Next Station: Hope
Manu Chao, a French-born Spanish singer-songwriter who Rolling Stone described as "global to his core," celebrated his 65th birthday this past June. He named his second solo album, released in 2001, Próxima Estación: Esperanza (Next Station: Hope), after a metro station in Madrid.
Rolling Stone Australia has ranked the album #169 in its list of the 250 greatest albums of the 21st century so far, calling it "a buoyantly chaotic love letter to borderless musical and social possibility."
"Come what may, next station: hope!"
"¡Pase lo que pase, próxima estación: esperanza!"
Known for repeating some variation of this line at his live shows, Manu Chao reminds us that we are already heading toward a destination: hope. Philosophers Roberto Mangabeira Unger and Cornel West have also argued that hope is the consequence of action rather than its cause.
The bystander pauses, passively waiting for conditions to improve, accepting the situation. The person already moving is the one who overcomes obstacles and generates hope.
Halfway through the year, on the eve of the United States' 250th anniversary, is a good moment to ask which one you've been, the rider or the bystander. If you've felt like waiting on the platform, this issue is your reminder to get back on the line.
NEW ON THE BLOG
Meet the Monsters Haunting Workplace Retention
At Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization (ECPRO)’s Lunch & Learn in June, guest speaker Jen Higgins of Thrive People Services prepared attendees to identify the five monsters (or difficult personality types) that haunt workplace retention.
The summer Halloween-themed presentation made an uncomfortable topic memorable — and best of all, humorous. Higgins provided the professional version of Ghostbusters-style human resources tactics to effectively remediate the chaos and frustration caused by these workplace antagonists.
Gallup data show that employees are four times more likely to leave due to poor culture and work-life balance than due to pay, and that 42% of voluntary departures were preventable. Learn five strategies to neutralize difficult personalities before your best people flee.
COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
Frame Gallery Gifts & Art
Following a well-attended opening reception, Lendon Noe’s solo exhibition, To Sit With a Flower, is on view for sale at Frame Gallery through July 25.
Gallery owner Harriet Runkle noted, "We were surrounded by Lendon's stunning floral paintings and enjoyed hearing about the inspiration behind her journey as a professional artist."
Learn more about artist Lendon Noe and the inspiration for the collection of remarkable paintings in the exhibit.
Sewanee Children’s Center
Sewanee Children's Center (SCC) is hiring for several open roles. Located in Sewanee, Tenn., SCC serves children ages 6 weeks through 3rd grade and is committed to research-based developmental practices and strong family partnerships.
Candidates who meet the requirements for the positions are encouraged to apply here.
Baird Dental Business Concepts
In her latest article, Your Work Culture is Your Most Competitive Advantage, Sandy Baird, MBA, reframes the debate on labor shortages in the dental industry.
Sharing the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA)'s updated position statement, Baird explains why the dental industry isn't facing a pipeline problem; it's facing a cultural problem.
Burnout Busted: A Reboot Solution for Dentists
Dentists tell patients that early prevention beats late-stage repair. So why do so many high-performing dentists abandon that logic when it comes to their own well-being?
In her recent article, Busting Burnout in Dentistry, Dr. Laura Schwindt, DDS, explores why burnout isn't a failure of resilience; it’s a failure of early detection.
Discover three practical ways to treat burnout like a dental disease by identifying the subtle cracks before they become a full-blown crisis.
JC’s Gourmet
We can confirm: JC's new elegant French bistro-style egg salad, Salivatin' Salade d'Oeufs, is delicious! Currently offered only at the Seaside Farmers Market in Seaside, Fla., on Tuesday and Saturday mornings in July, it has been selling out quickly!
If you can't make it to the market, visit JC's Gourmet's partner locations for dine-in or take-out options on your next visit to the Emerald Coast.
For something that's both sweet and spicy, you can't go wrong with JC's candied Jommin' Jalapeños. Visit Lady Ray's Culinary Delights in Destin, Fla., which garnishes its famous Meg sandwich with JC's candied jalapeños. Here's what one very happy customer had to say:
“I got 'The Meg' and listen to me because that sandwich was ridiculous in the best way. Egg, sausage, ham, bacon, and those candied jalapeños?? Everything together just worked so well… The croissant was soft, buttery, and fresh, not dry at all.”
Housing Hub
Housing Hub and Mountain TOP's paid 12-week Construction Trainee Program, starting in late August, combines education, hands-on experience, and career services to help participants succeed in the construction industry.
Licensed by the Home Builders Institute and based in the South Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee, the nonprofit's program provides graduates with an industry-recognized certificate.
Dog-Harmony
Our office manager and therapy dog, Chloe, is back in action after a leg injury this spring. She participated in a recent Dog-Harmony Canine Body Language class designed for kids ages 7 to 12, helping them practice what they learned.
Alongside their parents, children learned to recognize signs of fear and stress in dogs to prevent bites and how to approach a strange dog. After saying, "Yes, please!" to every ask, Chloe went home happy with a very full belly of treats!
For businesses looking for cause marketing and nonprofit partnership opportunities, Dog-Harmony is offering sponsorships for its 11th Annual Barktoberfest, the Emerald Coast’s most beloved doggie costume contest and canine-only trick-or-treat celebration at Grand Boulevard in Sandestin, Fla., on Oct. 30, 2026.
THE ELEVATED EXPERIENCE
A curated collection of upcoming events with our talented clients, partners, and friends
That's it for July. Everyone here moved first — gallery receptions, a new trainee program, a new spin on a French egg salad, therapy dog visits, and a canine costume contest already on the calendar — and let hope follow the action. Wherever your next station sits, the way there is the same: start toward it. See you down the line.
