Editor Letter For August 2024: Inspiration Abounds in Orlando

Read the latest from Orlando Magazine editor Jennifer McKee.

When I was growing up, my small Midwestern town didn’t have enough volunteers to lead a full-fledged Girl Scouts troop. But I did get to participate in Brownies, the introductory troop for second- and third-graders.

For a painfully shy kid who lived in a suburb of a suburb, it was a great outlet that forced me to socialize rather than hole up in my bedroom reading. It also introduced me to fun science experiments such as static electricity (a chance to purposely walk around with flyaway hair), spurred a passion for nature that I have to this day—I’m sure my mom loved all the buckets of toads I captured—and allowed me to express my creative side.

I was in Brownies for just two years, but in that short time, I learned that my interests were valid, that my contributions were valuable and that curiosity was natural. Plus, I loved the little brown beret and sash where I displayed all my pins and patches.

I never had the chance to work on the projects today’s Girl Scouts do. So I’m living vicariously through the work of the Girl Scouts of Citrus, who are solving issues in their communities through ingenuity, hard work and determination. You can learn more about their recent projects in a new exhibit running through the end of this month at the  Women’s History and Cultural Center. The exhibit honors 29 young ladies who’ve received the Gold Award—the Girl Scouts’ highest honor. I know you’ll be as impressed as I was when you read more about the exhibit  on p. 16.

August is the best month for staying indoors, and the inspiration doesn’t end with the Girl Scouts’ exhibit. Head to the Orlando Museum of Art where you can view artwork from the finalists of the 2024 Florida Prize in Contemporary Art through Aug. 24. Two of the winners,  Njeri Kinuthia and Boy Kong, are from Orlando, and Kinuthia won the People’s Choice Award. It’s a chance to see progressive art at its best. 

There’s much more inspiration for your mind, body, soul and taste buds in this, our Best of ORL issue, in which we introduce the 107 establishments that took top honors in our annual readers’ poll. In all, 321 first-, second- and third-place winners are represented across seven categories. The feature begins on p. 23.

You’ll also want to look for inspiration in our 2024 Hall of Fame, which recognizes professionals in Law, Medicine and Dentistry for excellence in their fields. Each professional listed has the distinction of being named by their peers to these lists a minimum of five times. Impressive indeed!