Dorothy Jones
Dorothy Jones honored for leading the development of Collier City
Dorothy Jones, 79, vividly remembers moving to Collier City in 1960 — which in the 1990s became a subdivision of Pompano Beach.
She was greeted with dirt roads; water wells instead of running water; no street lights; and a lack of nearby stores.
“When I moved to Collier City, I cried,” Jones said.
It was then that she made up her mind that she would help with the community’s development.
And over the last 40 years, as a spearhead, Jones has helped the neighborhood transform Please turn to JONES 11B
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from a former migrant farm area with substandard housing and a lack of resources, to a community of new single family homes, a fire department, a public library, community reinvestments and residents full of neighborhood pride.
On Feb. 23, Jones was honored by the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History [ASALH] as one of the organization’s first recipients to receive the “Living Legacy” award at ASALH’s 87th Annual Black History Month Luncheon in Washington D.C.
Jones performed many of her efforts through the Collier City/Pompano Beach Community Development, an organization that has created and managed social programs, affordable housing, the first Black cable system and other businesses for the Collier City/Pompano Beach community, which was organized by Jones and her late husband Syd Jones.
“I did it because I needed to do it,” Jones said. “I wanted to . . . make a better place for people to live and for our children.”
Although there have been many changes made in Collier City, Jones believes there is still more to be done to help community members. Currently, she is planning and gathering funds for the development of an affordable 20-unit senior citizen housing complex for former migrant workers, who don’t have much money for housing.
While Jones was recently honored for her service by ASALH, she gave thanks to those who have helped her, over the years.
“I didn’t do it by myself,” she said. “It takes a team and a community working together to get something done.”
By Malika A. Wright
mwright@miamitimesonline.com
Tyrone A. Ash
March 21, 2013 at 1:37 pm
I really enjoyed reading this story. Congrats to Ms. Jones on her recognition and her award. She has done a lot for the people of her community.
Thanks Ms. Wright for keeping our community informed about our local citizens and their accomplishments.
I hope more people of our community will use their efforts, resources, time and monies to support the continued development of our community and our youth.
Let Us All Do Our Part!!!