Four Boys & Girls Club Members Attend The 2019 PINC Experience

Club members Marguerite A. and Vanessa T. at the 2019 PINC Experience

Four exceptional Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties members attended the 2019 PINC Experience on December 12, 2019, at The Sarasota Opera House thanks to the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation.

PINC, which is powered by DreamLarge and stands for People, Ideas, Nature and Creativity, is a gathering of minds with a focus on science, art, humanity and the fundamental pieces that create the human experience. During a full-day conference, guests are inspired by a cascade of international speakers, global thinkers and innovators from every imaginable discipline, skill and talent.

The Club members were a part of the inaugural cohort of Barancik PINC Scholars, and included Lei'Asha B., a Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club member and senior at Riverview High School; Marguerite A., a Lee Wetherington Boys & Girl Club member and senior at Pine View School; Ryan J., a Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club member and senior at Suncoast Polytechnical High School; and Vanessa T., a Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club member and senior at Riverview High School. Each Barancik PINC Scholar was also able to extend an invitation to the event to their favorite high school teacher. The Club members invited Ms. Carla Harding from Riverview High School; Mr. Chris Pauling from Pine View School; Mr. Joshua Ramsdell from Suncoast Polytechnical High School; and Mr. Steinur Bell from Riverview High School, respectively.

The audience heard from an eclectic group of speakers throughout the day such as a Cartoonist and Writer, Forensic Artist, Artistic Chemist, Violin Maker, Filmmaker and Producer and Digital Cartographer. Each presentation evoked a new perspective and encouraged guests to imagine what is possible when they channel inspiration and lean into their own creativity and innovation.

"Each presentation illustrated masterfully that creativity is the fuel keeping innovation alive, and furthering us as a species in the process," said Ryan J. "I am so grateful to have had this experience. PINC showed us the potential within all of us. It is easy to settle for less than our potential, but it is in striving for it that we can truly live meaningful lives."

Club member Ryan J. at the 2019 PINC Experience

"My favorite part of the PINC Experience was the incredible range of interests and professions of the speakers. I learned about life paths that I didn't even know were possible - from experiential artistic chemistry to modern exploration-based cuisine," said Marguerite A. "The PINC Experience inspired me and gave me hope that I can live an interesting, creative life, not confined by society's expectations regarding careers or choices."

"Each speaker was uniquely different and memorized me in every way possible," said Lei'Asha B. "I loved how I was able to bring my role model along with me, too! This was a wonderful opportunity because it shows you can follow your dreams and still make an impact on the world in our own way. I am forever grateful to be chosen as a Barancik PINC Scholar!"

Club member Lei'Asha B. with Ms. Carla Harding

"In school, we are often confined to formulaic and standardized learning, which limits a student's curiosity. But the PINC Experience encourages people to accept that the best type of curiosity is the insatiable one," said Vanessa T. "The youth are the future, and the future is built on actions today. It is important to provide young students with opportunities like this, and allow them to explore the limits of their imagination, because they test that the future favors the daring, the dreamers and the doers."

Next, each student will create on an art piece that embodies their PINC experience and showcases the impact of the event's inspiration ranging from photography, painting, graphic design and musical performance.

Thank you to the Barancik Foundation for affording these outstanding Club members and their favorite teachers with this incredibly eye-opening, exhilarating experience!