Vision
Overtown is a special community with an illustrious history. It is one of the oldest communities in Miami dating back to 1890. For years, it was a vibrant community with successful businesses, schools, churches and homeowners. Many factors caused its decline.
St. John Community Development Corporation (SJCDC) was founded by St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church to help revitalize the Overtown community. The church has played a very significant role in Overtown's evolvement since its beginning. We felt it was our responsibility to take a lead role in restoring Overtown. Charity begins at home.
To this end, SJCDC efforts are directed towards building partnerships, building new homes, rehabilitating housing units, strengthening the economic base and improving the quality of life. SJCDC is committed to making a difference.
I am pleased that the Corporation is making significant progress in achieving the above objectives. With the continued help of our partners and supporters, Overtown will once again become alive!
Dr. Nelson L. Adams, III - Chairman of the Board
President's Message
For over a quarter of a century, St. John Community Development Corporation (SJCDC), has taken the lead role in the economic revitalization of historic Overtown and other predominantly African American neighborhoods in decline within the City of Miami.
Building on the vision of its founder, the late Rev. Dr. Henry Nevin, pastor of the historic St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church, SJCDC operates on the principle that "charity begins at home". This basic principle captures the organization's commitment to preserve the African American culture in these communities by building affordable housing, supporting local business owners, attracting new business opportunities through new construction, renovation and rehabilitation and providing opportunities for employment for families living below the poverty line.
SJCDC has raised the bar for affordable housing development by building units with superior construction and high curb appeal, as well as, ensuring the inclusion of African American contractors and skilled labor on community projects. Recently, SJCDC, along with six other members of a Miami-Dade Consortium of non-profit affordable housing developers and the City of North Miami, were awarded a major Neighborhood Stabilization Program II, grant from HUD, targeted to address the effects of the foreclosure crisis in specific areas. This award is the third largest in the nation and the only award to a non-profit consortium. The impact on the Overtown housing market will be tremendous.
We are also expanding our vision to include other vital issues, such as, seeking broad collaborative relationships with our fellow institutions and community leaders, to tackle the problems of sub-standard educational systems, charter schools, wealth-building initiates, including economic and business development, social cohesion initiatives, serve delivery, spiritual and moral enrichment, cultural and artistic institutions, transportation hubs and other infrastructure projects in-keeping with an emphasis on decent and safe affordable housing.
David J. Alexander - President\CEO