The new Evans Community School will officially open its doors to the community tomorrow, October 13th, with a grand opening celebration that includes a community health-and-resource fair with more than 50 vendors, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open-house tours of the community school.
The first of its kind in Florida, Evans Community School’s mission is to empower students and families to achieve lifelong success, while strengthening the Pine Hills community. Not only does the school help students at Evans High School, it also serves as the hub of Pine Hills by offering much-needed services to local residents.
“Evans Community School provides a strong partnership, which strengthens the overall student and community. Doors are being opened for students, empowering them to dream big and to work to achieve those dreams,” said Jenny Gibson- Linkh, Evans High School principal.
Evans Community School is led by founding partners Orange County Public Schools, Children’s Home Society of Florida and the University of Central Florida. The partners have worked together for more than three years to coordinate the strategy and development of the community school. JP Morgan Chase is recognized as the community school’s founding funder.
“We are proud to be the first university in the nation to play a major role in the development of such an effort,” said Michael Frumkin, dean of UCF’s College of Health and Public Affairs. “ UCF has prided itself in being a partnership university, and there is no more important partnership then the one we are celebrating today.”
Evans Community School provides activities, programs and services, education, and leadership and engagement opportunities to help students, parents and local residents achieve academic and life goals. Such services include onsite medical services, mental health services, a parent resource center and a food pantry, among many others. These services are made available through the founding partners and other local health, cultural and social service organizations.
