College of the Florida Keys Inaugural Community Day at the Upper Keys Center
We at the Foundation encourage Ocean Reef members to take The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) up on its invitation to participate in the first annual Community Day at the nearby Upper Keys Center on Saturday, January 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The family-friendly event will feature a full slate of attractions—including CFK academic showcases, interactive exhibits, a bounce house and other children’s activities, vendors, music, and complimentary food and drinks.
The Ocean Reef Community Foundation played a pivotal role in championing and funding the construction of the new Upper Keys Center, which opened in August of 2021 “just down the road” at Mile Marker 106.4. The 38,000-square-foot, state of the art facility has become a cornerstone for education and workforce development in the Upper Keys. The center’s expanded capacity allows for more programs and more than twice the number of students compared to the previous space within Coral Shores High School, and is proving invaluable in meeting the growing demand for higher education from Ocean Reef Club employee families and others in the region.
The center features the Institute for Public Safety, classrooms, nursing labs, a bio-chemical lab, apprenticeship labs, an auditorium, a testing center, and a library. In addition to the learning spaces, there are student and employee lounges, a student activities room, and outdoor spaces.
“Thanks to the support of the Ocean Reef Community Foundation, we are now able to share the fun of Community Day with our neighbors, partners, and friends of all ages in the Upper Keys,” according to CFK President and CEO Dr. Jonathan Gueverra.
Gueverra explains, “Community Day began [at the Key West campus] in 2013 as an event to celebrate the College’s offerings while giving our local small businesses and nonprofits the opportunity to show case their services. Today it is much more. We have attracted well over a thousand people in recent years to visit campus and enjoy food and entertainment. The event receives support from state and local organizations including law enforcement.”
