Current Programs

• Collaboration 4th World Movement: Ocean Hill Street Library
• Performing Arts Program: classes in music, dance, technology,
• The Afrigarifuna Youth Ensemble
• Professional sound system, video, photography available for hire
• Live performances on site and neighborhood venues
• Cultural Exchange: concerts, guest artists, poets and speakers
• Community Organizing and Outreach: green space
• Collaboration Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium
• Sponsor of the Annual East Bushwick Park Festival
• Liaison with schools and colleges
• Weekly host for AA & NA Meetings
• Housing for students in the former friary
• Community Rooms: studio and living room/kitchen for meetings, events and classes
• Ecumenical spiritual study group

During the spring, summer and fall, our programming takes advantage of both neighborhood parks, Thomas Boyland Park at the end of the block where the Biko Center is located, and Aberdeen Park, which is two blocks up Bushwick Avenue.

Performing Arts Program

For our neighborhood youth and adults. Sign up for class for your health, for your happiness—“if you can get in the door, you can take a class!”- Judith Jameson, Director of Alvin Ailey Dance Company)

Dance Classes: fitness free, dance for youth, ballet adults, Shining Start dance team, yoga meet-up free

Music Lessons: music: piano, guitar, violin, music theory, drum circles for all ages.

Professional Ensembles: Biko Center has sponsored James Lovell and the Afrigarifuna Youth Ensemble since 2006! Preserves the Garifuna history, cultural traditions and language through song, drumming, dance and performances around the greater New York area. Onkosi Erick Fungo and his Rhythms Wizards Ensemble.

Episcopal Charities of Long Island has committed to administration costs to grow this program at the Biko Transformation Center.

Community Action: North Star Fund has partnered with Biko Center to enhance our neighborhood outreach and interaction with community organizations Greenspaces: Granite St. Community Garden, Phoenix Garden on Fulton St., Rockaway Ave. Advocacy for public housing: neighborhood improvement.

4th World Movement: Street Library in Ocean Hill and Bushwick. Volunteer for Street Library activities

Liaison with Community Spiritual organizations: Duncan Genns Senior Center, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Wayside Baptist Church

Biko Arts Collective Music Dance Fashion Media: web, video, photography and computer service Biko Arts Collective volunteers their services (from teaching to sound manager) to Biko Transformation Center to bring the arts to the underserved area of Bushwick and encourage participation of the neighborhood in the arts. As professionals, they are available for private lessons, and professional services for reasonable rates. Presbyterian Self Development of People Fund has contributed to the technology and tools needed for these dedicated community artists.

First Fridays: The Biko Arts Collective is committed to bring the open forum of music, poetry, and new business networking every first Friday of the month in the Biko Studio, 1474 Bushwick Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11207.

Garifuna Cultural Preservation: to keep the History and Garifuna language alive for the elders and the new generations in New York City and around the world. C.A.M.E International, JaLAYE, Garifuna Mass Choir.

Cultural Exchange: bring new arts and culture events to the neighborhood to encourage tolerance, bridge differences and bring generations together through the arts, “Peace Unity and Justice in the ‘hood”

Studio & event space: reserve our studio and gallery space for your exhibition, party or meeting: we have sound system for performances, area with kitchen, wood floor studio on the street level with separate entrance.

Bible Study: Ecumenical meetings for study, meditation, faith, fellowship and community work.

Afro Arts Program

The Center works with various art programs to develop music, theater, writing, voice articulation and dance. Presently, there is a small music school. For the past five years the Center has been at the core of the East Bushwick Park Festival which has been an event to showcase local art and sports talent. It was also home to the Bushwick Play Project.

Neighborhood Supports

Community Gardens

The Biko Center is an active member of the Granite Street Community Garden.

Community Celebrations

Many community events: baby showers, kids’ birthday parties, holiday events for children, summer festivals and sporting events are sustained by Biko Center involvement. We help to organize two block parties, a Halloween celebration, and a Three Kings Party along with many baptism and birthday parties.

We have revived our Granite Street Block Association and build deeper links with neighboring community leaders.

East Bushwick Park Festival

The Annual East Brooklyn Parks Festival is produced by the Biko Arts Collective and neighborhood businesses and churches at Thomas Boyland Park, corner of Furman St. and Broadway. The park has a ball field, basketball and handball courts, workout area, a large courtyard and fountain with tables and benches. Aberdeen Park (also known as Steve Rudd playground) has restrooms, kids gym, basketball court and old trees. Last year 400 people attended; we are expecting about 700 people ranging from infants to elders this year. There will be basketball, handball and baseball tournaments. Also other sport activities including sport day games, dance, choir, music competitions and a talent show are planned. We will have a food festival, a bake-off, and other contests. Face painting, rides, information booths, and give aways will lend joy to the festivities. The Biko Center facilitated over twenty neighborhood groups in sponsoring the festival.

Street Library in the Ocean Hill Apartments

A major commitment is the Center’s support of the 4th World Movement whose street library project is held with formerly homeless families outdoors in the courtyard of the Ocean Hill complex. Collaborating with Steve Munroe (who recently moved to New Zealand) has resulted in ongoing summer Street Library programs. Joe Morris, resident of Biko Center works together with Fourth World delegates to keep the activities of Street Library going year round at the Biko Center. Working with the Fourth World Movement, we engage with children and families in the Ocean Hill Apartments, a NYC public housing project one block from the Biko Center.

Residence for students

Our building opened in May 2006 as a residence for students from the neighborhood and around the world. When the Brothers of the Society of St. Francis left, we set about building a community of students to live in the Brothers’ quarters. Students at the Biko Center live along with Program Director, Owusu Slater and his family. Since housing in New York City is so expensive, our offering student space for rent at $500-$650 per month has proved very attractive and we now have a waiting list of students wishing to live at the Biko Center.

Alcoholic Anonymous & Narcotic Anonymous

NA meets on Sunday nights from 7:00 pm till 8:00 pm. AA meets on Saturday night from 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm and on Monday from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Both groups were founded in 1985.