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.
Board Member, Education
Charity Clay
Texas A&M Univ., Critical Race Sociology
Rhodes college visiting faculty fellow for the Institute for Race and Social Transformation. Scholar in residence. Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University.
Legal
Christopher Pham, Esq.
Mitchell Hamline School of Law, J.D.
Partner attorney at Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. B.A. in Sociology (University of MN), M.A. Criminal Justice (Chapman Univ.) Minnesota Lawyer’s 2019 Attorney of Year. Member of the Black Law Student Association.
Board Member
Zachariah Levine Babbington-Johnson
Secretary
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.