What we do
NEXTGEN is the official family resource of Manatee County, featuring local events and good news around our community and is brought to you by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, Inc (ELC). The educational and family resource magazine is distributed to the parents of 25,000 elementary school children in 47 Manatee County schools, with an additional 8,000 distributed to over 200 childcare facilities, libraries, medical offices, hospitals and other business offices throughout the county. Our new website features local events, community updates and interactive activities and games for children of all ages.
Latest Issue
Summer 2026
Recent Issues
Curiosity on Display
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: School District of Manatee County
Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning. —William Arthur Ward
If you‘re a parent, you‘re probably used to your kids asking all kinds of questions. Why is the sky blue? How do airplanes stay in the air? What is the internet? Or that classic question that suddenly makes you wish you had paid more attention …
No Small Role
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Katelyn Disbro
Taking care of young children is serious work, even if it mostly looks like (messy) play. With kids around, there’s often playdough on the floor, paint spattered across the table, and after snack time, crumbs everywhere. But somewhere in the middle of all that noise and motion, children are learning. And the people leading those classrooms carry a big responsibility, helping these kids build …
Seeing the Difference
WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
Children with undetected vision problems often struggle academically, athletically, and personally.
While you let that sink in, meet Dr. Michael and Sarah Mackie, with Eye Center Inc., and the founders of The Vision Foundation.
Michael is a native of Manatee County, and both his parents were educators in the Manatee School District. Both Michael and Sarah were very active in the community throughout their young …
Mixon In Bloom
WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
For over 80 years, Janet and Dean Mixon operated Mixon Fruit Farms off 27th Street East in Bradenton. But after the citrus greening disease and rising insurance costs, the Mixons made the difficult decision to put the property up for sale. That decision began with conversations with the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners, and in 2025, they voted to purchase 39 acres of the …
A Commitment to Excellence
PHOTOS: Melissa Parker, SDMC Communications Department
Dr. Laurie Breslin is closing out her first school year as superintendent with a clear sense of purpose. In this conversation with NEXTGEN Family Magazine, she talks about her own journey into education, what she looks for in strong schools, and why preparing students for what comes after graduation remains central to the work ahead.
NG: You‘ve shared that you didn‘…
Penny Power
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Suncoast Credit Union Foundation
When was the last time you held a penny? As a child, thrilled to spot that flash of copper on the ground? Or maybe you were sorting through a handful of change from a cashier (and remembered why you usually use a card). Perhaps you dropped the pennies into a tip jar, glad not to weigh down your wallet.
Pennies don‘…
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