Equal SRQ

06/10/2026

06/10/2026

One of the quiet joys at Equal is watching our little food forest become something more each season.

What started as a handful of plants and hopeful ideas is slowly becoming a place of abundance. Figs are forming. Pineapples are ripening. Sunflowers are reaching for the sky. Pollinators move from bloom to bloom. New fruit trees are finding their footing.

The harvest matters, but it isn't really the point.

The real gift is what happens while tending it. Conversations. Learning. Working side by side. Taking a breath. Noticing something growing.

If you'd like to volunteer, learn about gardening, help steward the space, or simply spend some time among growing things, we'd love to welcome you.

Sometimes the best thing for the soul is an hour spent outdoors with your hands in the dirt and your attention on something alive.

🌿 All are welcome.

06/10/2026

Go Tommy Rubins - sharing information about Equal SRQ and the important role peer support and community connection play before, during, and after times of crisis.

Yesterday, Tom attended the CAP Partner Lunch & Networking Event hosted by the South Florida Red Cross . With hurricane season now underway, gatherings like these are more than networking opportunities—they are an important part of community preparedness.

More than 60 local organizations came together to connect, share updates, welcome new partners, and strengthen relationships across Sarasota and Manatee Counties. The strongest response during a disaster is built long before a storm appears on the radar. It happens during blue-sky days when community partners take the time to learn what resources exist, who can help, and how we can work together.

At EqualSRQ, we are grateful to be part of a network that understands that resilience is a team effort. Whether the need is cooling centers, food distribution, recovery support, outreach, transportation, or emergency response, no single organization can do it alone.

Thank you to the South Florida Red Cross and the Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD/CAP) partners for bringing us together. We look forward to continuing to strengthen these relationships so that when challenges arise, our community is ready to meet them—together.

Thank you, Glama Carter, Melissa Ehrhardt and Emilie Campos for your continued help and support!

06/09/2026

Sometimes recovery isn't about doing more.

Sometimes it's about remembering how to pause.

This simple movement from the ancient practice of QiGong is called "Two Hands Hold the Heavens Up."

Nothing dramatic. Just reaching upward, creating space through the body, taking a deeper breath, and noticing what it feels like to stand fully in the present moment.

Many of us spend our days carrying responsibilities, worries, expectations, and stress. This movement invites us to set some of that down, even if only for a few breaths.

Over the next week, we'll be sharing a few of the gentle movements we'll explore in our new Recovery in Balance series.

You don't need experience.
You don't need flexibility.
You don't need special clothes.

Just curiosity.

🗓 Recovery in Balance: QiGong
📍 EqualSRQ
🕐 Friday, June 19
💚 Beginners welcome. No cost to attend.
2727 Browning Street. The name of the building is Davis Hall.

Come see what happens when we slow down enough to hear ourselves again.
Addie Klein Lisa Ross Tommy Rubins

06/09/2026

Monday Night Done Right.

It has been our longest-running group and one of the quiet treasures of Equal SRQ.

Every other Monday evening, a few blocks from Sarasota Bay, we gather at the Historical Society of Sarasota County FL The old porch catches the coastal breeze, Pub Subs are shared, and people settle into something that can be surprisingly hard to find these days: a slower pace.

For many people in recovery, weekends can disrupt routines. By Monday, there can be a sense of restlessness as life shifts back into the workweek. Having something gentle to look forward to—a place to land, connect, reflect, and reset—can make all the difference.

One group gathers in the parlor to share about their week. Another settles into watercolor journaling inside the chapel. There is conversation, laughter, quiet concentration, and often long stretches where the only sound is a brush moving across paper.

Grounding. Self-reflective. Restorative. Calming.

Over the years, hundreds of people have joined us on these Monday evenings. Some came for recovery support. Some came for connection. Some came because they simply needed a peaceful place to be for a couple of hours.

Whatever brought them through the door, this little bi-weekly capsule has become something special.

And after all these years, it still feels like one of the best ways we know to start a week.

💙 Mondays. Recovery. Community. Creativity.
That's Monday Night Done Right.

06/08/2026

Introducing a new wellness offering at EqualSRQ!

This summer we're launching the first program in our new Recovery in Balance Series, a collection of experiences designed to support wellness through connection, movement, mindfulness, and personal growth.

Our first session will feature Discover Qigong, a gentle moving meditation led by Dai Alexander, DOM, LAc, Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture Physician. Qigong combines slow movement, breathing, posture, and awareness to help reduce stress, improve balance, increase energy, and promote a greater sense of calm.

No experience is needed. Movements are gentle, adaptable, and suitable for beginners.

📅 Friday, June 19
🕓 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 Sarasota Center of Light
2727 Browning Street. The name of the building is Davis Hall. Sarasota

Whether you're looking for stress relief, improved mobility, greater focus, or simply a peaceful way to end your week, we invite you to join us.

Comfortable clothing, supportive shoes, and an open mind are all you need.

This program is part of a new wellness series exploring practices that support the health of the body, mind, and spirit. Future offerings may include additional movement, mindfulness, and holistic wellness experiences.

Questions? Send us a message or email Addie [email protected]

Addie Klein Tommy Rubins Lisa Rick Lisa Ross Paulina Connolly

06/08/2026

🥗 Last Wednesday's Chill & Grill was one for the books!
More than 95 people from our community gathered around the table to share a meal, connect with friends, meet new faces, and enjoy the simple power of being together.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our food partner, All Faiths Food Bank, our guests ate like kings and queens. Summer has arrived, bringing an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, and our tables were overflowing with colorful, nutritious options.
There is something special about this time of year. Mangoes, pineapples, fresh produce, good conversation, laughter, and a welcoming place to belong remind us that recovery and wellness are built in community.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, volunteered, donated, and helped create another evening where no one had to eat alone.
💚 Everyone is welcome.

06/08/2026

🎨 Watercolor Journaling at the Historical Society – Tonight!
Looking for a creative and relaxing way to spend your evening?
Join us tonight at 5:30 PM for Watercolor Journaling at the Sarasota County History Center. We'll be creating a beautiful flower field painting step-by-step, exploring simple watercolor techniques that are approachable for artists of all experience levels.
🌸 Beginners welcome
🎨 All supplies included
🤝 Friendly, supportive atmosphere
📍 Sarasota County History Center
⏰ 5:30 PM
Whether you've never picked up a paintbrush or you've been painting for years, there's a seat for you at the table. Come unwind, connect with others, and discover what happens when creativity and community come together.
All are welcome—we'd love to see you there!

06/02/2026

Free teen enrichment opportunities this summer provided by a trusted partner - see below. (Transportation provided).