PATHWAYS FOR PARRAMOREBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CHILDREN & EDUCATION HOUSING PUBLIC SAFETY QUALITY OF LIFE

Building a Community on Heritage

Fall Edition 2017

The City of Orlando awarded Canvs

$50,000 for a one-year pilot program to

add a location in Parramore. Canvs is a

non-profit that provides co-working space

rentals as well as programs designed to

help entrepreneurs.

In August, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

and District 5 City Commissioner Regina

I. Hill attended the grand opening of the

new Canvs Parramore, located in the UCF

Center for Emerging Media. The location is

900 square feet and has 15 desks.

“As part of the city’s economic

development strategy, we are constantly

seeking ways to remove barriers for

residents who want to pursue their

dreams of owning a business,” said

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “We are

proud to partner with Canvs on this new

location which furthers our efforts to

continue revitalizing Parramore and

brings affordable, innovative, co-working

space for startup entrepreneurs to launch

and grow new businesses in the heart of

the neighborhood.”

The site will become part of the

UCF Downtown campus, located in

Creative Village.

For information on memberships,

visit canvs.org/memberships.

Canvs Opens Co-working Space in Parramore

In July 2017, District 5 City Commissioner Regina I. Hill joined Florida Memorial University (FMU) in the City Hall Rotunda to announce a partnership between the City of Orlando and FMU to help expand educational opportunities for youth in District 5. The partnership is designed to increase college access and attendance for youth in the City of Orlando. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, only 52 percent of 2011 high school graduates from low-income families enrolled in college immediately after high school, a figure 30 percent lower than their high-income peers. During this event, students planning on attending college for the fall school year of 2017– 2018 were given a free opportunity to set up for an online application to FMU and meet with the recruiters in charge of the Registrar Center.

FMU, located in Miami Gardens, Florida, is a private coeducational institution founded in 1879. This educational institution was commended for their trust towards incoming students regardless of gender, age, grade point average (GPA), or standardized testing results. Students who were interested in applying to the school, so long as they had the required materials (official transcript, SAT/ACT score, updated FAFSA—Free Application for Federal Student Aid), were able to apply with the application fee waived. Two FMU Alumni gave a short oration addressing how the school changed the course of their lives, as well as giving an awe-inspiring performance showcasing their vocal talents. “It’s never too late to change your educational dreams,” stated Commissioner Regina Hill.

District 5 City Commissioner Regina I. Hill Holds College Recruitment Fair with Florida Memorial University

Nikki’s Place

742 Carter Street, Orlando, FL 32805

Nikki’s place provides a true essence of southern cooking, with old school home cooking.

Popcorn Junkie

595 W. Church Street, Orlando, FL 32805 407.634.0042

If you’re looking for delicious gourmet popcorn, handcrafted with goodness and made fresh daily, Popcorn Junkie is the destination to satisfy all your cravings. Located in the Shoppes at City View, their store features a wide variety of flavors packaged in all sizes and prices.

Neu Blooms Florals & Event Designs

595 W. Church Street, J, Orlando, FL 32805 321.614.4423

Neu Blooms Florals & Event Design provides custom floral designs. Their experienced designers can create floral designs that will complement any occasion and meet your budget and style expectations as well. They also offer daily delivery service to all local funeral homes and hospitals.

Other Parramore Happenings• OCPS Academic Center for Excellence (ACE)

opened August 2017

• Parramore Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan receives Certificate of Merit award from the International Downtown Association

New Business Openings in Parramore

This summer, more than 50 youth from the Parramore area recently attended a Work Ready Boot Camp. The job skills training taught resume building, job application techniques, ethics, appropriate work attire, and motivation. CareerSource Central Florida and Goodwill Industries International Inc. partnered with Parramore Kidz Zone to put on the event. Each youth received a $20 voucher to get work clothes from Goodwill after completing the two day seminar. Each of the students at the event has a job this summer doing career exploration in a field they deem interesting. For information in future Work Ready Boot Camps, please call Reginald Burroughs at 407.246.4035 or email reginald.burroughs@cityoforlando.net.

Parramore Youth Attend Work Ready Boot Camp

Master Chef Manny of OFD Shares Passion of Cooking in Parramore Learning how to make healthy meals is an important life skill. Cooking touches all of the senses and gives kids the opportunity to learn about healthier options as meals prepared from scratch usually have fewer calories and additives than pre-packaged meals. The City of Orlando’s neighborhood centers are educating many children and their families on the skills needed to make a healthy, nutritious meal on their own. Master Chef Manny Washington, who is also an Orlando Fire Department Engineer, recently took the time to share a cooking lesson with some of the students in the Parramore Kidz Zone afterschool program at the Jackson Neighborhood Center. The children learned to marinade, cook, chop, stir, and mix up their own chipotle chicken tacos. The firefighter - turned winner of TV cooking shows—enjoyed sharing new flavors and skills with a dozen kids. He stops by regularly to

share the joys of cooking with kids. Chef Manny isn’t alone. There are others helping families develop a passion for good food. James Newton II is a Lead Counselor at the Langford Neighborhood Center. He’s also the instructor for the center’s Teen Café Cooking Program where students learn about healthy eating, share healthy recipes they take home to their families and prepare quick meals. Chef Rich Rosado is teaching families at the Wadeview Neighborhood Center. He specializes in teaching people to combat obesity by changing eating habits and without changing budgets. All of the chefs in City of Orlando neighborhood centers are teaching residents to develop a passion for food while learning a life skill they will use over and over again throughout their lifetime. Visit cityoforlando.net to find a neighborhood center near you.

