Emma Jewel Charter Academy plans to re-open historic Monroe High School building in Brevard County

From 1948 to 1968, the Monroe High School in Cocoa, Florida was a place of pride and a one-stop service center for the community. In 1969, the historically African-American high school was closed as a result of the desegregation movement, and the building has been sitting primarily vacant since that time. In this low-income area of Brevard County, there is a need for a community-based school to instill a passion for learning and a strong desire to nurture family and community.

The Emma Jewel Charter Academy, EJCA, was established to provide just such an educational experience to the families in the area. Located in the Diamond Square Redevelopment District, Emma Jewel Charter Academy "will provide these families with a choice and a voice," says Thomas Cole, Founder and Principal of the Academy.

As a result of a partnership with the Florida Community Loan Fund (FCLF), Emma Jewel Charter Academy will have the opportunity to serve as a full-service school, available to the community outside of "traditional" school hours. EJCA will not only educate the children of the community in grades K-7, but it will also serve as a resource center for adults providing services such as medical referrals, social service referrals, community outreach, and economic development.

You can learn more about Emma Jewel Charter Academy here, and view more photos of the project on our Flickr page.

The Emma Jewel Charter Academy project was featured on the FloridaToday.com website on March 14, 2013. Click here to view the online article.