Culture and Connections

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.

At a time when political and philosophical divisions seem to be deepening across the U.S., a panel discussion at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers brought in experts to explore ways on bridging the divide.

While many are packing away Christmas decorations and saying goodbye to holiday treats, a small Egyptian community in Fort Myers is just getting started. For them, January 7th marks the heart of the season—Coptic Orthodox Christmas.

The holiday season has a way of bringing people together through shared tradition. Though the rituals may differ, some celebrations share a common theme of devotion, especially for local Catholic immigrant communities.

Every year, millions of people celebrate Christmas to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. But historical evidence suggests that Jesus wasn’t even born in the month of December.

Across the United States, a growing number of people are identifying as religiously unaffiliated, also known as "nones.” According to PEW research center, they make up more than 25% of the U.S. population. But, this religious shift has ripple effects.

In the heart of Fort Myers lies a small—but mighty—Lay Buddhist community. The 10-person group has been around for over a decade, but this year might be their most challenging one to date.