THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, DRAWING MODERN COMPARISONS FROM AMERICAN HISTORY.

A NEW PERFORMANCE BRINGS TO LIGHT A PREVIOUSLY FORGOTTEN STORY AS PART OF AMERICA'S SEMI QUINN CENTENNIAL.

BUILDING, A FUTURE TOWARDS BETTER HOUSING OPTIONS.

THE EFFORTS BEING MADE TO ENSURE THAT FAMILIES IN OUR AREA CAN MAINTAIN A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS.

AND FINDING HARMONY ON THE HARDWOOD.

HOW ONE ANNUAL GAME OF BASKETBALL HAS BECOME THE MUST-SEE EVENT FOR A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AS AMERICA JOINING US.

AS AMERICA CELEBRATES 250 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE.

MANY STORIES ARE COMING FORTH ABOUT SOME OF THE FORGOTTEN OR LOST MOMENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY THIS WEEKEND, THE FORT MYERS SYMPHONIC MASTER SINGERS PREMIERES AND EXTRAORDINARY CHORAL WORK.

IT'S CALLED THE WITNESS INCIDENTS OF THE WAR OF REBELLION.

THE WORK WAS CONCEIVED BY THE MASTER STINGERS, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR.

AND IT'S FIRED BY THE MEMORY OF HIS GREAT, GREAT GRANDFATHER WHO SERVED WITH THE UNION ARMY DURING THE CIVIL WAR AS WGC IS JOHN DAVIS REPORTS THAT MEMOIRS MESSAGES AS COACH AND TODAY AS IT WAS MORE THAN 100 YEARS AGO.

>> AND THE FORT MYERS SYMPHONIC MASTER SINGERS AS AN ENSEMBLE OF MORE THAN 100 VOLUNTEER VOCALISTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE HAVE BEEN TOGETHER SINCE 2001 THIS WEEKEND.

THEY'LL BE PERFORMING AT SPECIALLY COMMISSIONED 10 PART CHORAL COMPOSITION INSPIRED BY A BOOK BY JAMES WAXLER IN 18.

88 ABOUT HIS TIME SERVING IN THE UNION ARMY DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.

WAXLER IS THE GREAT, GREAT GRANDFATHER OF THE SYMPHONIC MASTER SINGERS, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR.

MATTHEW KOHLER A >> THE BOOK HAS BEEN IN MY FAMILY MY ENTIRE LIFE.

AND WHEN I WAS IN MY EARLY 20'S AFTER MY SON WAS BORN, YOU KNOW, I GOT INTO THAT PHASE THAT I THINK MOST MEN DO AND THEY WONDER WHERE THEY CAME FROM AND WHAT THEIR PASSING DOWN.

SO I DECIDED TO TAKE THEM MR OUT AND TRANSCRIBE IT SO THAT WE COULD EASILY SEE WHAT IT WAS.

AND AS I'M READING IT.

I'M WONDERING WHY NOBODY ELSE HAS HEARD THE STORIES.

>> ONE PUBLISHER SHOWED NO INTEREST.

KOHLER CONCEIVED THE IDEA OF TURNING THE STORY INTO MUSIC.

HE REACHED OUT TO FRIEND A COMPOSER TOM AVOID INITIALLY.

I THINK IT WAS PITCHED AS IT CAN.

TADA.

>> BUT WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT HAVING A TRICKLE ELEMENTS SORT OF AND AND THE FORM KIND OF CHANGED A LITTLE BIT OVER TIME.

AND WE WHAT IT TURNED INTO IS NOT AS STRICT UNTO.

IT'S NOT AN IT IS AN EXTENDED CHORAL WORK, BUT IT ALSO HAS THIS PRETTY GRAND NARRATION.

ASKED MORE LIKE AN OPEN FIRE ON AND THE 10 OR SO.

AND THIS MESS, A SOPRANO SOLO.

>> IN ONE AND SO IT KIND OF DOES DEFY EXPECTATIONS.

>> THE CLIMAX OF THE PEACE STEMS FROM AN ACCOUNT IN THE MEMOIR ABOUT THE MURDER OF AN ENSLAVED BLACK GIRL WITH THE HANDS OF A UNION SOLDIER IN CHARLOTTESVILLE.

>> THAT WAS THE MAIN REASON THAT I WANTED THE STORY TOLD WITH SO THAT THAT LITTLE GIRL COULD BE REMEMBERED.

