Sisters Mentoring Sisters Reacts to Lori Paige Center Lease Dispute

“We’re a bit shocked, but is all over the MOU and we see very positive things,” said Curtis Bender, an attorney representing Sisters Mentoring Sisters. The organization has been asked to leave the Lori Paige Center in northwest Tallahassee amid an ongoing lease and memorandum of understanding dispute with Bethel AME Church, wtxl.com reported.

Bethel AME Church Lease Dispute Forces Move

The Lori Paige Center spent more than a year working to create a safe space for girls aged nine through 18. The building is owned by Bethel AME Church, which recently asked Sisters Mentoring Sisters to vacate the property. Bender stated that the core of the disagreement centers on a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, though both parties are still working through the issue. The outcome of these discussions will decide whether the center can keep its current address.

Lori Paige Center Offers Mentoring and Counseling

The facility is named after Lori Paige, the Tallahassee girl who disappeared in 2023 before her remains were found nearly two years later. Stephanie Tolbert of Sisters Mentoring Sisters previously outlined the mission of the space, noting that girls could find counseling, support, and eventually round-the-clock help. “There’s nothing that we can’t talk about here,” Tolbert said. “There’s nothing that we can’t handle here. You won’t be turned away here.” Bender emphasized that the center holds tremendous value for the community as an outcome-based mentoring hub.

Bethel AME Church Remains Silent on Eviction

While legal representatives for the mentoring organization continue talks with the church, concrete answers regarding the eviction request remain limited. WTXL reached out to Bethel AME Church to inquire why Sisters Mentoring Sisters was asked to leave and to request the church’s side of the dispute, but the church has not responded. Tolbert stated that the organization intends to pursue its mission regardless of whether it stays at the northwest Tallahassee location or moves elsewhere.

Dispute Resolution Outcome

Discussions between Bethel AME Church and Sisters Mentoring Sisters remain ongoing. The next agreement or formal decision between the two parties will determine if the Lori Paige Center remains at its current location or if the mentoring organization must relocate.