Meet the Founder

Photo: Cybelle Codish | Article:Seeds of Change

Lisa Johanon has been involved in faith based non-profit work for 29 years. First in church planting work in the Cabrini-Green housing projects for seven years, then, upon moving to Detroit, she developed and directed the Urban Outreach division of Detroit Youth for Christ for seven years.

Presently, Lisa is the Executive Director of CDC, a non-profit organization that she co-founded 17 years ago. CDC, with 21 staff, coordinates and implements educational programs, employment training, and economic development including the development of a healthy soul food restaurant, Café Sonshine and a produce market and truck known as Peaches & Greens.

Past and present affiliations include serving on the following boards of directors and/or committees: Prison Fellowship Board, Institute for Black Family Development (Advisory Board), United Way Fund Allocation Committee, Edmonds-Carr Non Profit Housing Corporation Board, Habitat for Humanity (Executive Director), World Impact (Chair of Board), Asst. Professor at William Tyndale College, World Vision (Treasurer of the Board), Neighborhood Partnership Academy Advisory Board, Detroit Youth Works Board, Storehouse of Hope Board, Greater Detroit Social Innovators Board, and Wellspring Board.

Lisa is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and Wheaton College with a major in Education and Bible; also a graduate of John Marshall Law School. Lisa’s husband Dan is active in the housing ministry of CDC while holding down a job as an electrician. They have two children, Justin 21, and Emma, 19 and many non-biological children. They live where they serve– central Detroit.