Community members, partners help kick off prosperity initiative
October 15, 2026
An audience of nearly 100 were encouraged to remember this day.
Acknowledging typical efforts aimed at reducing poverty, Santa Fe College President Dr. Paul Broadie II said: “This is not just let’s get together and talk and leave and feel good. Mark it down. Today is when we take action.”
Tuesday, October 13, marked the kickoff of an initiative based on Florida Chamber of Commerce’s model to combat poverty locally. The ultimate goal is to move families out of poverty by focusing existing resources on root causes of poverty in a deliberate, collaborative, community-driven program.
Partners and community members met at Santa Fe College’s Blount Hall in downtown Gainesville.
The model works by starting with one ZIP code. The initial focus is 32601, where 48 percent of families live in poverty and many others live just barely above it, and where 586 children live at or below the poverty line, according to the Florida Gap Map and Florida Chamber research. (See chart below for additional data)
Florida Chamber President and CEO Mark Wilson asked the audience “What would happen if the city council or county commission started measuring kids in poverty and asking ‘what are we doing this year to cut that number in half?’
“See how that changes the conversation when we change the focus?”
Instead of waiting for government to help, Wilson said, the Florida Chamber model pulls together businesses, local resources, and community members.
He then outlined the program’s focus on 10, well-researched, root causes of poverty, including food insecurity, unattainable housing, transportation and childcare issues, and lack of agency or community voice. He stressed that this is not a new program, but a deliberate deployment of existing resources.
In that spirit of collaboration, Santa Fe College and the Florida Chamber are joined in leading the effort by the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, the University of Florida, The Community Foundation of North Central Florida, and SouthState Bank.
Each discussed the reasons they were vested in this effort.
Broadie emphasized the College’s commitment to improving economic mobility for students.
On Tuesday evening, they were joined by representatives from UF Health, Meridian Healthcare, UF Career Connections Center, CareerSource North Central Florida, Gainesville Housing Authority, City of Gainesville, City of Gainesville Department of Housing and Community Development, Neighborhood Housing & Development Corporation (NHDC), UF Field and Fork, Bread of the Mighty/Feeding Northeast Florida, Catholic Charities, Alachua County Public Schools, Gainesville RTS, Children’s Trust of Alachua County, Early Learning Coalition of Alachua County, Williams Temple Church of God in Christ Family Ministries, Mirror Image Leadership Academy, Dream on Purpose, Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Project Youthbuild, Partnership for Strong Families, and River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding, who were gathered to hear from area residents about what they were experiencing and what could address their needs.
“We have to do it together and at the heart of any success is the community’s voice,” Broadie said.
Then community leaders joined a panel discussion reviewing each of the 10 root causes of poverty and reflecting on what they see in the community.
Panelist Kenyarda T. Feathers Sr., Superintendent, Purpose Driven District, and Pastor of Williams Temple COGIC Family Ministries, wanted to see more STEM camps and other educational programs. He also was concerned that churches have become de facto day care centers because the parents need to work and can’t afford child care. He also worried that other parents were leaving their children with adults who might not be adequate or even safe places.
Desmon Duncan-Walker, Commissioner, City of Gainesville, reviewed the complex efforts to bring a grocery to the area.
Others discussed the lack of adequate transportation and community voice.
The evening ended with a charge to everyone in attendance to reflect on what each person or organization could contribute toward moving the needle.
Additional meetings will follow.
Florida Prosperity Initiative
| Indicator | Alachua County (17 ZIP Codes) | 32601 |
| Number of Children in Poverty | 9,019 | 586 |
| Percentage of Children in Poverty | 18.1% | 28.5% |
| Percentage of 3-4 Year Olds Enrolled in Pre-K | 54.9% | 81.3% |
| Percentage of 3rd Graders Reading at Grade Level | 56% | 91% |
| Number of Adults (18+) without a GED | 12,073 | 400 |
| Number of ALICE Households (above poverty line but cannot afford basic needs) | 27,314 | 2,601 |
