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Credit: Leo Gomez Studios
Hello there.
Welcome to the first edition of the Lealman Voice.
Our mission is simple: To help connect the people of Lealman.
You have the ideas, the projects, the events and the energy - everything needed to keep Lealman thriving. The biggest challenge is often simply getting the word out. The Lealman Voice will help us meet that challenge.
Please explore this first edition. Check out the sections to see what we’re doing now. Tell us what you like and don’t like. Tell us what else we need to add. Our email is news@lealmanvoice.org.
Opportunity is blooming in Lealman and people are noticing. By staying connected, we can stay aligned and make sure that the rich history of Lealman is preserved and that the people of Lealman drive the future of Lealman.
-The Lealman Voice
Lealman celebrates with art and honey Saturday
In the works since last September, the first-ever Lealman Honey & Arts Festival takes place Saturday at five-acre Raymond H. Neri Park, the open green space in the heart of St. Petersburg’s unincorporated Lealman district.
The 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. family-friendly event was conceived by the newly-formed Lealman Engagement Events Committee, which includes representatives from Pinellas County, Florida Dream Center, Lealman Fire District, Pinellas County Housing Authority, Lealman Community Association, Lealman Community District Services, St. Petersburg Foundation and Exquisite Events & Marketing.
The committee was formed by the Pinellas County Board of Commissioners as part of its Community Redevelopment Area Plan (CRA) for Lealman.
Feb 18 @ 10:00 AM
Feb 25 @ 3:00 PM
Mar 2nd @ 10:00 AM
YMCA Offers Open Gym Hours at the Lealman Exchange
The YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg is now hosting an open gym program at the Lealman Exchange. The gymnasium officially re-opened on December 5, and includes a remodeled basketball court and spectator bleachers.
The gym’s renovation is part of the greater efforts of Pinellas County and the Lealman CRA working to revitalize the community. St. Petersburg Foundation has responded to the community’s call for recreation opportunities and partnered with the YMCA to offer programs for pickleball and basketball throughout the week, in addition to well-being workshops like their SilverSneakers Fitness Program for adults 65 and older and the Total Parkinson Program. A complete schedule of programs and events can be found here.
Open gym access is a pathway for all community members to improve mental and physical health, and increase community connectivity with no financial barriers. All open gym opportunities are free for the community.
Local foster children receive long-term mentors
Kids growing up in the foster care system often lack a consistent adult presence through their formidable years – so a regional nonprofit provides them mentors from kindergarten through graduation.
With a $1.1 million grant from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott and a desire to make a lasting impact in the lives of some of the area’s most vulnerable kids, Friends of the Children – Tampa Bay (FCTB) is bringing its long-term mentoring model to Lealman Elementary School.
Elected officials help with Habitat’s 800th home
Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties hosted a unique volunteer build day Friday as 25 elected officials from across the county and political spectrum provided some “sweat equity” to the organization’s 800th area home. They also met and heard from a single mother who was out of housing options until participating in Habitat’s program.
Despite the threat of rain, city council members, county commissioners and mayors helped paint and landscape what will soon be a new home for Brianna Clayton and her daughter in unincorporated Lealman. Habitat is building 13 more in just about a two-block radius
Construction revs up for Tesla center in Lealman
Tesla Motors will be arriving at the new 102,410-square-foot Lealman store in the coming months as construction nears completion.
The walls have gone vertical, the framework is in place and a new roof is getting installed at 4601 34th St. N.
Developer Rob Truett, principal at the Delay Beach-based Truett Realty Group, is behind the project to transform the former Kane’s Furniture liquidation center in Lealman into a state-of-the-art delivery and repair center for Tesla.
Tesla’s store locations are referred to as centers rather than standard dealerships due to Tesla’s direct sales model – directly selling the vehicles to customers without the use of an independent dealer – which strays from the traditional big auto business model.
Jeremy Heath
Please introduce yourself to your neighbors. My name is Jeremy Heath, and I currently serve as the Lealman Citizen Advisory Committee Chairman.
How many years have you lived in Lealman? I have lived in Lealman since 2009. However, my family has lived in Lealman since 1947. I have been actively involved with the CRA for three years.
What organizations are you involved in? Besides the Lealman CRA, I am actively involved with the Nature Conservancy of Florida and Tampa Bay Watch and have been involved to a lesser extent, with the Police Athletic League, Lealman Fire Department, LCS, and the Florida Trail.
What gets you out of bed every day? My amazing wife, Amanda, is a huge supporter in all of my endeavors and my travel buddy. We are both avid outdoorsmen and hikers. I thru-hiked the Florida Trail in 2009 and the Appalachian Trail in 2012. We have hiked the Inca Trail together, later summitting Machu Picchu, parts of the Swiss Alps, and rim to rim at the Grand Canyon as well as other small weekend hikes with our two dogs, Mia and Zoey.
What is one thing you've seen change for the better in Lealman in the last few years? The quality and quantity of community involvement in Lealman. Our CRA meetings have not only increased in participation rapidly in the last few years, but the issues that are being raised and how the community chooses to tackle them have been simply inspiring. Whether it’s community meetings or gatherings such as the Christmas Tree Lighting in December, Lealman is undoubtedly ready to show the rest of Pinellas County that they’re prepared to put their best foot forward. While the progress in the last 24 months have been tangible and significant, it is my fervent belief that the best is yet to come. Between word of mouth, the creation of a distinct Lealman “brand,” and some fairly significant infrastructure projects, I feel Lealman is about to undertake the kind of progress that decade-old residents and new residents alike can take a ton of pride in.
What's next for you? My wife and I try to check off a trip or two each year. Fingers crossed for Paris in 2023!
Pinellas County Commission Chair Charlie Justice hopes to increase affordability and job prospects for Pinellas residents while continuing to enhance an underserved community in 2023.
Justice relayed his excitement for the first-ever Lealman Honey & Arts Festival on Feb. 18. He said it will showcase the underserved yet burgeoning community to the surrounding area and will resemble what people might expect to find in downtown St. Petersburg’s Williams Park. “It’s going to be a big day for Lealman,” he added.
Hello Lealman
