“Where education and caring happen,” the Willie Mae Stokes Community Center (WMSCC) is on a mission to serve its community’s needs and be a model for other rural communities on how to create resources and sustainable programs. WMSCC opened in 2017, providing a place for community assistance, particularly focused on the needs of young people in Micanopy, FL and surrounding communities. Spurred by the lack of youth activities, public transportation, and access to grocery stores — typical of small towns and rural areas — the grassroots nonprofit brings services and support to those in need. As evidenced by the 70+ children who daily attend the free after-school enrichment program, the 150 people who line up weekly for free boxes of food, the 60 who receive free health screenings and vaccinations quarterly at the mobile outreach clinics, and the 400 who enjoy a free sit-down Thanksgiving dinner each year — the WMSCC is creating a community where every child has an equal chance of thriving and every family finds support in times of need.
Born and bred in Micanopy, WMSCC founder Christopher Stokes knew early on that his small town offered few activities for kids and vowed once he was old enough to leave, he’d never come back. Yet, after his military service he did return, only to see the same problems. Believing that one’s destiny is determined by the commitment to develop what is given — the opportunity to effect authentic change — Stokes started the WMSCC. With a small staff and 5-person board, the BIPOC-led organization has made an indelible impact on the community. In addition to the after-school program, food giveaways, and free health clinics, the group partnered with AT&T to provide 70 laptops to children and Walmart to provide bicycles for every child at Christmas. To meet the community’s growing needs, they recently opened The Willie Mae Stokes Family Resource Center to further expand the services to the Micanopy and larger Alachua County area. Next up, they hope to help residents weatherize homes for energy efficiency and access solar power through its proposed Rural Communities Resilience Hub. As Stokes says of the organization named in honor of his mother, “At the end of the day, I don’t care if you’re Republican or Democrat, Black or White, if there’s a need, we want to be able to provide, and meet that need.”
Outside the Willie Mae Stokes Community Center. Photo Courtesy of WMSCC