Abilene nonprofit Let Us Breathe plans new community complex

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Co-founder of Local Non-Profit ‘Let Us Breathe’ Abilene, Shawnte Fleming has recently announced an exciting new chapter for the organization. A social media post by Fleming on Wednesday detailing the current plans for the construction of a new building that will serve as the organization’s offices, community and event gathering space, and a centralized location for all of the resources and services Let Us Breathe has to offer.

The project is still very early on in the fundraising phase. Fleming sat down with KTAB/KRBC to discuss the push behind this plan and how she sees it developing over the next few years.

The project is still in the early stages of the fundraising phase. Fleming sat down with KTAB/KRBC to discuss the push behind this plan and how she sees it developing over the next few years.

“It’s more than just about one organization, this is Abilene…As we’ve grown, we’ve wanted to identify. What is Abilene missing? What can we do better? What have we been missing in these past 5 years?” Fleming said.

The answer to that question, she says, was mainly space to operate in. Let Us Breathe currently conducts operations in the north 6th street building, and the original Let Us Breathe house in Historic Stevenson Park is being renovated for use as transitional housing for people facing homelessness or a difficult living situation.

“People come into this space [N6th building] right now, and they sit down and they talk about life. We need more spaces where people feel comfortable enough to talk about the things they’re going through,” said Fleming.

However, that is only one need that Fleming hopes to better meet with the use of the new facilities once they are complete. Fleming lists the following as services or offerings that are on the wish list. Fleming added that this list is subject to change based on community input.

Fleming expressed to KTAB/KRBC that she looks forward to working with other local organizations that offer similar services to ensure no Big Country resident falls through the cracks. The community-minded approach, Fleming says, is the very same one the organization has been utilizing since its founding in 2020.

“We are not corporate, we hit the ground from zero. Zero. We built up everything that we have brick by brick, and it has not been easy, but it has been worth it,” Fleming said.

The current fundraising goal has been set at $1 million. Links to donate and get in contact with the Let Us Breathe administration to discuss possible services that could be housed in the proposed complex. Can be found in Shawnte Fleming’s Facebook post announcement.