Building a Stronger Tomorrow, Today
Providing Empowerment, Education, Recreation, and Community Support
Creating Pathways for Success
The JC Williams Community Center, founded in 2006, is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization committed to improving the quality of life for individuals in Springfield, especially the Six Corners neighborhood. Our mission is to empower the community through workforce development, early childhood education, culinary entrepreneurship, and financial literacy programs.
The JC Williams Community Resource Hub is at the core of our initiative, offering career training, financial literacy, food service certifications, and early childhood education. Our shared-use commercial kitchen provides a platform for culinary entrepreneurs while also offering job training in the food industry.
We work in partnership with local businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations to create sustainable economic opportunities and promote social equity. We invite corporations, foundations, and individuals to support our work in transforming the Six Corners community and beyond. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Steven R. Williams, Sr.
Founder and President
J. C. Williams
James Cal (JC) Williams Sr. was born on January 5, 1934, in Bastrop, Louisiana, to Cal and Annie Mae Williams. Raised on Carter's plantation, JC was a visionary with a passion for planning, dreaming, and taking risks. In 1951, while on vacation from school, JC visited Springfield, Massachusetts, where he committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ and accepted his call to full-time ministry.
In 1954, he married Dorothy Mae Brown, and together they raised five children: James Jr., Joyce, David, Steven, and Julia. A self-taught musician and preacher, Pastor JC Williams served as pastor to several congregations, including his first church in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1960, and a second church in Albany, New York. In 1967, he founded Revival Time Evangelistic Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, and later expanded his ministry with additional churches in Hartford, Connecticut, and Bloomfield, Connecticut.
Pastor JC Williams was a trailblazer in New England, being the first to hold tent meetings in the Western Mass/northern Connecticut region, and the first African American to broadcast on AM radio and local television. He also established several community programs, including a 24-hour prayer line, a Bible Institute, a scholarship fund, the We Care Ministry, Big Brothers Club, and a community soup kitchen and food pantry. His commitment to the Six Corners neighborhood in Springfield spanned over 25 years.
Pastor JC Williams passed away on his 70th birthday, January 5, 2004, leaving behind a lasting legacy of service and community impact. Before his death, he had a vision to build an Athletic/Health Center on the Revival Time property, but was unable to see it completed. In 2006, his son, Steven R. Williams, succeeded him in ministry and, with the Revival Time congregation, built the 5,000 sq. ft. JC Williams Community Center gymnasium in his father’s honor. Pastor Steve continues to expand his father's vision, with ongoing efforts to construct a Community Resource Center Hub that will include a Childrens Learning Center, a shared-Use Commercial Kitchen, Workforce Development for education and workforce training, and a Health Clinic, furthering the legacy of his late father, JC Williams.
Our Mission
The JC Williams Community Center is committed to empowering residents of the Six Corners neighborhood in Springfield, MA, through innovative workforce development, early childhood education, and access to a shared-use commercial kitchen. By providing critical services such as financial literacy education and community engagement opportunities, we aim to uplift individuals and families, foster economic mobility, and create a thriving, self-sustaining community.
Our Goals
Empower Economic Mobility: Provide job training, entrepreneurship support, and financial literacy to help residents achieve employment and financial independence.
Enhance Access to Education: Offer early childhood education, daycare, and after-school programs to support children's development and lifelong success.
Foster Health and Wellness: Develop a shared-use commercial kitchen to promote food security, culinary training, and small business opportunities in the community.