AND SO YES, INDEED HE DOES WITNESS A DRUNKEN UNION SOLDIER.

KILLING A YOUNG BLACK SLAVE.

AND IT'S ONE OF THE WORST THINGS THAT HE EVER WITNESSED IN HIS TIME IN THE ARMY, LAVOY AND KOEHLER KNEW THAT INPUT FROM THE BLACK COMMUNITY WOULD BE ESSENTIAL.

>> WE HAD TO GET THE INPUT OF PEOPLE WHOSE ANCESTORS WENT THROUGH THESE THINGS.

AND WHO STILL DEAL WITH THE REPERCUSSIONS TODAY.

>> AND THEY SAID WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR APOLOGIES.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM.

THE SLAVES.

>> THE STORY'S OF SOME 10 MILLION ENSLAVED PEOPLE IN AMERICA BETWEEN 1518.

65 ARE LARGELY MISSING FROM HISTORICAL RECORDS ADDRESSING THAT VOID SENT LABOY DOWN ANOTHER CREATIVE PATH.

>> I OPTED FOR A VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH THAT INVOLVED THE MUSIC OF BLACK COMPOSERS WHO ARE EITHER AND SLAVE THEMSELVES AND SUBSEQUENTLY FREED OR WHO WHOSE ANCESTORS HAVE BEEN ENSLAVED.

AND THOSE 10 DRILLS WEAVE AROUND IN THE WORDS OF JAMES WAXTER THROUGHOUT THE WORK AND REALLY MAKE UP THE DNA OF THE OF THE MUSIC ITSELF.

>> THE MUSIC IS COMPOSED FOR A CHORAL ENSEMBLE PIANO STRING QUARTET WITH THE TENOR SOLOIST REPRESENTING THE PART OF WALK SLUR.

AND MEZZO-SOPRANO TANEISHA ANDERSON EMBODYING THE PART OF THE MURDERED BLACK GIRL.

THE THREE-TIME GRAMMY-WINNING VOCALIST AGREED TO THE PROJECT BEFORE THE MUSIC WAS EVEN WRITTEN.

ANDERSON SAYS THE ENSLAVED GIRL STORY GOT ARE REFLECTING ON HER OWN CHILDHOOD AND A TIME WHEN WHITE PARENTS WERE PROTESTING THEIR KIDS BEING TRANSFERRED TO A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK SCHOOL.

>> AND I LITERALLY REMEMBER LIKE CROSSING THE PICKET LINE ONE DAY.

ONE OF MY FRIENDS, PARENTS, SHE SPIT ON ME.

AND SHE SAID.

IF YOU TELL YOUR PARENTS.

DID I DO THIS TO YOU?

WE'RE GONNA KILL YOU.

AND I THINK I WAS LIKE.

IN THE SECOND OR 3RD GRADE.

I WAS A LITTLE KID.

AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND >> AND SO THIS LITTLE GIRL OF THIS MOVEMENT, THIS MUSIC.

>> REPRESENTS LITTLE TEENY SHOT, HONESTLY TO THE COURT OF WHO I AM AND JUST GOING THROUGH LIFE, MY EXPERIENCES, MY POINT OF VIEW, WHICH IS SO DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PEOPLE AND REPRESENTING HOW FAR OF WHEN I BECAME DESPITE OF BEING ALMOST TAKEN AWAY FROM ME OR THREATENED.

AND I JUST STAYING FROM THAT.

I BELONG HERE.

I'M SUPPOSED TO BE HERE AND THIS IS WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO.

SO IT DEFINITELY REPRESENTS WHO I AM, ESPECIALLY THE WOMAN I AM TODAY.

THE WORDS OF JAMES WALK SLUR WILL BE PERFORMED BY HIS VERY OWN.

>> GREAT, GREAT, GREAT GRANDSON, TENOR, CHRISTIAN KOHLER.

>> IN THE WORDS ARE WRITTEN AS A AS A WARNING TO HIS SON ESSENTIALLY AND TO DESCRIBE WHAT IT'S LIKE.

TO BE IN MORE AND TO BE IN THAT MOMENT.

AND AND YET SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE HE'S TALKING RIGHT TO US OR HE'S RIGHT IN THAT MOMENT.

THEN.

