CEO Updates: July 2026

The following are highlights of the CEO Updates provided to the RISE Coleman Park Board of Directors.

Juneteenth Celebration

Our Juneteenth celebration was an incredible success, led by resident leaders and our Culture Yard Coordinator, LaCandis. Close to 300 individuals participated throughout the day, and I'm happy to report a joyful, incident-free celebration. I can't wait to share the video with all of you. A special thank you to Lynn, who came out to show her support, and to Ardis, who demonstrated that community policing is so much more as resident. Both of them are featured in the video, which I hope to share with you in a couple of weeks.

Senior Renovation Program Launch

We have officially launched our Senior Renovation Program, and the feedback from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. This initiative is central to our anti-displacement mission and is already making a real difference for our legacy homeowners. You can check out our LinkedIn post for more information.

Coleman Park Green Market

The Coleman Park Green Market officially launches tomorrow, June 11th, and we are thrilled to bring this resource to our community. Residents will receive a membership card that provides additional discounts on fresh fruits and vegetables, a meaningful step toward food access and economic vitality in Coleman Park.

RISE FY25 Audit/990 Complete

I am pleased to share that the RISE audit was officially completed in June. The Finance Committee will review the audit ahead of our next board meeting before presenting findings to the full board. A special recognition goes to Timeka for her leadership in shepherding this process. 

Leadership Convening — November 11–13

Planning for our Purpose Built Communities Leadership Convening is well underway! Here is what we can confirm on logistics; program content is still being finalized:

• Opening celebration Block Party at The Culture Yard

• Reception at the Sunset Lounge, featuring a Fireside Chat with Mayor James

• Program at the WPB Pavilion

This will be a landmark moment for RISE and for Coleman Park, and we look forward to sharing more details as planning progresses.

Spotlight: OJ Johnson

OJ continues to lead our residents with excellence. If you haven't yet seen the video highlighting the voices of our Resident Advisory Committee, please take a moment to view their advocacy, which is a direct reflection of OJ's remarkable leadership. And I am proud to share that RISE is not alone in recognizing OJ's impact. Tonight, OJ is being honored at the Urban League of Palm Beach County Young Professionals (ULPBCYP) Annual Awards Night as an Outstanding Leader for 2025–2026. We celebrate him!

As always, thank you for your continued commitment to RISE and to the Coleman Park community. None of this happens without your partnership and support.

With gratitude,

Upendo Shabazz