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“Vibrant Naples – Can It Be Sustained?”

JCRC announces Eighth Annual Day of Learning Thursday, March 30

By Joel Pittelman, Day of Learning Chair

For eight years, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) has sponsored a Day of Learning event to educate, entertain and challenge members of the Jewish community. Topics addressed have ranged from antisemitism to Jewish Supreme Court Justices, with many other topics in between.

As part of its mission, the JCRC seeks to build bridges of communication and understanding with the broader Naples community. Accordingly, this year’s Day of Learning will address a topic that will be of interest to the entire Naples community: “Vibrant Naples — Can It Be Sustained?” All residents of the Greater Naples community are encouraged to participate. The Day of Learning, as well Jewish Federation’s new Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center, provide a forum for new ideas and understandings that will enrich our entire community.

Greater Naples and Collier County are referred to as the Paradise Coast for a reason — it is a wonderful place to live. Early residents may have wanted this area to remain a secret so that it would not change, but the secret is out, and thousands of new residents join our growing community each year. Greater Naples is changing, and the pace of change will likely continue.

Residents will demand the most up-to-date, high-quality facilities and services we have all come to expect. But will community leaders be prepared to meet our expectations? Attendees at this year’s Day of Learning will get some answers.

The lineup of speakers for the Day of Learning are all specialists in their chosen fields — fields that contribute to our quality of life here in Greater Naples: health care, arts and entertainment, facilities and services required for our growing and diverse population, and business development and commercial growth. What our speakers, their colleagues and their competitors do in the future will affect the quality of each of our lives.

Each speaker will share their thoughts and answer your questions on what needs to be done to keep our rapidly expanding community at the forefront in each of their fields of expertise.

Amy Patterson, Collier County manager and James French, the County’s director of growth management, will provide their thoughts on the County’s planned land use and economic development; Michael Dalby, president and CEO of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, will speak to the future of Naples’ business development and commercial growth; Elysia Dawn, executive director of the United Arts Council of Collier County, will offer her vision of the future of arts and entertainment; and Dr. Rebecca Smith, president of the Collier County Medical Society, will speak about the evolving needs of health care facilities and services required for our growing and diverse population.

Th e Day of Learning will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center located at 4720 Pine Ridge Road in Naples. There is no charge to attend, but you must pre-register for the event. Please visit the Federation’s website, www.jewishnaples.org, to register.

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