Organizations go to work in Jacksonville’s Eastside to disrupt generational poverty

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Three Jacksonville organizations have a vision to disrupt the cycle of generational poverty on Jacksonville’s Eastside, referred to as “Out East” by those who grew up in the community.

It’s a large task, but Florida Blue, Lift Jax, and Goodwill of North Florida say they’re dedicated to making lasting and impactful change for years to come—with help from people who live in the community.

Action News Jax Courtney Cole has been told this community hasn’t seen any new development in decades.

“I grew up here. My grandfather lived a few blocks down on Pippin Street and he was a veteran,” Suzanne Pickett said.

Pickett said her grandfather decided to call the Eastside home because it was a predominantly African-American community.

“But he was denied the housing resources and other resources that were owed to him,” Pickett told Action News Jax.

Pickett said she originally returned to the East Side 11 years ago, planning to stay just six months, to fix up one of the houses.

Now she says she’s committed to making sure neighbors get the resources her grandfather could never have.

“And so I made that commitment to this cause to remain in this neighborhood,” Pickett said proudly.

She is the President of the Historic Eastside Community Corporation and Board Vice-Chair for Lift Jax, a local organization dedicated to eliminating poverty in Jacksonville.

Pickett also runs a resource center to provide different services for the community and just opened a cultural center as well, that displays art and helps to inform neighbors about the history of redlining.

“I worship here, I live, work, worship, and play on the East Side,” Pickett said.

She’s also one of the neighbors who will be helping Florida Blue disrupt the cycle of generational poverty Out East.

“We picked 32206 because we can bring the resources together here, make a difference,” said Patrick Geraghty, the CEO of Florida Blue and Guidewell.

Geraghty also said since Jacksonville is home, and it’s where the Florida Blue Headquarters is located, they wanted to be a part of good work here.

In collaboration with Lift Jax and Goodwill of North Florida, their main goals are to:

• Encourage and prepare neighbors for homeownership with Project Boots.
• Work with the City of Jacksonville to invest in parks and recreation
• Provide access to fresh food through the opening of Deb’s
• Work with families for mentorship and educational opportunities

Geraghty said they are investing a total of more than $2M in 32206. As part of that investment, they will give $1M to support the work of Lift Jax and a $400,000 grant to Goodwill of North Florida for the restoration and operation of Deb’s Neighborhood Market.

“It’s an investment, and not just in dollars. Investment in time, energy, effort, and working together,” Geraghty said.

An investment Pickett and Geraghty agree is dependent on trust.

“A very important part of our mission is to preserve and protect the Eastside neighborhoods, have the residents stay here in the East Side as the neighborhood changes,” said Pickett.

Geraghty said they identified 4 other zip codes across the state of Florida, in addition to the one in Jacksonville, to invest in their efforts by impacting the social determinants of generational poverty:

• Tampa
• Orlando
• Miami
• Ft. Lauderdale

Neighbors hope this investment is the turning point in broken promises they’ve become all too familiar with.

For more information, please visit www.FloridaBlueFoundation.com.

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