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Welcome to The Lealman Voice

Welcome to the Lealman Voice!

Your ultimate guide to everything happening in our vibrant neighborhood! We're dedicated to highlighting the heartbeat of our community by sharing upcoming events, the latest news, and stories that matter most to you. Whether it's a local gathering, community initiative, or notable achievement, we want to hear from you. Let's celebrate the spirit of Lealman together and keep our neighborhood thriving. Share your news with us, and let's continue to make your voices heard!

Understanding Lealman's Community Organizations: A Guide to Local Committees and Their Impact

Lealman is home to several committees and organizations that play crucial roles in its development and well-being. Understanding the distinct functions and collaborative efforts of these groups can help residents, businesses, and new staff navigate the community landscape more effectively. 

Lealman Community Redevelopment Area (CRA)

The Lealman Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) is a designated area within Lealman that focuses on revitalization and economic development. The Lealman CRA Advisory Committee, composed of nine members appointed by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, advises the Community Redevelopment Agency on the community redevelopment plan and related issues. The committee's responsibilities include recommending policies and projects that promote economic growth, improve infrastructure, and enhance the overall quality of life in the CRA. The committee meets monthly at the Lealman Exchange to discuss and plan these initiatives.

The CRA Advisory Committee is looking for two more Lealman residents to join. More details are available on the committee’s website here.

Lealman Community District Services (LCDS)

The Lealman Community District Services (LCDS) is a nonprofit organized of citizens, businesses, and charity organizations that collaborate to bring community and recreational services to the Lealman Community. The organization meets every other month and membership is extended on an individual basis.

LCDS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LealmanCommunityDistrictServices/ 

Lealman Community Association (LCA)

The Lealman Community Association (LCA) is a grassroots group of residents, community advocates, and organizations working together to improve the Lealman Community. The LCA was established by Ray Neri and his legacy carries on as the LCA continues to organize community meetings, advocate for residents' concerns, and work on neighborhood improvement projects. The LCA serves as a bridge between the residents and local government, ensuring that the voices of the community are heard and acted upon. The LCA is unique in that it covers East and West Lealman.

“The LCA’s goal is to bring a sense of community to the Lealman residents,” said Laura Simkanish, LCA President.

The LCA meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Lealman Exchange, 5175 45th St. N. The LCA encourages residents to join the conversation and make their voices heard as the group works to promote and improve Lealman for all. No registration is necessary and the LCA encourages all residents of Lealman to become a member and vote on the issues and discussions that impact the community.

LCA Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064618695273 

Email: lealmancommunityassociation@gmail.com

Lealman Engagement Committee (LEC)

On 05/27/2022, community leaders Tom Almonte, Neil Brickfield, Chief Richard Graham, Chief Jim Millican, Laura Simkanich, Steven Cleveland, and Zelda O'Connell met to discuss the future of community events in Lealman. This pivotal meeting led to the creation of the Lealman Engagement Committee through a partnership with Pinellas County Government, Pinellas County Housing Authority, Lealman Fire District, Lealman Community Association, and Florida Dream Center.

Welcome to Lealman: Wounded Warriors Ability Ranch

Our newest tenant at the Lealman Exchange is Wounded Warriors Ability Ranch (WWAR), a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring veterans to get out and active.

WWAR was started by Mike Delancey, a Pinellas Park resident who himself was critically injured in a sniper ​attack during military combat in Iraq and has confronted his own life-changing injuries.

WWAR offers activities for all Military Veterans in need of a supportive and healing environment, to give a new sense of hope, resilience and strength as they move forward in their journey. WWAR hosts a range of activities, workshops, clinics and events for all veterans and the adaptive sports community in the Tampa Bay Area. Learn more at woundedwarriorsabilitiesranch.org.

FloridaCommerce Activates Business Damage Assessment Survey to Measure Impact of Damage Caused by Hurricane Debby

FloridaCommerce and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey in response to Hurricane Debby. Business owners can self-report physical and economic damage caused by Hurricane Debby. Survey responses will allow the state to expedite Hurricane Debby recovery efforts by gathering data and assessing the needs of impacted businesses.

Businesses can complete the survey online by visiting https://floridajobs.org/floridadisaster.biz and selecting “Hurricane Debby” from the dropdown menu.

