LJCLT Incubation Process 

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The Metcalf and Atkinson Foundation renewed its partnership with Black Urbanism TO in 2024, specifically to advance the implementation and operationalization of the Little Jamaica Community Land Trust.

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In March 2024, a Community Land Trust Coordinator was hired to bring the reality of the model to life. During her role as Coordinator and to establish LJCLT as an independent organization, they led/took part the following activities:

• Launched the Little Jamaica Community Land Trust at the Keele Community Hub + hosted an Infographic Exhibition 

• Travelled with Canadian Black-led CLTs on the Liberated Land Trust Tour to knowledge share with African American Community Ownership Models 

• Created a Little Jamaica Development Application Book-Let that lists all the active developments coming to Little Jamaica

• Led a 6 month Advisory Working Group for critical components of Little Jamaica’s CLT organizational function (i.e. Membership Criteria) 

• Led an Interim Board of Director process, focused on governance and acquisition strategy  

• Worked with StrategyCorp to develop a Property Acquisition and Community Space Framework Strategy 

• Led LJCLT 1st Annual General Meeting with founding Members, election of new Board of Directors and adaptation of the organizations governing documents

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A special thank you to: 

Little Jamaica Advisory Working Group Participants

• Claude Thompson

• Prophetess Reid

• Martine Alridge

• Richard Wright (Chozen)

• Gordon Gennetho

• Masani Montague

• Faith Greaves

• Adrian Hayles

• Namulinda Lester

• Sephton Spence

• Dewitt Lee  

• Mark Anthony 

• Martina Simmonds

• Mark Pinnock

• Melissa Allen 

• Stephane Martin Demers

• Venessa Douse 

• Junior Lewis 

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Interim Board of Directors: 

• Melissa Allen 

• Sephton Spence 

• Masani Montague 

• Richard Wright (Chozen)

• Keisha St. Louis-McBurnie 

• Emelia Cheese 

• Stephen Mensah 

• Romain Baker 

• Dewitt Lee 

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2026 LJCLT Board of Directors 

• Keisha St. Louis Mc-Burnie 

• Stephen Mensah 

• Melissa Allen 

• Dewitt Lee 

• Emelia Cheese

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Thank you to Yolanda Lawerence, owner of Tekno Printing and Grafix at 2622 Eglinton Ave West, for the Little Jamaica CLT's

first ever logo meant to combine Little Jamaica's mixed-use attributes, Africentric colours

and Adinkra symbol of Hye Wo Nhye meaning "Burn, you won't burn: Imperishability."

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Thank you to Change Promotions, 1622 Eglinton Ave West, for the first iteration of the LJCLT's Website and merchandise.