FPN Civic Engagement Member Network- Florida Civic Advance Report

The Florida Civic Advance is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with the launch of a new Civic Matters series. In August 2025 released the first report, "Advancing Civic Connections", which highlights Florida civic data from 2008-2023 presenting both challenges and opportunities for Florida communities in advancing civic connections. The Report's call to action includes Strengthen Community Participation and Civic Connections; Comprehensive and Accessible Continuing Civic Education; and Ensure Access to Accurate Information. 

What suggestions do you have for how best to engage with philanthropic organizations to advance community connections and improve civic life? What do you see the role of the FPN member network in the future in this area? 

Featured Speakers

Emery Ivery 

Retired, Suncoast United Way Chief Impact Officer

In 2022 Emery retired as Tampa Bay Area President and Chief Impact Officer at United Way Suncoast after 16 years with Suncoast United Way. During his 16-year tenure with United Way Suncoast, he helped develop innovative strategies to address community inclusion and civic engagement, creating lasting community change in the Tampa Bay region. His nearly 30 years of experience working at United Way included senior-level management positions in Tacoma, Washington, Orlando, Florida, and his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.  Emery started his career as a psychiatric social worker in Cleveland which inspired a focus on systemic justice work over the next 30 years. Emery holds a MSSA from Case Western Reserve University and a BA from Cleveland State University.

Robert "Bob" Jones 

Florida Civic Advance

Robert “Bob” Jones. Bob is a co-founder of the Florida Civic Advance and served as Director of the FSU Consensus from 1990 to 2021. He is highly respected nationally for his leadership in the field of civic engagement, collaboration, and consensus building. He has extensive experience and expertise in designing and facilitating large consensus-building stakeholder collaboration processes at the state and national levels, and has provided consultation to public, private and non-profit organizations on assessing readiness for collaboration, strategic planning and building collaborative capacity.

Tim Dutton 

Sarasota, Consultant to the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg 

Tim Dutton is a Senior Consultant with the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg. He previously served as Director of Unite Pinellas from 2018-2021. He serves as co-Executive Director and co-founder of the consulting firm Community Studios. In 2014-2015 he served as a community development specialist with the Peace Corps in the Kyrgyz Republic. He served as the CEO for the Institute for the Ages in Sarasota from 2010-2012, and as Executive Director for SCOPE (Sarasota County Openly Plans for Excellence) from 2001-2012. He has also served as CEO of two hospitals in the U.S and Haiti.

Registration

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