November 11, 2010
Please join us for the Florida Asset Building Coalition (FABC) Regional Network Weaving Circle, Thursday, November 18th, from 1:00 – 4:30 pm at the Omni Hotel Champions Gate. There will be a networking event in partnership with the Florida Legislative Black Caucus and the Minority Supplier Development Council at 5:30 p.m on November 18th.
WPF was designated coordinating agency for FABC in 2010. The Florida Asset Building Coalition (FABC) began in 2008 as a state partner with the Southern Regional Asset Building Coalition (SRABC) supported by the Ford Foundation. The main goal is to establish a network and statewide coalitions in the Southern Black Belt region for mobilizing organizations and coalitions around advocacy and support for policies and programs designed to address the devastating economic impacts of persistent poverty, hurricanes, and land loss.
October 18, 2010
More than 25 partnering organizations were represented at the press conference to announce the launch of Bank on Jacksonville.
Special thanks to the City of Jacksonville for hosting the press conference: Mayor John Peyton, Rosiland Phillips, CFO for the City of Jacksonville, and Ben Pennymon, Public Information Officer.
We also recognize and thank Marty Lanahan - President Regions for North Florida; Terry West -President VyStar Credit Union; John Olsen - FDIC; Janet Hamer - Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and Louisa Quittman - U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Financial Education for participating in the program and providing remarks during the event. Visit www.bankonjacksonville.org for information on the program
October 2010
Karen Landry quoted in a news article following the Florida Association for Community Action Symposium in Tallahassee. View the article >>
June 18, 2010
Karen Landry to participate in panel discussion on community programs during the Childhood Obesity Prevention- Science and Solutions seminar for health professionals at the University of North Florida on Friday June 18, 2010. The event is hosted by the UNF Department of Nutrition & Dietetics and supported by a grant from the Blue Foundation. Read more >>
April 30, 2010
War on Poverty-Florida featured in Regions Bank Corporate Responsibility Report. Download the PDF to read our profile feature on page 4. We are excited about the opportunity to work with a great partner, and appreciate their support. Thank you Regions Bank!
April 23, 2010
Garden Clean up in Brentwood
Students from Jacksonville Job Corps assisted Brentwood residents in their seasonal garden clean-up day, and helped plant summer starter vegetables. Basil, Corn, and Eggplant were among the many plants planted in the newly constructed raised beds. The raised beds were also built by Jacksonville Job Corps students and transported to the garden.
Special thanks to Jacksonville Job Corps students Jimmere Thomas, Jodian Jones, Celcey J. Flemister, and Pierre Aly.
April 20, 2010
MoneySmart Train the Trainer at Edward Waters College
On Tuesday April 20th, War on Poverty-Florida hosted a Train-the-Trainer workshop at EWC. Faculty, staff and students attended the special session to become more engaged in working in the community to facilitate financial education. Students from the Business School at Edward Waters College participated and will work in the community facilitating lessons for youth. The workshop was sponsored by FDIC and Suntrust Bank.
April 17, 2010
Homebuying Clinic
Special thanks to John Muhammad of CitiMortgage, Bridget Carter of Grace & Truth CDC, Melba Harrington of Northeast Florida Community Action Agency, Rishawn Brandon of Select Home Realty Group, Tiffany Reeves of Florida Department of Financial Services for joining us in a presentation to participants on the steps to becoming a homeowner.
March 2010
Brentwood Resident closes on his 1st home
Prince Stevens a Brentwood resident and former President of the Brentwood Residents Council closed on his 1st home recently after receiving financial education, homeownership education and positive encouragement from War on Poverty-Florida. "I never thought I could be a homeowner" said Mr. Stevens to WPF staff, "you guys showed me that anything is possible....and the classes helped me throughout the process. I felt comfortable because I knew the things (they) were talking about."
Mr. Stevens, we thank you for the opportunity to help! Enjoy your new home!
February 28, 2010
Brown Medicine Bags
Special thanks to Dr. Tonya Martin, Assistant Professor at the FAMU College of Pharmacy - Jacksonville Center for partnering with us to deliver “Brown Bag Medicine Checkup”, a program for seniors. Dr. Martin and a couple of her students visited the Saavy Seniors at the Schell Sweet Center, and Bridge the Gap to discuss common questions about medicines and their effectiveness. Their help was well received by both groups!
February 27, 2010
Rainbow Park Elementary School, a WPF community partner, sponsored a Community Health Fair and Medical Career Fair. The event aimed to increase health awareness through education and prevention and included health screenings and vaccinations. We participated in the event offering healthy recipe cards, food pyramid posters, and informational flyers.
February 1, 2010
Building a Healthy Community Opa-Locka
War on Poverty – Florida partners with Florida Memorial University to announce the beginning of a three-year campaign aimed at reducing childhood obesity in Opa-Locka.
Through community gardening and urban agriculture, healthy food preparation demonstrations, advice on shopping for healthy foods on a budget and other community initiatives, the goal is to increase access to healthy foods, promote physical activity and provide nutrition education in the community.
(pictured - Dr. Sandra Thompson, Florida Memorial University; Karen Landry, War on Poverty-Florida; Dr. Barbara Edwards)
January 1, 2010
Banyan Award Recipients
Miami Community Board member Cornell Crews receives Banyan Award from War on Poverty-Florida. The Banyan Award is WPF's highest honor, given to a member of the community that has demonstrated exemplary service and volunteerism - truly making a difference.
Jacksonville Community Board members Sheri Thomas and Felicia Alston also received Banyan Awards for their dedication and commitment in the northwest Jacksonville community.
December 15, 2009
B.O.L.D Project Honors
New Town Success Zone, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the B.O.L.D. Afterschool Project recognized those students who made the honor roll and those students with perfect attendance. An awards program was held in their honor and presented in part by NOBLE (The National Association of Blacks in Law Enforcement).
S.P. Livingston Elementary
Six students on Honor Roll
Two students with Straight A’s
Seventeen students with Perfect Attendance
Eugene Butler Middle School
Twenty students on Honor Roll
Four students with Straight A’s
Three students holding Perfect Attendance
All straight A students were treated to tickets for them and a parent to the Jaguars Colts football game.
November 5, 2009
Holiday Art Contest
In October 2009, WPF launched an art contest open to youth up to age 16 with the theme "Home for the Holidays". Students across northwest Jacksonville submitted drawings of their favorite scene for the holiday season. Two students from Brentwood Elementary won 1st and 2nd place in the contest and their entries were made into greeting cards and made available for purchase as a fundraiser for the War on Poverty.
(pictured above are Aiyanna Wooten & Preslen Alteus; Tia Stroy, Principal Brentwood Elementary; Debra Whitehead; Karen Landry, Executive Director WPF)
September, 21, 2009
Building A Healthy Community Pilot Education Program
The War on Poverty-Florida, Commit 2B Fit, Chartwells-Thompson School Dining Services, Duval County Public Schools, Brentwood Elementary and the Jaguars Foundation rally together to encourage students to live healthy and productive lives during a special assembly at Brentwood Elementary, on Tuesday September 22, 2009.
The pilot nutrition education program at Brentwood is an extension of War on Poverty-Florida’s Build a Healthy Community Childhood Obesity Prevention Project (BHC), funded in part by grant from The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, Embrace a Healthy Florida initiative. The BHC Project is an awareness campaign designed to promote active lifestyles and healthy eating habits for youth and their families.
Read more >>
August 6, 2009
The Brentwood Residents Council hosted a Community Garden Clean-up Day in partnership with the War on Poverty-Florida and the Student Conservation Association, Thursday August 6, 2009 from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. Community Gardening is an initiative of the War on Poverty's "Building a Healthy Community - Childhood Obesity Prevention Project" aimed to promote active lifestyles and healthy eating in northwest Jacksonville. The Brentwood garden is one of three community gardens in northwest Jacksonville. Donations are also being accepted to support the garden.
July 7, 2009
War on Poverty-Florida along with community partners propose to become part of the City of Jacksonville Stabilization Program, for the purpose of assisting in the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
May 12, 2009
War on Poverty-Florida Partners with the U.S. Treasury and Community Organizations for the Community Financial Access Pilot Jacksonville, Florida is one of 8 national cities targeted for a Community Financial Access Pilot. The pilot seeks to address the need for financial education, second chance checking opportunities and alternatives to payday lenders in low-to-moderate income communities across the country. Best practices from this pilot program will be shared and implemented in other cities and states. Community Partners for the Jacksonville pilot include; War on Poverty-Florida, The Urban League, the Duval County Extension Center, NE Florida Community Action Agency, Wachovia Corporation, Regions Bank, and Community First Credit Union.