City kicked in $800K total
Of the St. Louis American
The Better Family Life Cultural Center is $800,000 closer to becoming a reality thanks to the African American Aldermanic Caucus and the City of St. Louis.
Aldermen Terry Kennedy and Gregory Carter also recently presented Better Family Life (BFL) with a check for $300,000 following a performance of “Unsung He-roes and Heroes.”
The organization’s BFL Cultural Center Fundraising Campaign has raised $1.3 million toward the $4.5-million needed to renovate the former Emerson School into the center, which could also house a museum.
“I’m very excited by the level of financial support provided by St. Louis’ African-American legislators,” said BFL President Malik Ahmed.
He called the donation “a tremendous boost to our efforts” and called it “ample proof that our facility is viewed by the (Caucus) as an institution that will provide holistic services for the entire St. Louis population and will attract tourists from all over the United States.”
Mayor Francis G. Slay and the City of St. Louis are also backing the fundraising campaign with a $500,000 contribution. Slay made the announcement last year during the BFL Unity Ball saying, “What better way to invest.”
Kennedy said it is critical that the future center will be more than an entertainment venue and office space.
“Culture is not just about singing and dancing,” said Alderman Kennedy.
He said he is “glad that the Cultural Center will involve art, literature and customs of the African-American people.”
“I’m excited that this institution is being brought to St. Louis,” Kennedy said.
The center’s large conference room will include a plaque that reads “Made possible by a contribution from the St. Louis African American Aldermanic Council.”
“We hope the caucus’ support will encourage other entities in state and federal government, as well as corporations and foundations, to provide financial support,” Ahmed said of the need to raise an additional $3.2 million.
Lewis Reed, Democratic nominee for president of the Board of Aldermen, calls BFL “one of the city’s most-important organizations.”
Comptroller Darlene Green calls Better Family Life “a great resource for the entire St. Louis
community.”
“Malik Ahmed and his staff provide an array of education,
counseling and cultural resources that enrich the lives of many of our
disadvantaged citizens. This is exactly the kind of community involvement and
resources we need more of in St. Louis and across the region.”
Founded in 1983, BFL says its mission “is to develop social, cultural, youth, job-training, housing, economic and educational programs within the St. Louis and East St. Louis Metropolitan communities.”
While its current headquarters is in the city of St. Louis at 724 N. Union – and the Cultural Center will be in the city too at 5415 Page – it is represented throughout the region.
Other locations include 6347 Plymouth in Wellston, the Alpha Omega Learning Center, 430 Wimmer Place in East St. Louis, 5300 Delmar, 4811 Delmar, 26 North Oaks and 1445 N. 9th Street in downtown St. Louis.
BFL has more than 90 employees with many staff members having advanced degrees.