About us.

KOMBOA is a community-based non-profit land trust initiative created and operated by the Culturally specific communities it serves.

Centered in the principles and practices of group equity and shared values, we uplift African-American communities by providing human and capital resources to support and resources to stimulate place-based economic success.

KOMBOA operates as a Purchase Fund, Title Holder, Leaser and Small Business Incubator for a diverse collection of small minority owned-businesses, providing guidance and growth funding to ensure long-term success.  We work with donors, strategic partners and other community stakeholders to raise and deploy funds for the benefit of the people who live in and visit Black Cultural destinations. We believe in a community grounded in self-determination to combat displacement, gentrification, housing shortages, redlining, and other systemic economic challenges.

KOMBOA provides opportunities for people of color to own the spaces they patronize, live in, and create value for.  We aim to demonstrate the power of a hyper-local approach to community development as a sustainable model for communities of color facing similar challenges.

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Board of Directors

KOMBOA CLT comprises a dedicated team committed to promoting affordable housing and commercial space for African-Americans. With experience in community development, business development and real estate, we strive to support economic growth and lasting positive impacts.

Founder & Executive Director

Asa “Ace” Rice

Florida A & M Univ., Architecture
20+ years of experience building brands and businesses, creating communities and curating spaces.

Co-Chair

Justin Baylor

Delaware State Univ.., Business Mgmt.
A decade in real estate development with Toll Brothers of Maryland and Washington DC area, Justin relocated back to Minneapolis as managing partner of JADT Food Group, a franchised management & real estate development company.

Treasurer

PJ Hill

The Ohio State University, Economics
Minneapolis City Charter Commissioner, Financial Advisor at NorthRock Partners, Minority developer with LISC, and Vice President of the NAACP.

Executive Director

Charity Clay, PhD

Texas A&M Univ., Curriculum and Programing
Independent interdisciplinary scholar, researcher and educator in global Black Geography. Non-Resident Fellow with the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University.

Board Member

Lachelle Cunningham

Bush Fellow, founder of Chelle’s Kitchen and was the first Executive Chef of Breaking Bread Cafe. Through Healthy Roots Institute, she provides food education, culinary training, and business coaching.as part to address racial disparities.

Board Member

C. Terrence Anderson

Marquette University, Urban Affairs & Philosophy
Director of Community Based Research at the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs. Equity Manager at the Metropolitan Council in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, implementing equity
as part to address racial disparities.

Board Member

Dawn Renee Jones

Goddard College, Master of Fine Arts
40 Years experience as a writer & director, currently a professor of at Columbia College. 30+ years of non-profit board experience and comms.

Komboa – liberate / redeem  (verb)   /kOmbOwa/
● free (a country, city, or people) from enemy occupation.
● release from a situation that limits freedom of thought or behavior.