Biskit Ellis Dunmore

YOUTH PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT The Greater Lake City CDC & Cool-Aid House

My name is Bis-kit Ellis Dunmore III. I carry the name of my father, Ellis Elijah Dunmore II, and my mother, Maria Pelham. My roots go back generations in Lake City, Florida, a place where my family’s lineage includes those who endured the hardships of slavery in and around this community. That history has shaped my identity, giving me both a deep sense of responsibility and a desire to serve the people I come from.

I was born and raised in Lake City, where I saw firsthand both the challenges our community faced and the potential that was locked inside of our youth. Jesus Christ changed my life, and since then He has placed a passion in my heart to reach young people with hope, truth, and direction — the very things I needed when I was their age.

I graduated from Columbia High School in Lake City, a milestone that deepened my roots in my hometown even more. Over the years, I’ve seen how many kids in our neighborhoods struggle with cycles of poverty, broken homes, and a lack of people walking alongside them. But I’ve also seen how just one mentor, one safe space, or one word of encouragement can change a young person’s entire future. That’s why I started building what we now call Cool-Aid House.

At first, it was just a simple vision: a safe space where youth could come, be seen, and be valued. We began creating hangouts where students could play games, share meals, win prizes, and — most importantly — encounter a glimpse of heaven on earth.

I grew up in the Church of God in Christ in Lake City, where faith was always present. Still, it wasn’t until I turned twenty that my personal relationship with God truly deepened. Through the influence of my best friend Rochto, I began to experience a faith that was no longer just tradition but a living reality. That journey eventually led me to Arizona, where I became part of Beloved Alhambra/South Phoenix, AZ Reach, Hustle PHX, and Elevate Phoenix.

There, I was surrounded by mentors and friends — people like Juan Chavez, Aaron and Dana Dailey, and many others — who poured into my life and helped me build a stronger foundation in Christ. It was in that community that I learned what it truly meant to bring heaven to earth. They taught me how to share the fullness of Jesus with others and how to live in a way that brings Shalom — true peace and wholeness — to the people around me.

Since 2004, I’ve also carried the challenge of living with kidney failure. It hasn’t stopped my life, but God has used it to shape the way I see the world. It reminds me daily of the importance of using my time with intention, slowing down, and building endurance. Far from being a setback, it has fueled my passion to create spaces where people can see and experience heaven on earth.

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