If you need additional assistance with your business, please call the private sector hotline at 850-815-4925, open daily, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., or email ESF18@em.myflorida.com.

Nonprofit launches newsletter to boost sector collaboration

Via St. Pete Catalyst

A new initiative focused on nonprofit-to-nonprofit collaboration launches next week. 

Capacity Catalyst, a newsletter published by the St Petersburg Foundation, will house content and tools designed to facilitate resource sharing and support capacity-building within the sector. 

The creation of Capacity Catalyst was prompted by feedback from the 2023/2024 Pinellas County Nonprofit Assessment. The assessment, conducted by the Pinellas Community Foundation, the St. Petersburg Foundation (SPF) and the University of South Florida, resulted in a 108-page document detailing the current state of Pinellas County’s charitable organizations.

The results were presented during two live events in the fall of 2023: at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art on the St. Petersburg College Tarpon Springs campus and at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg’s Center for Health Equity. NPO leaders engaged in dialogue after each presentation and a clear theme emerged: A need for more structured networking and resource-sharing opportunities among NPOs.

The Capacity Catalyst newsletter aims to address this need with tools specifically designed to be a conduit for idea and resource sharing.  Features include: 

• Nonprofit news and updates to keep organizations informed about sector developments
• Capacity Connector: A classifieds-style board exclusively for nonprofits
• Educational articles, series and classes
• Calendar of events relevant to nonprofit professionals
• Information on grants, funding opportunities and other financial resources
• Success stories and best practices from peer organizations
• Spotlights on innovative organizations and their staff/volunteers

“The Capacity Catalyst newsletter is a direct response to the wants and needs shared by our nonprofit community,” said Joe Hamilton, co-founder of the St. Petersburg Foundation and owner/publisher of the St. Pete Catalyst. “We believe this newsletter will fill an important niche for NPO-to-NPO connection.” 

St Petersburg Foundation Executive Director Irv Cohen added, “This tool serves our foundation’s mission to build capacity so organizations can focus less on operations and more on impacting those they serve. That it was requested by the collective is a great step in listening and responding to each other. The success of Capacity Catalyst equally relies on the collective going forward.”   

To leverage Capacity Catalyst, nonprofit organizations can submit news, classified items, funding opportunities, events and job postings via email to impact@stpete.foundation.

The first Capacity Catalyst newsletter goes out Monday, Aug. 19. Those interested in subscribing can sign up at stpete.foundation/capacity-catalyst.

Starting in October 2024, the Lealman Exchange is thrilled to host the Lealman Farmers Market on the fourth Sunday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Our mission is to bring fresh, affordable produce and farm-to-table goodness to the residents of Lealman, while supporting our local farmers and artisans. We are currently seeking vendors to participate in this upcoming event.

Career Corner

911 Public Safety Telecommunicator Trainee

Starting pay of $21.93* per hour. Upon completion of training receive a promotion to 9-1-1 Public Safety Telecommunicator with a pay increase to $24.13 per hour.

Employees are eligible for an additional stipend(s).

• 7% market driven skills supplement once the employee is working independently and initial training is completed.
• 5% shift differential for afternoons  (majority of shift between 5pm and midnight) & 10% shift differential for nights (majority of shift between midnight and 6am) 

*Candidates with recent (within 1 year) experience in an emergency communications center may be eligible for a higher starting pay

Lealman History

Seaboard Coast Line ALCO RS-3 Road Switcher 1255, along with another, leads a local freight train across a wooden trestle through the Lealman area while departing Saint Petersburg, Florida, ca 1970's. These ALCO RS-3 Road Switchers were obtained from the Seaboard Air Line during the 1967 merger of the ACL & SAL. In the background over the tracks you can see a highway overpass bridge which is U.S. 19, and further back about a 1/4 mile is the Amtrak passenger station.

Via  Fred Clark Jr. photo collection on Facebook

Wounded Warriors Ranch HQ & Gym Grand Opening

Come and check out our NEW adaptive fitness facility and join the community as we inspire veterans and adaptive athletes on a journey to health, strength and wellness together!

Friday, Sept. 27 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Lealman Exchange, 5175 45th St. N.

Hello Lealman