Ben Rose Recreation & Education Center

Many wonderful programs are developed by the state and federal government to help the urban families achieve the dream of education and the road out of poverty! Many programs are developed within the community for parents however most parents have expressed a need to understand where to start. They are concerned with providing adequate and nutritional food on their tables, keeping their children away from gangs, keeping their children safe and dealing with drug issues within the community. Many programs in these urban areas address these needs. This organization would like to be able to add the missing link to rehabilitation of the community and a new start for the next generation. This program will provide education on how to use the tools and how to determine what program fits their families needs. This program will provide language development skills with instruction from language development specialist (speech language pathologist).

Ben Rose was a community leader in the 60's, that helped the city of New Bedford, provide programs for underprivileged children. Many children attended colleges and were the first of their families to attend a four year program, graduate, and become gainfully employed. Ben Rose's message was education and team building skills through sports. During that era, social clubs were culturally based in the Cape Verdean and Spanish communities where the adults socialized while the children played baseball. The field is now reopening in 2008 however the social club building remains uninhabited there on the land. A committee was formed to acquire the building and attain grant monies for restoration of the building. The current owner of the building, which was a best friend of the former Ben Rose states that he is holding out on the sale of the building until a person or group comes up with a plan that supports and continues Mr. Rose's dreams for the community children.

The Ben Rose Recreation and Education Center was developed in 2008 to try to help bring those values back to the New Bedford community where Ben Rose began in the 60's. The BRREC hopes to provide educational and recreation opportunities for the children of the community. It will offer families a program in the community where they will not fear coming into the doors and asking questions. Many families lack the knowledge or the mastery of the language and legal jargon to know exactly what to ask for and what to do first. All they know is that their children are struggling in school and making the wrong choices for their future. Parents know that crime and gang violence within the community is on the rise and with many existing programs and the need is too great in this area. These children need exposure to many other occupations and the opportunity to try different recreation to explore their interest and talents.

Help us and give a generous donation to the cause.