Mabdelis Rosado ’25, Illustration, will showcase her new illustrated children’s book What’s in My Community: Manasota County at the Roskamp Exhibition Hall on Friday, Nov. 8 from 5 pm-8 pm.
The book, which is printed in English, Spanish, and Creole, follows a grandmother and her grandson as the two explore landmarks of the Sarasota/Manatee area. What’s in My Community: Manasota County is a celebration of the area and is designed to be read by a child and their guardian.
Rosado created the book in collaboration with the local non-profit Project Light of Manatee Inc. and the Ringling College Lazarus Engaged Learning Assistantship. Fellow students Margo Drew and Madison Gear also helped with the book’s pre-production.
“My hope with this book is to bring together families around a shared sense of community,” Rosado said. “You’re never too young to learn and you’re never too old to keep learning.”
Project Light of Manatee Inc. teaches English, computer, and citizenship classes to local students from many parts of the world. In May 2023, Rosado reached out to Project Light to aid the organization by creating a book that would act as a resource for their students. What’s in My Community: Manasota County promotes literacy while also acting as a historical guide to the community.
The Lazarus Engaged Learning Assistantship at Ringling College of Art and Design is a four-year program designed to support students in their exploration of non-profit community partners, building of relationships with specific organizations, development of a creative and sustainable solution for a community challenge or initiative, and reflection of their roles as an artist in their local community. Made possible by the generous support of The Rudi Lazarus Foundation
Initial production of What’s in My Community: Manasota County was also made possible by a grant from the Bradenton Rotary Foundation.
