Stroll Eaglebrooke Magazine: Celebrating 8 Years of Resident-Driven Content and Local Business Partnerships

Written By Bianca McKinney

Allow me to introduce Sandi Somogyi, the dedicated content coordinator of Stroll Eaglebrooke magazine. Sandi has been a resident of Eaglebrooke since 2007 and shares her home with her beloved cat Sophie. In our July issue, you can read all about her incredible daughter Abbey, who was featured prominently. When she's not working on the magazine, Sandi enjoys scrapbooking, cooking (check out her monthly article, Cooking with Sandi), traveling, reading, watching football and true crime shows, going to Disney, she loves to volunteer and once a month wraps gifts for Children's Home Society, she enjoys spending quality time with friends and her unwavering love for Stroll Eaglebrooke.

Now, let me introduce myself, Bianca McKinney, the franchise owner and publisher. I have been a resident of Lakeland since 1973 and currently reside in north Lakeland with my forever love R.J., and our energetic three-year-old Great Dane, TBoy (you can follow him on Instagram - tboy_the_dane). I have one son, Damien, who is 28 and works as a UPS driver. If he ever delivers to you, be sure to say hi to the MR UPS man! When I'm not working with the magazines (yes, I have two - Stroll Eaglebrooke and BeLocal Lakeland), my hobbies include going to the gym, taking long walks, enjoying quality time by the pool with my family, exploring the beach and mountains through hiking, engaging in outdoor activities, watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball, football, indulging in shows like Yellowstone, and finding great series on Netflix. And of course, I love to cook for friends and family.
Together, Sandi and I form a dynamic team dedicated to bringing you the best of Eaglebrooke and beyond through the pages of Stroll Eaglebrooke magazine.

Introduction: For over eight years, Stroll Eaglebrooke magazine has been a cornerstone of the exclusive Eaglebrooke community, bringing residents together through its resident-driven content and strong partnerships with local businesses. With the magazine's 97th issue hitting mailboxes in July, it is an opportune time to celebrate the power of community connection and the valuable relationships formed between residents and the local businesses that make the magazine possible. This article delves into how Stroll Eaglebrooke magazine thrives on the collaboration between its readers and business partners, resulting in a vibrant and engaging publication that strengthens both the community and the local economy.

Residents: The Heart of Stroll Eaglebrooke Magazine: At the heart of Stroll Eaglebrooke magazine is the active participation of its residents. Each month, the magazine is enriched by the contributions sent in by the community residents themselves. Residents share their stories, experiences, and milestones, creating a tapestry of neighborly connections. By actively participating in the magazine's content creation, residents forge deeper connections with their neighbors and contribute to the overall sense of community within Eaglebrooke.

Fostering a Sense of Community: Stroll Eaglebrooke magazine serves as a powerful platform for residents to showcase the unique aspects of their families, pets, homes, and events. By sharing their stories, residents create an environment of openness and familiarity within the community. This resident-driven content fosters a sense of belonging, allowing neighbors to get to know each other better and build lasting relationships. The magazine acts as a catalyst for strengthening the bonds among residents, creating a tightly-knit community that takes pride in its shared experiences. If it is important in your life, we would be honored to share it with your neighbors.

Business Partnerships and Supporting Local Economy: A key aspect of Stroll Eaglebrooke magazine's success lies in its partnerships with local businesses. These businesses recognize the value of reaching out to the affluent and engaged residents of Eaglebrooke. By becoming business sponsors and participating in Sponsor Spotlight articles, these partners gain exposure and the opportunity to earn the business of the community members. In turn, their support helps keep the magazine free for residents, ensuring widespread readership and a thriving local economy. The partnerships create a symbiotic relationship, where both residents and businesses benefit from the connections forged through the magazine.

