Lakewood Community Dev. Corp.

January 2002 Lakewood CDC Brochure

Feb 12, 2002

Background Highlights:

Sixteen years ago Faith Memorial Baptist Church, 211 Lakewood Avenue, and Myers Park Baptist Church joined together to begin a STEP ministry in the Lakewood community. STEP is an acronym for ?“Strategies to Elevate People.?” Lakewood is a Charlotte neighborhood in the area designated as ?“City Within A City?” (CWAC). Of Charlotte?’s 173 neighborhoods, Lakewood is one of 30 classified (for 2000) as having a ?“fragile?” quality of life. There are approximately 750 people living in Lakewood.
With the participation of Lakewood residents, a committee of the STEP ministry incorporated in 1991 as Lakewood Community Development Corporation (Lakewood CDC), forming the first CDC in Charlotte supported almost solely by mission funds from two churches. Jeanne Robertson of Myers Park Baptist Church served from 1991-1995 as Lakewood CDC's Coordinator.
Dave Nichols, formerly Executive Director of Neighborhood Housing Services of Charlotte (Wilmore community) and Affiliate Coordinator of Habitat for Humanity in Orange County (Chapel Hill), NC, became Lakewood CDC's Executive Director in November 1995. He and his wife, Chini, moved in February 1998 from Wilmore into a house they are renting in Lakewood. Dave is a graduate of Wake Forest University and Andover Newton Theological School; he was an early participant in the Missionary Journeyman program in West Africa.



Lakewood CDC?’s Mission:

The mission of Lakewood CDC is to assist the residents of Lakewood in achieving the community?’s own goals toward neighborhood revitalization and self-sufficiency.



Sources of Funding:

Lakewood CDC?’s 2002 operating budget includes major outreach commitments for the two sponsoring churches ?— $27,000 from Myers Park Baptist Church and $13,000 from Faith Memorial Baptist Church ?— as well as $70,000 from the Charlotte Neighborhood Fund (via The Enterprise Foundation). Additional funds are raised for particular community development projects as they are undertaken. Lakewood CDC is an approved non-profit [501(c)(3)] organization under the IRS guidelines and is able to receive tax deductible contributions from any source for use in its work.

Current Lakewood CDC Program Areas:
v Physical Development:
?· Affordable Housing
?· Jones Street Apartments, 416-424 Jones Street, 6 units of affordable housing (2 Bedrooms, 1 Bath) [renovated by CMHP; purchased with forgivable loan from City of Charlotte]
?· Close work with Habitat (32 new homes so far), Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership (12 new homes so far), and individual Lakewood landlords

?· Housing Counseling
?· Public Infrastructure and Services
?· Lakewood Neighborhood Action Plan Implementation [neighborhood clean-ups, code enforcement reports, storm water drainage, street lights]
v Family and Neighborhood Development:
?· Income
?· ?“Neighbors Helping Neighbors?” [Neighborhood Skills/Interests Directory]
?· Community Food Rescue Club food distribution
?· Employment
?· Education
?· 14-station computer laboratory in Lakewood Community House, 239 Jones Street
?· Recreation
v Health Ministry [an wholistic approach seeking wellness of mind, body and spirit]
?· Access/Advocacy
?· Education
?· Health Counseling


Responsibilities of Lakewood CDC Board Members:

The nine members of the Lakewood CDC Board of Directors function as a body to make decisions affecting the operation of Lakewood CDC. The Board of Directors has the following responsibilities:
?· to set the policies by which Lakewood CDC operates
?· to approve Lakewood CDC?’s financial budget and to oversee its financial affairs
?· to supervise Lakewood CDC?’s executive director
?· to elect and oversee the activities of the officers of Lakewood CDC
?· to operate within or alter as necessary the By-Laws of Lakewood CDC



Lakewood CDC?’s Current Board of Directors and Officers:

?· Shannon Abraham (Resident Tenant)
?· Pat Brugh, Vice President (Myers Park Baptist Church)
?· Wilch Caldwell, President (Faith Memorial Baptist Church)
?· Judy Chisholm (Resident Tenant)
?· Mary Copeland (Resident Homeowner)
?· Steve Cornwell, Treasurer (Myers Park Baptist Church)
?· C.R. Dixon (Resident Homeowner)
?· Audrey Evans, Secretary (Faith Memorial Baptist Church)
?· Dave Nichols (Ex Officio)



Lakewood CDC?’s Current Staff:

?· Dave Nichols, Executive Director (full-time)
?· Chini Nichols, Administrative Assistant and Financial Manager (full-time)
?· Gloria Griffin, MTS, RN, Parish Nurse (full-time) [via contract with Presbyterian Hospital]