The Academy at Bradenton welcomed members of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce this week for a Lunch & Learn highlighting the organization’s mental health recovery programs, vocational training and efforts to create pathways to employment.
The visit also marked another chapter in the relationship between the Academy and the Chamber. The Chamber welcomed Academy at Bradenton with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in June 2024, and the signed ribbon from that event remains displayed on a wall at the Academy.
During this week’s visit, Academy members led Chamber guests through the facility and shared information about the work taking place there. The Academy’s culinary team also prepared lunch for the visitors.
Academy at Bradenton provides vocational skill training, wellness opportunities, community support and career placement for adults pursuing mental health recovery. Its program follows the Clubhouse model, in which members and staff work alongside one another in the daily operation of the organization while members develop skills, relationships and pathways toward employment.
The Bradenton program grew out of the Academy at Glengary in Sarasota. The original Academy was created after more than 20 community leaders began planning the organization in 2015. The Sarasota campus opened in June 2017 and later earned accreditation through Clubhouse International.
Plans to expand services into Manatee County eventually led to The Academy at Bradenton. The organization purchased a historic downtown Bradenton building in 2021 and began operating a temporary Bradenton program in 2022 while the permanent facility was renovated.
Following nearly three years of planning, design and construction, Academy at Bradenton celebrated the grand opening of its permanent campus on April 18, 2024. More than 50 founding members joined staff, volunteers, board members and donors in establishing the new location.
Lunch & Learn visits such as this week’s Chamber gathering, allow Academy members to interact with local business and community leaders while showcasing the skills they develop through the program. The connections can also help the Academy strengthen relationships with area employers and expand opportunities for members seeking to enter or return to the workforce.
