Reverend Dr. R. Joaquin Willis is senior pastor at Church of the Open Door, U.C.C. in Miami, Florida. With a membership of over 300, the church campus houses a sanctuary and a Family Life Center. The church has a 501(c)(3) affiliate, Miami Youth Garden Inc., (MyG), created to assist in human and community development. He serves as a Board member, President and CEO of Miami Youth Gardens (MyG).
Pastor Willis serves as Board Chair of the Collective Empowerment Group (CEG) of South Florida, Inc. (formerly the Collective Banking Group). He is co-director of “Empowerment Synergistics LLC, a public-private partnership between DLW Enterprises, Inc., Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida and the CEG. This project is funded by TD Bank for the purpose of building affordable housing in the community.
He was recognized as the 2012 Black History Month Civic Honoree by Legacy Magazine. In addition, he received the 2012 award for excellence in community development from South Florida Community Development and the 2012 award for “community empowerment” from People United To Lead The Struggle For Equality, Inc. (P.U.L.S.E.).
Pastor Willis is an Adjunct Professor at Miami Dade College, a position he also held at Howard University School of Divinity. He also serves on the Board of the 79th Street Corridor Development, Inc. and is a columnist for the South Florida Times Newspaper.
Pastor Willis holds degrees as Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Master of Divinity and Doctorate of Ministry, all from Howard University.