AND SO YOU HEAR THE FEAR IN HIS VOICE >> MATTHEW KOHLER SAYS HE FINDS HIS GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER'S MESSAGE EERILY RELEVANT TODAY.

THE CIVIL WAR WAS THE COUNTRY'S MOST DIVIDED TIME TO BE SURE.

BUT I THINK THERE COULD BE AN ARGUMENT MADE FOR US BEING IN THE NEXT MOST DIVIDED TIME RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW WHERE PEOPLE ARE JUST SO POLARIZED.

AND IF WE'RE ABLE TO LISTEN AND WITNESS TO ONE ANOTHER, MAYBE WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE IN THE WORLD.

>> THE FORT MYERS SYMPHONIC MASTER SINGERS PERFORM THE WITNESS MARCH.

21ST AT FAITH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN CAPE CORAL AND MARCH 22ND AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BONITA SPRINGS, JOHN DAVIS WGC YOU NEWS.

>> THAT STORY IS PART OF OUR CELEBRATION OF FLORIDA TO 50 AND THIS SPONSORED IN PART BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA THROUGH THE DIVISION OF ARTS AND CULTURE.

COMING UP, STAYING AHEAD OF THE GROWING HOUSING CRISIS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY MAKES THE DREAM OF HOME OWNERSHIP.

A REALITY FOR SOME FAMILIES IN OUR AREA.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN FLORIDA IS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING AND URGENT ISSUES FACING FAMILIES IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THE COST OF LIVING HAS LONG OUTPACED WAGES.

WGCUS BRYANT.

MONTE EXPLAINS HOW HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IN COLLIER COUNTY MAKES HOME OWNERSHIP.

A REALITY FOR LOWER-INCOME FAMILIES.

>> THE SOUNDS OF PROGRESS.

TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT FAMILIES CAN AND CAN'T AFFORD.

LISA LEFKO IS THE CEO OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.

>> OF COLLIER COUNTY.

BETTER THAN 50% OF OUR WORKFORCE ARE IN THE LOWEST WAGE SECTORS AND IN A COMMUNITY LIKE THIS WHERE HOUSING COSTS ARE SO HIGH, WE HAVE A HUGE GAP BETWEEN WAGES AND COST OF LIVING.

AND SO THE CRUNCH COMES TO REALITY IN IN TERMS OF HOW C.

>> A RECENT STUDY FROM THE SCHOMBURG CENTER FOR HOUSING STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FINDS A COLLIER COUNTY CONSISTENTLY EXCEEDS THE AVERAGE STATEWIDE PRICES FOR HOMES, ESPECIALLY IN AN AREA FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS MAKE UP THE LARGEST GROUP OF COST BURDEN HOUSEHOLDS >> HERE IN COLLIER COUNTY, WE'VE BEEN A DEFICIT OF MORE THAN 10,000 UNITS FOR DECADES.

SO THAT'S A LOT TO MAKE UP HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HERE IN COLLIER COUNTY IS THIS COMMUNITY SOLE PROVIDER OF ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP.

SO THAT NEED HERE JUST CONTINUES TO BE CRITICAL.

ALMOST A CRISIS LEVEL.

>> HABITAT FOR HUMANITY'S HOME BUYING PROGRAM MEANS POTENTIAL BUYERS WHERE THEY ARE FINANCIALLY IF THEY QUALIFY THE MORTGAGE IS NO MORE THAN 30% OF A FAMILY'S INCOME.

BUT, NIC, WHAT GONZALES HAS WORKED AND LIVED IN NAPLES FOR 15 YEARS.

SHE WAS RECENTLY APPROVED AND IS EXCITED ABOUT BECOMING A HOMEOWNER AT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY'S LATEST DEVELOPMENT.

LAST PALM OS.

>> I'VE BEEN PRAYING.

WE'VE BEEN PRAYING SINCE I PUT IN THE APPLICATION AND WHEN I GOT MY APPROVAL DAY, THAT WAS EMOTIONAL FOR ME WHEN I WENT HOME AND SHARED WITH MY KIDS, MY DAUGHTER WAS SCREAMING FOR JOY.

THEY CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE THEIR OWN ROOMS AND IT'S JUST BEEN A BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY.

AND I THINK IT'LL PROBABLY BE MORE MOST KNOW WHAT I GET TO KEEP.

>> WELL, AS SPANS, ROUGHLY 70 MAKERS AND WILL HAVE 210 NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES IN NORTH NAPLES.

