James E. Scott was born in 1890 in Savannah, Georgia. He attended Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute and volunteered for the military in 1917 when the United States declared war on Germany. In the early 1920’s, after the war ended, Scott came to Miami to began his lifelong devotion to people.

In 1925, Scott helped launch the Colored Association for Family Welfare which later became known as the Negro Welfare Federation (NWF). This organization directed a drive to establish a community center and day nursery. In 1927, Scott became the executive secretary of the NWF which was later named the James E. Scott Community Association in his honor.

In 1935, Scott took over the management of the Liberty Square Apartment Projects which were built to relieve overcrowded living conditions for black citizens in the City of Miami. He soon discovered that in addition to good living conditions, the tenants needed to save and invest in their own welfare. With that thought in mind, he founded the Liberty Square Consumers Cooperative Association in 1939.

Membership was $1.00 and a share of the cooperative cost $2.00. The monies invested went to the operation of the convenience store in the neighborhood. All monies earned went back into the cooperative with dividends issued when members voted to do so. A credit union for tenants was also started under Scott’s leadership.

Today, in addition to the James E. Scott Community Association, James E. Scott Homes and the James E. Scott Health Center are named in his honor.