Abayomi Community Development Corporation Information

In 1980, Pastor Larry Smith opened the Charles H. Williams Human Development Center, a soup kitchen on Meyers Rd. in Detroit. This community resource fed over 200 people weekly for 11 years. The center also distributed clothing and provided AA and NA meetings to people recovering from substance abuse disorder. After moving his church to West Eight Mile Rd. in Detroit, Pastor Smith wanted to continue to feed and clothe the hungry and homeless. His daughter Tawnya Morris took the lead and held a series of focus group sessions to better understand the community’s needs. After school programs that dealt with violence and substance abuse prevention were a top priority. Homework help and other training and support programs to keep kids off the streets and in a safe environment were desired as well. Pastor Smith encouraged his daughter to start a new nonprofit that would best meet the needs of the community. Mrs. Morris sought the help of various church, business and community leaders to help in planning the mission and vision of a new organization. In 1998, Mrs. Morris created the Abayomi Community Development Corporation. “Abayomi”, a term from the Yoruba tribe in West Africa which means “a pleasant meeting place”, pronounced a-ba-yo-mee, is a 501(c)(3) human services nonprofit organization serving the metropolitan Detroit area. Abayomi provides community & economic development, education, and recreation programs to youth and families in the far Northwest and metropolitan Detroit. Our goals are to establish an awareness of the value of family, improve socioeconomic conditions and increase the level of dignity and personal achievement within the Detroit community.