Mission Statement
The Yoba Development Foundation Corporation is the 501c3 non-profit arm of Yoba Development Firm that supports its community and school-based educational initiatives. With a focus on system changes, the Yoba Development Foundation is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through education, community engagement, and sustainable development. Our mission is to provide underprivileged and under-resourced individuals with the knowledge, resources, and support they need to take control of their lives and build a secure and equitable future. Through collaborative initiatives with developers, educators, and local partners, we strive to foster financial literacy, promote equity and inclusion, and create opportunities for meaningful change. Our commitment is to inspire, educate, and uplift, fostering a community where every individual has the tools to thrive and contribute to a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow.
History
YDF, established in November 2022, has its roots in the vision and dedication of our founder and CEO, Malik Yoba. Inspired by a passion for community development and a commitment to making a positive impact, Malik founded the organization to foster economic and real estate development within our community.
From its inception, YDF has been guided by a singular mission: to serve as a driving force for community empowerment, providing access and knowledge that lay the foundation for sustainable growth. Under the leadership of Malik Yoba, the organization set out to create opportunities and build a stronger, more resilient community.
As we embark on this journey, YDF is proud to be fully run by Dena Yoba, who continues to uphold the values and principles that have shaped our organization. Dena’s leadership ensures that the foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to serving the community.
Over the years, YDF will continue to become a beacon of hope and progress, actively working towards creating a future where everyone has the tools and resources needed to thrive. Through strategic initiatives and collaborative efforts, we aim to empower individuals, foster economic growth, and contribute to the sustainable development of the community we proudly serve.
Join us on this transformative journey as we strive to make a lasting impact and build a better tomorrow for all.
ACTIVATION
YDF helps fund community engagement through cultivating spaces for change.
Community Engagement + Flipping the Hood + Outcomes
In May 2023 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in NY, Yoba Development presented its inaugural signature national activation, From the Ground Up: Flipping the Hood” (FTH) a first of its kind, immersive two-day generational wealth building activation. This community-focused initiative brought together high school and college students, corporate professionals, entrepreneurs of color from around the country in mental health, real estate development, finance, art, culture, music, technology, wellness, education, sports, investments, politics, and entertainment and provided opportunities for the community at large to be exposed to education and career pathways where minority representation is woefully low. Thoughtfully curated, this activation created unprecedented networking and relationship building opportunities and allowed young people access to the process of wealth creation, via real estate development, technology, investments, mentorships, scholarships, job opportunities, and information gathering all while inspiring and empowering the next generation of aspiring entrepreneurs to take action, learn, work and invest together for the sake of ownership and agency in their own communities.
As a measurable outcome, numerous partnerships, internships, investments and relationships were formed or enacted upon. The students who participated in the I Build NY pilot program from the Brooklyn STEAM Center, were directly involved in the development and execution of this activation as part of their work based learning experience. They participated as volunteer coordinators, moderators, greeters, speakers and panelists along side professionals. Two students received paid summer internships with Hines Development and two scholarships for teenage girls to attend cyber camp were secured from federal cybersecurity contracting company LaunchTech. The activation also introduced Yoba Development’s latest media offering “FTH” a print edition of a soon to be launched digital business news/entertainment site which will be a resource destination reflecting the offerings of the From the Ground Up: Flipping the Hood Activation.
