Nonprofit Opens Community Center for Flatbush Gardens Residents

By Jada Camille, Brooklyn Paper

A Central Brooklyn nonprofit is bringing people together with the launch of its community service center within the Flatbush Gardens housing development.

The center, opened by Bridging Access to Care in partnership with development firm Clipper Equity, aims to connect residents across the nearly 2,500-unit, 21-acre campus with critical support services often neglected in marginalized neighborhoods.

Organizers say the personalized model for the Flatbush Gardens tenants will offer services in behavioral health, housing, parenting, case management, care coordination, social care needs assessment, and more — all based on residents’ stated needs.

“At BAC, we not only focus on what we can do to help individuals improve their quality of life but also on how we can uplift and strengthen entire communities,” said Nadine Akinyemi, the group’s CEO. “By moving into a dedicated space in Flatbush Gardens, we will be able to provide meaningful resources from within, streamlining access to support in a neighborhood where it is desperately needed.”

The team will also train current Flatbush Gardens staff members to learn the specific needs of tenants and recurring issues neighbors want to address, while working toward developing long-term solutions.

JJ Bistricer, partner and COO of Clipper Equity, applauded the development for bringing vital resources right to tenants’ doorsteps.

“With dedicated staff and resources for mental health, parenting, wellness education, substance use, and more just steps away from their homes, the lives of countless Flatbush Gardens community members will be transformed by the new BAC office,” Bistricer said.

BAC has already begun its holistic resources service at the new location with wellness events featuring free massages, yoga classes, anger management courses, and addiction recovery. Residents can expect a monthly schedule of resource fairs and open houses in the future.

The community service center is located at 1403 New York Avenue in East Flatbush, and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Editor’s note: A version of this story originally ran in Brooklyn Paper. Click here to see the original story.

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