Unity Awards 2019

Dr. April Glasco Helps People Who’ve Hit Bottom Start Over

Having found her own second chance, Glasco wanted others to have theirs, too.

01/24/2019 By Kay Kipling

Unity Awards 2019

Claudia Baeza Gives Free Yoga Classes to Those Who Need Them Most

"Years of therapy did not help me this much.”

01/24/2019 By Megan McDonald

Unity Awards

Pam Fazio Goes to Bat for Manatee County’s Special Olympics Athletes

Fazio oversees more than 300 athletes age 8 to 70, coaching bocce, bowling and swimming, and training potential new coaches across Southwest Florida.

01/24/2019 By Ilene Denton

Unity Awards 2019

Mary Braxton-Joseph Taps Into the Magic of Live Theater to Spark Cross-Cultural Connections

Braxton-Joseph is sharing stories about diversity through live theater.

01/24/2019 By Kay Kipling

Unity Awards 2019

Because of Hector Tejeda, Students Dare to Dream of—and Enroll in—College

Tejeda has helped 400 students enroll in college.

01/24/2019 By Isaac Eger

Unity Awards 2019

Demetrius Jifunza Helped 1.6 Million Floridians Win Back Their Right to Vote

Jifunza founded the Sarasota chapter of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, the statewide organization behind Amendment 4, a measure created to restore voting rights to most felons after they have completed their sentence.

01/24/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Unity Awards 2019

Shannon Fortner Started a Festival That Unites Thousands for Sexual and Gender Equality

Fortner believes the Harvey Milk Festival has changed hearts, minds and lives, including her own.

01/24/2019 By Isaac Eger

Unity Awards 2019

Bob and Pat Gussin Keep Seniors Healthy, Promote Literacy and Send Kids to College

The Gussins have more energy than a roomful of preschoolers and see opportunities around every corner.

01/24/2019 By Susan Burns

Honors

Meet the Winners of Our 2019 Unity Awards

This year's winners are advocates for those in crisis, for the physically and mentally disabled, and for those from different cultures, genders, races and religious backgrounds.

01/04/2019 By Staff

Unity Awards 2019

Promote Diversity: Nominate Now for the 2019 Unity Awards!

We're searching for our region's champions of diversity.

08/27/2018 By Staff

Unity Awards 2018

Meet the Winners of Our 2018 Unity Awards

Our champions of diversity inspire us every day.

01/23/2018 By Anu Varma, Susan Burns, and Cooper Levey-Baker

Unity Awards 2018

A Small Group of Dedicated Sarasotans Wants to Create a More Humane System for Dealing with Sarasota's Homeless Problem

Creating an Effective Crisis Response to Adult Homelessness distills the complicated needs of the homeless by creating a coordinated entry system so that all agencies dealing with the homeless are using the same data and strategies.

01/23/2018 By Susan Burns

Unity Awards 2018

Vickie Oldham Wants to Preserve the History of Newtown

Oldham and a team of professionals and volunteers have produced a book, a report, installed 15 historical markers, conducted oral history interviews and inventoried 150 historic Newtown structures.

01/23/2018 By Susan Burns

Unity Awards 2018

Embracing Our Differences Fosters the Spirit of Inclusion and Diversity

Last year, the nonprofit received more than 10,000 entries from 115 countries and 48 states before 45 winners were chosen.

01/23/2018 By Susan Burns

Unity Awards 2018

Easter Seals CEO Tom Waters Follows His Passion for Philanthropy

From his first job with the United Way to his role as CEO of Easter Seals of Southwest Florida, Waters has followed that passion.

01/23/2018 By Anu Varma

Unity Awards 2018

After Hurricane Maria Devastated Puerto Rico, a Group of Sarasotans Got to Work

The need remains great, and the group has no plans to stop.

01/23/2018 By Anu Varma

Unity Awards 2018

These Three Doctors Want to Make Healthcare Accessible to All

Newtown residents now have access to regular, affordable health care in their own neighborhood at Sarasota Memorial’s Health Care System’s Jean & Alfred Goldstein Health Center.

01/23/2018 By Susan Burns

Unity Awards 2018

Meet Tarnisha Cliatt, CEO of the Manasota Black Chamber of Commerce

Cliatt surveyed the local landscape for African-Americans in business and decided she would found a black entrepreneurs club “to network with people who look like us.”

01/23/2018 By Anu Varma

Unity Awards 2018

Judge Charles Williams and Attorney Charlie Ann Syprett Stand Up for Diversity

Williams and Syprett launched the Sarasota County Bar Association Diversity Committee. Their efforts earned them one of our 2013 Unity Awards; here's an update.

01/23/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Honors

Sarasota Magazine Hosts the 2018 Unity Awards on Feb. 8

The eighth annual Unity Awards celebrate the people, companies and projects advancing equality, diversity and inclusion in our community and around the world.

01/22/2018 By staff