The Leadership St. Pete Class of 2023 has announced a new project, “Conscious Collaboration,” to make significant improvements to the Allendale Equity & Justice Center. The project will create flexible, technology-supported workspaces for local nonprofit organizations as part of LSP’s “Conscious Collaboration” legacy.

To kick tings off, LSP’s first fundraising activity is “Bingo at the Brewery” at Green Bench Brewing this Thursday, March 23 from 5:30-8 pm, which includes unlimited bingo for the duration of the event with prizes from local businesses and raffle drawings, as well. Single bingo cards are $5, or five for $20, and proceeds go to support Conscious Collaboration.

LSP will help the center convert former preschool classrooms into offices for nonprofit leaders to work, collaborate, and provide services to the community. Upon completion, this project will make Allendale Equity & Justice Center the first local nonprofit to provide collaborative spaces for change-makers, allowing area nonprofits to exchange ideas, build partnerships, coordinate rapid responses to emerging or immediate community needs, and plan actions that solve social issues.

LSP, an organization within the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, plans to finish renovation by May of 2023, and will fund the project through a series of fundraising events and donations, beginning with this Thursday’s event.

Walk-ups are welcome, and pre-registration for Bingo at the Brewery is available here, and those who would like to donate to the project directly can do so here.

Leadership St. Pete develops future city leaders

Leadership St. Pete, now in its 54th class, is one of the oldest leadership programs in America and exists as a division of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and its 501(c)(3) Foundation. The six-month program is a dynamic, intensive and interactive experience designed to promote and enhance community leadership through an in-depth introduction to social, economic, business and political issues in the St. Petersburg area.

Made possible through the support of the Chamber’s community partners, the mission of LSP is to identify, recruit and develop leaders who represent the diversity of the city and who will assume future leadership roles in the community.

This year’s project for the Allendale Equity & Justice Center is one that LSP believes will have a lasting impact on the community, and will in turn develop future leaders and changemakers in the local nonprofit scene.

More than 30 local nonprofit organizations, including Girls Rock St. Pete, PTSD Awareness, and Found Family Collective, already use the outdated classrooms to host meetings, workshops, and events. Once renovated, the rooms will be flexible and technology-supported spaces that many nonprofits use as they positively impact the local community.

Learn more or donate to LSP’s project here.