FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DID NOT KNOW Carolyn Homer.. She was a retired Community Service Aid (CSA) of the City of Ft Lauderdale Police Department and she lived in L. A. Lee Terrace Apts. She was awarded the achievement of being the Civilian Employee of the Month for December 1989, Civilian Employee of the year 1989 and many more throughout her career.
She wore many hats and was specifically tasked with getting communications flowing between the City of Ft Lauderdale Police and the NW section (predominantly Black) with no instructions. She became the voice that got people organized and active. She came up with the idea of going block by block forming Resident Councils in Multifamily Subsidized and Public Housing apartment communities and organizing Block Captains and Neighborhood Associations in surrounding homeowner communities to prevent and get rid of crime in the neighborhoods. As a Crime Prevention Specialist, she created programs like Step Up, Bicycle Give-a-Way, Crime Watch, Homer’s Disney World Project and so much more as an outlet, giving them something to do. She was one of Northwest Business Association Co-Founding Board Members that came up with the idea of the Sistrunk Festival, and she played that role well in collaboration with a City of Ft Lauderdale.
She was small in stature at about 100 pounds. She spoke with her head held high, and People listened to her wise words, strong voice of reason and provided action steps to back it up,, leading to successful missions. From up with hope down with dope protests, community outreach to keep the community engaged and volunteering their input and getting resources to the People. Our Mother made all of us so proud. She would always say Block Captains “where you at” when People were needed for one thing or another, especially in those crime prevention momemts. She taught the People how to fish and stand up together on issues of their communities. I could write all day what she was… she was… she was… but I will end with this: she loved the heart and the word love, sooo lead with love in all that you do.
I know she will always be remembered as the Lil Police Lady but to us she is Ma or Mama.