About Us
Helping low income communities create generational wealth with home repair, weatherization, and job training.
Our Story
United Community Development(UCD) of North Carolina was incorporated as a 501©3in March 2018 as a community-based non-profit with a mission to ““ build wealth and economic development through job training/jobs , Social Enterprise, Outreach, and Advocacy.” We have a network of community organizations and individuals all working in concert to build local resident capacity, improve local infrastructure, and fight the forces of displacement which these improvements might bring.
We are located in the Southside neighborhood of Asheville. It is an historically African-American neighborhood and the site of the largest Urban renewal project in the City. Its residents are the largest concentration of African-Americans in WNC, and it is the only Census Tract (IX) in Buncombe County which has been designated as “ distressed” by the U,S. Census Bureau. Southside is marked by poverty, rapid gentrification, and inequitable access to quality public infrastructure.
United Community Development has forged a coalition in which we have linked weatherization, and home repair with wealth-building and an anti-displacement strategy.
One of the powerful parts of the strategies employed by UCD was to use in-demand home repair, weatherization services and social enterprise to provide job training, real living wage jobs which the organization controls, and cooperative community control of the social enterprise to the organizations and the residents which it serves as a vital anti-poverty strategy. All of the profits from our “ fee for services contracts” will be used to support our charitable work in low-income weatherization and energy efficiency, home repair job training, de-cluttering services and resident capacity-building in microenterprise. These services are particularly valuable for low income and elderly homeowners/renters, as it allows many of them to save money on their utility bills and it also allows them to comfortably “ age in place.”
Board and Staff
Our Board and staff consists of passionate individuals who are committed to our mission and to improving the quality of life for residents of Southside and Buncombe County. Our dedicated team members are trained and skilled in their respective fields, and they work tirelessly to achieve our goals.
J.V. Farr, President of the Board of Directors
Attended Stephen-Lee High School, Asheville, NC
U.S. Army – Vietnam Era Veteran – 1970 – 1972
Attended Haywood Technical College – A.A. – Recreational Leadership in 1978
Employed by Johnson, Johnson, Critikon – Maintenance – 5 years
Semi-truck driver – 5 years
Self – Employed in renovations/remodeling
Worked as electrician in Tampa, FL – Retired in 2012.
Damain Poole, Vice President
As a native of Asheville, Damain Poole, is compassionate about his communities mental health and well being. Damain Poole, has overcome diversity in many ways and yearns to show others with the same background that change is real.
Not only does he volunteer his time to his community, Damain, is also a real estate agent who goes above and beyond for his clients. His motto is “ life’s a practice, you have to pay attention and learn something new every day.”
Damain is the grandson of Lottie Mae Poole (99); who is a pillar in our community and currently holds the title for Lottie Mae Day on August 6. Damain’s most precious role is being a father of two.
Bennie L. Miller, Treasurer
Mr. Miller was born in Tabor City, NC but has made Asheville, NC his home for the past 66 years. A recent widower, Mr. Miller was married to Louise Parrish Miller for over 62 years. He has four sons and one daughter. Three of his sons and his daughter remain active residents of Asheville, NC while one son relocated to Texas.
Mr. Miller retired from military service in 1997 as a Technical Sergeant (TSgt) after having honorably serving 12 years in the Army and 12 years in the Air Force. During his distinguished military career, Mr. Miller performed service as a demolition specialist, computer specialist, air transportation craftsman and aerial terminal supervisor. Mr. Miller was employed by the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Asheville for 26 years in Property Management directly responsible for food and drug distribution.
Active in his community, Mr. Miller was Commander of Chapter 2 of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and currently serves as Officer of the Day for Chapter 14 of the DAV in Hendersonville. He also currently serves as Treasurer of the United Development Committee
Dee Williams, Project Manager
Dee is an Asheville native. She holds degrees in: Accounting, Business Administration, and Political Economics, respectively. She also is a trained construction estimator ( commercial/industrial) and hold several certifications, including those in Supply Chain Management & Logistics, Advanced Manufacturing, and she a licensed N.C. Real Estate Broker. Dee currently also works as the President/CEO of Eagles’ Wings Community Development Corporation, which provides permanently affordable mixed use/mixed income rental and owner-occupied housing, construction job training in various specialties such as vertical construction, repair, and minority business development. Other areas where she excels are commercial loan packaging and pro forma financial construction and analysis.
When she is not working, Dee enjoys working out, gardening, travel, and driving collectible sports cars.
Brad Wynn, Superintendent, Construction and Weatherization
Brad is a seasoned construction professional who has a gift for training, counseling, teaching, and leading people of all ages. He matriculated in the schools of both Asheville, NC and Boston, MA. He holds a number of professional certifications and credentials, including those from the Building Performance Institute(BPI), Associated General Contractors (AGC) and others.
Brad has over 35 years of experience in construction and as an entrepreneur under the tutelage of his father, Mr. Alphonso Hutchinson who owned anchor Black businesses on “ The Block”, Southside, and in the River Arts District.
Brad’s interests include teaching/mentoring young people in the skilled trades, antique and classic car restoration, gardening and providing free repairs to low income/elderly people on his own time.
Brad is also a licensed pastor here in Asheville.
James Jones, Weatherization/Repair Technician
James Jones is a native of eastern North Carolina and lived in Boston. Mass. For many years. He is a 10 year veteran of the U.S. Army and he was trained in UCD’s Weatherization and Home Repair Program, and has worked for almost four years.