The Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance (LPSLA) is proposing a new Center for Education, Arts, and Sports (CEAS), to re-establish the Clermont Elementary School in 2023. Their mission is focused on building the community through creativity, collaboration and access to life-changing opportunities here in South Lake County.

At the May 25th Clermont City Council Meeting, the LPSLA sought support from the city. The members of city council agreed to hold a workshop to consider how and to what extent the city can/will support the organization.

The Lincoln Park Impact Committee was formed shortly after community pastors, city leaders and citizens who attended the historical Lincoln Park School got together to explore options and opportunities. This school is now known as Clermont Elementary.

The community was informed that Clermont Elementary will be closing in 2023 when the Lake County School Board builds the new Aurelia M. Cole Academy K-8 School. The LPSLA and their partners are seeking full control of the property and are asking the City of Clermont for approval of $3.6 million dollars to help renovate the property and all of the buildings. Under the Alliance, their committee focus will be on preserving Clermont Elementary as an important historical building. This school building is the only standing African-American school in Clermont.

The goal of the LPSLA is to keep the historic teaching facility on Highland Avenue and to have it remain a center for education and the arts. This planned new center will provide employment training with entrepreneurship programs to support the arts and recreation for the South Lake community. Some of the special programs CEAS hopes to provide are early learning, GED, youth programs, STEM/STEAM, reading, financial and computer literacies, TV studio, mentorship, tutoring, career readiness, vocational-technical training, health and wellness programs with an array of sports programs. There will even be a Parent’s Academy. The under-employed will be able to learn a skill or trade. LPSLA plans to partner with other area non-profit organizations to expand and provide services at the CEAS.

Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance: The Alliance Impact Committee members and supporters agree that South Lake is in need of a facility where everyone can come together to build a strong community, close educational gaps, provide employment training and leadership skills, collaborate, create and interact through the arts and recreation activities. The Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance was established as a 501C-3 in July 2020​ to formalize the efforts started by community members who formed the Lincoln Park Impact Committee. Their goal is to discuss community needs, establish plans to execute programs and projects for these needs.

LPSLA Director Sharon Keys notes, “We really want to help everyone here in South Lake to be able to build a better life for themselves and their families. Our recent survey received a 90% favorable response for the community wanting us to move forward with this project, while many families and seniors said they would make use of all the planned new services and programs!” She adds, “While everything is still in the preliminary planning stages, we are finding everyone believes in our vision and what we plan to do for our community. The Lake County School Board has already issued a positive memorandum of understanding.  Lake Technical College of Orlando and Eustis will be able to expand their programs, with courses here at this Clermont location. Numerous churches, pastors and non-profit organizations have already stepped up with positive interest to host their programs here. We are ready to welcome more leadership support from sponsors, donors, writers, artists, teachers, clubs and organizations.”

Sharon Keys is from Clermont. She grew up in the Lincoln Park neighborhood and studied at the Clermont High School on Highlands Avenue. She graduated from National Louis University in Ohio studying business management. She successfully worked in human resources and management for over 20 years with UPS at their corporate headquarters in Atlanta. She leads Sharon Keys Ministries and has always been very active in the local community.

Paula Hoisington was also born in Clermont and grew up in this Lincoln Park Neighborhood. She also graduated from Clermont High. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and is a certified public manager from Florida State University. She is chairwoman of the Central Florida Urban League and Chairwoman of the South Lack Black Achievers.

“We really do want this valuable campus to be open to help everybody in Mascotte, Clermont, Groveland, Montverde and Minneola. We want to support our children and seniors with solutions to the education gap. We want our building foundation to allow our entire South Lake Community to grow from within, like a village that helps everyone, grow, build, learn and succeed!”, said Keys.

For More Information: Contact Sharon Keys, Director of the Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance. Call: 678-469-9983, email:   lincolnparksouthlakealliance@gmail.com. Visit: www.LPSLA.org, https://www.facebook.com/lincolnparksouthlakealliance/.

