About Us
At Together South Florida, we believe the second greatest commandment is the answer to homelessness. We invite churches to reimagine and repurpose underutilized church land for tiny home villages for their most vulnerable neighbors.
Our Pillars — The Four Greats
Used with permission by City Leaders Collective
Love — The Great Commandment
Jesus commanded us to love God and love our neighbors. We put this into action by welcoming those in need with compassion, dignity, and grace, ensuring that no one feels abandoned.
Serve — The Great Compassion
As Christ called us to care for “the least of these,” we step into action — offering shelter, job training, and emotional support to those in crisis. We believe in not criminalizing poverty, but restoring hope.
Make Disciples — The Great Commission
True transformation is more than physical — it is spiritual renewal. We strive to create an environment where individuals can encounter Christ and discover their God-given potential.
Together — The Great Collaboration
We cannot do this alone. We collaborate with churches, organizations, local govenments, and volunteers to create lasting, systemic change.
Our Tiny Home Communities will seek to follow five key practices of the full community model codified by Settled.org
Founder & Visionary Leader
Michael Allen
Michael N. Allen, born in Kingston, Jamaica, immigrated to the U.S. with his family in 1977. He earned degrees in Applied Computer Electronics, Biblical Studies, and an M.Div. in Urban Ministry. With a pastoral career spanning over two decades, he served at The Moody Church in Chicago, Sagemont Church in Houston, and as Senior Pastor of Uptown Baptist Church in Chicago. He has held leadership roles on several boards, including The Pacific Garden Mission, Guidestone, and Life Action Ministries. In 2017, he co-founded Together Chicago and remains on its Board of Directors. Michael is married to Marilza, has four children, and is a proud grandfather.
Meet Our Advisory Board
Arthur Connor
Rev. Arthur Connor Jr. is the Lead Pastor at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Hollywood, Florida. A native of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, he has spent the last 18 years ministering in worship services from the Virgin Islands to Florida. At 22, he began his full-time ministry as Church Administrator for Bethel Worship Center. Arthur holds a BA in Business Administration and Marketing from Florida Atlantic University and an MA in Theological Studies from Trinity International University. He and his wife, Tamara, have been married for 20 years and are parents to Terryian (foster son), Emanuel, and Noah. His prayer is that his hands will be a place where God’s glory is safe.
Dr. David Byrd
David Byrd is Managing Partner at The Byrdseye View Consulting, specializing in strategic transformation and operational efficiency. With experience across higher education, public policy, nonprofit management, consumer products, manufacturing, and corporate consulting, he helps organizations navigate complex challenges and maximize mission impact. He has advised institutions on fundraising strategies, organizational efficiency, and community engagement, driving sustainable growth and financial performance.
David has held leadership roles at Florida Memorial University, Florida International University, Civic Consulting Alliance, and the Chicago Urban League, among others, championing civic advocacy, community development, and youth engagement. He holds a B.A. in Computer Science and Business Management from the University of Dayton, an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business, and a Doctor of Theology/Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary.
David Dawkins
David Dawkins is Managing Director in National Sales of Wealth & Investment Management, leading efforts in the Black and African American Segment. With over 40 years in finance, he was the first African American on Wells Fargo Advisors’ Operating Committee and is dedicated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He serves on the SIFMA Foundation board and the Strategic Advisory Council for the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations. David and his wife, Susan, live in Orlando, FL, with their three adult daughters.
Dr. Melanie Geddes
Dr. Melanie Geddes is the Co-founder and President of Geddes & Associates, Inc., a leadership and consulting firm based in Coral Springs, Florida. With over 20 years of experience, she helps organizations and individuals navigate change, build capacity, and grow with purpose.
She previously served as President and CEO of Broward County’s largest organization supporting the unsheltered, where she led major operational reforms and deepened the agency’s impact. Melanie holds a doctorate in Organizational Leadership and serves on the boards of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce and the South Florida Hunger Coalition.
She and her husband are proud parents of two sons. For Melanie, family is the foundation that anchors her work and fuels her mission to lead with clarity and compassion.
Nelson Telemaco
Nelson Telemaco is a visionary leader with a track record of transforming businesses, ministries, and organizations globally. With experience at top financial institutions, he has built and re-engineered business units across 100+ countries, driving over $2 billion in revenue. He is the CEO of Proximity Works, a strategic consulting firm spanning industries such as finance, education, IT, and media. Nelson serves on multiple corporate and nonprofit boards and is actively involved in charitable initiatives. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.
Sean Cooper
Sean Cooper recently retired as Executive Vice President and Chief Actuary at WCIRB in California, bringing over 30 years of experience in workers’ compensation insurance. He is also passionate about real estate and has managed residential properties in South Florida for over 25 years. Sean holds a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science from Florida A&M University, is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society, and holds the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter designation.
Let's be the hands and feet of Christ
We stand at the crossroads where economic growth often prioritizes luxury developments over the needs of the vulnerable. As homelessness reaches record levels nationwide, we offer a redemptive solution.