NFL Star Deon Bush & South Dade Leaders Give Back to Community with Bike Ride & Food Trucks

The Second Baptist Church Community Development Corporation (SBC CDC) recently announced four new board members who will help support the non-profit’s work to build a solid community through collaborative efforts and partnerships. The board members are already off to a productive start with their first community event. On March 13th a few new board members will be hosting their first community initiative in partnership with NFL player Deon Bush–a University of Miami and Christopher Columbus High School Alum.

The community event will feature a community bike ride that kicks off at 10am, and then the community fun day commences at 11am with food trucks and small business vendors.

The new SBC CDC board members commitment will be to continue to provide programs and services that address the intergenerational needs of the community.

“We are elated to expand SBC Community Development Corporation’s board. They will bring diverse expertise and insights to our mission, vision, and programs for the Richmond Heights community and beyond. They are comprised of a dedicated team of community leaders committed to providing strength, stability, and self-reliance toward our efforts,” said Mark Valentine, Executive Director. “Throughout the past few months, we have worked diligently to ensure our board members and leadership will continue to represent a variety of experts from various sectors. Our newest board members are no exception, and we look forward to serving with each of them.

The new board members began their terms with SBC CDC effective February 10, 2021, and can now serve. The four new board members are:

Deon Bush: Deon Bush is entering his sixth NFL season and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2016. Throughout his five seasons with the Bears, Bush has appeared in 65 games with eight total starts. Bush is the Founder of Doby’s Dream, which is a foundation that honors Gary Bush, Deon’s late father, and Gary’s mission to impact those in need within the Miami, Florida community. In addition to Bush’s successful NFL career and Doby’s Dream, he is also a Nike ambassador and an ambassador for the American Liver Foundation. Bush is a graduate of the University of Miami and Christopher Columbus High School.

Roy Modkins: Roy Modkins is a tool for change. With over 30 years of Corporate Leadership, his business acumen has led to being acknowledged and awarded from top brands such as CNN, The Weather Channel, Mount Sinai Hospital, The Trayvon Martin Foundation, Turner Broadcasting, Baptist Health and Cox Media. He holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco. For years, his non-profit, The Historic Society, has partnered with SBC Community Development Corporation on countless outreach initiatives. Under the Second Baptist Church ministry, he was married and dedicated his daughter to Christ. He lives in Cutler Bay with his wife and two children.

Jeremiah Payne: Jeremiah Payne is currently the Assistant Financial Aid Director at Trinity International University – Florida and Youth Coordinator at Miami Vineyard Community Church. Payne grew up in the community of Richmond Heights and attended Second Baptist Church for the majority of his life. He benefited from summer camp and the after school programs the CDC provided while he was in elementary and middle school. Not only was he a student in the programs, but throughout his time in high school he returned to instill the lessons he learned to those that came after him. This led him to attend Hampton University where he developed a desire to continue to give back to the community that had given so much to him. He is currently a student and employee at Trinity International University – Florida, finishing his BA in Christian Ministry while serving at Miami Vineyard Community Church in their college/young adult and youth ministries. He and his loving wife, Shauna Parris, have been married since June of 2019.

Antoinette Symonette: Antoinette Symonette is a member of Second Baptist Church, which is the church she grew up in located in Richmond Heights where she still resides. She is a graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelors of Science in Sociology and the University of the Rockies with a Masters of Arts in Organizational Development and Leadership. She is civic-minded and most recently co-chaired a girl’s mentorship program through her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is a business owner and is a licensed life and health insurance agent.

SBC Community Development Corporation (SBC CDC) is a non-profit corporation located in the heart of the Richmond Heights community. The mission of SBC CDC is to build a solid community through collaborative efforts and partnerships that provide programs and services that address the intergenerational needs of the community.

SBC Community Development Corporation began serving the heart of the Richmond Heights community in 2003 under the vision of the late Rev. John A. Ferguson, founder of Second Baptist Church. Rev. Ferguson envisioned building senior housing, providing food and educational services for the community of Richmond Heights.

This vision has grown under the leadership of President Rev. Alphonso Jackson, Sr. SBC CDC has developed four components to bring Rev. Ferguson’s vision to pass, and now serves residents from Kendall to Florida City. The four components consist of human services, educational services, youth services, and community development. Twila Payne, serves as the Chairwoman of the SBC CDC board – charged to bring these services to life.