City Manager's Annual Report Annual Report 2018 | A Year In Review | Page 29

DIVERSITY
Southern Grove
Future Career Technical Academy in the Works
As part of its strategic goal to promote quality education for all residents, the City Council, in July 2018, directed
staff to seek qualified proposals for a technical career academy to be located within the City’s future jobs corridor,
on land leased through the City in the Southern Grove section of Tradition. After the evaluation process, the Council
approved moving forward with the proposal submitted by Somerset Academy, Inc.
This academy will be the gateway to fulfilling the needs illustrated in the 2017 Treasure Coast Skills Gap Study.
Additionally, the educational program will address overall core requirements, while offering targeted curriculum
tracks for key occupations based on industry needs and growth opportunities for the future. It also will align with the
needs of the community, offering feeder programs such as construction trades, welders, health sciences, logistics,
and manufacturing, among others.
The City and Somerset Academy Inc. are working together on a proposed new school aimed at preparing a more
diversified local workforce to meet growing demands in construction, manufacturing, healthcare and other industries.
To read more about this, please visit www.cityofpsl.com/careertech.
FRRI Diversity Committee
Citizen safety remains at the forefront of government at all
levels. The City has much to be proud of as the safest large
City in Florida, and, as Port St. Lucie continues to grow, it
is important to maintain and enhance these high standards.
The City held its first Forum on Race Relations & Inclusion
(FRRI) event in 2016 and has continued efforts into 2018.
The goal of the Forum is to bring the people of PSL together
to listen, share concerns, learn, plan, act and report on
progress in maintaining and enhancing our promise to
be a City for ALL. The FRRI Diversity Committee held an
event at the Boys and Girls Club to educate youth on the
importance of police in the community. Several PSLPD
officers participated in an active discussion covering police-
related topics with 8-to-12 year olds.
CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE 2018 ANNUAL REPORT
29