The upcoming Parramore Farmers Market will open January 6, 2018 and run on Saturday mornings from 8am – 1pm.

Coming Soon!

Summer Youth Employment Program Wrap UpAs part of the City of Orlando’s effort to ensure a healthy economy, a key component is providing opportunities for Orlando’s youth. To further this effort, Mayor Dyer and District 5 City Commissioner Regina I. Hill launched a new Summer Youth Employment Program for high school students in the Parramore Kidz Zone to work in paid internships. Through the program, more than 100 of the city’s youth were employed this summer and matched with employers to do everything from learning how to manage a hotel, building video games with the University of Central Florida staff, to working in the office of a U.S. Senator. In August 2017, Mayor Dyer joined District 5 City Commissioner Regina I. Hill to meet with students as they wrapped up their participation in the

LYMMO Lime Line Grand Opening and LYMMO 20th Anniversary CelebrationEalier this year, Mayor Buddy Dyer, District 5 City Commissioner Regina I. Hill, and LYNX CEO Edward Johnson kicked off service for the Lime Lime and unveiled the LYMMO 20th anniversary bus.

The Lime Line is the fourth route of the LYMMO service and provides convenient access to LYNX Central Station, SunRail, the Parramore Neighborhood, FAMU College of Law, and the UCF Center for Emerging Media. Additionally, the line will connect people to exciting new developments once open, like Creative Village and the Sports and Entertainment District. LYMMO originally launched in 1997 and has since grown to serve over one million passengers per year.

The Parramore Kidz Zone (PKZ) hosted the Get Down: Neighborhood Reunion. There were more than 100 participants, 13 volunteers and 15 organizations in attendance for this special affair. Star 94.5 kept event goers dancing throughout the celebration. This was a family event with the purpose of bringing the community together, and raising awareness on PKZ offerings and local resources for families in the Parramore area. Attendees enjoyed a bounce house, snow cone machine, cotton candy, and more. If you have children ages 12 and up there is a place for them to get involved at PKZ! Applications are available at the PKZ office on 363 N. Parramore Ave. in the Orlando Downtown Recreation Complex. Phone: 407.254.4759.

Get Down: Neighborhood Reunion Celebration

Monday, June 26, 2017, was named Dr. Edward & Katherine Koger Day in the City of Orlando. Court #1 at the Orlando Tennis Centre was also rededicated in their honor on what would have been their 65th wedding anniversary. The entire Koger family was in attendance as veteran Tennis Centre members presented stories about Dr. Koger who passed away in 1986. The new dedication sign was presented to Mrs. Koger and family and will be placed on Court #1. Orlando Tennis Center Director, Tom Sweitzer, read a Proclamation on behalf of Mayor Dyer. The Kogers have long supported the Orlando Tennis Centre and the effort to continually improve the tennis facilities offered to city residents. For more information on the Orlando Tennis Centre, visit cityoforlando.net/tennis.

Koger Day Celebration

Parramore Kidz Zone Youth Employment Program and joined them in workshops on maintaining professional relationships, resume building, appropriate workplace attire, and financial literacy. The program wrap-up provided workshops to help the students build on their experiences and learn to network. For information on Parramore Kidz Zone, visit cityoforlando.net/PKZ.

Mayor Buddy Dyer 407.246.2221

Commissioner Regina I. Hill 407.246.2005

Parramore Team:Walter HawkinsDirector of Urban Development407.246.3190

Fire – Medical –Police Emergencies911

Services:Orange County Animal Control407.352.4390

Callahan Neighborhood Center407.246.2305

Community Services& Resources211

Code Enforcement 407.246.4444

Fire Department non-emergency321.235.5200

Garbage407.246.2314

Report Illegal Dumping 407.246.2686 Housing407.246.2708

Jackson Community Center407.246.2327

Neighborhood Watch 407.246.2369

Office of Communications & Neighborhood Relations 407.246.2169

Police Department non-emergency321.235.5300

Police Community Involvement407.246.2461

Potholes407.246.2238

Street Light Outages407.737.4222

Street Signs and Stop Signs Missing407.246.2020

For more information on Pathways for Parramore, please visit cityoforlando.net/parramore.If you would like to receive this newsletter electronically, please contact Kelly.Allen@downtownorlando.com.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and District 5 City Commissioner Regina I. Hill Break Ground on New Homes in ParramoreIn October, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and District 5 City Commissioner Regina I. Hill joined with the Parramore community for the groundbreaking of new homes in Parramore. The groundbreaking signified the start of construction of the first three of 10 single-family homes being built by the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). “This project is especially meaningful to me, as a Parramore resident who grew up in this neighborhood, I want to make sure we’re continuing to create opportunity for residents to own homes right here in our community,” said Commissioner Hill. When complete, the homes will each feature a minimum of 1,300 square feet of living space with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Additionally, as part of the project, a new CRA Down Payment Assistance Program will be created to provide additional financial assistance aimed at making these homes more affordable for qualified buyers.

The new program will complement existing city and state down payment assistance programs. This project further supports the City of Orlando’s efforts in revitalizing and investing in the Parramore neighborhood and also ensuring access to quality, safe, and affordable housing options for residents. “As Mayor, I am continually striving to make our city more livable for everyone,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “Part of that effort is ensuring that anyone who wants to live in Orlando, can live in Orlando —regardless of their income. I am thankful for public-partnerships like this that help us continue to increase affordable housing options, meet the needs of our growing community and ensure we are taking care of our all our residents.” Homes will be completed early 2018. To be added to the interest list for these homes, please visit DowntownOrlando.com/newhomes.