Our Vision
To become a leader in promoting holistic opportunities that impact and empower underserved students and their families in Wake County and surrounding areas.
Our Mission
To equip students and their families through family-centered programs and access to academic, career, financial and health resources that increase academic success, career opportunities and improve wellness.
Our Values
- Equipping Communities
- Empowering Relationships
- Emphasizing Social Justice
- Encouraging Entrepreneurship
Message from the Board President
In the unprecedent year of 2020 when the pandemic surfaced and the world almost seemed to stand still, businesses, various industries, organizations, churches, and the like were all challenged with how to effectively pivot from customary practices to now exploring innovative approaches to continue the essence of its mission. Families, individuals, and I personally used this unique opportunity to reflect on what matters the most and how to reprioritize life to support those affairs deemed most important. Realizing the return of large group events, face to face gatherings, and life as we knew it, was further down the road than originally imagined, the Berean Community Center, also, had to reimagine how we would continue to support and impact our beloved community.
This year, the Berean Community Center embarked on its 6th year of serving the Millbrook community and surrounding areas in Wake County. During our time of reflection and as we strategically plan for upcoming years, we know this to be certain — positively impacting the community long term requires programming that equips families to overcome social inequities. Our family-centered programs provide students and their families with access to academic, career, financial, and health resources in effort to expand their opportunities. Certainly, as we continue to enhance and sustain our programs, we look forward to diversifying our partnerships and community support.
Growing programs that create a greater impact in our community are executed by our Executive Director and stand on the support of our Board of Directors. Since its existence, the Board of Directors has always been a working board in which the directors actively and financially support the center’s programs and events. In 2020, we welcomed the talents and gifts of our two newest Board of Directors. Minister Joycelyn Griffin brings experience from various former careers involving not-for-profit work, entrepreneurship, and life coaching. Prior to joining our board, Mr. Robert Hanks was one of the center’s most committed volunteers. He now serves as a director with an expertise in finance.
Respectfully submitted,
Yolanda S.W. Moore, O.D.
President, Berean Community Center
Message from the Executive Director
2020 has been a year like no other. There has been a global pandemic, social unrest, unemployment, isolation, racism, multiple losses, and uncertainty. Operating during a global pandemic allowed us the opportunity to reevaluate how to best serve our community in this new environment and to meet the growing needs exasperated by the pandemic.
Our Board of Directors and I spent over 165 hours developing Berean Community Center’s (BCC) three (3) year strategic plan. We thoughtfully analyzed our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. We developed both short term and long-term strategic objectives; revised our vision and mission statements and created a detailed action plan. 2021 marks the implementation of the strategic plan.
Programming continued as the Center was able to provide safe ways for our students, families, and volunteers to participate in our program activities. We continued to address food insufficiency through our Summer Food and Thanksgiving Meal Distribution. We offered access and resources to support academic success with the Back2School backpack giveaway, laptop drive, and an opportunity for students to participate in summer virtual math and science camp. In an effort to improve health, BCC offered Town Halls addressing wellness from a holistic perspective focusing on spiritual and mental wellbeing.
This report is just a glimpse of the impact we have been able to have in 2020 through dedicated leadership, volunteers and donors.
Sincerely,
Christine Montague-Hicks M.ED, NCC, LCMHC
Executive Director
| STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES | |||
| People | Internal Processes | People We Serve | Funding |
| Provide board education and training | Increase staff capacity | Offer training to parents on and about social media | Identify and reach all potential donors |
| Increase space | Provide guidance to minority parents on educational advocacy | Diversify funding sources | |
| Increase visibility of our programs | Offer youth programs to foster social, wellness and leadership development | ||
| Develop a coalition of strategic partnerships | Engage parents / community in program development | ||
| Increase volunteer capacity | Offer education in financial and economic empowerment | ||
Traditionally in August we would host the grand annual Back2School Bash but due to the 2020 pandemic we created an alternative way to support the back pack give away. 222 backpacks filled with age-appropriate school supplies were given to students who participated in the Virtual Science and Math Camp, Summer Food Service Program, Millbrook Elementary School and community partner agencies.