THE FAMILY-FRIENDLY STYLE FLOOR PLAN WILL HAVE 3 OR 4 BEDROOMS AS A PART OF THE PROGRAM BARS INVEST 250 TO 500 HOURS OF SWEAT EQUITY TIME TO HELP PAY FOR THEIR SHARE OF THE INVESTMENT VOLUNTEERS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS CAN ALSO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES AND GET DIRTY WITH IT.

A MAJOR FUNDER, STEVE OFF HAS BEEN VOLUNTEERING FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SINCE HURRICANE IRMA IN 2017.

>> WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM IS IT'S NOT A HANDOUT PROGRAM.

IT'S A LIFT UP PROGRAM.

YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S HELPING PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY DISADVANTAGED TO GET INTO A HOME AND HAVE A FAMILY IN A FAMILY CENTER.

BACK THEIR DIGNITY.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEIR THEIR SENSE OF OWNERSHIP AND THEY'RE NO LONGER VICTIMS.

BUT >> YOU KNOW, THEY'RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

LEFKO HAS BEEN WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FOR 25 YEARS AND SHARES WHAT HAS KEPT HER SO DEDICATED.

>> THE THING THAT ABSOLUTELY KEEPS ME SO CONNECTED TO THE AMAZING MIRACULOUS WORK THAT HAPPENS HERE.

OUR OUR HOME BUYERS HEARING THEIR STORIES AND WHERE THEY COME FROM.

ALL THAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ECONOMIC FABRIC OF THIS COMMUNITY.

AND THEN TO BE ABLE TO WATCH OVER THE ARC OF TIME AS THEY ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS.

I ALSO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH AMAZING VOLUNTEERS.

>> FULL AND EQUAL JOY AND HOPE COME IN THE FORM OF NEW BEGINNINGS AND UNLOCK DOORS LEADING TO NEW POSSIBILITIES.

>> NAPLES IS JUST REALLY AN AFFORDABLE AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TO HAVE A HOME TO CALL YOUR OWN.

>> AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE, THE FIRST 2 BUILDINGS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT IS ESTIMATED TO BE COMPLETED AND FAMILIES CAN START MOVING IN BY MIDSUMMER THIS YEAR.

WITH EVERY JUICY NEWS.

BRYANT'S MONTE.

>> HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF LEE AND HENDRY COUNTY IS ALSO WORKING YEAR-ROUND TO HELP SOLVE OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.

AND JOINING US NOW IS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF LEE AND HENDRY COUNTY.

BECKY LUCAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

IT'S SUCH A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE.

YOU HAVE BEEN WITH THE NON-PROFIT FOR 26 YEARS.

HE HAS.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE BRIEFLY HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS IN LEE AND HENDRY COUNTY AND WHO QUALIFIES >> WELL, MOST PEOPLE KNOW US BEST BUY ARE AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM WHERE WE BUILD NEW HOMES AND WE RE HAVE EXISTING HOMES AND WE SELL THEM TO QUALIFIED LOW INCOME, EARNING FAMILIES USING AN AFFORDABLE MORTGAGE FAMILIES WHO QUALIFY FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.

HOMES.

MAKE 80% OR LESS OF THE AREA.

MEDIAN INCOME.

THEY ALSO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD A MORTGAGE.

THAT MEANS THEY HAVE TO HAVE WORK HISTORY AND BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH US.

SO HABITAT HOMEOWNERS HELP TO BUILD THEIR HOME OR THE HOMES OF THEIR NEIGHBORS PUTTING IN 300 HOURS OF SWEAT EQUITY, TAKING HOME OWNERSHIP CLASSES, BUDGETING CLASSES, HOME MAINTENANCE, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO SET THEM UP TO BE A SUCCESSFUL HOMEOWNER.

>> IF SOMEONE IS INTERESTED IN LEARNING IF THEY QUALIFY, YOU HAVE A HOME COUNSELING PROGRAM, NO MEAT ON THEM.

AND WE DO.

>> ANY FAMILY WHO IS IN NEED OF HOUSING HELP, WHETHER THAT BE INTERESTED IN OWNING A HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOME OR JUST UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEIR HOUSING OPTIONS ARE HERE IN LEE AND HENDRY COUNTIES CAN COME IN AND WE HAVE FULL-TIME HUD, CERTIFIED HOUSING COUNSELOR.

