like \''līk\ vb: to be suitable or agreeable to. w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / c i t y o f l a k e l a n d
Neighborhood Spotlight: WESTGATE Neighborhoods are an integral part of the City. Maintaining and enhancing these neighborhoods is critical to the long-term vitality and success of Lakeland and the quality of life of our residents. The City of Lakeland has identified approximately 100 neighborhoods. Of those, 15 have registered neighborhood associations that make up the Neighborhood Association Coalition (NAC), which works closely with City staff. This month, we spotlight the Westgate Neighborhood. This neighborhood has been registered with the City of Lakeland since 2000. Extending to the western City limits along the CSX Railroad to Wabash Avenue, Westgate is bordered by Wayman Street, Central Avenue and Olive Street. The Matching Grant Program offered by the City’s Community Development department has allowed the Westgate Neighborhood Association to coordinate community activities and projects such as an afterschool reading program, National Night Out, October Fest, a quarterly newsletter, a summer camp, and job skills training. Partnerships with several community groups and churches help with activities and services. Neighborhood partners include: Zion Hope Baptist Church, El Shaddai Full Gospel Church, Heaven My Home Baptist Church, Harvest Assembly, The Seed Sowers Evangelistic, Iglesia Missonera de Lakeland, the band Freedom
Reign, Career Tech, The FALLS Adventure and Jesse King Elementary. These organizations are essential to the current neighborhood association focus: educating youth and their families and finding ways to keep them out of trouble and off the streets. Shirley Pickett, President of the Westgate Neighborhood Association, said only a handful of businesses and landlords in the community have responded to requests for additional help. “I believe that by all of us working together we can better deal with issues and get to the point where our
WESTSIDE PARK
LIKE US ON community becomes attractive again,” said Pickett. Neighborhood leaders and volunteers continue to reach out to youth and their families so they can help become change agents and develop a greater sense of pride in where they live. There are nearly 5,000 residents in this multicultural community that consists of single-family homes, duplexes, small apartment units and a mobile home park. About 60 percent of Westgate residents speak Spanish. “That’s a challenge,” said Pickett. “We would like extra support in communicating with our neighbors so that they too are well informed and we as a community can understand each others concerns. The community’s recreational site, Westside Park, is equipped with a large playground area, softball fields and a basketball court. Community members are pleased with the park’s offerings and in the future, they would like to see additional amenities. The Westgate Neighborhood Association meets quarterly from 6pm-7pm at Zion Hope Baptist Church, located at 504 Plateau Ave. The City of Lakeland appreciates the involvement of the residents and will continue to support their improvement efforts. Organizing a neighborhood association can be very rewarding. If you are interested in becoming a registered neighborhood association, please contact the neighborhood outreach office at 863-834-6011.
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Meet ALLISON JONES Meet Allison Jones, Director of Event Services for The Lakeland Center. She is a long time employee who began working at The Lakeland Civic Center as a Part time Ticket Seller in 1987. She was promoted to full time Account Clerk in 1988 and in 1991 she was promoted to Director of Ticketing and Traffic where she remained until 2005. Jones said, “In 2005 I left the City for another opportunity but after six months into the business I realized it wasn’t for me and I was re-hired at The Lakeland Center as Director of Event Services." When asked to describe what she currently does, Jones said, “I manage three Event Managers who work as the liaison between clients and the building staff. Once the event is booked and contracted by Sales, I review the details, assign the Event Manager and stay in contact with them during the planning process.” She added, “Customer satisfaction is very important to us and we strive very hard to accomplish that goal with every client.” Jones conducts weekly staff meetings to review and distribute the latest details with representatives from all of the service providers at the Center including set-up, A/V, parking, guest services and catering so the client will have a smooth event. Jones said, “We work with the client very closely especially on the day when an event is moving in.
We stay with the client until they are ready to take the lead and once the event has started we check on the client periodically to make sure that their needs are met.” Those that are lucky enough to work with Jones can appreciate her attention to detail and that shows with her interaction with clients at The Lakeland Center. Approximately 65% of business at The Lakeland Center comes from returning customers. Jones said, “We have established relationships with most of our clients and a great deal of our events are reoccurring so we get to do it all over again next year.” Jones said she likes working with the bigger shows most of all and she loves seeing patrons who are excited about seeing a concert or comedy act. She said, “I truly feel the energy and get goose bumps or even misty eyes from the energy in the room when there is a big show. I have seen a lot of concerts and musical shows in my 25 years at the Center and I don’t think any other industry was meant for me.” Jones shared that even her horoscope on the day she was born said that she would work behind the scenes in a Performing Arts Center. When Jones is not working, she enjoys gardening. “In my spare time I love to garden, I have a 200 sq ft organic vegetable garden in my back yard,” said
Jones. “I also do my own composting and have over 200 gallons of rain water stored for my vegetables and plants.” She also enjoys yoga, eating healthy and preparing naturally grown cuisine. Jones is an advocate for recycling and back in the 90’s she became the chairperson for The Lakeland Center’s Green Initiatives. Jones said that she really loves island vacations and spending time on the beach. She is a big Survivor (TV show) fan and she even sent the show’s producer an audition tape in 2004. She said, “They never called me but I’m still a huge fan of the show.” Her favorite movie is anything with Jim Carrey and her favorite color is blue. Jones said that her favorite food is anything Mexican and she is very fond of Zoe, her long-haired Chihuahua.