J C WILLIAMS COMMUNITY CENTER INC
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Mission Statement
The JC Williams Community Center exists to empower individuals and families in Springfield’s Six Corners neighborhood by addressing systemic barriers that limit opportunity, mobility, and economic resilience. Our mission is to provide a comprehensive, community-rooted ecosystem of support that fosters stability, education, workforce development, and long-term transformation for low- and moderate-income residents. At the heart of our work is the JC Williams Community Resource Hub—a dynamic, two-level facility designed as a one-stop-shop for wraparound services that meet families where they are and move them toward where they want to be. We serve as both a facilitator and developer of holistic, partner-led programs that address intergenerational poverty, incarceration, underemployment, and limited access to education, health, and financial tools. Our mission comes to life through three integrated pillars within the Hub: 1. The Learning Center (Early Childhood Education) In partnership with Playful Minds, our Learning Center provides high-quality early childhood care and education through infant and toddler daycare, preschool, and after-school programs. This component of our ecosystem is designed to give working parents—especially single mothers, returning citizens, and low-income caregivers—the freedom and confidence to pursue employment and education while ensuring their children thrive in a nurturing, developmentally appropriate environment. 2. Workforce Development & Financial Empowerment Through our Springfield Ready initiative, we facilitate industry-recognized certification and skills training in healthcare (Community Health Worker certification), culinary services (through our 1,200 sq/ft shared-use commercial kitchen), digital literacy, and other high-demand fields. These programs are offered in collaboration with partners including Holyoke Community College (HCC) and CHWMA, with active interest from STCC and other regional institutions. Alongside technical training, we offer financial literacy programs that focus on budgeting, credit repair, debt management, and long-term financial planning. We are creating volunteer-to-career pathways to help participants gain experience while moving toward employment, and we are committed to supporting returning citizens, underemployed adults, and families facing structural economic exclusion. 3. Shared-Use Commercial Kitchen & Food Access Our commercial kitchen is a catalyst for both culinary workforce development and food entrepreneurship. It provides opportunities for aspiring food business owners to gain experience in a licensed facility, while also supporting community meal preparation and food distribution initiatives to address food insecurity in the neighborhood. This kitchen not only creates jobs but nourishes the community physically and economically. The Ecosystem Model What makes the JC Williams Community Resource Hub truly innovative is its ecosystem model—a mall-style, co-located service environment where multiple needs can be met under one roof. This approach reduces the transportation and access burdens that often prevent LMI families from receiving the help they need. It allows us to bundle services together, refer individuals across program areas seamlessly, and create a centralized, welcoming hub of transformation. We are not simply offering programs—we are building a replicable model for urban revitalization that is scalable across LMI communities nationwide. Our mission is grounded in dignity, equity, and opportunity, and everything we do is informed by deep community ties, multi-sector collaboration, and an unshakable commitment to seeing families not just survive—but thrive.
About This Cause
The JC Williams Community Center (JCWCC) is a mission-driven, African American-led nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing equity and opportunity in Springfield’s historically under-resourced Six Corners neighborhood. Founded in 2006 by Steven R. Williams—a lifelong resident, faith leader, and son of the late Reverend James Cal (JC) Williams Sr., a beloved pastor and community advocate—JCWCC was created to carry forward a multigenerational legacy of service and neighborhood empowerment. Steven, who has lived, raised his family, and served in Six Corners for over 50 years, continues to lead JCWCC as Founder, President, and Executive Director. Under his leadership, the organization has become a trusted steward of community-based development, deeply rooted in the needs, voices, and aspirations of the people it serves. Our Mission and Evolution JCWCC’s mission is to empower low- and moderate-income (LMI) individuals and families by facilitating access to education, workforce development, food entrepreneurship, and financial empowerment. For more than 21 years, the organization has operated with a vision to reduce systemic disparities and foster neighborhood-based opportunity through collaborative and culturally responsive initiatives. JCWCC has long served the community through financial literacy workshops, food assistance, youth engagement, and outreach. Today, we are in the midst of our most ambitious transformation to date: the creation of the JC Williams Community Resource Hub. In Development: The JC Williams Community Resource Hub The Community Resource Hub is currently under renovation. We are in the process of converting our existing 5,000 sq/ft gymnasium into a two-level, state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a centralized space for community-centered services and programs. Construction is underway, and programming will launch once renovations are complete. Importantly, the JC Williams Community Center will operate as a facilitator, developer, and landlord—not as the primary program operator. We are building and managing the physical infrastructure and coordinating partnerships with trusted nonprofit, educational, and workforce