NAI Pensacola CEO DeeDee Davis discusses how the Inweekly Power List began and evolved over the years.
Victoria D’Angelo has been selected as the Community Redevelopment Agency Division Manager for the City of Pensacola, responsible for planning, coordinating and managing programs and functions of the CRA.
Community Health’s Justin Nutte shares ways to relax this spring.
And the full show:
I finally got around to listening to the ‘Pockets of Poverty’ podcast from 4/19. The study provides some great information.
Last year I talked about how over the last 10 -15 years, the school district has physically abandoned the west side of Pensacola. A significant portion of the most impoverished areas identified in this Haas Center report falls within this area, which has historically been underserved by our local government. I believe the school district needs to re-establish a presence in the neighborhoods on the west side of Pensacola.
The school district has closed numerous schools on the west side in the recent past, for operational and financial efficiencies. This has resulted in a large swath of the city of Pensacola, almost one third of its total footprint, with only one elementary school, no middle school, and one high school. The only elementary school in this area is Global Learning Academy, which is located at the western edge of the city behind the district administration building at Pace Boulevard and Garden Street. This is a mostly commercial/industrial area.
The next closest elementary schools are located several miles away off 12th Avenue in East Hill. To the north, the next elementary school within city limits is even farther away, located at Tippin Avenue and Langley Avenue.
This leaves an area on the west side of over one quarter of the city with only one elementary school, which once again is situated for the most part on the western edge of the city limits.
Elementary schools have always played a key role in our neighborhoods. This is where our kids start their education, attending class and interacting with old and new neighborhood friends. It’s where they participate in youth groups such as Cub Scouts and Brownies. It is where families go to enjoy Halloween carnivals, school plays and other similar events. It is where parents participate in PTAs and school advisory councils, as well as interact with other neighbors when they are dropping off and picking up their kids. These schools bring neighbors together and strengthen the sense of community.
By removing so many schools from the west side of town, the school district has vacated these neighborhoods, leaving a significant void in areas that have long been underserved. This area has the largest percentage of children living in poverty, children who need proper resources and support.
While it may not be feasible to build a school in this area, the school district needs to re-establish an actual physical brick and mortar presence.
Such facilities would be used for afterschool tutoring and activities, just as in existing elementary schools. It will provide a place for neighborhood families to come together for normal school events. Furthermore, they can be utilized for tutoring, extracurricular activities and already established summer feeding programs.
Our kids are the future of our community and the country. It’s time that we adults make sure we are providing all of the children in Pensacola the resources and support they need to be successful.