History

The Daniel Alexander Payne Community Development Corporation (DAPCDC) is a registered 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit charitable organization.  The organization was founded in 1998 by the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church as its outreach arm that would address the emerging social, economic, cultural and educational needs of the diverse communities in the greater metropolitan DC area. Those needs included problems of poverty, injustice, lack of jobs, homelessness, struggling schools, and lack of business investment.

Our Work

The Mission of the CDC is to foster programs to serve the public, particularly those not well served.  We address needs in education and literacy, promote social and economic justice, support economic development, and nurture the legacy of artistic tradition.  The CDC is continually involved in the following activities:

• Working with partners to deliver innovative programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and Robotics;
• Developing economic empowerment programs devoted to helping residents of the Metropolitan DC area to improve their financial literacy, empower themselves fiscally, and create and perpetuate wealth for themselves and their families and communities;
• Sponsoring programs that publiclly acknowledge signal contributions by peoples of African descent, preserving culture and heritage, and bringing attention to socio-economic and political issues critical to the well being of citizens in the Metropolitan DC area;
• Pursuing opportunities for community economic development

Our Values

In addition to providing innovative and effective programs and services in support of its mission, the CDC strives to demonstrate the following values:

• Accountability: We are accountable to our clients, donors, volunteers, and the public – exhibiting the highest level of integrity and financial responsibility throughout the organization.
• Community: Partnerships and collaborations that foster community are important factors to our success as we serve the social and economic needs of individuals in the District of Columbia and the metropolitan area.
• Evaluation: Assessing our programs and their effectiveness are cornerstones for continuous improvement – ensuring the CDC remains focused on its mission.
• Excellence: We are committed to the highest standards of quality and excellence in service provided to the individuals that we are privileged to serve.