Earth Day Laptop Drive: A new collaborative partnership was established with HUBZone Technology Initiatives (HTI). HTI converts old, outdated laptops into Google Chromebooks and then donates them to organizations in a HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zones) that help students, the unemployed and those that are underemployed. BCC collected and donated 5 laptops as part of this initiative.
By the generous support from our donors and new corporate sponsor, Bakkavor USA, our 2020 Christmas Drive was a huge success. 8 families, 22 children received clothes, shoes, books, and toys to enjoy during the holidays. “Wow, thanks so much” and “You have truly blessed us” were some of the expressions of appreciations conveyed by the families of the gifts they received especially this holiday given the challenges during the pandemic.
YOU ARE OKAY-U:ROK is a series of Town Halls designed to strengthen the well-being of individuals and families to build resiliency though a holistic perspective. The Spiritual Town Halls in collaboration with Berean Baptist Church occurred in February during Black History Month were well received and over 200 individuals participated in the discussions. The seminars offered a spiritual view, historical perspective and present impact relevant to Blacks in the Bible, Blacks and the Law, Blacks and Finance, and Blacks and the Criminal Justice System.
The Mental Health Town Hall: A UROK conversation on mental wellbeing was held on May 26, 2021. Minister Joycelyn Griffin facilitated the presentation which covered the importance of mental wellbeing, factors that contribute to positive mental health, and steps to promote mental wellbeing. Participants reported, as a result of the seminar, that they were able to identify two to three concrete actions to promote mental wellbeing
This year BCC supported the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) which provided meals to children and teens in low-income areas during the summer months when school was not in session. Due to the COVID 19 restrictions, the food distribution site operated as a drive thru at the Lexington on the Green Apartment Complex. The “summer food distribution” offers breakfast and lunch for school age children and adult lunches. Through our partnership with New Hope Baptist Church, approximately 270 student meals per day were served and 90 adult sandwich lunches were provided each day.
“O Give Thanks” Thanksgiving Meal Distribution provided 101 turkeys and meal baskets to families in the community referred through Millbrook Elementary School, Wake County Holiday Cheer, Providence Missionary Baptist Church and Berean Baptist Church. In addition, families and community partners were invited to participate in the “O Give Thanks” Thanksgiving service hosted by Berean Baptist Church. Families expressed their gratitude for the Thanksgiving meal which was enjoyed by the whole family.
Financial Statement
Berean Community Center received $43,484.70 in revenue for the fiscal year. 100% of the revenue came from general donations. Expenses for the fiscal year were $31,287.11.
Volunteer Impact
BCC is a small center with a big heart for impacting families and youth. We are fueled by our strongly held beliefs around service and volunteerism. We embrace that the greatest among us are the ones who serve and we demonstrate the best of ourselves when we are serving others.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. declared, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question. What are you doing for others?” This year we saw a 30% increase in the number of volunteers from last year as our inspired volunteers answered this question in a very demonstrative way as they offered themselves to our programs and services.
2020 Board of Directors
Rev., Dr. Arlee Griffin, Jr.Berean Baptist Church of Brooklyn, NY and Raleigh, NC,
Senior Pastor
BCC Ex-Officio
Dr. Yolanda S. W. MooreOptometrist,
My Eye Doctor
Board President
Mr. J’Sham High
Educator
Wake County Public School System
Board Member
Mrs. Jacqueline Wynn, MPH
Associate Director,
NC Area Health Education Center
Board Vice President
Mrs. Kathleen High
Executive Ministry Director,
Berean Baptist Church of Raleigh, NC
Board Member
Mr. Dwight Thompson, Esq.
Attorney,
SAS Institute
Board Treasurer
Mrs. Joycelyn P. Proctor-GriffinMinister of Pastoral Care,
Berean Baptist Church of Raleigh, NC
Board Member
Ms. Nia Mariso
Program Associate,
NC Area Health Education Center
Board Secretary
Mr. Robert Hanks, Jr.
Financial Associate,
Equitable
Board Member