By Carlos Yancy
March 27, 2025
Sarasota County is often lauded as one of Florida’s wealthiest areas – a glittering jewel on the Gulf Coast. We boast luxurious condos, world-class cultural venues and booming commercial development.
Recent headlines have been dominated by plans for a $370 million performing arts center and enhancements for boaters at Centennial Park. The Bay, The Vue and The Ritz exude lavish sophistication. In the same neighborhood, The Quay Sarasota is projected to be valued at a staggering $2.5 billion.
However, only a few blocks away lies a starkly different reality: Newtown.
Here, 50% of children live below the federal poverty level, facing a lack of access to basic needs such as health care, healthy food, safe housing and enriching extracurricular activities. Half of Sarasota County’s public school students are considered low socioeconomic status, with most attending Title I schools in North County.
This disparity isn’t just a moral issue; it’s a glaring contradiction to Sarasota’s image of prosperity and progress. While we publicly debate and celebrate investments that primarily benefit the affluent, a significant portion of our population struggles to survive. The rising cost of living, fueled by the influx of wealth, has made it increasingly difficult for generational residents of Newtown to thrive.
Sarasota County itself acknowledges the existence of just one “Racially and Ethnically Concentrated Areas of Poverty” (HUD R/ECAP) within its borders, specifically in Newtown. These areas are defined by high poverty rates and a concentration of minority populations.
The historical context adds another layer of injustice: Newtown’s residents are descendants of African American pioneers who toiled to build the very foundations of Sarasota.
It’s time for Sarasota to invest in its human capital with the same fervor it invests in its skyline. The proposed Newtown Family Center on Leonard Reid Avenue is not merely a social program; it’s a vital necessity.
This center, envisioned by our community as a hub of placed-based support, services and opportunities, will be highly responsive to the evolving needs of our families.
Some may argue that existing nonprofits and government agencies already provide these services. However, a dedicated family center is necessary to maximize and leverage the work of these providers.
The Newtown Family Center creates a trusted, accessible and community-driven approach to support our philanthropic and social networks, collaborating, innovating and responding to the unique needs of Newtown residents.
Family centers have proven to be exceptionally effective in other communities, with significant reductions in child abuse and neglect. By providing resources and fostering community engagement, the Newtown Family Center can empower families, build resilience and break the cycle of poverty. It improves access to existing services, which often struggle to reach those who need them most.
The benefits extend beyond social impact – investing in Newtown is economically sound. As Sarasota continues to grow, we will need a strong local workforce. Developing the human potential within Newtown is crucial to meeting this demand and alleviating the traffic congestion caused by importing labor.
The choice is clear: will Sarasota continue to be a city of gleaming towers and widening disparities, or will it become a community where prosperity is shared by all?
The Newtown Family Center is an opportunity to prioritize investing in human capital and create a more equitable future for Sarasota.
Carlos Yancy was born and raised in Newtown, with his children marking the fourth generation of family residents in Newtown. He is a member of the Newtown Family Center Steering Committee and serves as business development specialist at Bay First Bank’s Newtown branch.
