Our 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.

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

            2. 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. 

            3. East Bushwick Park Festival
East Bushwick Parks 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.  

            4. 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.

Through support from NorthStar Fund, Owusu Slater, our founding partner has brought many community factions together.

The following neighborhood churches have hosted fund raisers for the Biko Transformation Center: (St. Thomas Espiscopal Church, and St. Bartholomew Church. We also participate in their programs (Martin Luther King Day Breakfast, etc.)