IN HONOR OF THIS ANNIVERSARY WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING ONE NON-PROFIT EACH MONTH FOR 12 MONTHS THIS MONTH THE OBSERVER RECOGNIZES ACHIEVE PLANT CITY
Founded in 2014, Achieve Plant City’s mission is to “help people gain success in life through literacy—which is the foundation for educational success, and empowerment.” The organization’s heart is found on its website: “Realizing a life-changing dream cannot be done alone! It begins with a personal vision and a work ethic that is committed to each small step to the big goal, but all along the way, it takes encouragement to keep the dream alive. It takes someone to believe in you and your ability to ACHIEVE your dream!”
Angelica Ibarra is the founder and Executive Director of Achieve Plant City. She came to the United States from Mexico in the early 1970s. Seeking a better life, her family picked seasonal crops across the country, including the strawberry fields of Plant City. Ibarra enjoyed school, but her family depended on field work for income. The long days of work and migrating from harvest to harvest made a consistent education impossible for her. She dropped out of school in the seventh grade. Ibarra continued to work in the fields until her late 20s, when she decided to change the course of her life through education. So, she became proficient in English and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida (USF), and a certification in Non-Profit Management.
Thirteen full- and part-time staff at Achieve assist 150 kids and adults from the area. Programs include English for speakers of other languages, reading, early childhood education, tutoring, homework assistance, GED development and test preparation, computer coding, parenting education, and after school programs.
A current student in her 40s has worked in the fields since she came to the U.S. as a 16-year-old. Though she had never been to school, and spoke only bits of English, this woman insisted her four children learn English, pursue an education, and work diligently at it. One of them got a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida, then went on to obtain an M.D. from USF’s Morsani College of Medicine. Today she works as a physician for Mercy Ships. Another child earned a bachelor’s from USF, and now has a scholarship for an Engineering program at the school. Two others are taking classes at Hillsborough Community College, preparing to continue their educations. Last year, their mother said it was her turn for an education. She came to Achieve Plant City to learn. “It is astounding the improvement she has made,” said Virginia Roebuck. Roebuck taught math for 53 years, and now tutors at Achieve. This field worker had to learn how to become a student—to listen, to observe, to study, and to do multiplication. Now, “She is a true student. We are incredibly proud of her for working that hard.” While she is learning at Achieve Plant City she picks strawberries and blueberries. Her plan is pass the GED test then seek other employment.
“My vision has always been, if people want to better themselves, that they have the support they need to accomplish anything they want,” Ibarra said.
Ibarra’s long term dream is that Achieve Plant City would be a hub for local people to get help and be connected to other organizations that offer services to promote healthy, strong families that are not struggling financially. Things like training people how to get promoted and get better jobs, helping students excel in school, and adding services for teenage girls are among the services in Ibarra’s vision.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Every year Achieve Plant City hosts an annual fundraiser—a wine tasting and casino night. This event will be held on Friday, February 21, at 6:00 p.m. at the Hillsborough Community College Plant City Trinkle Center. All of the funds raised there go back into Achieve programs. Achieve is seeking sponsorships for the event, and donations of items that can be used for their live auction, and silent auction.
The organization also accepts monetary donations (which are tax deductible), people to volunteer, book donations, and donated school supplies.
“Plant City has been very generous,” Ibarra commented.
More information can be found at https://www.achieveplantcity.org, or by calling 813.752.4010.