THERE ON STAFF WITH US.

THEY WILL MEET WITH THE FAMILY TO HELP THEM DEFINE WHAT THEY NEED TO WHAT THEIR GOALS ARE AND THEN HELP THEM ACHIEVE THAT GOALS.

THOSE GOALS, SOME FAMILIES MEET WITH US.

MAYBE FOR AN HOUR OR 2, HELPING TOO.

MAYBE UNDERSTAND A CREDIT REPORT OR GET THAT REDUCTION TIPS.

SOME FAMILIES MEET WITH US FOR MONTHS IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR HABITAT HOME.

SOME EVEN FOR YEARS, WHATEVER THEY WANT TO ACHIEVE, WE WILL WORK WITH THEM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

AND THIS IS A FREE SERVICE.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO SUCCEED AND WE WILL WALK WITH THEM TO DO THAT.

AND YOU HAVE A MORTGAGE COMPANY WHEN YOU ARE NONPROFIT, WHICH I DID NOT REALIZE, YES, YES, SO WE ARE A QUALIFIED LOAN.

ORIGINATOR.

SO WHEN WE BUILD OUR HOMES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FAMILIES WHO WILL BE PURCHASING THEM, WE THEN SELL THEM THE HOMES USING A HABITAT 0% INTEREST LOAN.

SO THE FAMILIES ACTUALLY PAY US BACK AND THE MORTGAGES ARE BASED ON 30% OF THEIR INCOME.

SO THAT MEANS WE SET THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS TO BE AFFORDABLE AND THAT 30% IS ALSO INCLUSIVE OF TAXES AND INSURANCE.

THIS MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE BECAUSE MANY OF THE FAMILIES COMING TO US FOR HELP ACTUALLY SPEND OVER 50% OF THEIR INCOME.

>> JUST TO PUT A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS AND THAT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.

THAT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.

>> IF YOU RECEIVE 2 PAYCHECKS A MONTH AND ONE OF THEM IS GOING JUST TO PUT A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD AND YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND AND HAVE A SUSTAINABLE PLACE TO LIVE.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD CHILD CARE AND GROCERIES AND MEDICAL CARE?

IT'S JUST NOT SUSTAINABLE.

YEAH.

YOU WERE TELLING ME THAT IS $80,000.

>> THE INCOME THE FOR A FAMILY OF 4 THAT WOULD QUALIFY.

RIGHT?

SO WE HAVE THE INCOME QUALIFICATIONS ON OUR WEBSITE AND THAT IS AREA MEDIAN INCOME CHANGES EVERY YEAR.

BUT RIGHT NOW FOR A FAMILY OF 4 MAKING 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME, THAT IS $80,000.

>> HOW CRITICAL IS THE NEED IN OUR AREA FOR WHAT YOU PROVIDE?

>> THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS SO CRITICAL HERE IN LEE AND HENDRY COUNTIES.

YOU KNOW, RIGHT AFTER COVID, WE SAW THIS MASSIVE SPIKE OF NEED.

WE WERE HAVING AT LEAST 20 FAMILIES COME THROUGH OUR DOOR EVERY DAY.

LOOKING FOR HOUSING, HELP NOW THAT HE'S STABILIZED A LITTLE BIT.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S NOT SO MANY FAMILIES OUT THERE AND I THINK THE LATEST STATISTICS THAT I SAW WAS THAT THERE'S NEARLY 30,000 FAMILIES HERE IN JUSTLY COUNTY ALONE THAT ARE STRUGGLING EVERY SINGLE MONTH TO MEET THEIR RENT.

>> HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHERE YOU PUT THE HOMES?

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY'RE ALL OVER FROM CLOSE TO BENITA SPRINGS TO CAPE CORAL HAS YES.

>> SO WE ARE STRATEGY FOR BUILDING.

IT ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE 2 COUNTIES.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALWAYS OFFERING HOME LOCATIONS NEAR WHERE FAMILIES HAVE THEIR CHILDREN AT SCHOOL AND WHERE THEY WORK.

SO WE HAVE FULL COMMUNITIES THAT WE DEVELOP.

WE HAVE SEVERAL UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW.

NORTH FORT MYERS, FORT MYERS AND BONITA SPRINGS.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE SCATTERED SITE IN CAPE CORAL, LEHIGH ALL THE WAY OUT TO LABELLE AND CLEWISTON.

SO WE WANT TO HAVE AN ENTIRE SCOPE OF OF ADDRESSES THAT COVER THE GEOGRAPHY JUST TO MEET EVERYONE'S NEEDS.

AND YOU YOU SAID YOU BUILD ON AVERAGE.

>> ONE WEEK IS GOING UP.

BUT HE HAS AND YOU HAVE THE THE CONSTRUCTION AS WELL.

THE PLANS THAT THEY'RE ALL CONTAINED WITHIN YOUR ORGANIZATION.

CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT YOU MENTION IN NORTH FORT MYERS AND YOU PREFABRICATED HOMES.

YES.

TELL ME ABOUT THIS, THOUGH.

>> SO WE DO BUILD ALL OF OUR OWN HOMES AND THEY ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF THE COMMUNITY AND BUILT BY THE VOLUNTEERS AS WELL AS THE FAMILIES WHO WILL BE PURCHASING THEM SO WE ARE ALWAYS IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS TO HELP US BUILD.

BUT WE HAVE A PRE FABRICATION FACILITY IN NORTH FORT MYERS AND WE PREFABRICATED ALL OF THE INTERIOR NEXT OR WALLS OF OUR HOMES SO WE CAN PUT A PACKAGE TOGETHER.

WE HAVE 9 DIFFERENT FLOOR PLANS.

WE BRING THEM OUT TO OUR LOCATION ON THE SLAB.

VOLUNTEERS GET TOGETHER AND WE CAN RAISE ALL THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR WALLS OF A HOME.

AND ONE MORNING.

>> WHEN YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAD, I THINK THERE'S 2 DEDICATIONS THIS MORNING IN FORT MYERS.

TRUE.

WHAT IS THE DEDICATION ABOUT?

YES, SO WHENEVER WE FINISH A HOME.

>> WHICH ON AVERAGE WE FINISH AT LEAST ONE HOME A WEEK WE GATHER EVERYONE TOGETHER, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT WAS HEART OF MAKING THE HOME POSSIBLE.

AND WE WE BLESS THE HOME TOGETHER IS A FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION.

AND THEN WE ALSO HANDSOME BALI KEYS TO THE FAMILY AND THEN SIGNIFYING WHAT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE IN THIS PROGRAM.

THAT IS SO EXCITING.

>> AND YOU ALSO SAID THERE'S WALL RAISING.

YES, THE BALL RAISINGS GOING ON YET IS THAT SO WHEN THE WAY BRING OUT THE WALL PACKAGE TO ITS LAB AND VOLUNTEERS RAISE THE WALLS.

>> LITERALLY, THAT ALSO HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY WEEK.

THIS YEAR ALONE WILL BE BUILDING 54 NEW HOME.

SO THAT IS ON AVERAGE.

WE COMPLETE A HOME AND WE FINISH A HOME EVERY WEEK.

>> THIS IS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF DONORS, GRANDSON, VOLUNTEERS.

SOMEONE IS INTERESTED IN AND HELPING.

WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?

YES.

>> SO IN OUR MISSION AND ACTUALLY SAYS THAT WE BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO BUILD HOMES, COMMUNITIES AND HOPE.

AND WE NEED EVERYONE.

THIS IS NOT A SOLUTION THAT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OWNS.

THIS IS AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND OVER AND SO ANYONE CAN GO ON OUR WEBSITE.

THEY CAN REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER.

THEY CAN DONATE OR IF THEY KNOW SOMEONE THAT'S IN NEED OF HOUSING, TELL THEM TO GO TO THE WEB SITE, ALL THE INFORMATION IS THERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IS THIS GREAT INFORMATION?

AND IT'S SO UPLIFTING TO HEAR, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE 400 HOMES THAT ARE PAID OFF THESE FAMILIES THAT NOW HAVE.

>> THEIR OWN HOME THAT'S PAID FOR.

THAT'S AMAZING.

ESPECIALLY IN THIS ECONOMY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, LUCAS FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME.

HOW AN ANNUAL HARDWOOD TRADITION BRINGS AN ENTIRE FORT MYERS HIGH SCHOOL TOGETHER IN CELEBRATION.

AROUND THE COUNTRY.

MARCH MADNESS BRACKETS ARE ALREADY BUSTED AND FALLING APART.

