MOUNT DORA, Fla. – We continue our Justice For All series – looking at the city of Mount Dora.

The city, known for its quaint downtown tourist district, is more diverse than many may realize.

Census data shows the city is 18% Black, and many of those families live in a section of the city a short distance northeast of the tourist district.

“This community needs a lot of resources that are not available right now," Mount Dora pastor Bobby Rowe said.

The northeast part of town houses many lower income families – and a large portion of the minority population.

“We have to make sure that we are in the priority," Rowe said.

One issue, Rowe says, is lack of representation in city leadership. It’s an issue he attributes in part to the city’s district map.

“If every African American, if every minority, if they went and voted, they still would not win," Rowe said.

The 441 divides District 2 essentially in two. On the west side is the Northeast communion. On the east side is a more well-to-do, country club community.

Census data shows the white population easily outnumbers the Black community.

"(In) that vote out there, you’re talking about thousands of people," Rowe said.

Mount Dora Mayor Cathy Hoechst, part of city leadership since 2013, says the city council’s demographic makeup, is something they’re aware of.

In the history of Mount Dora, city leaders say there have been four city council members of African American descent.

“We have had that conversation just recently," Hoechst said. "Not just about the diversity of having people from the Northeast community, but also younger people. Right now our council, other than our young man…we’re all over 70.”

Hoechst says now is exactly the time to shift the district lines, and shift more attention to the Northeast.

“Over the years, I would say that as much work that needs to be done in that section of town probably hasn’t been done to the level it should’ve been," said Hoechst. "And that’s not a critique of anyone, it’s just that that emphasis wasn’t there.”

Now, plans are in the works for a community center.

One proposed location is on the corner of Highland and Lincoln, within the Northeast section of the city.

"By having that community center, multipurpose community center, it will make those resources available at their fingertips," Rowe said.

Rowe said that, and other positive actions by current city leaders, will help bridge the gaps for minority families.

“Our mayor, and our interim chief of police are constantly in the communities," Rowe said. "And they’re asking the questions, how can we serve you guys? What can we do?”