Spotlighting and Recommending Local Businesses: Stroll Eaglebrooke magazine goes beyond merely featuring business partners; it actively spotlights and recommends them to its readership. The magazine conducts interviews with the featured businesses, offering insights into their services, products, and values. These personal recommendations build trust between residents and the businesses, encouraging community members to utilize the services offered by their neighbors. By highlighting local businesses, the magazine enhances the economic fabric of the community and encourages residents to support their fellow community members.

Events that Cultivate Relationships: Stroll Eaglebrooke magazine not only connects residents through its pages but also fosters relationships through social events. The magazine organizes gatherings that draw residents out, providing opportunities for them to meet their neighbors and the business partners featured in the publication. These events create an atmosphere of camaraderie and enable residents to further cultivate relationships with one another and with local businesses. By bringing the community together in person, Stroll Eaglebrooke strengthens the bonds formed through the magazine and deepens the sense of belonging within the community.

Conclusion: Stroll Eaglebrooke magazine's success is rooted in its commitment to resident-driven content and partnerships with local businesses. With residents actively participating and sharing their stories, the magazine creates a vibrant sense of community, fostering connections and a shared identity among neighbors. Additionally, its collaboration with local businesses supports the economy and allows the magazine to be distributed to residents free of charge. Through the combination of resident stories, and business partnerships. 

In closing, as the publisher of Stroll Eaglebrooke magazine, I, Bianca, want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the residents for wholeheartedly embracing the publication and becoming an integral part of its success. It has been an absolute pleasure to serve as the conduit for sharing your stories, connecting neighbors, and building a strong sense of community. These past eight years have flown by, and it has been a true blessing to meet residents and learn about their families. To both the residents and our valued business partners, you are all MY PEOPLE, and I am grateful for the privilege of being a part of this remarkable community. Here's to many more years of connection, support, and shared experiences within the pages of Stroll Eaglebrooke magazine! I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our content coordinator, Sandi Somogyi, for her invaluable contributions to the magazine. Working with you has been an absolute joy, and I cherish the treasured friendship that has blossomed from our collaboration. Thank you for your dedication and enthusiasm, and I eagerly look forward to many more wonderful times ahead.

Interview with your power team:
 
Q -Is Stroll Eaglebrooke associated with The Club at Eaglebrooke?
 
A - No we are not, Stroll Eaglebrooke is a franchise with the N2 Company owned by your publisher Bianca.
 
Q- What is Stroll Eaglebrooke about?
 
  1. The publication is 100% resident-driven content, We will feature anything the residents in the community have going on that they would like to share with their neighbors, such as
Weddings, new babies, graduations, parties, birthdays, anniversaries, vacations, holiday parties, children’s activities, involvement in sports, recognition for achievements, resident get togethers, new pets, out and about around town,etc, - NOTHING is unworthy content. We love it all!
 
Q- As a resident how do I submit content?
 
  1. It is extremely simple, just contact Bianca or Sandi. Bianca.mckinney@n2pub.com (863) 698-4668 – Uwinsc@tampabay.rr.com
 
Q – Does the magazine host social events?
 
A – Yes we do! You will see save the dates inside the publication, emails are sent out (if you are not on the email list, send your contact information to Bianca.mckinney@n2co.com) we post on our social media, please follow us on FB & IG, we also will occasionally post the events on nextdoor. These social events are a great place to come join together and begin cultivating relationships with your neighbors. If you have an idea for a social outing please let us know. We really love to go out into the beautiful city we live in and support local businesses.
 
Q – As a resident how can I get my business involved?
 
A – That’s a great question, reach out to Bianca and she will meet with you and share all of the perks that a resident business owner can receive. A partnership with the publication will keep your business top of mind awareness through print and digitally, its a win win!
 
Q – What types of articles is the magazine looking for?
 
A – Here are some ideas we are looking for – teenage entrepreneur – athlete of the month – yard of the month – junior writers – hot rod of the month – kids 2 kids – book review – parents 2 parents - golfer of the month –
 
Q – As a resident how can I refer a business I use to the magazine?
 
A – Please reach out to that business and connect them with Bianca.