ORANGE PARK – When Larry Beaufort and Nadia Griner walked through the doors of 3229 Bear Run Blvd., they were looking at a dream in the making.
The blank walls will soon tell a colorful story, and the vacant rooms will host various exceptional opportunities sure to make a difference in the lives of youth across the county.
Doing What We Dream is ready to call the space its new home. Doing What We Dream is a nonprofit to help guide children of all ages in the right direction and reach their full potential through mentorship programs.
Beaufort is the founder and CEO.
“We just want to make sure that our kids are on the right path. That they’re not out getting in trouble or anything like that and just guide them in the right direction.”
The nonprofit launched last year in Clay and has since hosted numerous community projects and events, including a Back-to-School Bash and a partnership with the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation’s Honor Rows Program.
At what he calls the nonprofit’s new Educational Resource Center, students will have access to free after-school tutoring, a computer lab donated by Baptist Health, college resources, life coaching, and even self-defense boxing classes, Monday through Friday. There will also be a year-round school supply drive.
The idea for the nonprofit came from Beaufort’s outlook on his own past. When he was in high school, Beaufort said he was a part of a mentorship program that changed his life. It inspired him to do something to give that impact to others.
“I love seeing success stories,” he said.
Next door to the mentorship center, Griner will also run a nonprofit preschool. Precious Souls Academy will host a range of certified teachers and offer affordable education for those preparing to head to kindergarten.
Griner taught Beaufort’s son. Beaufort said he saw the passion and love his son had for learning. He knew that Griner wanted to start her own center and figured now was the time.
“When I thought about the idea of completing the building, I knew that she wanted to do the VPK, and we had the space out here. I wanted to give her that opportunity to accomplish her dream as well.”
Griner said her young scholars will have easy access to the mentorship portion of the building when they get older. And their older siblings can have a place to go.
“Everything [is] connected,” she said.
The approximately 9,400 square-foot building was once the county health department and WIC office. Beaufort said it’s been a long process to bring the building up to code.
Currently, Griner and Beaufort are in the renovation stage for the building.
“After the health department and WIC office left, the building was vandalized horribly. Literally every window was busted. Kids came in, graffiti on the floor, the walls, and things like that.
“So, we’re in the process of doing renovations to bring it to what we want it to be.”
Beaufort said he hopes for both buildings to be up and running by Jan. 12.
Although there have been setbacks, Beaufort said he’s excited to welcome the community to a new hub of opportunities officially. Building community partnerships is a large goal, and Beaufort and Griner said they will be collaborating on various future events.
“We both have the same goal of making a difference. So, a lot of the things that we will do in the community will be together,” Beaufort said.
For more information about the mentorship center, visit doingwhatwedream.us. For more information about preschool enrollment, call (904) 796-2187.