Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 9-21-18

Feature
CDC Of Tampa To Celebrate 26th Anniversary With Signature Luncheon
ERNEST CONEY, JR. CEO and President, CDC of Tampa, Inc.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
This year, the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc., (CDC of Tampa, Inc.,) will cel- ebrate its 26th Anniversary with it traditional luncheon. The event will take place on Tuesday, October 9th, at TPepin Hospitality Centre, 4121 N. 50th Street, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
This year, the organization is fo- cusing on Community Develop- ment Champions.
Rod Carter, an Anchor with WFLA TV, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. The keynote speaker for the luncheon is Stephen Glaude, President and CEO of the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Develop- ment (CNHED).
The organization is a cross-sec- tion of collaborative diverse organ- izations working to provide economic opportunities and afford-
STEPHEN GLAUDE Keynote Speaker
able housing for residents in Wash- ington, D.C.
In the past six years, the organi- zation has built the political will to invest $580 million in local dollars into affordable housing.
Currently, Glaude manages a $100 million joint venture housing trust fund.
Mrs. Chloe Coney founded the CDC of Tampa, Inc., more than two decades ago. Her goal at the time was to improve the lives of res- idents in East Tampa in several areas, including affordable hous- ing.
Through the persistence of Mrs. Coney, the area became the site of an organization that offers economic development, affordable housing, employee skills, employ- ment suitability preparation, edu- cational programs, and numerous other programs.
The CDC of Tampa, Inc., serves as a model for other organizations seeking to improve specific areas of
MRS. CHLOE CONEY Founder of CDC of Tampa, Inc.
the city.
She retired several years ago,
but provides wisdom and support to her son, Ernest Coney, Jr., who is the current President and CEO of the organization.
Mrs. Coney said Glaude was chosen as the keynote speaker for the luncheon because of his experi- ence in economic development.
“Tampa is at a point where there is a critical affordable housing shortage. We can learn a lot from his 30 years of experience and I’m hoping and inviting everyone to come out,” she said.
Ernest Coney, Jr., said, “Whether you’re a long-time CDC supporter, or a new friend in the community, October 9th promises to be a great day. It will be a great day for networking with corporate and community members, and a great opportunity to raise aware- ness and support for CDC’s mission to create economic opportunities for Tampa’s people and communi-
ROD CARTER Master of Ceremonies
ties every day.”
He continued, “We’re truly
blessed to have so many amazing champions who believe in the power of comprehensive commu- nity development. That’s why this year’s event is called CDC of Tampa’s Community Development Champions Luncheon. We know and want others to recognize just how essential partnerships are to making Tampa a true place of op- portunity for everyone who calls it home.”
This year’s event is presented by JPMorgan Chase & Co. and the Tampa Bay Rays, with more than 40 additional sponsors showing their support. During the event, awards will be presented to corpo- rate and community partners who have gone above and beyond in their support of CDC during 2018. These organizations include:
The Beck Group, Envision Con- struction Services and Regions Fi- nancial Corporation.
PAGE 8-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018