Black Vanguard Media Exclusive “She Sounded the Alarm”: Joy Johnson’s Leadership in the Fight for Cleveland’s CDCs
In the face of a quiet but devastating shift in local funding policy, Joy Johnson, Executive Director of Burten Bell Carr Development, Inc. (BBC), did what few dared to do—she spoke up early, boldly, and with clarity.
And now, in 2025, as the reality of those changes begins to choke Cleveland’s network of Community Development Corporations (CDCs), her voice rings louder than ever.
Joy didn’t simply see the storm coming. She’s been working around the clock to help navigate it, not just for BBC, but for CDCs and community organizations across Ohio. But make no mistake: we are not out of the woods yet.
From Flexibility to Financial Crisis: A Local Decision with Lasting Damage
For over 40 years, Cleveland’s CDCs were able to use Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars to pay for essential operating costs like rent, mortgages, utilities, and salaries—expenses that kept community services going in the city’s most underserved neighborhoods. That changed in 2023.
Seemingly overnight, Cleveland’s local administrators imposed new restrictions on the use of these funds, despite those line items remaining fully permissible under federal HUD guidelines.
“It’s like someone telling you that your household income—money you’ve relied on for decades—can no longer be used to pay your rent or your light bill,” said Johnson. “We weren’t given time to prepare. We were told to figure it out—while still being expected to deliver the same level of services.”
A Devastating Impact at BBC
This local shift forced BBC—and nearly every CDC in Cleveland—into crisis mode. With operating funds suddenly cut off, BBC had to dip into its reserves just to stay afloat. Ultimately, Johnson made the heartbreaking decision to lay off 11 staff members.
“It was the most difficult decision of my professional life,” she shared with Black Vanguard Media. “We held on as long as we could. But to protect the organization and the people we serve, I had to realign BBC with our core strengths—real estate and economic development.”
That decision, painful as it was, protected essential services in Cleveland’s Central, Buckeye and Kinsman neighborhoods.
A Voice Beyond BBC: Leading the State
Johnson’s insights don’t come from theory—they come from 23 years in the field, running programs, building homes, and fighting for resources. And her leadership goes beyond Cleveland: she currently serves as President of the Ohio CDC Association, representing more than 120 CDCs and community action organizations across urban and rural communities statewide.
That distinction matters.
She is not just a policy advocate or an academic. She is a practitioner—a top-tier expert—who leads from experience, and her colleagues across Ohio recognize her as such.
That’s why many of the loudest critics should pause. Some who question her decisions have never run a CDC, never had to make payroll while juggling shifting regulations and shrinking budgets. What’s needed now is not more criticism, but more collaboration with those who know what it takes to keep these essential institutions alive.
Keeping the Community Voice Alive: WOVU 95.9 FM
One example of Johnson’s innovative leadership is how she kept WOVU 95.9 FM, BBC’s community radio station, on the air during the crisis. While WOVU wasn’t part of BBC’s original real estate mission, it had become a trusted, authentic voice in the community.
BBC couldn’t afford to subsidize it forever—but they also couldn’t afford to lose it.
That’s when Johnson turned to Darvio Morrow, CEO of FCB Radio Network, a national media company with a deep commitment to community storytelling. Together, they implemented a new business model in just three weeks, positioning WOVU to become financially sustainable, while increasing its content quality and reach.
Already, the station has attracted national media attention, and it’s projected to be operating in the black within 30 days.
The Fight Isn’t Over—But Her Vision is Clear
Despite these successes, Johnson emphasizes that Cleveland’s CDCs are still in danger—especially if proposed federal cuts to CDBG funds move forward.
“She is working diligently to help steer BBC and other CDCs through this ongoing crisis,” said one regional nonprofit partner. “But if these cuts become permanent, it could be catastrophic.”
A recent article in Signal Cleveland titled “Cleveland quietly rewrites neighborhood funding rules as Trump-era flexibility ends” validates everything Johnson warned about nearly a year ago. The crisis was not imagined. The consequences are real.
A Call to Listen—and to Lead
Johnson is not asking for praise. She’s asking people—especially those in positions of influence—to listen, collaborate, and act.
Her focus is not on proving people wrong. It’s on keeping neighborhoods strong.
But for anyone who has ever questioned her decisions or underestimated her leadership, her track record should now give them pause.
Because while others were caught off guard, Joy Johnson was sounding the alarm—and she’s still sounding it today. She’s calling for stronger partnerships, more informed decision-making, and a renewed commitment to Cleveland’s most impacted communities.
And this time, we’d all be wise to listen.
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