Leadership Sarasota Class of 2023 Completes Project for Local Youth

May 2, 2023 – Sarasota

Members of The Leadership Sarasota Class of 2023, Safe Children Coalition staff and board members, and leaders from the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce gathered on April 28, 2023 to celebrate the completion of a special project. This year’s Leadership Sarasota group partnered with the Safe Children Coalition to improve the outdoor space of a group home for teens. The goal was to provide a safe, comfortable and nurturing place for homework, relaxation and recreation. 

Leadership Sarasota class representatives collaborated with staff from the Safe Children Coalition on the enhancements to ensure the needs of the youth would be met. All 51 members of the 2023 Leadership Sarasota program participated in some aspect of the project, which included landscaping, installation of a private basketball court, fence repair/replacement in the front and back yards, and furnishing the screened-in lanai.

“Each year the Leadership Sarasota class selects a project that will positively impact the community,” said Dan Sidler, Vice President of CareerEdge & Economic Development for the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. “We applaud the hard work this group put in, transforming the outdoor space into a meaningful haven for the youth residents.”

Additionally, a 40-foot mural was added to the back fence. This art installation was designed by a local artist with input from the Youth Leadership Class of 2023 who helped paint the mural, adding personal words of encouragement. A chalkboard panel was included with blank space for the youth residents to add their artistic expression.

“We are thrilled with this contribution,” said Jaqueline House, the Safe Children Coalition’s Vice President of Communication and Community Engagement. “It is truly an honor to have been selected from many other proposed community projects, and we are grateful for this support of the youth we serve.”

Special thanks to Mark Williams Construction who donated and installed the concrete basketball court as well as Capstone Contractors, DWY Landscape Architects, Holland Landscaping and Tree Service, Rugs As Art, Sarasota Paint Company, Sarasota Performing Arts Center Foundation, and Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall for contributions towards the project.