UJAMAA Community Development Corporation and Black Family Land Trust Inc.

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Programs

Education and Training includes the development of youth and adult basic education, and training curriculum designed to give the targeted designees options for high school equivalency completion and opportunities to learn apprenticeship and life skills that can be used for immediate career development.

Homeowner Information and Referral includes home-repair to residents, referral, identification and designation of contractors for needed repairs in the community and information and education on ways to improve and maintain property.

Family Asset Building and Management includes utilization of the “Money Smart” curriculum developed and distributed by the FDIC. This curriculum provides a comprehensive financial overview. Its current usage is feasible for use with adults and high school and college students. While using this curriculum topics such as borrowing basics, opening and maintaining a checking account, understanding consumer rights, budget preparation and managing home loans will be covered.

Health, Mental Health, Wellness, Physical Fitness Nutrition will explore a holistic overview which ties community practitioners together with residents of the New 12th Ward and surrounding areas. A range of daily programs will be offered to assist residents in becoming healthy, physically fit and prevention oriented regarding eating and living-well habits.

Health Fairs are facilitated multiple times per year to develop and maintain consistent holistic messages for living long and healthy lives. The programs designed to target those of all ages and groups.

Economic and Revenue Development

Economic and revenue development is being implemented by and through the re-development of 5076 West Florissant and other housing developments in the communities we serve. The lower level provides an area for a Facility Manager, and five incubator offices on one side which will provide revenue for maintenance of the building and an organized environment for new business development in those spaces. Grater Economic Development will be implemented with the strategic acquisition of viable commercial/residential properties throughout the communities we serve.

Our Facility

Since 2010, our organization has been working in stages to rehab this building inside and out. A great amount of the work has been accomplished. To date, the work involves asbestos, mold and lead remediation, installing 20-gauge studs on all outside walls in the building. The building is a tri-level complex with a 5000 square foot annex attachment which, when complexed, can be used for a host of educational, arts, cultural and entrepreneurial programming for youth, adults, and elderly services.

New 12th Ward does not have a facility, North of St. Louis Avenue that is used to offer the entree of services that are planned for this entire targeted area. However, this area does contain a significant number of elderly (33%) adults under 35 (43%) and homeowners (app. 45%); all of which will benefit from the service provision at the UJAMAA Community Services Center.

Upon completion, The UJAMAA Community Services Center will house the administrative and community outreach program components which will work to bring awareness to the housing program and initiate a comprehensive campaign that identifies young adults who are public and quasi-public employees interested in homeownership. The location of the UJAMMA Community Services Center, being on a main thoroughfare, makes it easily accessible, immediately visible, and gives it a sociological impact as to invigorate interest and interaction.

Also, the facility will be used to offer health, wellness, education and referral services. Risk factors such as obesity, cardiovascular, and associated illnesses such as high blood pressure and cholesterol will be addressed by the programs offered in the building. The completed building is the key to saving and serving the residents in the New 12th Ward and surrounding areas. In order to improve and empower the community we must first heal the community.

Based on surveys completed by residents and other research conducted by the former Alderman Charles Q. Troupe and other elected officials economic and social necessities are the primary needs. The UJAMAA Community Services Center, which will house the needed programs and will serve as an anchor and “one stop shop” that is a healing and stabilizing force, not only to the New 12th Ward, but North St. Louis and St. Louis City as a whole.

Community Objectives

Objective 1: To expand the supply of decent, safe and affordable owner-occupied housing by obtaining ownership, and funding to totally renovate scattered homes within the New 12th Ward and surrounding communities

Criteria: Housing workshop and homeowner qualification training classes in collaboration with reputable financial institutions, and CDFI’s purposed for first time identifying potential buyers for new/renovated homes and other homes suitable for low to moderate income families.

Criteria: Provide a training seminar to neighborhood residents in the areas of home upkeep and maintenance, utilizing Healthy Home awareness, and neighborhood safety techniques to help develop a healthy and safe home and community.

Objective 2: To further develop programs that build self-esteem, deter crime, and increase neighborhood stabilization by educating citizens to help abate nuisance in their neighborhood and to combat community deterioration, by promoting resident responsible growth, and beautification neighborhood programs within the New 12th Ward and surrounding neighborhoods.

Criteria: Develop greater participation and cohesion with the formation of block units for each neighborhood, training sessions, assist in the implementation and monitor the status of each block unit for 1 month.

Criteria: Provide training to citizens to identify and map nuisance properties within the targeted areas. Coordinate efforts with block unit captains, neighborhood associations, NSO’s, police and the Public Safety review committee.

Criteria: Acquire and repurpose derelict and neglected surplus SLPS properties to facilitate and provide much needed impact services throughout the Metropolitan St. Louis Area.

Objective 3: To promote the 12th Ward residents, business districts and developers.

Criteria: Collaborate with financial institutions and CDFI’s to provide financial training offering Financial Fitness to engage, educate and empower individuals and families in the community to take control of their financial health and well-being.

Criteria: Assist business growth in collaboration with the 12th Ward’s business Association and the heartland St. Louis black chamber of commerce by enhancing the development of young entrepreneurs and implementing small business growth by offering educational training seminars for beginning businesses.

Criteria: To provide education to enhance senior services in the community; enhancing the development of a senior services center that provides wrap around services to include physical therapy, arts and crafts, dancing and entertainment, a geriatric urgent care facility and a pharmacy.

Objective 4: To combat community hunger and achieve family self-sufficiency by promoting healthy eating choices in the New 12th Ward and by providing before and after school programs to low- and moderate-income individuals.

Criteria: Develop before and after school programs and services to support the families of senior and disabled through work programs, health care provisions, and the adult and child daycare services referrals.

Criteria: Implement a food pantry to provide hot meals programs and healthy food boxes to combat the hunger problem in the targeted area throughout the year.

Our
Mission and Vision

Mission

To prevail over social and economic injustices by developing and sustaining affordable housing, programs and activities that improve the economic, social, health and cultural well-being of all residents in the New 12th Ward and beyond in the City of ST. Louis through education, training and advocacy.

Vision

The vision of the organization is to create a community that offers resources and opportunities that meet and respond to the economic, social, health, cultural and spiritual needs of the residents in their natural environment.

Creating a community that is self-sustaining, bonded with a common theme: Working in Unity to Empower the Community and Increase Economical Means

Organizational Focus: To engage, educate, empower, and activate its resources towards enrichment

In an effort to develop a community center anchor that can provide services to the children, families and elderly in our community, economic development and support to local entrepreneurs interested in developing their projects we have established the following goals:

1. Establish and sustain education, career and employment opportunities in emerging industries, specifically "green and conservation" areas;

2. Offer residents educational opportunities on creating and managing wealth;

3. Offer residents education and opportunities for home ownership, maintenance and stability for their families;

4. Support residents in accessing and receiving quality and affordable healthcare;

5. Support residents in accessing and receiving government support and resources;

6. Continue neighborhood stabilization and crime reduction efforts and;

7. Establish and sustain cultural, arts and entertainment in the First Ward.

8. To educate residents on the functions of government and the responsibility of representatives and department heads

By providing a safe haven where youth, families, and the elderly are able to participate in a comprehensive program of services, enrichment and opportunities for education and growth, the community becomes empowered, and leadership development occurs in the personal, professional and social lives of the residents throughout the community.

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