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The Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance was established as a 501(c)(3) in July 2020 to formalize the efforts started by community members who formed the Lincoln Park Impact Committee.  The group formed after it was announced that Clermont Elementary School, located on Bloxam Avenue, would close in 2023 when the Lake County School Board builds the new Aurelia M. Cole Academy K-8 School. The Alliance’s focus is to preserve Clermont Elementary as a historical building with the goal of having the building remain in the community and function as a Community Center. The Center would provide Employment Training/Entrepreneurship, the Arts, and Recreation to all of South Lake.

Committee members and supporters believe South Lake is in need of a facility where everyone can come together to build community, close education gaps, provide employment training and leadership skills, collaborate, create and interact through the arts and recreation activities.

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Clermont Elementary School Holds Historic Value: It all began on Martin Luther King Day, January 21, 2019, when a few Pastors, community leaders, and residents discussed the closing of Clermont Elementary School. Clermont Elementary is geared to close in 2023, as the school transitions to the new Aurelia McKinney Cole Academy.

Clermont Elementary is a school that holds a lot of sentimental value for the surrounding community originally called Lincoln Park.  Before integration, it was the school where the African American students attended school.  Not only does the school hold historical sentimental value but can benefit the community and south Lake County as a CEAS Education Center.  The CEAS Education Center and its programs would be a great asset to the underserved, unemployed, underemployed, and underprivileged.

From January 2019 to now, the Alliance has had meetings with the Lake County School Board, Commissioner Parks, the Clermont City Council members, Dr. Culpepper of Lake Tech College, the Boys and Girls Club, the Clermont Police Department, community leaders and residents.

In June of 2020, they became a 501c3 organization under the name of Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance.  The mission, ” Building community through creativity, collaboration, and access to life-changing opportunities in South Lake County.”  The CEAS Education Center is the heart of LPSLA and will touch many lives through Educational programs, Employment Training, and Entrepreneurship.

Some of the programs the Center would offer:

Reading, Computer, and Financial Literacies, GED / Career Readiness Training (Resume writing, Mock Interviews, Dress for Success), Tutoring, Mentorship, VPK/Early Learning Classes (suggested by Lake County School Board), Parent Academy, Vocational -Technical classes, Health and Wellness, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math), Health and Wellness, Social services, and counseling, to name a few.

The CEAS Education Center can help fill gaps in the educational system, empower those who have a need to gain or upgrade their skills, and provide career readiness through Lake Tech College and other partnerships.

It is the hope of the Alliance to partner with other non-profits to bring diverse services to the Education Center and provide opportunities to increase educational levels and work skills in a safe, supportive, and purposeful environment.

This Great endeavor will provide quality support as the residents of South Lake County are empowered through this Center for Education, Arts and Sports Center.

“We value feedback from the community and urge all South Lake residents to participate in the survey,” said Sharon Keys, president of the Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance.

The survey will gauge the public’s interest in a new community education center for residents to connect and develop skills and knowledge through education, job readiness, vocational training, arts and recreation.

The deadline to complete the two-minute, 10 question survey is March 31.  Go to the Alliance’s website at www.LPSLA.org or directly at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ClermontCC.

Remember to complete the survey by March 31 and show your interest and support.

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The two-minute, 10 question survey can be found on the Alliance’s website at www.LPSLA.org or directly at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ClermontCC.

“We value feedback from the community and urge all South Lake residents to participate in the survey,” said Sharon Keys, president of the Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance.

About The Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance

​The Lincoln Park Impact Committee was formed shortly after community pastors, leaders, and citizens who attended the historical Lincoln Park School, now known as Clermont Elementary, were informed that the school would be closed in 2023 when the Lake County School Board builds the new Aurelia M. Cole Academy K-8 School. This is now a subcommittee under the Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance that will focus on preserving Clermont Elementary as a historical building. The goal is for the building to remain in the community and function as a Center for Education and the Arts. The Center would provide Employment Training/Entrepreneurship, the Arts, and Recreation to all of South Lake.

Learn more at www.LPSLA.org.

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 The two-minute, 10-question survey can be found on the Alliance’s website at www.LPSLA.org or directly at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ClermontCC.

