Ken Sumner’s Men’s Coffee Program Brings 50+ Local Speakers Annually to Naples Senior Community
What started as a simple weekly coffee gathering has evolved into one of southwest Florida’s most dynamic senior community engagement program, thanks to the efforts of The Arlington resident Ken Sumner.
For the past three years, Sumner has transformed The Arlington’s Thursday morning Men’s Coffee group into an engaging educational forum, hosting approximately 50 guest speakers annually. The program consistently draws 20–25 residents eager to learn about their local community while connecting with regional experts and organizations.
“When I took over the program, I asked the men what topics interested them most,” said Sumner. “Environmental issues and affordable housing topped the list, but we’ve expanded far beyond that to include everything from financial planning to sea turtle conservation.”
Sumner’s systematic approach involves reading local publications, identifying quoted experts, and personally reaching out to invite speakers. His efforts have brought university faculty, nonprofit leaders, and environmental specialists to share their expertise with Arlington residents.
The program has generated significant community impact beyond education. Residents regularly follow up with speakers about volunteer opportunities and donations, creating tangible connections between the senior community and local organizations serving Naples’ most vulnerable populations.
“We’ve featured three organizations that tutor non-English speaking children from kindergarten through high school,” Sumner noted. “Our men were mesmerized listening to these success stories. Many of these kids will be the first in their families to graduate high school.”
Notable organizations that have participated include Habitat for Humanity, the Guadalupe Center, The Immokalee Foundation, Grace Place, and Our Daily Bread Food Pantry (ODBFP). The program also features regular financial updates and environmental presentations, including recent talks on shore birds and sea turtle conservation.
Senator Passidomo at the August 14 Men’s Coffee
Speakers consistently praise the engaged, attentive audience and the quality of questions from participants. Word-of-mouth recommendations have helped Sumner build a robust speaker roster that extends bookings through April 2026.
Upcoming speakers include Florida State Senator Kathleen Passidomo (August 14), Florida Gulf Coast University Professor of Environmental Science Edwin Everham
(August 21), Florida International University Executive Dean Michael Heithaus (August 28), Naples Chamber of Commerce President Kristiina Park (September 4), Collier County Transportation Director Trinity Scott (September 11), and Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed CEO Robert Lucius (September 18).
“This program gives me tremendous purpose,” said Sumner. “It’s created not just learning opportunities, but also genuine friendships and community connections that benefit everyone involved.”
The Arlington’s Men’s Coffee program meets every Thursday morning except holidays, demonstrating how senior communities can serve as bridges between residents and their broader local community.
