Winn Pinecrest Collaborative
101 N. Bevill St.
Winnfield, La
71483
(318) 521-2778
Winn Pinecrest Collaborative
Winn Pinecrest Collaborative
Winn Pinecrest Collaborative is a nonprofit organization that was created to improve the quality of its local community and neighborhood. The goal is to renovate the community‘s high school campus, a public building, into a neighborhood modernized state-of-the-art, community center. This Center will play a crucial role in promoting the well-being of the neighborhoods by providing a wide range of resources, services, and activities for residents of all ages. WPC can also play a role in fostering economic development by offering job training programs, small business support, and financial literacy workshops. We will help individuals achieve economic independence and stability. Our purpose is to renovate and restore the property to create a new modernized community center that will improve daily life within the community.
Winnfield, Louisiana was built around the lumber industry. The major employers for years were lumber mills and plywood plants With the downturn of these industries the city began to feel the effects of the shutdowns and now struggles financially as its residents do. The predominantly African American population was negatively affected first in 1970 when the community school was closed due to integration. Although it was the best school building in the Parish at that time, the school board decided to send all the black students to the white schools. Since its closure, Pinecrest has sat up mostly unused and has been allowed to deteriorate by local government agencies, had control of it. It sits at the heart of the African American community, and the community has continued in a spiral of homelessness, low achievement in schools, violence and drug abuse since its closure.
Our purpose is to renovate and restore the property to create a new modernized community center that will improve daily life within the community.
Winn Pinecrest Collaborative is a nonprofit organization that was created to improve the quality of its local community and neighborhood. The goal is to renovate the community‘s high school campus, a public building, into a neighborhood modernized state-of-the-art, community center. This Center will play a crucial role in promoting the well-being of the neighborhoods by providing a wide range of resources, services, and activities for residents of all ages. WPC can also play a role in fostering economic development by offering job training programs, small business support, and financial literacy workshops. We will help individuals achieve economic independence and stability. Our purpose is to renovate and restore the property to create a new modernized community center that will improve daily life within the community.
Winnfield, Louisiana was built around the lumber industry. The major employers for years were lumber mills and plywood plants With the downturn of these industries the city began to feel the effects of the shutdowns and now struggles financially as its residents do. The predominantly African American population was negatively affected first in 1970 when the community school was closed due to integration. Although it was the best school building in the Parish at that time, the school board decided to send all the black students to the white schools. Since its closure, Pinecrest has sat up mostly unused and has been allowed to deteriorate by local government agencies, had control of it. It sits at the heart of the African American community, and the community has continued in a spiral of homelessness, low achievement in schools, violence and drug abuse since its closure.
Our purpose is to renovate and restore the property to create a new modernized community center that will improve daily life within the community.
Winn Training School, later known as Pinecrest High School was a cornerstone of Black education in Winn Parish from 1925 to 1970. Its roots trace back to the Rosenwald Fund and the unwavering efforts of local leaders, who sought to expand educational opportunities for Black students.
From humble beginnings in church-based classrooms, the school grew into a thriving institution that shaped generations of learners.
Key milestones:
Early Efforts (Pre-1925): Education for Black students began in church halls and homes, with pioneers like John Carroll, who taught in a brush arbor that became New Zion Baptist Church, and others such as Beatrice Ball and Della Riser leading the charge.
First School Building (1916): A two-story structure with four classrooms was built with support from the community and the Winn Parish School Board. This became the Winnfield Colored School, led by Principal Albert L. Hill.
Expansion to Winn Training School (1929): After moving to Winnfield, the school benefited from fundraising efforts and Rosenwald Fund matching grants. It expanded to include grades 1-11 and graduated its first class that same year.
Growth and Facilities (1933-1954): Under the leadership of J.A. Simpson and J.A. Gaulden, the school added buildings, including a gymnasium and agriculture facilities. Enrollment peaked at 582 students, and the school excelled in academics, sports, and the arts.
Rebranding as Pinecrest High School (1955): The new Pinecrest High School campus boasted modern amenities like a home economics department, a hot lunch program, and updated classrooms. With 62 teachers and over 700 students at its peak, Pinecrest gained a reputation as one of the best schools in the state.
Despite challenges like limited funding and segregation-era inequalities, the school was a beacon of hope and achievement. It produced distinguished alumni who became teachers, doctors, engineers, and leaders in their fields. Pinecrest’s legacy endures as a symbol of resilience and the power of education.
"Rebuilding the Legacy. Empowering the Future!"
Your donation will not only help bring our vision to life but also strengthen your role as a trusted and valued community partner. Together, we can achieve extraordinary things.
