The Orisa Community Development Corporation is the brainchild of Joe Quinones, a businessman and community organizer who was born into the Yoruba tradition in the United States of America. His goal is to expand into the larger Orisa Community the vision for a more unified and empowered community that he first expressed by organizing his own Orisa House into the Ile Ase Orisa community.
In 2006, the Orisa CDC was incorporated as a non-profit organization. A think tank was formed by Baba Joe, Iya Ayoka Wiles, Kyle Smith, Muata Mobley and Oliver Binns Millicent King Channell, Imani Gross, and Kwayera Cunningham to to discuss the challenges facing the Orisa Community and develop the conceptual framework, mission and vision statement for the Orisa CDC.
After two years of debate and deliberations, the think tank concluded its work and in March, 2010, the output of the think tank was distilled into what became the Orisa CDC’s strategic plan, which was also informed by an Orisa Community survey.
Some of the most talented members of the Orisa Community were then invited to form the leadership team that would lead the execution of the strategic plan and take the first steps in fulfilling the Orisa CDC’s vision and mission.
Since its incorporation in 2006, the Orisa Community Development Corporation has accomplished the following:
- Sponsored group trip of 40 community members to attend a Philadelphia 76ers basketball game
- Gave over $15,000 in programming grants to various Orisa community groups, Iles and individuals
- Became first Orisa-centric organization to give out college scholarships to Orisa community youth
- co-hosted cultural education programming promoting Yoruba cultural tradition and arts with ZEYBRAH
- Hosted a group of youth at an African American MBA conference to introduce youth ages 16-24 to career, leadership and academic opportunities through a series of panel discussions and workshops
- Facilitated All day personal and professional development workshops for Egbe Iwa Odo Kunrin/Binrin Rites of Passage Program
- Conducted real estate ownership and investment seminar and bus tour in order to foster education, leadership development and empowerment opportunities for low to moderate income families
- Completed a five humanitarian mission and cultural tours to Nigeria, West Africa which included the distribution of clothing, books, toys and medical supplies to traditionalist communities in Osogbo, Ibadan, and Ile Ife
