CORTEZ – The Cortez Village Historical Society (CVHS), in partnership with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) and support from the Florida Maritime Museum, is launching a community education initiative on Saturday, Jan. 31.
The collaborative project is titled “It Takes a Village,” and it highlights the connection between a healthy estuary, sustainable seafood and Cortez’s historic working waterfront.
“Our grant from the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) has made it possible for us to move forward with our mission of preserving Cortez by focusing on maintaining a healthy estuary – a key element of our village’s commercial fishing tradition,” CVHS President Cindy Rodgers said. “This incredible estuary has been a food source for humans for thousands of years and the backbone of the Cortez economy for over a century. Now we will connect thousands of ‘boat to table’ seafood customers, village residents and visitors with an opportunity to help in large and small ways.”
The educational initiative will feature bilingual signage, restaurant table cards, walking guides, a new web page and public events – all designed to encourage residents and visitors to take actions that will protect Sarasota Bay.
The initiative will be introduced during the “Cortez: Coffee, Culture & Conservation” event taking place Saturday, Jan. 31, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Cortez Cultural Center at 11655 Cortez Road W.
The event will be hosted by SBEP, CVHS, Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) and Florida Sea Grant/UF/IFAS Extension.
The program will include a discussion of the “It Takes a Village” initiative and its goals, followed by a guided tour of the restored FISH Preserve and its new trails and bridges. The enhancements at the 98-acre coastal preserve were made possible by a grant from the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation.
Attendees will also be invited to take a self-guided tour of Cortez using the new map that features places of interest, key environmental features and the village’s ‘boat-to-table’ restaurants and markets.
“The Cortez community is an important partner for SBEP. Residents deeply care about the health and cultural significance of their local environment; and their new educational initiative, ‘It Takes a Village,’ along with their stewardship of the FISH Preserve, exemplifies that commitment,” said Megan Barry, public outreach manager for the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program.
The Jan. 31 coffee event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. To register visit the EventBrite website.
Learn more at the Cortez Village Historical Society website.
