Community Tampa Bay creates space for people to come together, learn about one another, and break down the biases and assumptions that keep them apart. Founded in the Tampa Bay region in the 1940s, the organization was formerly a regional affiliate of the National Conference for Christians and Jews, later known as the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ). It became an independent 501(c)(3) in 2005, adopting the name Community Tampa Bay. Its mission is to cultivate inclusive leaders who change communities through dialogue and cross-cultural interaction.
Since 2016, Pinellas Community Foundation has supported that mission through four grants totaling $51,930. The partnership has helped Community Tampa Bay sustain its programs, adapt through the pandemic, and reach more young people across Pinellas County.
PCF’s engagement with the organization began with $6,000 operating grants in both 2016 and 2017, helping sustain Community Tampa Bay’s youth programs in Pinellas County. Since then, the relationship has continued to grow.
Where Youth Leadership Takes Root
At the center of Community Tampa Bay’s work is ANYTOWN®, a free summer leadership experience for high school students that the organization has hosted since 1991. Trained facilitators guide conversations organized around 10 social identities: race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender, age, ability, class, and faith. More than 5,000 delegates and volunteers have graduated from the program. Advocacy Academy, the organization’s year-round program, keeps that growth going through mentorship, leadership development, and civic engagement.
Adapting When the Doors Closed
Before COVID-19, Community Tampa Bay’s work happened almost entirely in person. The pandemic changed that overnight. Schools closed, revenue-producing trainings were canceled, ANYTOWN could not be held in 2020, and only a condensed daytime program was possible in 2021.
The team moved quickly to virtual programming, including Community Circle, twice-daily Zoom gatherings that offered connection and routine when it was unsafe to leave home. That shift put heavy wear on the organization’s computers and equipment. Through federal recovery funds* administered by PCF, Community Tampa Bay received $9,930 for laptops, docking stations, keyboards, and monitors, along with chairs for a conference table where youth could eventually gather in person again.
Reaching Further
Alongside its youth programs, Community Tampa Bay offers revenue-producing trainings for paying clients. In June 2020, interest in its racial justice training surged, and within a few months the organization grew from 1 fee-for-service client to 15, with most trainings held virtually. The new equipment helped keep that work running and extend it to clients across Florida. Community Conversations, the organization’s public discussions open to people of all ages, now welcome participants from across the state and beyond.
For youth, virtual programming eased transportation barriers. Advocacy Academy was able to meet online twice a month, keeping young people engaged year-round, with many who returned to volunteer at ANYTOWN. In 2024, ANYTOWN hosted 102 youth from Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties, meeting pre-pandemic recruitment levels.
The Next Chapter
For 2026–2027, Community Tampa Bay’s work will be supported by a $30,000 general operating grant from PCF, distributed over two years. The funding will help strengthen staff capacity, sustain programs, and expand youth leadership in Pinellas County, where 61% of ANYTOWN graduates live. It will also help keep ANYTOWN free for families outside of a nominal application fee. Community Tampa Bay plans to train more than 15 new volunteer leaders and launch three new community-based program sites to reach youth outside traditional school settings.
Partners across the region strengthen that work. The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay provides 24-hour mental health support during each ANYTOWN session. The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg leads workshops on local history in South St. Petersburg. The Family Center on Deafness teaches an ASL 101 lesson, and Stageworks Theatre helps youth prepare for Community Night, where they share what they’ve learned with their families.
A decade in, this partnership shows what steady, long-term support can make possible: young people across Pinellas County who leave ready to listen, lead, and bring others together.
Inspired by what is possible in Pinellas County? Learn how to establish a fund at Pinellas Community Foundation and put your giving to work: pinellascf.org.
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*ARPA Nonprofit Capital Project Fund
