“Effective leaders help others to understand the necessity of change and to accept a common vision of the desired outcome.”
History
In the late 1990s, in an effort to even better serve the community, San Francisco’s Mayor, the Honorable Willie L. Brown Jr. called together five of San Francisco’s most prominent African American ministers and asked them to join forces to address community economic development. As a result, Tabernacle Community Development Corporation was incorporated in 2001 and on January 14, 2002 was granted tax-exempt status becoming a 501c-3 organization. Today TCDC is located in San Francisco’s Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood and the five original founders serve on the Board of Directors along with other professionals.
The organization’s initial focus was economic development, youth education, and job skills training for unemployed and re-entry members of the community. In the first five years of existence TCDC successfully executed multiple educational and program services. In 2007, after much prayer, deliberation, and research these five community stakeholders strategically decided to focus on building affordable housing units as a mechanism to help pay for program services. However, TCDC’s primary objective in developing affordable rental units is to keep Black families from leaving San Francisco, and to build homes for sale that will increase ownership within the African American community. Today, with an enduring mission to direct positive economic and societal changes in underserved communities where their churches are located, the founders continue to leverage resources, build important community relationships, and create various partnerships, through shared efforts and joint ventures.
Collectively, the churches have an impressive history developing low cost housing programs, homeownership initiatives, senior housing, and addressing homeless issues. Individually, each minister has significant experience with affordable housing development, the five parishes currently own and sponsor over 1,000 units of low income and senior housing.
Tabernacle Community Development Corporation (TCDC)
TCDC’s initial focus was economic development, youth education, and job skills training for unemployed and re-entry members of the community. In the first five years of existence TCDC successfully executed multiple educational and program services.
However, the primary objective has expanded to developing affordable rental units with a deliberate effort to keep Black families from leaving San Francisco and to build homes for sale that will increase ownership within the African American community.
Today, with an enduring mission to direct positive economic and societal changes in underserved communities where their churches are located, the founders continue to leverage resources, build important community relationships, and create various partnerships, through shared efforts and joint ventures.
Vision
To help preserve the cultural diversity of San Francisco by:
A) Providing economic and social service programs targeting ethnically diverse low and moderate income residents in the BayView Hunter’s Point, Ocean-Merced, Ingleside and Western Addition/Fillmore neighborhoods;
B) Fostering and providing programmatic opportunities aimed at stopping the mass departure of Black families and other disadvantaged people from leaving San Francisco;
C) Enhance cultural, economic, and social communities through the development of clean affordable housing designed to ensure safe, healthy and vibrant neighborhoods.
Mission
To stimulate growth in the community by developing residential, commercial and industrial projects by:
A) Promoting business development within targeted areas;
B) Initiating coordinated health, education and social service support programs designed to empower impacted residents;
C) Leveraging collective resources to empower those who without support, might otherwise be displaced.