DENMARK - The Southern Carolina Regional Community Development Corporation has a new executive director, Merylin Jackson.
Jackson will replace Willie B. Owens, who officially retired on Jan. 31, after providing nine years of service. The SCRCDC, formerly named Voorhees College CDC, has been in existence for 13 years. Its mission is to serve low-to-moderate income families in Bamberg and surrounding counties.
Jackson started her career in the community development industry as interim director of Charleston Neighborhood Housing Services in November 1993. Within six months, she was named executive director. During her tenure, she increased their loan portfolio to over $1 million, managing a loan portfolio over $2.7 million.
Later she served as the first executive director of Claflin University Development Corp. During her seven years at Claflin, she successfully implemented various programs to improve the quality of life for the underserved citizens of Orangeburg County. Under Jackson's leadership, the organization was awarded three HUD-HBCU grants, totaling more than $1.4 million and more than $600,000 from S.C. State Housing Authority's Housing Trust Fund grant program. Those funds were used to demolish several deteriorated properties, construct affordable new homes and owner-occupied rehabilitation, all in an effort to promote the preservation of the housing stock surrounding Claflin University.
In 2004, Jackson chose to use more than 10 years of experience and knowledge by joining her alma mater, South Carolina State University. She served as senior extension director of its non-profit the Northeastern Corridor of Orangeburg Community Development Corp. During her continued leadership, Jackson rejuvenated an organization that had been dormant for over three years. Under her watchful eye, the organization was awarded three HUD-HBCU grants totaling nearly $2 million.
Owens said, "Merylin Jackson is a proven leader and she has demonstrated her accomplishments by the numerous programs and services implemented in the community development industry. I am very proud of the selection made by the board of directors."
Jackson said, "I am excited about the opportunity to serve the citizens of Bamberg County and Denmark. I look forward to increasing the availability of programs and services by continuing to develop partnerships with the city, local banks and businesses." During tough economic times, it is extremely important to collaborate with organizations that seek to carry out the same mission.
Jackson is a mother of two, Raleigh, a Citadel graduate and football coach for Missouri Southern State University, and Megan, a graduate of South Carolina State attending nursing school in Augusta, Ga. She is a member of New Mt. Zion Baptist Church and Orangeburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment