Dunbar—is more than just a neighborhood. It is a living legacy of Black excellence, family, faith, and the kind of neighborly love that generations before us (i.e. Willie Battle, Willie Green, Gerri Ware,Veronica Shoemaker, etc.) worked tirelessly to preserve.
Today, I write to you not only with pride but with purpose.
Diana Giraldo already gave the Dunbar Community her butt to kiss when SHE VOTED NO against the McCollum Hall project even after Pastor Givens made his statement prior to her vote.
We are living in a time where the future of our community depends heavily on what we do right now. And what we must do is clear: we must support our own. We must uplift, empower, and invest in the very people and institutions that have always stood by us. This includes our local businesses, our places of worship, our educators, our youth, and the civic leaders rising among us.
Dunbar has always had the talent. We’ve always had the strength. What we need now is unified intention and consistent community action.
Let us begin with our local businesses—the economic lifeblood of our community. Each business in Dunbar represents more than just a product or a service. They represent dreams fulfilled, families supported, and legacy built.
Tobler Construction
Tobler Construction is not just a construction company. It is a symbol of Black entrepreneurship in an industry where representation is still lacking. They don’t just build structures; they build futures. When you support Tobler, you’re not only investing in craftsmanship—you’re helping employ local residents, mentor the next generation of tradespeople, and demonstrate that we can create from the ground up, and on our own terms. Tobler construction has been a lifeline to those needing a second chance to enter the workforce and provide for themselves and their family.
The North Law Firm & Victor Arias Law Firm
Justice in our community must be both accessible and rooted in understanding. The North Law Firm and the Victor Arias Law Firm have been providing more than legal representation—they’ve been providing protection, advocacy, and empowerment for people who often don’t have a voice in the system. Whether it’s criminal defense, civil rights, or family law, these firms ensure we aren’t overlooked, unheard, or underserved. Supporting Black law firms means ensuring our stories are told and our rights defended. Joe has poured his life back into the Dunbar community through so many philanthropic ways I can’t even count.
Veronica Shoemaker Florist
Named after a legendary trailblazer—Veronica Shoemaker, Fort Myers’ first Black female city council member—this florist is a living reminder that beauty and legacy can flourish together. Flowers may seem like a luxury, but in truth, this shop brings joy, comfort, and celebration to every corner of our lives—from baptisms to funerals, weddings to community events. Supporting this business honors a powerful legacy while planting new seeds of growth.
Local Restaurants in Dunbar
Our local restaurants are culinary expressions of culture, love, and resilience. Whether it’s soul food, Caribbean flavors, BBQ, or the best fried chicken in the county, these eateries are not just businesses—they are gathering places, story-sharing hubs, and job creators. Every time we choose to dine in Dunbar, we keep our dollars circulating within the community. We keep doors open. We keep young people employed. We keep tradition alive on every plate. Hell – Oxtails, fried turkey wings, collard greens, mac and cheese, candy yams, and field peas never go out of style especially if G-Mo is catering it.
Dr. William L. Glover: DUNBAR Churches Our Spiritual and Civic Foundation
“ Thank GOD for Dr. Glover and his ministerial alliance of churches for holding our community together “ one lady said on a prayer line I was listening to.
No conversation about Dunbar is complete without honoring the churches and pastors who form the spiritual and civic foundation of our neighborhood. Our pastors are more than Sunday morning leaders. They are counselors, community organizers, emergency responders, role models, and trusted voices in times of crisis.
When hurricanes blow through, when a young person is taken too soon, when an elder needs food or housing or comfort, our churches respond—without fanfare and without fail.
These sacred spaces have provided food pantries, COVID testing, voter drives, mentorship programs, clothing closets, and more. If you look closely at almost every grassroots movement in Dunbar, you will find the hand of the church somewhere behind it.
But churches cannot continue to serve if we treat them as background noise. They need our active presence, our time, our tithes, and our talents. It’s not just about faith—it’s about the future.
Give FINANCIALLY into the lives of your spiritual leaders. One of the most powerful things I ever witnessed was Bishop Washington who only prayed, studied the Bible, and ministered to the congregation during service. He said McKinley “ All I do is pray for my members daily, worship in my prayer room, study my Bible in my home office, and minister the word. I don’t go to any meetings. I even know how much money is in the bank.” His congregation serves him three meals daily, manicures his lawn, cleans his house, drives him to the barber shop or doctor as needed….and every member of his congregation flourishes in life, because their spiritual leader “ does not have to entangle himself with the cares of this world.”
Black History, Black Knowledge: Professor Lodovic Kimble
Education is empowerment. And in a world that still misrepresents or erases Black history, we must take our education into our own hands.
Enter Professor Lodovic Kimble—a gifted, respected, and passionate educator whose knowledge of Black history is matched only by his love for this community. We need his voice. More importantly, our children need his voice.
I urge our churches and community leaders to work with Professor Kimble to establish a permanent Black History education series hosted at one of Dunbar’s local churches. This can be a weekly or monthly event open to the entire community—youth, elders, families, and everyone in between.
Imagine the power of our young people learning about real Black heroes, understanding the civil rights battles fought in Fort Myers, and being inspired by the richness of African and African-American contributions. Imagine them seeing themselves not as statistics, but as leaders in a lineage of excellence.
We don’t have to wait for February to celebrate who we are. Let’s make Black History a living, breathing, year-round experience—right here in Dunbar.
The Divine Nine: Cultivating the Next Generation of Leaders
The Divine Nine—historically Black Greek-letter organizations that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council—have always played a critical role in shaping the leadership, service, and civic engagement of Black communities across the country.
These sororities and fraternities are filled with educators, doctors, lawyers, activists, clergy, business owners, and public servants—many of whom are already here in Dunbar or have roots in this community.
We must engage the Divine Nine in the process of mentoring, educating, and empowering our youth.
Let’s bring them into schools, churches, and community centers to:
- Host bus trips to Florida Memorial, Bethune-Cookman,
Edward Waters, and FAMU - Offer career workshops and networking events
- Provide mentorship and leadership training
- Engage in community service and civic initiatives
The children of Dunbar deserve access to the same opportunities, knowledge, and guidance that have shaped generations of successful Black professionals across the country. And who better to provide it than the Divine Nine?
When young people see what’s possible, they reach higher. When they’re mentored by people who look like them and share their struggles, they believe deeper. And when they’re given the tools to lead, they will surprise us all.
This Matters Now More Than Ever!
There are those who believe Dunbar is on the decline. That our best days are behind us. That our economic strength has faded. That our young people are too lost to be found.
To those voices, I say: You don’t know Dunbar.
Dunbar is not dying—it’s evolving. It’s still here. And it’s still ours to define.
But we cannot afford to wait on outside forces to save or shape us. We must invest in ourselves. Support our businesses. Elevate our institutions. Trust our educators. Honor our elders. Empower our youth. And most of all, STAND TOGETHER.
This is a call to action:
Eat local. Shop local. Hire local. Worship local. Learn local. Lead local.
What Can You Do Today?
Here are just a few simple, powerful actions you can take starting right now:
- Visit Tobler Construction and refer them for any upcoming construction or renovation projects.
- Hire the North Law Firm or Victor Arias Law Firm for your legal needs and recommend them to your family and friends.
- Buy your next bouquet or funeral arrangement from Veronica Shoemaker Florist.
- Dine at a local Dunbar restaurant this week, and bring a friend.
- Attend your church regularly, and ask your pastor how you can get involved in community outreach.
- Support Professor Kimble’s educational efforts and ask your church to host his classes.
- Connect with Divine Nine members and invite them to speak at your school, church, or youth group.
- Mentor one young person—just one. It makes a difference.
The Future Is Local.
The Future Is Dunbar.
If we want our children to have pride in their community, we must show pride in it first. If we want our youth to believe in their power, we must reflect that belief in how we invest our time, energy, and money.
The blueprint is already here. We don’t have to reinvent anything. We simply need to look around, reach out, and lift up.
Let us be the generation that not only talks about community love but demonstrates it boldly—with our actions, our choices, and our unwavering commitment to one another.
Let Dunbar be known not only for its history, but for how it rose again—stronger, smarter, united, and unapologetically proud.
In strength and solidarity,
McKinley G. Williams, Publisher
The SWFL CHRONICLE
