David Wilkins, president of the Manasota Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), has led the recent initiative to sponsor a Sarasota Freedom School. In an email interview, Wilkins told the Catalyst about the history of Freedom Schools, how Sarasota’s school…
No one expects that their next bike ride will be their last, but members of the Sarasota community should be aware that if they are riding locally, it could be. A recent analysis by Change Research has found that some of the most dangerous counties…
March 19 through 28, the Second Annual Sarasota Native American Film Festival, hosted on Eventive, offered a diverse selection of indigenous-produced works about various facets of indigenous history and culture. As the name would imply, the festival had plenty to offer on the individual experiences…
To wrap up a month of action in April, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) took to the sidewalks in front of a Sarasota Wendy’s to drive the message home: join the Fair Food Program or feel the burn of a national boycott. “Farmworkers and…
Sunday morning saw more than 100 people gather in front of the Selby Public Library at 11 to march for Trans Rights. Water, beads and sunscreens were passed around, as well as signs that said “Hate has no place in our education system” and “Safe…
After a year of hosting events, bringing bands to Sarasota and serving as a community space, the Nothing Arts Center is officially closing down – as it currently exists. The organization announced on April 23 that Nothing Arts Center would not be renewing its lease…
Asian art is the fastest growing art market in the world, and yet there are few museums in the United States that feature pieces in the eastern artistic tradition—let alone dedicate entire wings to the study of such works. The Ringling Museum of Art is…
SUBMITTED BY DYLAN PRYOR As an interning political analyst and a member of the Florida Capitol’s Press Corps, I have been able to witness many key political events as they happen. Here are a few highlights from the final few weeks of the Spring…
18 years, 50,000 people, 200 films and six theaters – that’s how long the Sarasota Film Festival (SFF) has ran, how many people attend, how many showings it offers and how many locations are included. Annually, as the city-wide event draws near, the SFF logo…
“Wendy’s— escucha! estamos en la lucha!” “El pueblo, unido, jamas sera vencido!” “Que queremos? Justicia! Cuando? Ahora!” (“Wendy’s— listen! We are in the fight!” “The people, united, will never be divided.” “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!”) These are just…
