April 02, 2020
United Against Poverty is thrilled to announce the appointment of our new CEO, Gwendolyn D. Butson. Gwen comes to us with 15 years of non-profit experience. She has worked with The Salvation Army and Goodwill Industries in key executive positions and has a love for helping people. She has extensive executive management experience and holds a Masters in Business Administration. Gwen’s demonstrated compassion is accompanied by her keen interest in the areas of strategy, accountability and succession planning, the hallmarks of an effective CEO. Her passion for the non-profit industry is evident in her dedication to the employees, the participants,...
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February 24, 2020
On Monday, May 25, 2020, United Against Poverty of St. Lucie County will host a one-of-a-kind charity festival, the BBQ, Blues and Bike Fest to celebrate Memorial Day at Veterans Memorial Park in Fort Pierce. This unique celebration will serve both to unite the community around food, music, and motorcycles, while benefitting much needed services that help give hard working families a hand up out of poverty and to economic self-sufficiency. We would love to have you join us and be a voice for the 56,924 households in St. Lucie County that struggle to make ends meet. All funds raised...
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February 21, 2020
United Against Poverty of St. Lucie County will be hosting its Second Annual Fool’s Day 5k run/walk on Saturday, March 28 at 8 a.m. at South Causeway Park in Fort Pierce. Community members are invited to lace up their sneakers and “Be a Blessing in Disguise” for the 56,924 or 51% of households in St. Lucie County that struggle to meet their basic needs. Participants of all ages and abilities can run, jog, stroll or roll through an exciting 3.1 mile course filled with silly string, bubbles, squirt guns and other fun surprises. Registration includes a commemorative t-shirt, pair of...
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January 13, 2020
January 13, 2020 marked the first day of the Success Training Employment Program (STEP) for 20 eager adults at the United Against Poverty St. Lucie campus. STEP is an adult workforce training program where students are taught emotional intelligence, resume writing, job interview preparation, and development of a career plan in the six week course. United Against Poverty then provides help with job acquisition and success coaching for 3 years after employment. According to Canieria Gardner, Executive Director, “In 2019, 93% of individuals who completed the training are employed. Since its inception in 2018, the job retention rate is 86%...
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October 10, 2019
On Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce held their 35th Annual Business and Industry Awards in front of a record- breaking audience. Over 425 attendees joined the SLC Chamber of Commerce in recognizing some of the top businesses and organizations in St. Lucie County. This yearly event, held in the beautiful Treasure Coast Lexus Showroom in Fort Pierce, was moderated by the Emmy award-winning Journalist, Liz Quirantes, a news anchor at CBS 12 News. More than 500+ St. Lucie County business and organizations were nominated in 21 different categories. In a field of...
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September 19, 2019
On Friday, September 20, 2019 from 11 am – 6 pm, make sure to stop by the Percy S. Peek Gymnasium and Indian River State College’s Blackburn Education Center, located at 2902 Avenue D, for the Lincoln Park Business Expo and Job Fair. This is your chance to meet with leaders of the business community while learning about job opportunities that may be a fit for you or someone you know. United Against Poverty of St. Lucie County’s Executive Director, Canieria Gardner, will be the keynote speaker at the event, discussing how the changing needs of the Lincoln Park community affect the...
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August 13, 2019
Mark your calendars for August 29th – you won’t want to miss this seminar at the UP Center hosted by BB&T Bank! Do you want to learn how to create a solid budget or save money for your future? Do you need to learn how to establish credit? This free seminar with seasoned banking professionals will help everyone from beginners to experts gain the knowledge and skills they need to make sound financial choices. This session will be held at the UP Center from 5:00-7:00pm on August 29th.
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August 13, 2019
You won’t want to miss this FREE local event! Stop by the Health Forum sponsored by the Caribbean American Cultural Group and other community partners located at the CACG Clubhouse (10012-16 S Federal Hwy, Port St. Lucie, FL 34952) from 10am – 2pm on Saturday, August 17th. The event boasts speakers on a variety of topics that matter to families in our community.
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August 09, 2019
At United Against Poverty, we’re all about partnerships and collaboration! On Saturday, August 10th, Grace Baptist Ministry will be using the Life Enrichment Center located within the UP Center to feed the homeless from 4pm-5pm. Spread the word to those in need!
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August 06, 2019
United Against Poverty was excited to be a part of the Local Food Local Places initiative sponsored by the City of Fort Pierce regarding the accessibility of healthy food in our communities. The City of Fort Pierce’s Local Food, Local Places Community Meeting and Action Planning Session on July 31st and August 1st served to allow community members to share ideas for how to increase access to healthy local food in the Lincoln Park community. We are excited to continue to partner with the City and this initiative to expand access to food to communities in need!
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