What's going on this weekend (in the greater FTL)?

What's happening that I don't want to miss?

What can we do to get the whole family out and away from the screens?

Fall is nearly upon us, and for our new school (launching this winter) that means the introduction of a new student media project, Family Friendly Fort Lauderdale.

Family Friendly Fort Lauderdale is a weekly newsletter with a rundown of things to do, places to eat, events not to miss, plus other random, weird, and wonderful things our city.

Each Wednesday you will get a list of 10-15 curated stories with links to the stuff you won't want to miss out on. Throw in an occasional spotlight on a local business, or interesting tidbits of FTL facts and history.

Delivered to your inbox.

Every Wednesday. Scan in 10 seconds to discover the goodness of what greater Fort Lauderdale has to offer. 

We sat down with  Acton Academy Co-Founder Tobin Slaven, who is heading up the Family Friendly Fort Lauderdale project, to talk about the WHO, WHY, HOW, WHAT, WHERE, and WHEN of this student-driven project.

Question: Where did the interest to start this project come from? Any why do it as a student project with AAFTL?

Tobin Slaven: Our family is new to Fort Lauderdale, and when we moved in this past July, we didn't really know all the cool things going on around us. I started to collect a list and figured this might be an interesting thing to share with other families who are looking for something more than just... this band is playing at that pub on Friday night.

As far as being a student project, one of our main objectives with Acton Academy is to create real-world apprenticeships for our Heroes. Often that means out in the local community and providing real value (not just observing) with your local business owners. But to forge those partnerships, you have to get to know the local business community... so the media project seems like a logical next step.

Question: So how does that work? How will the students contribute to Family Friendly Fort Lauderdale?

Tobin Slaven: Media projects are a great learning environment because there are SO many ways to create. Our Heroes might write about some of their favorite local experiences, or interview a local business owner such as an afterschool program or a bake shop. Being able to write and communicate in a real-world way (rather than dry academic subjects) is a skill they will carry with them for years to come.

Over time, our goal is to hand over each of the "Jobs To Be Done" with the newsletter, from research, to writing and editorial duties... it will become a student-driven project. That is the Acton model in operation, where the students take over governance and ownership of their own education. And learn by doing practical, real-world jobs.

Question: If someone is interested in getting the newsletter, or even sharing events or things to do, how can they connect?

Tobin Slaven: Folks can click over to Family Friendly Fort Lauderdale to subscribe to get the weekly newsletter (starting Sept 1st). We are also planning to have a small paid community of local members who also want to share their events and updates, which will also support this project.