In January 2023, FOR Lakeland was born out of a dream: to reimagine a local middle school campus as a thriving community center. While spending time with students, we noticed something unexpected—they didn’t want to leave. That simple observation sparked a deeper question: why?

What we discovered was sobering. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are leaving lasting impacts on students’ mental health. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among adolescents, and 1 in 5 students in Polk County suffers from a mental health illness. With challenges like these, it’s no wonder students feel stuck—because growth and learning cannot happen without safe, supportive relationships.

In that moment, we knew we couldn’t stay silent. We felt the burden to say: No more. Not while we’re here.

Since then, FOR Lakeland has been rallying the community around students through coaching, mentoring, and education. Our vision is simple but bold: to create a city where every student has the relationships and resources they need to flourish.