History


Since 1989, the Berean Community and Family Life Center (BCFLC) has been addressing the needs of the congregation of the Berean Baptist Church and the members of the surrounding community. It has provided employment training and job placement, summer youth programs, senior citizen services, affordable housing opportunities, and food pantry programs.  In 2002, in response to the over-representation of incidences of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS and obesity in communities of Color, BCFLC took action to address these preventable diseases. BCFLC hired culturally competent doctors who provided full medical services while simultaneously going out into the community to present health awareness and education workshops.  BCFLC was able to serve 4000 persons annually in their medical office and over 1000 people through its community outreach programs.
 
Realizing the most effective means to address many of the medical problems their clients were facing was through prevention, BCFLC launched several health and wellness programs to educate, motivate, and inspire adults and children to develop healthy lifestyles.  Program evaluations demonstrate that participants in these programs have made remarkable lifestyle changes and have improved their overall health.  Because of the successful outcomes, BCFLC has received grants from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, AETNA Foundation, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (NBLCA) to expand its outreach into surrounding communities.

 
Over 25 years later, BCFLC is still a staple in the community,  offering a range of programs to meet the needs of the whole family.  BCD- Berean’s award winning Drumline provides young people with both fitness and educational enrichment activities; BCFLC partners with the NYC Parks department to host adult fitness classes; seniors receive services through our Faith In Action program; HIV testing and educational workshops are facilitated for all ages; and most recently BCFLC launched its Life Support Program which provides non-traditional therapeutic services for families affected by gun violence and workshops for teens. Additionally, BCFLC coordinates community outreach and advocacy initiatives including My Sister, My Friend, a women’s health empowerment conference, community-wide screening programs for chronic diseases that are prevalent in under-served communities and the Berean Annual Block Party and Health Fair. 
 
In 2010 BCFLC entered into a partnership with PK Developers and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop a 107 unit affordable housing complex, Berean Apartments. In March, 2014 our first tenants moved into these newly constructed apartments.  In the Spring of 2017 BCFLC will open it's new offices on the first two floors of Berean Apartments.  With additional medical and classroom facilities, BCFLC will expand its programming to meet the evolving needs of the community.