Health
Serving a healthier Brooklyn
Brownsville Community Culinary Center expands focus to diabetes
COURIER LIFE, APRIL 2-8, 2021 19
BY CRAIG HUBERT
A local community center
and eatery will soon open a
much-needed health center as
they expand their focus.
The Brownsville Community
Culinary Center, located
at 69 Belmont Ave., has
announced that in addition
to their restaurant, culinary
training program and community
space, they will soon
debut a Diabetes Wellness Program,
with an aim to serve the
neighborhood.
“Health begins in the community,”
said Rae Gomes, who
was recently announced as
the BCCC’s new executive director,
in a statement. “The
goal of the DWP is to create
and sustain community-based
mechanisms that support
Brownsville residents looking
to maintain healthy habits
during and beyond the program.”
The program is set to
launch in April. It will provide
access to healthy food
through a meal program, social
services, help and support
with medical care and
education sessions for both
groups and individuals about
diabetes.
All the food in the meal
program was inspired by the
African diaspora and created
by Collective Fare, a catering
company that works on
site at BCCC. During the pandemic,
they pivoted to providing
meals to the residents of
Brownsville. Collective Fare
also currently operates the
BCCC’s on-site cafe, which remains
open.
The culinary training program,
thankfully, has not disappeared.
The BCCC says they plan
to reopen a modifi ed version
of the program later this year,
with a shift to address some
of the changes that have occurred
in the restaurant industry
over the past year.
The center is regarded for
providing free, world-class culinary
vocational training to
Brownsville residents through
its culinary training program.
According to its website, the
community center works with
its on-site partners, Collective
Fare,” to offer a safe, comfortable
space where neighbors
can access fresh, healthy, affordable,
culturally relevant
foods, prepared by training
program participants apprenticing
alongside seasoned industry
professionals.”
A look inside and out of the Brownsville Community Culinary Center. Photos by Susan De Vries