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A Century of History, Stories, and Community

We were delighted to welcome the Villages News Network to speak with our own Charles Fields about the history of our school. Check out the interview below!

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About

Rosenwald Schools were built primarily in the South in the early 20th century. This endeavor was a philanthropic effort to provide schooling for impoverished Black children. It began when Booker T. Washington joined with the philanthropist and President of Sears-Roebuck, Julius Rosenwald, to build more than 5,300 schools across fifteen states between 1912 and 1932. By 1928, more than one third of the South’s children were educated in Rosenwald schools. When the Supreme Court declared segregation in education unconstitutional in 1954, Black children were moved out of Rosenwald schools and integrated into previously White-only schoolhouses. Over the intervening decades, most Rosenwald Schools have fallen into disrepair. In recent years there has been an effort to preserve these historic buildings. The National Trust joined with local activists in this preservation effort, and recently Rosenwald Schools were placed on the National Trust’s 11 most endangered historic places.

Who We Are


The Okahumpka Community Club consists of people who live, work and worship in Okahumpka as well as others who share our goals of preserving our unique heritage and creating a more just future.

Our Mission

 

We are a diverse group of people working together to preserve and restore the Okahumpka Rosenwald School so that it can continue to function as a historical site and a place of community enrichment.

Why We Act

Building on the courageous work of Booker T Washington, Julius Rosenwald, Virgil Hawkins and Okahumpka residents in building our Rosenwald School, we continue this collaborative spirit as we work together for a more equitable society. 

Our Rosenwald School has been added to the National Register of Historic Places!

Check out the listing at the Florida Department of State HERE

We are thrilled to be working with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Florida Department of State, the University of Florida, KMF Architects, MAJ Architecture & Design, and Little Little Diversified Architectural Consulting.

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We Want Your Stories

We are collecting stories, remembrances, and histories involving the Okahumpka School and life in the rural South. If you would like to share your story, we encourage you to contact us at okahumpkarosenwald@gmail.com. We would love to speak with you!

Check out this great piece about us on NPR! Link!

Donate

Donate

Checks can be made payable to "Okahumpka Community Club" and note "Building Fund"

OCC PO Box 174, Okahumpka, Florida, 34762
 

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Contact

We recognize the wealth of gifts that we have in one another. Get in touch and join us!

Okahumpka Community Club
P.O. Box 174
Okahumpka, Florida, 34762

Thanks for Your Message!

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