Seats filling fast for 19th Annual Sustainable Communities Workshop on Nov. 7 in Sarasota

In-person and online attendance options available, with range of ticket prices

Image courtesy Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability

With seats selling fast, the staff of the University of Florida/Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension and Sustainability program in Sarasota County is encouraging the public not to delay in registering for the 19th Annual Sustainable Communities Workshop, an all-day event set for Nov. 7 that will explore “strategies to build resilient communities and [address] today’s environmental challenges.”

The workshop, with both in-person and online attendance options, will feature an Elements of Sustainability theme, a news release points out. “Experts will explore the essential roles of earth, air, water, and fire in our ecosystem and offer solutions to local environmental challenges,” the release adds.

“Multiple hurricane events have reminded us how important our communities are in rallying after a disaster, and how critical it is that we prepare now for any future events,” said Alia Garrett, sustainability outreach coordinator with Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability, in the release. “We invite everyone to this workshop to connect and share in sustainability opportunities moving forward,” Garrett added in the release.

“Sarasota County’s continuing growth in popularity has made the area a destination for many, while also highlighting the need to protect limited resources and foster sustainable, equitable communities that respond to change,” the release continues. “The Sustainable Communities Workshop brings together experts, decision-makers and other individuals to learn more about actions to improve our community.”

John Francis, known as the “Planetwalker,” will present the keynote address, the release adds. An array of speakers and panelists will be present for the workshop, which will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Francis took a 17-year vow of silence during his journey across America to promote environmental stewardship,” the release points out. “His silent trek fostered a deep connection with nature and the communities he encountered, showing that meaningful change begins with quiet reflection,” the release says.

The workshop also will include “panels and presentations packed with interdisciplinary experts and thought leaders in the sustainability field, along with follow-up question-and-answer sessions and networking opportunities to foster engagement.”

Tickets cost $20 to $45 for general admission; for students, the price ranges from $5 to $30. Tickets for those who plan to attend the conference in person at the University of South Florida Selby Auditorium, which is located at 8350 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, include the cost of breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack provided by a Sarasota County Green Business Partner, the release notes.

In-person seating is limited to 125, it adds.

Learn more about the event and register at tiny.cc/ufsaraext_scw2024.

Anyone with questions may visit www.scgov.net/sustainablecommunities, email sustainablesarasota@scgov.net, or call 941-861-9901, the release says.

If an individual requires special accommodations to attend one of the events, the person may contact staff in advance at 941-861-9901 or sustainablesarasota@scgov.net.

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