In Mexico, Missouri, a former school building has taken on a new role after years away from its original purpose. Garfield School, once established to educate Black children during segregation, is now the headquarters of a community initiative founded by Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue. The project brings the historic property back into community use, with education and youth support among its priorities. According to PRNewswire, in July 2025, the building was formally dedicated under a new name honouring Lue’s mother and grandmother. The change forms part of a wider $10 million commitment to the town, where Lue grew up and where the school remains part of the area’s history.
How Garfield School went from a segregated school to a community hub
Garfield School was established during the era of racial segregation in the United States, when Black pupils were educated in separate facilities. Its place in Mexico’s history extended beyond the classroom, with generations of local families connected to the institution.The school eventually closed and the property was later used by a credit union. Its educational role had ended, leaving a building whose original purpose was tied to a different period in the town’s past. Lue’s decision to acquire the property created an opportunity to return it to community use, this time through programmes intended to support young people and connect residents with local resources.For Lue, the building also carried a personal connection. He grew up in Mexico, Missouri, and has spoken about the influence of the wider community on his upbringing. The school had been important to local residents, and its closure had been a source of disappointment for people who remembered its earlier role.
Tyronn Lue’s $10 million commitment to the community
Reportedly, the former school is now the base for Commitment to Community (C2C), a $10 million initiative established by Lue. The project is intended to support the Mexico area through educational opportunities, youth programming and partnerships with organisations working in the community.The initiative is being developed in collaboration with the Tyronn Lue Fund and Partners for Rural Impact, a national non-profit organisation focused on expanding educational opportunities in rural communities. The partnership brings together Lue’s investment in his hometown and an organisation with experience in supporting young people and families.The school is one part of the broader effort. Buildings next to the property, which had also been acquired from a local credit union, are expected to be adapted for youth activities, resource centres and other community services. These spaces are intended to complement the work based at the former school, giving the initiative room to expand its activities.
Kim and Olivia Lue Garfield Legacy Center honours family history
At a dedication ceremony held in early July 2025, Lue announced that the building would be known as the Kim and Olivia Lue Garfield Legacy Center. The name recognises his mother and grandmother, as well as their connection to Garfield School.The event brought together community members, local leaders and former students. A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the change, while a community legacy walk and tours of nearby buildings gave attendees an opportunity to see the developing project.The renaming places Lue’s family history alongside the school’s longer history in Mexico. Rather than being used solely as a headquarters for a charitable initiative, the property is intended to remain connected to the people it serves, with educational programming and local partnerships at the centre of its new role.
Tyronn Lue’s C2C initiative looks beyond Garfield School’s dedication
The July dedication marked an early milestone for C2C, rather than the completion of its work. Plans for the surrounding properties include dedicated areas for youth programmes and community services, while partnerships are expected to help deliver educational opportunities for local families.The initiative also has a fundraising component beyond Missouri. Lue planned to bring attention to the project at the second annual C2C fundraising event for October 19, 2025, at the Intuit Dome in California, the home arena of the Los Angeles Clippers. The event was intended to help support the initiative’s wider work.The transformation of Garfield School links the project’s future plans with a building that already holds a place in local history. Established to serve Black students during segregation, later used by a credit union and now serving as the home of C2C, the property has passed through several distinct phases. Its latest role centres on education, youth support and community resources in the town where Lue was raised.
