keynote speakers will include Emily Raboteau, Don Hall, and John McCarthy. The workshop will be held at Harvest House in Sarasota on Thursday November 6th from 8am -4pm with a special post-workshop awards ceremony and social to follow from 4-6pm.
As a reflection of the Sustainable Leader Awards ceremony that took place in 2015 during the 10-year celebration, the SCW planning committee will again honor local Sustainability Champions creating and leading lasting impact. Award designations will include those who have impacted the local environment, community, and prosperity of our region as well as a designated youth leadership recipient.
Recognized Sustainability Leaders at SCW in 2015. Credit: UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability.
Finally, a Nina Powers Legacy Award will be given in Nina’s honor to a community member who has dedicated years of service to advancing sustainability across multiple sectors. Many remember Nina not only for her integral milestones of achievement for sustainability in our local Sarasota region, but also her outgoing personality and infectious smile. Our committee looks forward to recognizing legacy work in local sustainability and honoring Nina with this award.
The Next Generation Speaks: Film & Panel Experience
The workshop committee is thrilled to host a film screening of Good Natured in anticipation of our workshop on Thursday, September 26, 2025, at The Bay in Sarasota. This recently released WEDU PBS documentary follows filmmaker Ashley Stokes as she travels through Florida, meeting people and finding the balance between human progress and environmental stewardship. After the film, a panel of local youth leaders will respond in discussion to film’s themes and their future hopes and visions for a sustainable Florida of the future.
Next: Future Visions for the Workshop
With SCW energizing people to support local programs, Megan Barry proposes intentional time at the workshops to report on progression of previous year’s topics and discussed local initiatives. Establishing continuity throughout the years can play the important role of “remind[ing] people that progress is indefinite.”
Many know the power that future generations hold. Their leadership, voice, enthusiasm, and actions will make a big impact on our future. This remains a priority for Alia Garrett, who emphasizes that “engaging the next generation is essential to keeping this tradition alive and evolving. Their perspectives, creativity, and energy are key to building long-term solutions.”
As someone new to the Sustainable Communities Workshop and the committee this year, I hope that this community continues to be a touch point of inspiration and support for local community actions. The idea of fostering more opportunities to connect to one another throughout the year excites me.
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