institutions who will deliver high-quality programs within the Hub. Some services may be directly offered by JCWCC, but the majority of training, education, and support programming will be partner-led and embedded within the space. Our role is to develop the ecosystem, remove access barriers, and ensure the space functions as a community-powered solution. What’s Coming in Phase 1 Upon completion of renovations, the JC Williams Community Resource Hub will house: A state-certified Early Childhood Learning Center, operated by partner Playful Minds A 1,200 sq/ft Shared-Use Commercial Kitchen, used for culinary job training and food entrepreneurship Classrooms for workforce certification, digital literacy, CHW training, and financial empowerment Co-located wraparound support services (e.g., CORI sealing clinics, behavioral health referrals, legal aid), delivered by trusted external organizations These programs are not currently active, but will launch when the facility opens. We continue to actively secure the remaining capital funding required to complete Phase 1 and prepare for future phases of the project. Future Phases: A Vision for Community Ownership and Equity Following the completion of Phase 1, JCWCC will launch Phase 2, which includes construction of a 3,500 sq/ft Connector Building featuring: A recreational gymnasium Partner office suites for co-located career, health, and reentry services A rooftop community garden, emphasizing sustainability, healing, and intergenerational learning Phase 3 will bring even greater resources to the neighborhood with: A Performing Arts Theater A Banquet Hall for public events, ceremonies, and fundraisers A Community Health Center A Food Packaging and Production Hub, co-located with the kitchen to support scalable food-based enterprises and stimulate minority business growth These future phases are also in development and depend on securing additional capital funding. Our Model: Equity-Driven, Community-Informed What sets JCWCC apart is our ecosystem model. By co-locating essential services—childcare, training, business incubation, and support—under one roof, we remove the traditional barriers that keep LMI families from participating: transportation, childcare, cost, and system complexity. The JC Williams Community Resource Hub is designed around partnerships, equity, and cultural relevance. We work with organizations that reflect the lived experiences of the community—especially Black, Latino, justice-involved, and low-income residents—and ensure all services are accessible, multilingual, and trauma-informed. The project was informed by a 2024 Six Corners Community Needs Assessment with over 380 residents. Their feedback shaped our facility design, program partnerships, and outreach strategies. Equity is not an afterthought—it is the foundation. Accountability and Impact JCWCC has already secured over $2 million in capital support, including Springfield ARPA funds, private foundations, and state programs. Our strategic partnerships include Holyoke Community College, CHWMA, Playful Minds, Sodexo, and the City of Springfield. Our relationships with Mayor Dominic Sarno, Congressman Richard Neal, and other civic leaders help keep this vision aligned with Springfield’s broader goals for neighborhood revitalization. Once operational, the Hub is projected to serve over 250 residents annually, expanding to over 1,000 by 2030 through phased growth and additional training cohorts. Building a Sustainable, Scalable Model The JC Williams Community Center is not just focused on project completion—we are committed to long-term sustainability and scalable impact. Our 2024–2034 Strategic Plan outlines a phased development strategy, diversified revenue streams, and a staffing structure that reflects our community while ensuring organizational resilience. We are actively working to: Diversify funding through private philanthropy, public contracts, earned income, and community fundraising Develop a sustainability reserve and endowment for future operations Hire and promote local talent through community-based workforce pipelines Track outcomes rigorously, including retention, income growth, and long-term participant success Pilot innovation in social enterprise, including revenue-generating models in childcare, commercial kitchen rental, and event space usage Through this plan, we aim to ensure that every dollar invested creates a multiplier effect—supporting not only programming, but neighborhood renewal, family stability, and generational wealth-building. A Replicable Model for Urban Neighborhoods What we are building in Six Corners can serve as a blueprint for other urban, LMI neighborhoods across the country. Our approach combines: Place-based investment Community-designed programming Public-private partnership Cultural and racial equity Shared infrastructure for nonprofit and workforce partners We envision our ecosystem model being replicated in other historically marginalized communities, with local organizations like JCWCC acting as developers and facilitators of change—not just service providers, but systems conveners and equity architects. A Call to Action At its core, the JC Williams Community Center is powered by people: our founder’s vision, our partners’ expertise, our community’s determination, and the stories of neighbors who are ready for opportunity—but just need a door to open. We’re inviting you to be part of this transformation. Whether you are a funder, policymaker, employer, nonprofit partner, or individual donor, you have a role to play in helping bring this vision to life. Together, we can complete construction of the JC Williams Community Resource Hub, activate life-changing programs, and scale a powerful new model of community-centered workforce development, economic mobility, and restorative justice. This is more than a project. This is a movement. And it starts right here, in Six Corners. To learn more, partner with us, or support our vision, visit: www.jcwilliamscc.org