THAT AT FORT MYERS HIGH SCHOOL GAME OF BASKETBALL IS BRINGING THE WHOLE GYM TOGETHER.

WGCUS CULTURE AND CONNECTIONS.

REPORTER ELISABETH AND ARCHIE SHOWS US HOW A SIMPLE GAME OF INCLUSION HAS UNITED AN ENTIRE STUDENT BODY >> FOR ONE STUDENT, THE MEANING OF THE GAME STARTS WITH SOMETHING HE'S EXPERIENCED OUTSIDE THE GYM.

>> THESE RADICAL KIDS WILL MAKE FUN IN THE SUN, ESPECIALLY THESE KIDS.

>> THROUGHOUT PALM POLIS SAYS IT'S SOMETHING STUDENTS LIKE HIM SOMETIMES DEAL WITH INSIDE THE GYMNASIUM THAT KIND OF NEGATIVITY IS OUT OF BOUNDS.

>> EACH YEAR, FORT MYERS, HIGH SCHOOL HOST, A UNIFIED BASKETBALL GAME MIXING IN STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES TO PLAY THE GAME FROM THE BOARDS.

EVEN CHEER.

>> DURING HALFTIME.

THIS YEAR, THE EXPANDED BY COLLABORATING WITH ATHLETES FROM THRIVE ACADEMY AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER THAT SUPPORTS STUDENTS WITH AUTISM.

MEET GARRETT COPELAND, THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS COORDINATOR AT FORT MYERS, HIGH.

>> WE'VE BUILT A REALLY >> INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY HERE AT FORT MYERS, HIGH SCHOOL FROM WHEN WE STARTED 10 YEARS AGO.

>> TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE INVOLVED.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO INCLUDE OUR ATHLETES PARTNERS, STUDENTS ALTOGETHER AND GIVE THEM EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT ANYBODY ELSE WOULD GET >> WRIGHT WIRE IS ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS.

HE FIRST JOINED THE PROGRAM AS A SOPHOMORE AND IS NOW FINISHING AS A SENIOR AND THE COACH.

>> IT'S REALLY MADE ME MEET PEOPLE THAT I DON'T BELIEVE I WOULD HAVE MET OTHER WAS AND THEY'RE GREAT KIDS.

THEY DESERVE TO BE LOVED AND RESPECTED, WHICH ISN'T ALWAYS THE CASE.

>> WHICH IS VERY UNFORTUNATE.

HUMBLEST SAYS THAT DIFFERENCE IS EASY TO SEE.

>> WE'VE BEEN A GOOD AS FRANCE AND ITALY.

HE'S SAYING NOT LEAD TO RECORD.

HIS WILL MAKE FRONT ON NOTICE PUSHING THESE KIDS.

HE'S KIND PERSON AND THAT'S THE PERSON I TRUST HIM TO BE OUR TEAM TO BE OUR COACH.

>> THE SCHOOL'S APPROACH TO INCLUSION HAS DRAWN ATTENTION OUTSIDE THE COURT THIS YEAR.

THEY WERE RECOGNIZED BY THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS, FLORIDA, RECEIVING THEIR SECOND NATIONAL BANNER EM THE ESPN DISTINCTION AWARD AS THE TOP INCLUSIVE SCHOOL IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

PABLO SAYS WHAT MATTERS MOST.

HE SENT THE RECOGNITION.

>> A SCHOOL DON'T PUT YOU DOWN OF SCHOOL P TO BREAK THAT UP IN A SUPPORT YOU'D ONLY GO.

SO WHEN A PERSON BECAUSE I HAVE LEARNED IN MY LIFE, IT'S COLD BILLION OR SO FOR A BACKUP IN PIECES IN REBUILDING THEIR BACKUP, ANNOYING.

>> FOR STUDENT WHO KNOWS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE PUT DOWN THAT KIND OF SUPPORT.

EVERYTHING.

FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M ELIZABETH AND >> ON THE NEXT SOUTHWEST, FLORIDA IN FOCUS SPRING IS HERE.

AND SO IS THE SNEEZING AND A RUNNY NOSES.

THE PATH TO BETTER BREATHING AS WE LEARN HOW TO COMBAT SEASONAL ALLERGIES.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

MAKES SURE YOU HEAD TO WGCU.ORG WHERE YOU WILL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES AND EXTENDED INTERVIEWS.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT TIME ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.