CivicCon

06/05/2026

Research shows that, collectively, maternal mental health conditions are the number one complication of pregnancy. But with awareness, screening, and proper support, these conditions are highly treatable.

Dr. Limperopoulos is the Director of the Center for Prenatal, Neonatal & Maternal Health Research at Children's National. During her CivicCon presentation last month, she highlighted how health systems can take a proactive approach to identifying and treating mental health conditions in expectant mothers.

Click the link to watch the full CivicCon presentation: https://bit.ly/4dTJoX6

06/03/2026

Seth Kaplan is a fragile states expert and author of Fragile Neighborhoods.

During his April CivicCon talk, he explained how the true foundation of every thriving community and successful nation is relationships. Strong connections between people create healthier families, stronger neighborhoods, and more resilient societies.

Click the link to watch Seth Kaplan's full CivicCon talk: https://bit.ly/4o1p2yg

06/02/2026

The Civic Leader Summit is back October 6–8 in downtown Pensacola!

Join community leaders, elected officials, business professionals, nonprofit leaders, and engaged citizens for three days of inspiring keynotes, breakout sessions, and meaningful conversations about the future of our communities.

Early bird tickets are available now for just $200 through August 15.

Whether you're passionate about housing, economic development, civic engagement, placemaking or building stronger communities, the Civic Leader Summit offers the tools and connections you can bring back to your work and neighborhood.

Click the link to register today and be part of the conversation: www.civicleadersummit.com

The Civic Leader Summit is back October 6–8 in downtown Pensacola.

Join community leaders, elected officials, business professionals, nonprofit leaders, and engaged citizens for three days of inspiring keynotes, breakout sessions, and meaningful conversations about the future of our communities.

Early bird tickets are available now for just $200 through August 15.

Whether you're passionate about housing, economic development, civic engagement, placemaking or building stronger communities, the Civic Leader Summit offers the tools and connections you can bring back to your work and neighborhood.

Click the link to register today and be part of the conversation: www.civicleadersummit.com

05/27/2026

⚾️ Thank you to everyone who helped us recognize our 2025 CivicCon Award winners at the Stadium last week!

Our 2025 CivicCon Award winners represent the very best of Pensacola and the surrounding areas:

Place Making Award: From the Ground Up Garden (Represented by Elizabeth Eubanks and her team) transformed unused land beneath I-110 into a thriving community garden focused on fresh food access.

Environmental Award: The Santa Rosa Band of the Lower Muscogee (Represented by Vice Chief Les Allen) created an immersive environmental learning experience at the Creek Heritage Center, while the Trust for Public Land (Represented by Naisy Dolar) and NAS Whiting Field (Represented by Randy Roy) helped preserve 429 acres for conservation and recreation.

Great Neighborhood Award: East Hill Neighborhood Association (Represented by Karyn Scarbrough) continues enhancing one of Pensacola’s most beloved neighborhoods through beautification projects and community events.

Transparency and Good Government Award: Grace Resendez McCaffery has spent decades informing and advocating for the Gulf Coast’s Spanish-speaking communities through journalism and outreach.

Equity Award: Transformation Church (Represented by Pastor Brad Livingston) erased $6.5 million in medical debt for thousands of Escambia County residents.

Best New Addition to Downtown Milton: The Sweet Greek (Represented by Melissa Glyptis Simpson) brought new life to downtown Milton by restoring a historic building into a vibrant bakery and community hub.

Strong Towns Award: End of the Line Café (Represented by Jen Knight) continues building culture and connection through locally rooted food, art, and community events.

The CivicCon Award: Commissioner Colten Wright has championed thoughtful growth and productive civic dialogue throughout Santa Rosa County.

Community Volunteer Award: Anna Lochas continues uplifting Pensacola through relentless volunteer leadership and civic engagement.

Congratulations to every award recipient for making our community stronger and more connected every day. Your impact is felt every day!

