March 2012 www.bcdinc.org

Youth become ‘Powered for Life’

PG. 2

Doing God’s WorkPG. 5

BCD builds new affordable homes

PG. 6PHOTO OF THE MONTHStudents studying at BCD’s Youth Initiative Program

Rebuilding Lives. Restoring Communities.

The money management exercise focused on a real-world scenario where students received a career, an average salary based on their career, children, and a list of common monthly bills. Some students gained a newfound respect for adult responsibility, writing:

“We don’t have enough money!”

“I can’t buy everything I need!”

“I see what my mom has to go through!”

Students also learned about the medical and legal fields from two guest speakers who shared the steps 2

Powered for Life/

Money management, a quality

education, and giving back to

the community were all on the agenda of

the recent “Powered for Life” program.

students can take right now to become successful in their chosen career fields. Two participants in the “Powered for Life” program have already put their new skills to use by landing summer jobs.

“Powered for Life” is sponsored by The Wal-Mart Foundation •

For more information about BCD’s Youth Program contact:

Nicki Spencer at 501.993.6020 or nspencer@bcdinc.org

Charlie Bruce at 501.661.9464 or cbruce@bcdinc.org

BCD Youth Program Coordinator Charlie Bruce working with students in the “Powered for Life” program

Forty youth and young adults were invited to listen to the MLK “What Dreams Are Made Of” panel in which speakers discussed homelessness, hunger, poverty, and other topics.

Another purpose of the panel was to implement the Social Development Model. This model recognizes that in order to develop healthy, positive behaviors, young people need to be immersed in family, schools, community and peer environ-ments that consistently communicate healthy beliefs and clear standards for behavior. Also, youth with strong bonds to caring individuals are more likely to mirror these beliefs and standards •

In January, BCD partnered with Philander Smith College

Religious Life to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Fulfilling the Dream/

Rebuilding Lives. Restoring Communities.March 2012

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Youth participating in the “What Dreams Are Made Of” event

EmPowerment Center

Construction Begins/Official construction started January

21st on the EmPowerment Center.

The state-of-the-art, LEED-certified facil-

ity will provide cutting edge addiction

prevention and intervention services.

EmPowerment Center programs will focus on holistic and comprehensive life training skills that will empower indi-viduals to be successful in all aspects of their lives. The facility was designed by Roark, Perkins, Perry and Yelvington (RPPY) and is currently under the con-struction of East Harding Construction.

Construction of the EmPowerment Center is scheduled to be completed in January 2013 •i

EmPowerment Center construction site located at 12th and Valentine streets

CARF Site Visit

On February 23rd and 24th, representatives of the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) visited Hoover Treatment Center. CARF International is an indepen-dent, nonprofit accreditor of in a number of programs in services including health and human services.

Hoover is in the process of becoming accred-ited by CARF, which shows our commitment to improving efficiency, fiscal health, and service delivery. CARF accreditation will as-sist the Hoover Treatment Center in improv-ing the quality of our services and meeting internationally recognized standards •

Special thanks to EmPowerment Center Freddie Colen Fund donors

Naomi CottonsAnna Huff DavisHamid EbrahimifarVivian L. FlowersMildred HolleyCreshelle R. NashT. Elaine Prewitt

M J RobbinsWill Black SandersBeatrice ShelbyTed SparksM. Kate StewartDelia West

Donate now to the EmPowerment Center

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Rev. Crow, along with Gail Pickering, Nan Gorton and Elizabeth Sharplin all recently visited Hoover Treatment Center from Reveille United Methodist Church in Monroe, LA. They’re in the process of forming an organization in Monroe modeled after the Hoover Treatment Center, which will offer sim-ilar services. BCD Community Development Director Deborah Bell gave the ladies a tour of the center, where they met clients and staff and learned about Hoover’s programs.

“The information given to us was very resourceful. They allowed us to freely ask questions and each one shared their experiences,” said Rev. Crow.

The ladies also talked about how the Hoover Treatment Center is doing “God’s work” and how they loved what they saw and experienced.

We are so very thankful to them for their true

Southern hospitality and generosity. What they are

now accomplishing is truly amazing and shows God’s blessing on

them,” said Rev. Marcelle Crow.

DoingGod’s Work/

“This was truly a real example of it’s not about us, but this is the Lord’s work,” said Rev. Crow. “I know they will hear the Lord say, ‘well done good and faithful servants.’” •

For more information about Hoover Treatment Center contact:

Richard Richardson at 501.663.4774 or rrichardson@bcdinc.org

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Rebuilding Lives. Restoring Communities.March 2012

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Register now for April Homebuyer Education Class

6 Homes constructed by BCD and its partners

New Homes Available/

Why pay rent when you can purchase a brand new home?

BCD sells homes at an affordable price and offers a Homebuyer Education Class to assist you in the homebuying process. Features of the homes include, but are not limited to:

• Energy Star certified • 1500 square feet • 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms • 2-car garage • Stainless steel appliances • Ceramic tile • Crown molding • Wall-to-wall carpeting

Homebuyer Education Classes are held on the first Saturday of each month at the Willie Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center in Room 207 at 8:00am •

For more information about the Affordable Housing Program contact: Ruth Jones at 501.379.1561 or rjones@bcdinc.org

Rebuilding Lives. Restoring Communities.March 2012

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Upcoming Events

Thursday, March 29th Saturday, March 31st Join us for Link to EmPowerment, a network gathering The Beta Pi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority hostshosted by BCD LEARN MORE Pearls of Wisdom LEARN MORE

Saturday, April 7th The Homebuyer Education Class, is held on the first Saturday of each month at the Willie Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center LEARN MORE

Congrats! Congratulations to Marina Hicks! She is the winner of BCD’s gift card giveaway at the Midsouth Summit Black Expo on February 25th. The expo, held at the Clear Channel Metroplex, celebrates Black History Month with health screenings, entertainment, contests and more.

The giveaway was sponsored by Play Safe!, an HIV/STD intervention pro-gram for African-Americans ages 12-18 years old •

BCD booth at the Midsouth Summit Black Expo

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A dozen youth from the YIP program helped pick up litter along Maple and Oak Streets. The Great American Clean-up promotes litter pickup, recycling, and community improvement in Little Rock. In addition to cleanups, groups across the city also planted trees and flowers.

The Great America Cleanup is the largest grassroots effort in the nation •

Citywide Cleanup/

BCD’s Youth Initiative Program did

its part to help keep Little Rock

beautiful by participating in the 2012

Great American Cleanup on March 10th.

Top / bottom: Youth participating in the Great American Cleanup

Rebuilding Lives. Restoring Communities.March 2012

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Welcome! On January 25th, BCD welcomed its newest board members:

• Philip Hood, Commissioner, AR Workers’ Comp Commission

• Charmaine Patton, Community and Youth Advocate

• Michael Preston, Health Systems Research-Health Economics, U of A Medical Sciences

• Tommy Sproles, Mortgage Lender/Community Dev. Officer, Arvest Bank

City Director Ken Richardson and BCD Board President Eric Gustafson led the installation ceremony •

Top l to r: BCD board members Michael Preston, Tommy Sproles and Philip Hood

Bottom: City Director Ken Richardson and BCD Board President Eric Gustafson

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