Homelessness is an issue that many people feel helpless to solve and others turn to measures such as criminalizing people who are without resources. Jimiyu Evans has spent his career contradicting those approaches because he has seen firsthand how the right help, given with dignity and faith in people, can transform individual lives, families and communities.
“He is the kind of leader that wants to not only solve immediate problems – but to reduce the incidence of struggle and share what he learns with others so that widespread change is possible – and a smarter investment,” said his staff. “He has proven that with vision, discipline and creativity, communities can tackle a problem that seems unsolvable.”
Project Community Connections Inc. is a nonprofit organization that aims to permanently rehouse individuals and families experiencing homelessness into decent, affordable places to live and thrive. The organization collaborates with community and human service organizations to provide ancillary services that promote personal and economic self-sufficiency.
As a Co-CEO, Evans has helped build the organization from three people 16 years ago to the transformative organization it is today, employing over 30 people and serving nearly 2,500 people annually. Over the past 20 years, Project Community Connections Inc. has expanded services to cover not just the city of Atlanta and Fulton County, but also DeKalb, Clayton Douglas, Rockdale and Gwinnet counties.
One of Evans’ accomplishments he is most proud of is the joint housing development with Mercy Housing SE, Thrive Sweet Auburn. This proposed development will include 117 mixed-income homes for families and individuals and will house PCI’s new office space on the ground floor.
Having a vision is what motivates Evans in his role as the Co-CEO. “Leadership begins with vision informed by an authentic connection to the work you represent, which is gained through humility and intentional listening,” he said. “Vision drives action, which means a relentless commitment to amplifying the issues, the accomplishments and needs of the people you serve – staff, supporters, partners, clients and community.”
Even with a vision, Evans said complex problems occur. “Complex problems for me are like completing a puzzle that I’ve completed in the past,” he said. “While the pieces (or problem) may look different, the thoughtful approach to analyzing what I envision as the highest and best outcome, determining the needed resources and executing a strategy through calculated steps has yielded a consistent and highly effective system for meaningful impact.”