Lincoln Resource Center thriving four years after taking over Lincoln School
Loxi Hopkins continues to be amazed at the transformation of the old Lincoln School to a community outreach center. She's a board member of the TMBC Lincoln Resource Center.
Hopkins remembers the public backlash when the Davenport School Board sold the school to Third Missionary Baptist Church and its associate, Together Making a Better Community, for $30,000, turning down other more lucrative offers including one for as much as $290,000 for the property.
"I wish that some of the people that complained when the school district sold us this for less than they could have gotten could see what happens here and the difference it makes in kids' lives," she said. "I think we need these all over town, and instead of tearing down the old schools, it would have been a good idea to put something like this in them.
"I'm really pleased with the way things have turned out," Hopkins said.
Hopkins was one of several hundred people to attend an open house at the Lincoln Resource Center on Friday, Oct. 4.
There are now 22 businesses or outreach programs in the building, that include Goodwill, QC Empowerment Network, Azubuike Arts, Pena's Boxing, The Vine Ministries, Signature Look Beauty Essentials, Well Suited, LOVE Girls Magazine, Art for the Spirit, the Blessing Box, Angelica Paints, Royal Drama Dance Company and the Youth Advocate Program, to name a few.
Each is dedicated to improving the lives and increasing the skills of the people who participate in their programs.
Together Making a Better Community, or TMBC, at the Lincoln Resource Center has at its core emphasized the "empowering and educating Quad Cities youth, families and community by providing wholesome opportunities," according to its website.
It is the only program in the Quad Cities region that is Black-owned, Black-led and focused on empowering the Black youth, Black families, and Black communities in our area, Executive Director Tracy Singleton said.
There is a health clinic, business resource center and a library where people, especially children, can take books for free.
The health clinic is for blood pressure checks. Singleton said high blood pressure led to other problems or could be a signal of other issues that needed to be diagnosed.
"Our five-year plan moved a lot faster than we thought it would," Singleton said. "But we have adapted to those changes. We keep our finger on the pulse of the African-American community and try to address the needs right away, and I think that because we're a community center and not pigeonholed in one area we can do a lot of things."
Naturally, the center is working to get all the grants and donations it can, but as it continues to prove itself money continues to come in.
"Money is always an issue and being a new nonprofit we're like the low man on the totem pole," Singleton said. "We knew it was going to take some time because we had to prove ourselves. We had to be around and be consistent and improve. We are doing all those things. We're not going anywhere."
Among the grants is one from Lowe's Home Improvement, which is remodeling the auditorium that will include seats for adults instead of children.
In addition to many businesses and services in the center, there's also a business center with computers and WiFi and a notary, she said.
The center is also holding board training and leadership development classes to help people learn how to serve on community boards. Often those boards don't have a Black person on them, Singleton said, so it's important to have trained people ready to serve to represent the Black community on as many boards as possible.
Simply put, the center is continuing to thrive and is growing, Singleton said.
Alexandria Murillo, the events space coordinator, said she remembered hearing Pastor Rogers Kirk tell everyone when the center was getting started.
"He said, 'Don't listen to what everybody's saying. Just keep your eye on the prize and do the work and let the work prove and speak for itself,' " Murillo said.
"If people come and see what we're doing they'll believe what we're saying and be on board with us," she added.
Among the youth finding opportunities at the center is Laura Makari, an Augustana College international student from Kenya who is majoring in film and art.
Makari said she gave one of her short films to the director of Azubuike Arts, Gaye Shannon Burnett, who used it in a presentation at Davenport's Figge Art Museum.
"Miss Gaye gave me an internship, and I love it," Makari said.
"There is not a big film industry in Kenya, so we tend to come to the American side for the opportunities, but we can then take the opportunities back to our home countries," Makari said. "Being an intern here has brought so many opportunities and learning experiences for me."
Images of the Lincoln Resource Center open house in DavenportImages of the Lincoln Resource Center on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 in Davenport. The Davenport School Board sold the school to Third Missionary Baptist Church four years ago for $30,000.
