BELLE GLADE — Since opening its doors 15 years ago, Glades Community Development Corporation in Belle Glade has served as an integral part of the tri-cities communities.
The corporation and its staff has played a role in many important projects, following closely the path laid down by its board of directors and always with a presence whenever the community has called on them.
Today, the entity finds itself in a situation it is not familiar with — a major funding shortfall has substantially reduced its operating budget. The organization now operates with only two employees.
GCDC now seeks help from the community in continuing its operations.
According to Ms. Moore-Williams, the approach of GCDC to other agencies has always been an approach of partnership. "How can we help?" can almost be the organization's motto, as time and again it strived to see other programs in the area to succeed.
In its time as a non-profit agency, GCDC has directly been involved in supporting many other organizations in the Glades to be successful. The EDGE Center, the Western Communities Tourism Alliance, Concerned Youth for Community Improvement, Glades Initiative and Glades Artisans are among the organizations GCDC has served as a fiscal agent or funding conduit for, helping them to receive grants and other opportunities.
The organization has also worked with the Lighthouse Cafe, which feeds local people free of charge, Street Beat, Inc., a South Bay program that involves the children of the area in productive lessons in the arts, and the First Haitian Baptist Church Youth and Children Development Center.
Ms. Moore-Williams especially remembers GCDC's involvement with the H.E.A.R.T. Project, an organization that sought to teach the importance of AIDS and HIV education to children in the area. GCDC helped that program off the ground, with GCDC supporting the concept fully.
Another example is the Med-Mobile, the response to farm workers and laborers who, because of the condition of their jobs, could not afford to visit a doctor during the day, arriving home late at night. Operating in the late hours, the med mobile is a vehicle that reaches the people who otherwise would go untreated. Children receive immunizations. At first, manned by the Health Department, the unit is now in the hands of another organization that continues its mission.
In the Glades, you could always count on them to follow through — whether it was related to the subject of health or education or unemployment or economic development. Somewhere always, behind the scenes or out on the forefront, Autrie and her staff got to work and could be counted on to deliver.
Now the organization, always fighting, hopes it can continue the fight. With an operating budget of approximately $175,000 cut severely short, GCDC is searching for a way to continue delivering that same quality service it has in the past.
Autrie blames it on factors that the organization is simply not in control over. "Since 9-11, the amount of funding coming to individual organizations is less and less," said Ms. Moore-Williams, who remains thankful to the many agencies, who over the years provided for GCDC. "We appreciate that, but we now need to look within."
Some have stood up to help the organization, including local lawyers Thomas Montgomery and Mamie Washington Kendall who have both helped in distributing a letter to local companies asking for donations of support to keep the organization active.
In that usual soft voice, Ms. Moore-Williams asks, "If GCDC is a value to the community, this is an opportunity for the community to step forward."
The organization welcomes any and all support, whether through volunteer work to help out at the office, or through financial means. Though GCDC has raised approximately $70,000 in grant funding, there is still some ways to go, Ms. Moore-Williams insists.
The organization hopes that the submission of two applications recently will provide the grant funding necessary to operate the corporation at normal efficiency. "I'm very hopeful," said Ms. Moore-Williams. As of this article, they had not yet heard back from the possible funding sources.
In the meantime, GCDC continues operating with a reduced staff. The duties that previously took more than a handful to accomplish now must be carefully ordered between the two remaining employees. The pace will continue until something drastic changes.
Once news arrived that one of GCDC's largest funding agencies would no longer be able to provide monies for the operation of the corporation, the company committed to staying with its employees to the very end, ensuring that everyone had a job before they were let go — with Autrie personally helping them in their search. Almost all who wanted one, found a job.
It is indicative of the mission of GCDC — which is to implement sustainable solutions for the community, that the community should not have to rely on an agency to sustain itself, but that the community will support itself, Ms. Moore-Williams said. "To see residents stand up and let their voices be heard, that's empowerment in the truest sense of the word."
Though far in that mission, she feels that GCDC is not there yet.
"Yes, there will be a day when we give up," said Moore-Williams. "I hope it's the day when people will say, ‘GCDC, there are no more issues for you to address.' Wouldn't that be great? Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
She looks forward to that day, but hopes it comes because GCDC has done its job and not because of other factors.
And, of course, according to Autrie, everyday, "It's still a joy to help people."
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