Tampa, Fla. – Residents in the Uptown/University Area will benefit from a generous grant awarded this month to University Area CDC (Community Development Corporation) by United Services Automobile Association (USAA) that will support the organization’s many programs.
“University Area CDC appreciates USAA’s commitment to make a collaborative impact in the University Area Community. Through the holistic approach of the Neighborhood Transformation Strategy, University Area CDC will provide support, mentoring and educational opportunities for Black/Hispanic youth and small businesses in the University Area of Tampa, Florida,” said Jaree Ervin, University Area CDC chief development officer.
Funding will support the Prodigy® Cultural Arts and Get Moving! programs and community engagement activities that provide young people ages seven to 17 with coaches, mentors, and activities to help build character and reinforce positive behavior, while engaging them in health and wellness programming. In Prodigy®, participants take part in art, music, dance, and music production classes, which assist them with identifying cognitive behavioral health skills/tools to be successful in and out of the classroom. The Get Moving! program offers young people the opportunity to learn more about healthy eating, the effects food and exercise have on their behavior/physical health and engage in physical activity classes/leagues. Through community engagement, monthly teen hangout sessions provide teenagers the opportunity to discuss successes and challenges they are facing. University Area CDC partners with field experts to bring relevant topics and solutions to participants to improve their academics and behavior through positive modeling/reinforcement.
Many families, including young people, are housing insecure, which has a negative impact on students’ academic achievement, mental health, and attendance. To help combat this issue, a Housing Navigator assists residents with resources and funding to avoid eviction. Additional funding from USAA allows University Area CDC to continue to assist with the stabilization of resident families, therefore reducing the number of days students miss due to inadequate housing. Similarly, an increased need for immigration services for Hispanic and Latino families in our community is apparent and is an important aspect of the stabilization of young students in our community. Therefore, funding will also be utilized to partner with Catholic Charities in providing residents with an Immigration Navigator to assist with immigration issues, educational attainment/enrollment, housing, and stabilization.
“USAA is proud to support the great efforts of the University Area CDC and we look forward to watching the continued progress and impact of this important work,” said Keith O’Malley, regional site director for USAA in Tampa.
About University Area CDC – Serving the community for more than 22 years, University Area CDC provides support for thousands of Tampa residents through holistic programming, adult education and resource assistance. Its primary mission is the redevelopment and sustainability of at-risk neighborhoods in the Uptown/University area, zip codes 33612 and 33613. More information about University Area CDC, a 501(c)(3) public/private partnership, is available by calling 813.558.5212 and by visiting uacdc.org.