The team designed the survey to gauge South Lake County residents’ interest in a new Community Center in place of Clermont Elementary School (on Bloxam Avenue, just east of Downtown Clermont), which will close in 2023.   The community center will be an asset to South Lake County and also, preserve this historical building.

 “We value feedback from the community and urge all South Lake residents to participate in the survey,” said Sharon Keys, President, Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance.

Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance’s goal is to provide programs and partnerships that will stimulate community economic development opportunities by eliminating education and opportunity gaps.

The Alliance is seeking advocates, committee members, board members, and donors. Get involved at www.LPSLA.org.

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About Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance

The Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance was established as a 501(c)(3) in July 2020 to formalize the efforts started by community members who formed the Lincoln Park Impact Committee. The goal with the Alliance is to discuss community needs, establish plans to execute programs & projects around said needs and work in collaboration for those plans to come to fruition.

The Lincoln Park Impact Committee was formed shortly after community pastors, leaders, and citizens who attended the historical Lincoln Park School, now known as Clermont Elementary, were informed that the school would be closed in 2023. Clermont Elementary will be closing in 2023 when the Lake County School Board builds the new Aurelia M. Cole Academy K-8 School. This is now a subcommittee under the Alliance that will focus on preserving Clermont Elementary as a historical building. The goal is for the building to remain in the community and function as a Community Center. The Center would provide Employment Training/Entrepreneurship, the Arts, and Recreation to all of South Lake.

The Impact Committee members and supporters believe South Lake is in need of a facility where everyone can come together to build community, close education gaps, provide employment training and leadership skills, collaborate, create and interact through the arts and recreation activities.

The post Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance Launches Survey To Gauge Interest in a Community Center appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

The two-minute, 10-question survey can be found on the Alliance’s website at www.LPSLA.org or directly at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ClermontCC.

The team designed the survey to gauge South Lake County residents’ interest in a new community center in place of Clermont Elementary School (on Bloxam Avenue, just east of Downtown Clermont), which will close in 2023.

The Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance (LPSLA) is proposing a multi-generational community center for residents to connect and develop skills and knowledge through education, job readiness, vocational training, arts, and recreation.

“We urge all South Lake residents to please take this brief survey and provide valuable feedback,” said Sharon Keys, President. “The Community of South Lake County can only reach its full capacity of embracing community if we all work together.”

LPSLA’s mission is to “Build community through creativity, collaboration, and access to life-changing opportunities in South Lake County.”

The Alliance was established as a 501(c)(3) in July 2020 to formalize the efforts started by community members who formed the Lincoln Park Impact Committee. The Alliance goal is to discuss community needs, establish plans to execute programs and projects around said needs, and work in collaboration for those plans to come to fruition.

The Lincoln Park Impact Committee was formed shortly after community pastors, leaders, and citizens who attended the historical Lincoln Park School, now known as Clermont Elementary, were informed that the school would be closed in 2023. Clermont Elementary will be closing in 2023 when the Lake County School Board builds the new Aurelia M. Cole Academy K-8 School.

The Impact Committee is now a subcommittee under the Alliance that will focus on preserving Clermont Elementary as a historical building. The goal is for the building to remain in the community and function as a community center. The center would provide education opportunities, employment training/entrepreneurship, the arts, and recreation to all of South Lake county.

The Impact Committee members and supporters believe South Lake County is in need of a facility where everyone can come together to build community, close education gaps, provide employment training, and leadership skills. Lincoln Park South. Lake Alliance’s goal is to provide programs and partnerships that will stimulate community economic development by eliminating education and opportunity gaps.

The Alliance is seeking advocates, committee members, board members and donors. Get involved at www.LPSLA.org.

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About the Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance.

In January 2019 a group of Pastors, community leaders and residents came together to form Lincoln Park Impact Committee, a subcommittee under Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance (LPSLA). The Committee came together with hopes of preserving Clermont Elementary School (which was formerly called Lincoln Park School) as a Community Center for South Lake County.  Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance (LPSLA) was established in July 2020 and is a 501c3 organization.    We believe the Community center will provide programs that will close the gaps of education, provide job skills and growth opportunities for all generations in our community.  We also believe the best outcome for the entire South Lake community is achieved when everyone works together for a common goal.

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