wcw AUGUST 2022

just some
thoughts
Louise Bruderle
Editor and Publisher
Michelle Wolforth
West Coast Woman Luz Corcuera
Luz Corcuera
Photo by Evelyn England
There’s a delightful revelation in our profile of
Luz Corcuera, the CEO at UnidosNow, when you
hear her tell about how some of her programs
grow. First some background: UnidosNow’s
mission is stated as “Empowering Latinos To
Achieve Their American Dream” and thus Luz
and her team work a lot with young people.
For many Hispanic/Latino families their children
are often the first in the family to attend
and graduate from college. Many of the young
people who go through UnidosNow indeed go
off to college, but also reach back and help the
next class of high school graduates as mentors
or volunteers. And all those young people in turn help acclimate their
families in many ways from language to technology.
UnidosNow’s mission is to “elevate the quality of life of the growing
Hispanic/Latino community in the Manatee and Sarasota region
through education, integration and civic engagement” which is enough
to keep anyone busy and Luz is certainly that, but it’s also so enjoyable
to hear how each generation helps the next in the tight-knit Hispanic/
Latino community.
I hope you enjoy reading about how UnidosNow has been empowering
families for the past ten years - and the woman who makes it
all happen. “When UnidosNow engages, be assured that Luz is gently
guiding for excellence. Her forthright integrity inspires what’s possible
in every way,” says Debra M Jacobs, President/CEO of the Patterson
Foundation.
Good News Dept.
We really enjoy publishing items like this and we keep getting more! We
need some good news, don’t we?
• All Faiths Food Bank received over $83,000 in support of BackPack
and Summer Programs.
In support of the BackPack Program:
• $28,917 from the Heritage Oaks Golf and
Country Club FitWeek event
• $20,000 Isermann Family Foundation
• $5,000 from MLB Players Trust
• $5,000 from The Venice Golf and Country Club Foundation Grant Fund
In support of Summer Programs:
• $25,000 from the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation
The BackPack Program provided nutritious snack bags to students
over the weekends and school breaks and Summer Programs that
provided access to food to families and children this summer. For more
information visit allfaithsfoodbank.org.
State Street Eating House + Cocktails recently participated in an
invitation-only Celebrity Chef Dinner culinary event, hosted at Pops
Sunset Grill in Nokomis. Sponsored by the James Beard
Foundation, the event featured some of the best chefs in
the country, including State Street’s own executive chef,
Michelle Wolforth.
At the waterfront establishment, Wolforth and her colleagues
dazzled the 200+ ticketholders with courses that
showcased a survey of styles and cuisines. Notable James
Beard Foundation award winners at the event included
Martin Rios from New Mexico, a three-time finalist for
Best Chef in the Southwest; Rabii Saber of Four Seasons
Resort in Orlando, a 2019 semifinalist for his pastry work;
and Justin Aprahamian of Milwaukee, a frequent finalist for and onetime
winner of the national Best Chef award.
For State Street’s offering, Chef Wolforth created a special agnolotti
pasta dish, a branch of the repertoire she’s uses at State Street eating
House. For Wolforth, the opportunity to work side by side with such
distinguished colleagues gave her an opportunity to talk shop with esteemed
colleagues. “As chefs, we all kind of operate in our own bubbles
where we’re concerned about our restaurant’s sourcing, menu, personnel,
et cetera,” says Wolforth, “so to get a chance to spend time with chefs
I admire on top of cooking for a cause is really fulfilling for me. In my
mind, this is what cooking is all about.”
Proceeds benefited All Faith’s Food Bank and the James Beard Foundation
Scholarship Program.
Transition Sarasota is a non-profit
organization and part of the greater
Transition US movement. They’re
committed to developing “community-driven
solutions for our local
food system.” They serve Sarasota,
Manatee Counties and surrounding
areas by gleaning crops from partner
farmers and growers, harvesting
produce that would have been laid
to waste, but instead feeds hungry
families.
They have donated an amazing
58,290 pounds of fresh produce
so far in 2022. That is enough to Transition Sarasota
provide over 155,000 six-ounce servings of fresh vegetables or fruit to
those in need. Gleaned blueberries, for example, were donated to All
Faiths Food Bank and a small amount was donated to a youth shelter in
Sarasota.
Joyce Norris is Transition Sarasota’s Executive Director and we hope
to feature them when the weather turns agreeable and volunteers are out
there gleaning. For now, learn more at https://www.transitionsrq.org.
Coming up this Fall at WCW
• September - Florida Travel Issue
• October - Lifelong Learning Issue
• October - Women’s Health Issue
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about our great advertising offers.
Looking Ahead
The 17th Annual Sustainable Communities Workshop, “Advancing
Climate Solutions,” will bring the community together to discuss
sustainability priorities on November 1. Expert speakers will provide
up-to-date information on several different sustainability topics including
carbon sequestration, regenerative agriculture, water quality,
equity, climate change, and more. Visit exhibitor booths to network with
businesses and community groups to help build a better future for our
community.
Residents, students,
and community
members from
all sectors and walks
of life will gather
in-person and online
to learn from and
network with knowledgeable
speakers,
panel discussions
and more. Topics to be discussed include climate change, carbon sequestration,
regenerative agriculture, water quality, social equity, youth
and sustainability and much more.
To learn more about speakers, agenda, and other event updates, visit:
scgov.net/SustainableCommunities.
Registration fee includes access to a full day workshop a New College
or virtually with expert speakers on relevant community sustainability
topics, exhibitor booths, and opportunities to network and connect with
others. Our interactive workshop provides many opportunities to engage
with others, meet with sponsors and exhibitors, network, and more.
Financial assistance is available.
Questions? Call 941-861-9874 or email sustainablesarasota@scgov.net.
• Date and time: November 1, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. –
• Location: Harry Sudakoff Conference Center, 5845 General Dougher
Place, Sarasota.
Louise Bruderle | Editor and Publisher |
westcoastwoman@comcast.net
We welcome your thoughts and comments on this column and on other columns and features in this issue.
You can reach us at westcoastwoman@comcast.net. We’re on the web at www.WestCoastWoman.com.
4 WEST COAST WOMAN AUGUST 2022