The original center was founded in 1990 through a partnership between the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg and local Black community leaders. Modeled after a traditional settlement house, it brought childcare, job training, education, and social services together under one roof.
Then known as the Black Family Service Center, the organization initially leased the facility from the Diocese for $1 per year, despite the renovations required to make the building functional.
The center was later renamed to honor Judge James B. Sanderlin, one of only five Black attorneys practicing in St. Petersburg in the 1960s. Sanderlin devoted his career to advancing social and legal equality in the city.
In 2000, the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg effectively gave the property to the Family Services Center, selling it for $200,000 while providing $20,000 annual grants for 10 years to cover the mortgage.
Today, the campus houses about 15 nonprofit tenants, including United Medical Academy, Mindful Movement Florida, Dress for Success, Youth Unleashed, Life From Inside Out, and Lakewood Community Schools’ adult education program.
“Our work is just beginning,” said Dr. Kanika Tomalin, president of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, a longtime supporter of the center’s literacy and school-readiness program. “The hard work starts when we bring the vision to life with everything behind it.”