Posted on February 26, 2002

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African American Planning Commission, Inc.

Founded: 1996

Contact: Matthew Okebiyi, Founder and Executive Director

Address:
647A DeGraw Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217-3111

Phone: (718) 857-8705
Fax: (718) 857-0091
E-mail: MOkebiyi@aapci.org
URL: http://www.aapci.org

Mission:
The African American Planning Commission Inc. is a minority-controlled nonprofit organization that works to provide shelter to the homeless in New York City and helps unemployed city dwellers realize self-reliance and economic independence. The organization develops transitional and affordable permanent housing that incorporates social support and employment services as part of its efforts to help individuals and families maintain stable lives.

Background:
Matthew Okebiyi, the founder of AAPC, was born in Nigeria, West Africa. The son of Nigerian diplomats, he observed abject poverty and homelessness firsthand during his youth as he was shuttled between various parts of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. After earning a bevy of degrees — a Bachelor of Arts, two Master's, and two doctorates — in majors as diverse as urban planning, political science, communication arts, and African American studies, Okebiyi worked with various community-based nonprofit organizations, including the New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA), municipal government agency. As a program officer at DFTA, he became frustrated with the sometimes slow and bureaucratic approach of nonprofits to respond to housing and other needs of low-income families. With $2,000 of his own personal funds, he set out to form AAPC, which was incorporated in 1996.

In 1998, due to a shortage of facilities for domestic violence survivors in New York City, AAPC presented a proposal to the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) to develop a new transitional housing program. The project, named Serenity House Family Residence, would integrate housing with on-site support services for survivors of domestic violence. OTDA approved the proposal and awarded AAPC a $4.8 million grant to develop Serenity House, which will be a state-of-the-art transitional residence and one of the largest facilities for victims of domestic violence in New York City.

Current Programs:
To build Serenity House, a local contractor with a team of minority construction workers and women-owned subcontractors was selected and began construction in 2002. The facility is slated to open its doors in late-2002 to survivors of domestic violence, regardless of race, culture, religion, or ethnic background. Each of the forty independent apartments in the residence will have a bathroom, kitchen, and living space that will be fully furnished and stocked with supplies for babies and children. Serenity House will also have a resident lounge, computer and employment training facility, and a commercial kitchen. To ensure the safety of the residents, the building will have 24-hour on-site security, and the site's address and the names and addresses of past or current residents will be held in strict confidence.

New Initiatives:
AAPC is currently soliciting funds to develop Edwin's Place Family Residence — a residence for families living with HIV/AIDS and their minor children. Most children in families living with AIDS are separated from their parents and placed in foster care. Edwin's Place will allow families to stay together as a unit by offering tenant families a signed lease and a host of onsite support services.

AAPC/Africa, an independent offshoot of the AAPC, was created to assist with humanitarian aid and education in Africa. A special area of concern and focus is the AIDS crisis, which has decimated entire communities on the continent. AIDS ends the life of an African child every minute, and millions more lose parents to disease. AAPC/Africa is presently working with nongovernmental organizations, doctors, and community elders in Nigerian villages to develop HIV/AIDS prevention programs.

Web Site:
AAPC's Web site, developed in partnership with Graphic Vision Inc., begins with an introductory slide show that recognizes the organization's primary concerns: domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, and homelessness. After the introduction, users can enter the AAPC Web site to find information about the organization's plans and current activities. The site also provides comprehensive information in the Resources area of the site, including free access to employment sites, scholarship announcements, and instructions for victims of domestic violence on how to keep an abuser from seeing what they have recently viewed on the Internet.

Funding Needs:
AAPC receives some government funds, but relies on contributions from foundations, corporations, and individuals to develop new programs. All financial contributions to AAPC are fully tax deductible. To find out how to make a donation to the organization, please visit: http://www.aapci.org/donations/index.html. In an effort to expand its fundraising activities, AAPC has recently launched the Internet's largest nonprofit Affiliate Shopping Mall. Each time a purchase is made from the AAPCI site, the merchant pays AAPC a commission to be used to develop affordable housing. Participating merchants include Barnes & Noble.com, eBay, Hallmark, and J.Crew.