Kingsbridge Heights Community Center facts for kids
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| Year Founded | 1974 |
|---|---|
| Number of Programs | 13 |
| Participants served | 4500+ annually |
| Purpose | Endow individuals to effect change and improve the quality of their own lives, their families, and their community |
| Headquarters | 3101 Kingsbridge Terrace, Bronx, NY |
| Website | Official Website: http://www.khcc-nyc.org/ |
The Kingsbridge Heights Community Center (KHCC) is a special place that helps people in the Kingsbridge Heights area of the Bronx. It was started in 1974 by three community leaders: Janet Athanasidy, Patricia Burns, and Mary McLoughlin. KHCC is like a "settlement house," which means it's a community hub that offers many helpful programs.
Every year, more than 4,500 people use the services at KHCC. The center's main goal is to help people in the Bronx, from babies to adults, get a good education and live healthy lives. KHCC wants to make the community stronger and better for everyone.
KHCC helps families and people of all ages, especially those with lower incomes. They have programs for young children, help teens get ready for college, and offer after-school activities. They also provide support for families, adults, and older people. Some programs, like the College Directions Program, help people from all over the Bronx.
The main building for KHCC is a historic place. It used to be a police station! It was built in 1902 and became a New York City landmark in 1986.
Contents
How KHCC Started
The building where KHCC is located used to be the 50th Precinct Police Station House. It was built in a fancy style called Beaux-Arts classicism. This style was popular for public buildings around 1900. It made buildings look grand and important.
In 1972, Mary MacLoughlin heard that the police station was moving out. She had a big idea: she wanted the building to become a community center. For three years, she wrote letters to City Hall to make her dream come true. She imagined a place like the old New York settlement houses, offering fun and learning for everyone.
With help from people like Assemblyman Oliver Koppell, Bronx Borough President Robert Abrams, and community members Patricia Burns and Janet Athanasidy, her dream came true. The building was given to the community on December 27, 1974.
The center opened in the spring of 1975. It started with a program for teens and a Head Start Program for young children. They had $500,000 to fix up the building. In 1979, with more funding, they started a big renovation project that finished in 1981.
During the 1980s, KHCC added more services. They started programs to help prevent child abuse and neglect. They also offered classes for adults and more activities for young people. In 1991, they opened College Directions. This was one of the first programs in the city to help community members get into college. In 1997, they added Early Head Start services for even younger children.
Charles Shayne led the center as executive director from 1985 to 2010. He helped KHCC grow a lot. He added new programs and buildings. He also started the Bronx Cluster of Settlement Houses, working with eight other groups. After he retired, Giselle Melendez-Susca became the new Executive Director.
Today, KHCC helps thousands of Bronx residents. They offer services from prenatal care (for pregnant mothers) to programs for senior citizens. In 2013, KHCC received a big grant of $1.9 million from New York City. This money was for building a new facility. The new building will help 200 more families and will have special spaces for children and young adults with autism.
On July 27, 2013, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor visited KHCC. She joined the children for a workshop. This event was part of the Bronx Children's Museum's Dream Big program.
Programs and Services
The Kingsbridge Heights Community Center offers many helpful programs. Here are some of them:
Head Start Programs
- Head Start: This program helps families with preschool-aged children. It focuses on helping kids learn important skills. It also helps them get ready for school and grow socially and emotionally.
- Early Head Start: This program is for families and children from pregnancy up to three years old. Parents and children can choose from different options. These include a combination program, family child care, or a pregnancy option. In 2012, Head Start helped 114 families, and Early Head Start helped 163 families.
Youth Programs
- Teen Center: This is a fun place for young people aged 11 to 21.
- Tween Program: This program has activities just for kids in grades 6 to 8.
- Teen Green Market: Teens from the community run a farmer's market. This helps promote healthy eating and fight obesity. It's part of a city program that offers health and arts activities for Bronx families.
College Directions
This program helps more young people from the Bronx go to college. Many participants are from low-income families. Many are also the first in their family to go to college. The program helps students every step of the way. This includes finding scholarships and writing college application essays. It also helps students explore different jobs and prepare for the SAT test. Students get one-on-one guidance too.
Special Needs Program
This program provides a safe and fun place for children and adults with special needs. This includes people with developmental or intellectual disabilities, autism, or Down syndrome. It helps them learn, grow, and spend time with friends.
- The Special Needs After School Program helps young people aged 5 to 21. They get help with homework and tutoring. They also do adaptive physical education and other activities.
- Saturday and Sunday programs are for people up to age 25. They go on fun trips to places in the community.
Adult Education
- ESL and Citizenship Courses: The center offers classes to learn English as a second language (ESL). They also have workshops about becoming a citizen. These workshops cover immigrant rights and how to manage money.
- The center also offers free tax help for families who need it.
