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Lee County CoC Information

I want to give a shout out to Goodwill for their generous donation of 20 $100 gift cards to Walmart and 20 $100 gift cards to Publix to the clients at The Empowerment Center. I called goodwill after being informed that they give homeless people voucher for clothing. Once I called Goodwill, I spoke to Fernanda Geronimo who is the CSS Support Coordinator. Fernanda was nice enough to offer the clients at the center 40 gift cards to Walmart and Publix's. We are now setting up a tour of The Empowerment Center with Goodwill as well as offering classes to help the clients create a resume.  We are excited to continue this partnership. 

Zoe Pierce

Lead Social Service Worker

The Center for Progress and Excellence Inc.

2789 Ortiz Ave, Building K

Fort Myers, Florida 33905

(Cellular:765-730-6531)

239-791-0110- (Shelter)

What an incredible day! Thanks to our amazing church partners and volunteers, April 20, Nationwide Day of Second Chances, was a huge success—8 job fairs happening simultaneously in 4 states helping hundreds of job seekers. I am filled with gratitude for everyone who made this day possible.

Every location had awe-inspiring stories. One that particularly filled my heart was Emerson. He had been justice involved and struggled to find work. He walked in with low expectations, but the folks at the job fair turned his mood around. He landed two job offers on the spot. Emerson walked out of that job fair excited and brimming with hope.

More than 600,000 people leave prison every year. The church is perfectly poised to help returning citizens fulfill their God-given promise and reduce recidivism by offering support and job placement.

Jobs help families thrive in so many ways. Having meaningful work has even been tied to lower rates of child abuse. As we wrap up National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we invite the church to join us in not only our Better Jobs program but also Better Families, where volunteers wrap around parents in crisis to help them get back on their feet and keep their family together. We believe the local church and a body of believers can end the foster care crisis by filling the gap, stepping in and loving families before foster care is needed. It’s a belief I’ve shared with many audiences, and you can read more about it in our blog, “Preventing child abuse starts with you.”

I’m also grateful to share Ramona’s story with Covenant Church this month (See Ramona’s story below.) It fills my heart to know she has hope and community—this is what we do and why it's important. I’m grateful for Covenant and all the other amazing churches that partner with us across the state. I’m also grateful for the amazing families who live out biblical hospitality in their homes, offering love and support to neighbors like Ramona. 

This is how we will change the world.

Happy Friday!

As most of you know the Royal Ambassadors (members 60+) at Mt. Hermon Church is hosting a Seniors Health and Wellness Expo on June 24th on its campus. Many of you have stated an interest in setting up a vendor's table at the event and we are very excited about that! 

While our focus is on providing information for senior citizens, please do not count yourself out if you do not directly serve seniors. Keep in mind seniors need services like classes offered at Goodwill and online at Lee County Library; volunteer and work opportunities through Dr. Piper Center and AARP. Some might need to register to vote, while others might need to know about services offered by the Red Cross (smoke alarms); smoking prevention sessions, and much more. 

This expo is not just about health (though that is our main focus). It's also about living healthily and providing as much information as we can to help in the process. That process includes eating well, exercising, how to handle stress, the truths and myths of Alzheimer, dementia and available resources and so much more. We need vendors able to provide information on home health services, mental health, transportation, medical equipment resources, and more.

Most importantly, this expo will also be attended by family members, caregivers, and those with an interest in the well-being of seniors. So please, don't count yourself out! You might have information or a needed resource from someone who is not a senior. 

This is your official invitation! Please complete the attached vendor form and return it to secure your space, or contact me if you need additional information.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Veronica Barber

Royal Ambassadors Leader

Mt. Hermon Church

Dear Community Members,

The Lee County Recovery Task Force will be hosting a series of 16 ResilientLee Town Hall events beginning this Wednesday, April 19 through Tuesday, May 16. The meetings will last two hours and include facilitated discussions to encourage public involvement in the recovery-planning process. We kindly ask that you share the attached flyers with your network, as we continue to build momentum with community outreach. All are welcome to attend.

Find your nearest upcoming town hall location here: EVENT CALENDAR | ResilientLee Make your voice heard!

PLEASE NOTE: Documentation of community outreach is necessary for future grant funding purposes. We hope to reach as many people as possible and we appreciate your assistance in sharing this information. Please CC info@resilientlee.com on every email you forward this schedule to, including individuals or organizations, so we can document the outreach. Thank you.

Find and follow us on social media!

Facebook: @ResilientLeeFL

Twitter: @ResilientLee

Instagram: @ResilientLee_FL.

Regards,

--

ResilientLee Support Team

info@resilientlee.org

Greetings,

The Department of Juvenile Justice is excited to announce the Call for Proposals for the 2023 Restoring Hope Training Summit. This year the summit will be held in Orlando, Florida at the Rosen Centre Hotel from October 31 to November 1, 2023. The deadline for proposal submission is May 5, 2023. Please use the link below to see additional information and submit a proposal.

The Restoring Hope Training Summit allows juvenile justice professionals, community stakeholders, faith partners, members of law enforcement, criminal justice, education, social service groups, and other partners to explore best practices to help create safer outcomes for Florida’s youth and families. The summit will feature plenary sessions, luncheons, educational workshops, and educational exhibits. It is a unique opportunity for stakeholders to enhance skills, build strategies, and network with peers from across the state.

For additional information, please contact Victoria Boudreau at victoria.boudreau@fldjj.gov.

[https://www.surveymonkey.com%20%20%20/r/5NJTS3H]https://www.surveymonkey.com /r/5NJTS3H

Tori Boudreau

Federal Grants Supervisor | Juvenile Justice Specialist

Florida Department of Juvenile Justice

Office of Prevention Services

Office: (850) 717-2440

Cell: (850)-321-1919

Victoria.boudreau@fldjj.gov

Learn more about DJJ’s “Roadmap to System Excellence” at http://www.djj.state.fl.us/roadmap-to-system-excellence

"The mission of the Department of Juvenile Justice is to increase public safety by reducing juvenile delinquency through effective prevention, intervention and treatment services that strengthen families and turn around the lives of troubled youth."

NOTICE: Florida has a broad public records law. Most written communications to or from state officials are public records that will be disclosed to the public and the media upon request. E-mail communications may be subject to public disclosure.

Thank you

-Sandra

Sandra Ferguson

Delinquency Prevention Specialist

Florida Department of Juvenile Justice

Office of Prevention Services

Office: 239.387.6408 - Cell: 239.834.9050 - Fax: 239.338.2663

2295 Victoria Ave. #195, Fort Myers, FL 33901 - sandra.ferguson@fldjj.gov