Engage Estero: A Community Engagement Association, will be celebrating 25 years of service to the greater Estero area in 2024.
Formed as a grassroots organization of residential community leaders in 2004, the nonprofit organization (known as the Estero Council of Community Leaders) has been a driving force in shaping the community. From sponsoring the writing of Estero’s unique Land Development Code that provides large scale planning and cohesive design; to their efforts on the referendum to incorporate as a municipality, Engage Estero has been at the core of the growth and personality that makes Estero unique.
Development isn’t the only topic of concern for the 100+ volunteers that make up Engage Estero. The organization has a long history of environmental protection work with a focus on the preservation of the DR/GR, restraining the growth of mining and protecting water quality in our river and bay.
Education is another area where Engage Estero has had a huge impact. The 2– 5–8 Educate Junior Achievement initiative has mobilized scores of volunteers in Estero classrooms to teach elementary and middle schoolers about financial literacy. Engage Estero is also proud to be the main sponsor of Breaking Par at Grandezza, a fundraiser for LEAD Estero, which is a nonprofit by students for students that provides scholarship and training for Estero High School students.
Healthcare in Estero, particularly the championing of a 24/7 emergency room, was a decades long commitment of the organization and had a huge impact on the presence of Lee Health Coconut Point. So much so that the facility memorialized Don Eslick’s contribution with a plaque on their Fifth Anniversary.
As Estero continues to grow, transportation planning becomes ever more essential. Engage Estero was very active and in opposing interchanges at 951 and at I-75 that would’ve put pressure on Estero roadways along with compromising important watershed quality. Estero also tracks efforts such as the Corkscrew Road widening, informing residents through original research on time frames, delays, and other developments that affect our future roadways.
Original research and communication have been a key element to Engage Estero’s activities for its entire 20 years. It has existed. Engage Estero has a reputation as a dependable and objective source of Estero specific updates, particularly in regards to potential changes and how residents can impact decision-making. The nonprofit also publishes local success stories, and a calendar of events specific to our area to help our community become closer.
Driven by volunteers, Engage Estero depends heavily on the passion and skills of a group of individuals who care about the present and future of our community. There is room for everyone no matter what their concern whether it be environmental issues, healthcare education, transportation, development, or safety there’s a place that you can play in the future of both our community and Engage Estero as an organization.
A selection of photos from events and campaigns throughout the years.
In 2021, Engage Estero published a history of the organization based on dozens of interviews. The result is available for purchase.