05/13/2026

👩‍🍼 Thank you to everyone who attended our CivicCon presentation and the Pediatric Grand Rounds at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola.

We were honored to welcome Dr. Catherine Limperopoulos and Dr. Nickie Andescavage from Children's National to discuss maternal and infant wellness. Their talk highlighted how maternal mental health, access to care and community support all play a critical role in infant brain development and long-term outcomes.

Read the full story at the link: https://bit.ly/4wq4K5p

05/05/2026

Dr. Nickie Andescavage is a maternal-fetal medicine physician and researcher whose work focuses on high-risk pregnancies and how conditions before birth shape infant health. At 's National Hospital, she uses advanced imaging and clinical research to better understand how stress, medical complications and other prenatal factors can impact early development.

Dr. Andescavage’s work helps translate complex medical research into practical insights, showing how earlier support during pregnancy can lead to healthier births and stronger long-term outcomes for children.

Join us Monday, May 11, to learn from Dr. Andescavage and Dr. Catherine Limperopoulos how this research can help inform real solutions.

Learn more and register for free: https://bit.ly/4w1kH1W

04/30/2026

Dr. Catherine Limperopoulos is one of the leading voices in fetal and neonatal brain research, studying how a baby’s brain develops before birth and what factors can shape lifelong outcomes. As a neuroscientist at Children’s National Hospital, her work focuses on how stress, anxiety and other challenges during pregnancy can directly impact infant brain development.

Why does this matter for Pensacola? Communities like ours are working to improve maternal health, infant wellness and early childhood development. Dr. Limperopoulos’ research helps connect the dots, giving communities practical insight into how better support for mothers can lead to stronger families and healthier futures.

Join us Monday, May 11 at CivicCon to hear from Dr. Catherine Limperopoulos and Dr. Nickie Andescavage on how this research can inform real solutions at the local level.

Click the link to learn more and register for free: https://bit.ly/4w1kH1W

04/28/2026

Join CivicCon and Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola on Monday, May 11, at 6:00 p.m. at Consulate Wesley Hall for an important presentation on how maternal health shapes the earliest stages of life.

In "Strengthening Maternal and Infant Wellness Through Community," Dr. Catherine Limperopoulos and Dr. Nickie Andescavage from will explore how stress, anxiety and depression during pregnancy can impact infant brain development and long-term outcomes.

Drawing on leading research in fetal and neonatal neuroscience, they will share practical ways communities can better support maternal mental health and improve outcomes for children and families.

Hear from Carlton Ulmer, co-founder of , alongside Quint Studer, on why this topic matters and why you should be in the room.

Register for free at the link: https://bit.ly/4w1kH1W

04/20/2026

Join us on Monday, May 11, at 6:00 p.m. at Consulate Wesley Hall for a presentation on how maternal health shapes the earliest stages of life. Dr. Catherine Limperopoulos and Dr. Nickie Andescavage of Children’s National Hospital will explore how stress, anxiety and depression during pregnancy can impact infant brain development and long-term outcomes.

Drawing on leading research in fetal and neonatal neuroscience, they will highlight practical ways communities can better support maternal mental health and improve outcomes for children and families.

Dr. Limperopoulos is an internationally recognized neuroscientist and leader in fetal and neonatal brain imaging. Dr. Andescavage is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and physician-scientist whose work focuses on high-risk pregnancies.

Register for free at the link: https://bit.ly/4tSWyZm

04/16/2026

One CivicCon event and four workshops later, we’re grateful for the insight shared by Seth Kaplan, author of Fragile Neighborhoods.

Kaplan highlighted a growing social disconnect in American life. While much has improved materially, our relationships, trust, and local institutions have weakened over time. The good news is these connections can be rebuilt. By strengthening relationships and investing in the institutions closest to home, we can create neighborhoods where people feel connected and able to thrive.

Click the link to watch his full CivicCon talk: https://bit.ly/3OGay9U