Culture and Connections

The Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida is opening a private academy — sort of. The organization is converting its current Dunbar location into a private alternative academy. Julian Ramirez, executive director of the center, shared early details about the plan, hinting at what’s to come for the longtime community space.

The world was stunned last week when white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, signaling the election of a new pope. But what made this moment truly historic: For the first time, the pope is American-born and there’s a local connection.

The city of Cape Coral held its annual multicultural festival over the weekend.

Florida Gulf Coast University has joined the growing list of institutions formalizing partnerships with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Federal Housing Administration has announced changes to its mortgage eligibility rules that will affect thousands of non-citizens nationwide.

After the Trump administration announced plans to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans, many families were thrown into limbo — including that of one Florida Gulf Coast University student.

A forum featuring descendants of six former United States presidents, including grandsons of Jimmy Carter and Harry Truman, highlighted Presidents Day weekend at the Harry S. Truman Little White House in Key West. James Earl Carter IV, Clifton Truman Daniel and other descendants discussed the importance of historical preservation related to presidencies during the forum at the Little White House, now Florida’s only presidential museum.

When one thinks of helping homeless people, private jets and million-dollar supercars might not be the first things that come to mind. But in Collier County that's exactly what's driving change.

Picture this: A dusty dirt road in Fort Myers, where cows and chickens seem to have wandered out of a Vietnamese countryside postcard. But this is no ordinary weekend. This is Tết -- the Vietnamese new year -- and Bo De Tam Monastery is throwing a huge celebration.

In cities big and small, the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was celebrated Monday. Southwest Florida streets were packed with signs, slogans and sanguinity.