NBA coach Tyronn Lue transforms former segregated school into community centre

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 hubGarfield 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...