The Immokalee Nonprofit Network

ABOUT THE NONPROFIT NETWORK

 
Immokalee Community | Program Description | Housing Collaborative 
 Early Childhood Collaborative | Emergency Relief | Images of Hope | Learn More

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photos by Brynn Bruijn,
"Images of Hope, Immokalee — Looking Forward Looking Back"

The Immokalee Community

Located in the northeast portion of Collier County, Immokalee is home to 25,000 permanent residents and expands to nearly 40,000 during the agricultural season. This community is a part of the agricultural supply system which provides nearly 70% of the nation's vegetables.

Economic development in Immokalee has not kept pace with the communities that surround it and nearly half of the residents live below the poverty line. Compounding this issue it is estimated that 75% of the adult population have less than a high school education. This trend is continuing as 65% of the students who enter kindergarten drop out of school before high school graduation.

The Immokalee Nonprofit Network Program

In 2006 the Board of the Community Foundation started the Immokalee Initiative. The program and the community were chosen because of the high poverty rate; the distance to access potential learning opportunities; the need to develop collaboration to share resources; and to raise awareness in the Naples area of their agricultural neighbor.
 
From 2006 to 2010 the focus was on providing programs and resources to strengthen the existing nonprofits and build their capacity to function efficiently and effectively. As a part of this effort over 30 educational programs were provided; customized training was set up for 10 organizations, manuals were developed and specific professional development grants were awarded for expressed agency needs.
 
In 2010 the original initiative became the Immokalee Nonprofit Network and is now focusing on the collaborations that have been built around the communities most urgent needs.
 
 

Immokalee Collaborations and their Goals

 
The Immokalee Housing Collaborative was formed to ensure that the residents of Immokalee have safe, healthy long-lasting affordable homes.
Participants in the Housing Collaborative include:
  • Immokalee Housing and Family Services
  • Empowerment Alliance of Southwest Florida
  • I HOPE
  • Collier County Housing Authority
The Early Childhood Learning Collaborative was formed in conjunction with the Naples Children and Education Foundation with the goal of having programs provided by well qualified trained staff, provide a coordinated system of client intake and referrals, share staff development programs and advocate for early learning and scholarship programs.
Participants in the Early Childhood Learning Collaborative:
  • Guadalupe Center
  • Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA)
  • Immokalee Child Care Center
  • Collier County Child Care Resources, Inc.
The Emergency Relief Services Collaborative was formed to ensure a coordinated system to provide emergency services ( food, rent and utilities) to families and individuals in crisis. 
Participants in the Emergency Relief Services Collaborative: 
  • Coalition of Florida Farmworker Organizations
  • Guadalupe Center
  • Guadalupe Social Services of Catholic Charities
  • Immokalee Friendship House
  • Immokalee Multicultural Multipurpose Community Action Agency
The following nonprofit agencies also work with the Foundation and provide programs in the Immokalee area:
  • Baby Basics of Collier County/Immokalee Program
  • Boys & Girls Club of Collier County/Immokalee Program
  • CHS Healthcare
  • Coalition of Immokalee Workers
  • David Lawrence Center, Inc.
  • Education Foundation of Collier County
  • Farmworkers Association of Florida, Inc.
  • Florida Rural Legal Services
  • Greater Immokalee Southside Front Porch Community, Inc.
  • Habitat for Humanity of Collier County
  • Immokalee Foundation
  • Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida
  • Legal Aid Service of Collier County
  • Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF)
  • One by One Leadership Foundation, Inc.
  • PACE Center for Girls
  • Shelter for Abused Women & Children
  • Student/Farmworker Alliance (SFA)
  • United Church Homes
  • United Way of Collier County
To learn more about any of the nonprofit agencies listed - go to the Guide to Collier County Nonprofits located on this website.
 

Images of Hope      

 
In order to bring awareness about the Immokalee community to the greater Collier County, the Community Foundation sponsored:
 
Images of Hope
IMMOKALEE - LOOKING FORWARD LOOKING BACK
A photographic journey through Immokalee
Photography by Brynn Bruijn
 
The project included an exhibition of more than 70 works selected from the published book. These photographs were selected to convey an authentic and illuminating portrait of Immokalee and the people who live and work there. The exhibition, organized by the Community Foundation of Collier County and the Naples Museum of Art was sponsored by Lowry Hill Private Asset Management.
 
In September 2010, the Images of Hope exhibit was installed at its permanent location at the Immokalee ITECH conference center.
 
The book - Images of Hope is available for purchase from the Community Foundation with the proceeds benefiting the Immokalee Nonprofit Network - cost $59.95
 
 
 
 

Learn more about the Immokalee Nonprofit Network

  • By calling the Community Foundation at 239-649-5000.
  • Request a tour of the community of Immokalee.
  • Visit the community with a representative of the Foundation and learn how you can make a difference.