The Historic Eastside, an area of Jacksonville, once known for manufacturing, that has access to rail, Interstate and the port, and a workforce living within walking distance of those now vacant facilities is known as “Out East,” (between Springfield and Talleyrand). There is a group of Jacksonville business and social services leaders (including Darnell Smith, Market President of Florida Blue, Aundra Wallace, President of JAXUSA Partnership, Michael Ward, former CEO of CSX), Michelle Braun, President/CEO of United Way of NE Florida and Ellen Wiss, Co-founder of READ USA) who have organized a special effort to lift Out East and other underprivileged neighborhoods in the city. Under the name of Lift Jax Inc., its mission is to eradicate generational poverty. They are implementing the Purpose Built Communities model, which contains 4 pillars (mixed income housing, cradle-to-career education, community wellness and long-term financial vitality) and hired social services expert David Garfunkel to implement the program. David is reaching out to the business community to create awareness of the organization, its mission and to help get Out East back to being a vital business and residential community. Visit LiftJax.org or contact him at david@liftjax.org. He is on the right in this “Lunch with Les” photo.
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