Project - Woodville, TX

The Woodville, TX project is a multi-million dollar community enterprise that champions positive social change and energizes all residents to take ownership and pride in themselves and their town.

Woodville is located in Tyler County approximately 50 miles north of Beaumont. With a population of 2,415, the median income for a household is $23,711. 23.5% of the population is below the poverty line. 60.1% of students in the public school system come from a low-income family, and most students find they have to leave town to make a living once they graduate. The youth in Woodville have few choices of after school activities which often leads to idleness… and trouble. The elderly have few opportunities, and the community has no place to gather socially for town meetings, reunions or the like. Combine this with devastation from hurricanes Rita and Ike, and you have a community facing huge economic and social challenges.

When the founders of ALF started going to Woodville in 2005 with a heart to help the community and inspire social change, it was left to the people of the community as to what would be of most benefit. ALF’s commitment is $500,000 as a direct investment toward a program or structure that they would decide would best serve their community’s interest. After almost 2 years of getting to know the people of the community and having them talk with each other about the possibility, they decided that a community center was just what Woodville needed. It would be a place where people of all ages, races and economic status could come to gather, have recreation, exercise, have reunions, weddings, community meetings, provide educational classes and the like. It was decided to call this a “LIFE” center, as it is intended to be a place full of life, and to offer a better life to the people of Woodville and the surrounding communities.

It has been made clear to the people of Woodville that ALF is only providing the original $500,000 commitment along with motivation, encouragement, and other resources pertinent to furthering the idea of the project. The center will be designed, built and maintained under either the city or county governments as they determine. ALF approval will not be required as to what the center looks like, where it will reside, or what services or activities it will offer. That is for the people of Woodville to determine and work out in a collaborative effort. ALF’s only requirements are the following three:

• No Exclusion: The center be available to all people of Woodville and Tyler County;
• Solid Plan: The center must have a solid business plan and make good economic sense;
• Full Support: The project is fully supported by the local and county governments.

Our desire is that this LIFE center will be a symbol of hope to the community by inspiring them to come together and prosper regardless of their socio-economic circumstances. It is also intended to bring out the greatest gifts and talents of the community as they bring this project to fruition. By doing so, they will increase individual self-worth and pride for themselves and their community.

In summary, although Woodville is a rural town, it faces challenges common to urban areas. The benefit, however, is that as a small town they can pull together to make their community safe and prosperous for all. Together we can breathe new life into this community. By embracing the tremendous gifts that Woodville offers – their people - Woodville can attract and retain families to live in a peaceful, connected environment where people know and care about each other.

It is our vision that Woodville will be an example and beacon of light to other rural communities that change is possible, and that they can become a thriving and safe place for people to live, work and raise families.