Community Projects
Operation Rehabitat This project was a partnership with the Front Porch Council, Habitat for Humanity and the City of Sarasota to rehabilitate the homes of senior citizens within the designated Front Porch neighborhood. The City of Sarasota provided $50,000.00 in matching funds to the council to rehabilitate several homes in the community. Currently twenty-five of the thirty-six homes identified in 2004 have received assistance ranging from minor structural repairs to complete kitchen cabinet replacement.
The kitchen cabinets were constructed by the Department of Corrections and installed by Habitat volunteers.
Brick Challenge The brick challenge program was an initiative of the council to raise $25,000 in response to a challenge from the Selby Foundation to donate $75,000 toward the $1,200,000 renovation of the Fredd "Glossie" Atkins Park, a community park in the Front Porch community. On July 20, 2007, council members, city leaders and community members held a Re-dedication of the park with the laying of 100 brick and pavers by everyone who had purchased a brick. The crowd of about 200 then marched to Dr. M.L.King, Jr. Park for the "Mayor's March". Former mayors spoke to the community about the immediate changes for Newtown. The Brick Challenge continues. Call the office 373-7764 for more information about purchasing a brick.
MLK Feasibility Study This $28,000 study was conducted to provide strategies and a template for the redevelopment of the Martin Luther King, Jr. corridor as a central business district that traverses the Newtown Front Porch community.
Construction Skills Program This is a joint initiative of the council working in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the Sarasota County Technical Institute to provide training in the construction trades to residents of public housing. Most of the public housing is located in the Front Porch community.
Youth Education and Leadership Program This program provides youth leadership and employment skills training along with summer jobs to young men and women living in the Front Porch communities. The Front Porch program provides the necessary training while relying on local organizations to offer the employment opportunities. Salaries are paid by the Front Porch Division of the Office of Urban Opportunity, Department of Community Affairs, Tallahassee, Florida.
Community Cleanup Program The council regularly partners with the "Keep Sarasota Beautiful office of the Sarasota County Government to recruit neighborhood volunteers to engage in neighborhood cleanup projects throughout the year.
Community Celebrations The Front Porch Council is at the forefront of leading community celebrations like the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration, Thanksgiving basket program, food drives, Christmas in the Park (Fredd Atkins Park) Juneteenth celebration and Black History Month activities.