Urban Family Empowerment Center

The Fordham Manor Reformed Church believes in holistic ministry, the commitment to community transformation through the integration of Christian faith and social action.  To that end, the Urban Family Empowerment Center is our organizational vehicle through which we will meet the many needs of the Kingsbridge Heights community and the Northwest Bronx.

Mission & Vision

The Urban Family Empowerment Center is a private, not-for-profit, faith-based community center initiative whose mission is to holistically empower urban families.  Our vision is to be a place of hope where urban families can find the tools, programs and inspiration to improve the quality of their lives within a safe and loving environment

Principles

The Urban Family Empowerment Center is rooted in 5 principles:

Leadership:  We value leadership development.  (We are committed to developing emerging leaders, particularly youth.  Through training and support, we hope to empower them to become agents of positive transformation for urban communities.)

Outreach:  We value partnerships.  (We are committed to foster short-term or long-term linkages with schools, community based organizations, businesses, colleges, juvenile justice institutions, churches, faith-based organizations, public agencies, and other organizations in order to more effectively provide needed services to urban families.)

Values:  We value the Christian biblical principles.  (We are committed to promote biblical principles which build character, encourage citizenship, and strengthen the family.)

Education:   We value learning.  (We are committed to academic empowerment and fostering critical thinking.  We believe the development of the mind is necessary for people to reach their full potential and for the community to flourish.)

Love:  We value, above all, love.  (The most important work of this organization is to love each and every person.  And, the most urgent claim on our love of neighbor are the poor and the marginalized.  We stand in solidarity with them as we strive to transform structures, systems, and powers that oppress people and promote principles, programs and paradigms that will create a more just and equitable society.)

Programs

The Urban Family Empowerment Center envisions providing a matrix of services that will meet the needs of the urban family.  Three components that serve as programmatic linchpins for the organization.

Higher Ground Enrichment Academy: This component meets the needs of children between the ages of 6 through 12.  It has after school program, sports and recreation activities and a summer enrichment program.

Forward Vision:  This component meets the needs of parents and guardians.  Educational and practical workshop, as well as support groups, are offered to equip and encourage participants.  Street fair celebrations are provided for the community and are used as a vehicle to bring families together.  Empowerment workshops are also facilitated as a vehicle for networking, developing resources and assisting participants in learning how to advocate for themselves.

Inner Strength: This component meets the needs of teenagers between the ages of 13 through 19.  This Friday evening program provides music and arts and sports and recreation.  There is also a mentoring program linking the teens with the community. 

Partnerships

The organization is intent on establishing collaborative partnerships with local organizations, churches, and private agencies, in order to offer a comprehensive range of programs and initiatives including educational, recreational, cultural, vocational, and motivational training.  We hope these programs will empower and better equip urban families to become more self-sufficient and improve the quality of life of inner city communities.

INCORPORATION

The Urban Family Empowerment Center was incorporated by The University of the State of New York Education Department on March 27, 2002 and is recognized as a Type B not-for profit corporation under Section 402 of the Not-For-Profit Corporation Law.  It is also a tax exempt organization under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revue Code.  Contributions to the Urban Family Empowerment Center are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

For more information, visit our website at:  http://www.empowerthefamily.org/                    

or  contact our Executive Director, Isabel Malavet at: