Jencarlos Canela’s Unseen Impact: From Chart-Topping Artist to Miami’s Leading Community Innovator

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Marcel Boldu

Jencarlos Canela, the singer and actor who gained fame with hits like “Bajito” and telenovelas such as “Más Sabe el Diablo”, has found similar success in recent years as an entrepreneur and leader dedicated to improving the community where he was born.

In his role as a forward-thinking entrepreneur, the Cuban-American has led the construction of the Amelia District project alongside Prestige, marking the most significant redevelopment Hialeah has experienced in Miami-Dade County. The Amelia District is an innovative neighborhood that includes housing, spaces for concerts and live events, retail stores, schools, restaurants, and the best indoor sports and recreation complex in South Florida.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Marcel Boldu

The name honors Amelia Earhart, the famous pilot who took off from the former Miami Municipal Airport in June 1937. “Perhaps some wondered where I was, what I was doing after my success in music, television, and film. In recent years, I’ve focused all my energy on growing as an entrepreneur and making an impact on the community that raised me.

This brings me the same excitement as being in front of a camera or a concert audience,” Canela explained. Returning to Miami to be close to his family, after long periods of traveling the world, marks a significant turning point in both Jencarlos Canela’s personal and professional
life.

“I’m passionate about Hialeah, the city where everyone speaks Spanish and preserves its traditions. My greatest wish now is to support the community where I was born by developing projects that foster its growth,” added the singer of hits like “Amor quédate,” “Mi corazón insiste,” and “Pa’ qué me invitan,” as well as telenovelas such as Doña Bárbara and Pasión prohibida.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Marcel Boldu

As a community leader, Canela’s business vision has allowed him to scale his projects to new heights, with achievements such as the Amelia District, The Yards, and the creation of thousands of jobs. Canela integrates his creativity into architecture and development, with programs for the school system and opportunities for young people to shape the future of cities.

The artist and entrepreneur hopes to replicate these models in other parts of the world, starting with neighborhoods and cities in Latin America.