Unity Awards

Lee DeLieto Sr. Helps Young People Thrive

“We’re teaching woodworking, plumbing, electrical. That’s crucial, because many of those families need as much income as they can bring home.”

03/03/2025 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Unity Awards

Meet the Winners of Our 2025 Unity Awards

Eight people whose commitment to bringing us together will leave you hopeful and inspired.

03/03/2025 By Kim Doleatto, Lauren Jackson, Cooper Levey-Baker, and Megan McDonald

Unity Awards

David Shuel Helps People Find Work and Support After Being Incarcerated

“These guys come here and they’re wounded. They’re hurt. They have fear. They’re uncomfortable.”

03/03/2025 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Unity Awards

Kathleen Sullivan Gives a Helping Hand to Children and Families in Need

“When anybody asks me about Head Start, I tell them it changed my life.”

03/03/2025 By Lauren Jackson

Unity Awards

Evan Samson Is Bringing Attention to the Region’s Growing Filipino Community

“To create a successful project, you have to recognize everyone’s strengths and weaknesses and bring those ideas together. Collaboration is key.”

03/03/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Unity Awards

Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota Creates Joy and Connection Through Song

“When people come to our concerts, we hope it bridges gaps and starts conversations.”

03/03/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Unity Awards

Dr. Lisa Butler Grain Is Creating a New Generation of Leaders

“Our efforts are rooted in our belief that education is a transformative tool that can change lives.”

03/03/2025 By Megan McDonald

Unity Awards

Alison Thomas Is Changing the Lives of People With Developmental Disabilities

“We wanted parents to go to work knowing their children were getting a quality education and could go out and have an independent life after graduation."

03/03/2025 By Lauren Jackson

Unity Awards

Sarah Parker Uses Her Voice to Lift up Others

“We replace fear with action. If you want to change something, you consistently work to change that thing.”

03/03/2025 By Megan McDonald

Unity Awards

Join Us for Our 15th Annual Unity Awards Celebration!

Let's come together to honor those who have worked tirelessly to promote unity in Sarasota.

02/17/2025

Unity Awards

We Want Your Nominations for the 2025 Unity Awards!

We want to honor members of our community committed to bridging divides across racial, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation, socioeconomic, and physical and mental ability groups.

10/31/2024

Unity Awards

Marlene Hauck Promotes Mental Wellness From Youth Onward

Hauck has dedicated her life to breaking down stigmas around mental illness.

01/01/2024 By Lauren Jackson

Unity Awards

Tracie Troxler Improves Our Soil, and Our Community, Through Composting

“Healthy plants and healthy ecology sprout from healthy soil, and so does a healthy community."

01/01/2024 By Lauren Jackson

Unity Awards

P.J. Brooks and Scott Eller Help People Find a Safe Place to Live

Homelessness erodes people’s dignity by denying them the most basic of needs: a place to call home.

01/01/2024 By Kim Doleatto

Unity Awards

Kira-Lynn Ferderber Educates the Community About Domestic and Sexual Violence

Ferderber believes educating kids is a key part of preventing violence. “It’s so important, as adults, that we make spaces that support young people," she says.

01/01/2024 By Megan McDonald

Unity Awards

Michele Redwine Shines a Spotlight on Black Artistry

“We will not allow what’s happening in Tallahassee to take away who we are—and I believe the arts play a strong part in making that happen.”

01/01/2024 Photography by Megan McDonald

Unity Awards

Allan Mestel Uses Photography to Connect Sarasota to Conflict Around the World

"My images will always be available to anyone to represent the truth.”

01/01/2024 By Kim Doleatto

Unity Awards

David Wilkins Brings Black History to Students Who Aren’t Learning It at School

Freedom School is a series of free lessons on African and African American history for students in grades K-12 that launched last February and was renewed and expanded last fall.

01/01/2024 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Unity Awards

Nominations Are Open for the 2024 Unity Awards!

We want to honor members of our community who are bridging divides across racial, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation, socioeconomic, and physical and mental ability groups.

08/21/2023

Unity Awards

Jennifer Fagenbaum Keeps Families at Risk of Homelessness Together

“The people we serve are hardworking and want to be successful and stable. They just don’t get paid enough to match the cost of living here.”

01/09/2023 By Kim Doleatto