Gainesville Group Help Elevate Black Experience

UNIVERSITY LODGE & TEMPLE WORK TO BETTER COMMUNITY

Story by: LuKisha King

We have seen an African-American president. We are finding more African-Americans on television. And we are witnessing African-Americans rise to positions of leadership across the nation. As we grow and strengthen as successful and influential people, organizations within our community help promote the Black experience. One such organization is the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order Elks of the World (IBPOEW), Inc.

The objective of the Elks, like most African-American fraternal organizations, is to provide financial, spiritual, and emotional support to their communities and add value and improve self-esteem among African-Americans. The Elks are fully committed to economic, personal, and academic advancement in every phase of the African-American experience.

The IBPOEW currently has 500,000 members in more than 1,500 lodges worldwide. The IBPOEW is the largest Black fraternal organization in the world. The IBPOEW strives to ensure “that the welfare and happiness of its members be promoted and enhanced, that nobleness of soul and goodness of heart be cultivated, that the principles or Charity, Justice, Brotherly/ Sisterly love and fidelity be inculcated, that its members and their families be assisted an protected and that the spirit of patriotism be enlivened and exalted.”

One of these 1,500 lodges is located in Gainesville, FL. The University City Lodge 1218 & Temple 900 located at 511 SW 4th Avenue Gainesville, FL, was established November 1, 1996. It’s founding fathers were; E. A. Cosby, T. Coward, E. Brown, H. McClunney, H. Quarterman, G. Thompson, G. Alexander, V. Jones and R. Brown. These named individuals are the building trustees and their names are on the cornerstone of the Elks lodge. University City Lodge 1218 & Temple 900 are a staple within the Gainesville community.

The lodge organizes and participates in community service events, some events include the celebration and recognition of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, sponsoring annual scholarships to incoming freshman from their scholarship foundation, and hosting weekly community gatherings for social interaction. The University City Lodge 1218 & Temple 900 has a section within the University of Florida library recognizing the lodge’s beginning and its founding members as well as their contributions to the Gainesville community.