Eddy Moratin

President, Lift Orlando, Orlando

Lift Orlando, Florida Trend’s 2021 Floridian of the Year, is a place-based community development organization working to strengthen the West Lakes communities near downtown Orlando. Moratin has led the group since 2013. During that time, Lift Orlando has invested more than $120 million in everything from housing to education to health care. Notably, per capita income has risen by $10,000, childhood poverty has dropped from 54.8% to 19.1% and more than 500 jobs have been created.

IF I WERE GOVERNOR: (I would), by building on the Live Local Act, leverage public-private partnerships to boost mixed-income community development across Florida’s major markets.

INSPIRING FLORIDIAN: Dr. Alzo Reddick was one of Florida’s first black state representatives and founder of Defense in Transition and Soldiers to Scholars, an innovative program recruiting veterans to further their education to become educators.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED: Everything about our built environment and most of our human circumstances are man-made. That means they can be undone and remade. We have the power to change the world, if we know how to work with others and we are willing to change ourselves.