TABLE OF CONTENTS
Coming soon: the Lakou Collective Community Center!
The Lakou Collective gets its name from Haitian traditions of shared space. Though the simplest translation of “lakou” is courtyard, the term refers to a centuries old tradition of organizing communities around shared space and resources. Similarly, the Lakou Collective will be a space for local creatives, organizations, and small businesses to form in Immokalee, Florida.
Your donation will fund the construction of the Lakou Collective Community Center, a non-profit multicultural venue, community café, and small business incubation space coming soon to Immokalee, Florida.
Who are we?
The Lakou Collective is a cooperative of artists, creatives, educators, and ethical entrepreneurs building community wellness, connectivity, and resilience in Immokalee, Florida. Leaders of the Collective live in and contribute to the Immokalee community as teachers, organizers, public health professionals, small business owners, performers, and creatives.
Why does Immokalee need this community center?
Informal public spaces (also referred to as third places) such as cafes, theaters, and parks contribute to the enjoyment, cohesion, and wellbeing of a community. However, despite a robust population of over 28,000 people, Immokalee currently has no public movie theater, bookstore, café, shopping mall, or youth commercial spaces such as bowling alleys, skating rinks, arcades, rock climbing, or amusement parks, etc.
Today, Immokalee is home to more permanent residents, families, women, and children than ever before, and the need for accessible third places is frequently cited among young Immokalee youth aged 16 - 30.
The Lakou Collective seeks to resolve these issues by creating a versatile multicultural venue, community café, and incubation space for local creatives, small businesses, and community initiatives. The Collective will serve working-class Haitian, Mexican, and Guatemalan adults and youth—for free or at low cost and use cultural programming to bring further enjoyment, development, and identity to the Immokalee community.
Cultural Center and Venue
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The Lakou Collective will deliver cultural community programs for free or at low cost. These include heritage celebrations, music and dance classes, and free educational programs.
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In addition to hosting community events, the center will be available for reservation as a meeting space, vending location, and public venue for large celebrations, events, or performances.
Community Café
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The café is the heart of the community center, featuring shaded patio seating and access to local food and coffee vendors. The Collective will also host a monthly community brunch, and similar large events such as food festivals, markets, food truck showdowns, etc.
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In addition to classes and workshops, the Lakou Collective will organize large scale community events such as block parties, open mic nights, fiestas, small business pop-ups, second hand markets, film festivals, etc.
Incubation Space
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The Lakou Collective will serve as a space for local community initiatives. Members can reserve community spaces for meetings and events, and can access staff support to establish, launch, and maintain their club/organization.
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Small business owners will be able to vend onsite during regular business hours and events organized by Lakou Collective. Vendors can choose to rent a half-booth, full-booth, or the drive through drink stand on a monthly basis.
Project timeline:
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FEBRUARY - MARCH, 2025
Initial Board of Directors meeting and capital campaign launch. Secure land for Lakou Collective Community Center.
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APRIL - AUGUST 2025
Continue fundraising campaign. Begin permitting process for the Lakou Collective Community Center build.
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SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER, 2025
Continue community center build. Begin casual weekend programming and limited hours.
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SPRING 2026
Lakou Collective Community center launch ceremony, grand opening, and naming. Start of fully operational business hours.
Take advantage of this opportunity to name a space within the Lakou Collective Community Center after your family, organization, or company! This investment will publicly demonstrate your support for a community-led venue and small business incubation space in in the rural immigrant community of Immokalee, Florida.
Your name will be featured on physical plaques at the center, and be referenced in Lakou Collective physical and virtual communications. Use the drop down function to see intended uses, and suggested donations.
Naming opportunities…
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The studio features a living space, bathroom, kitchenette, and lofted bedroom that will be used as a recording studio and guest space for visitors of the Lakou Collective.
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The café is the heart of the community center, and will feature a large patio, shaded tables and chairs, and a coffee bar that will be rented to local coffee businesses. The patio also features small business vendor tables and booths.
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The stage will provide a performing space for a wide variety of artistic and musical acts. The stage will be outfitted for multiple uses, and can be used as a meeting space, transitioned into a theater for community performances, or projection screen for movie nights.
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The free library will promote increased literacy and reading among Immokalee students and youth. The Collective will facilitate book club meetings and deliver books and educational texts to local community members.
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The community garden will be a resource and educational tool for the Immokalee community. The garden will be used to conduct lessons and workshops, facilitate seed exchanges, and partner with local organizations working to solve food insecurity.
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The pantry will be an ongoing resource for members of the Immokalee community to access fresh food through a self-service fridge and pantry. This is aimed at meeting the the needs of local youth struggling with childhood food insecurity.
Contribution tiers…
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Kitchen Poet
$20,000 +
At our highest contribution tier, a donation of $20,000 or more will secure a plaque on our sponsor tree of life, a donor welcome packet, and premium invitations (+ guest passes) to public events, the Lakou Collective launch ceremony and celebration dinner.
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Dream and Vision
$10,000 +
A donation of $10,000 or more will secure placement on our sponsor tree of life, a donor welcome packet, priority tickets to select events, and invitations to the Lakou Collective launch ceremony and celebration dinner.
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Spadework
$1,000 +
A donation of $1,000 or more will secure placement on our sponsor website, discounted tickets, and invitations to our launch ceremony.
Make a pledge.
Not ready to donate but want to make a commitment to the Lakou Collective Community Center? Download and submit our pledge form to this page or via email.
donate@lakoucollective.org
(305) 209-1041