Home : Deepening Our Roots: African Services' Capital Expansion
Deepening Our Roots: African Services' Capital Expansion
An oasis for African immigrants in the heart of Harlem—that was the
vision that took African Services to 429 West 127th Street in 2000. The
move brought us closer to the community of newcomers we serve who come
from across the Diaspora and are settling down, opening businesses,
raising
families, and making New York City home.
Seven years on, African Services is in the final phase of our capital
campaign and this fall completed renovation of 10,000 square feet of
raw space in the 1920’sbrewery building we occupy. ASC staff and
programs are now finally under one roof, enabling us to provide more
holistic service and enhanced client accessibility. In addition to
expanded office space, the new facilities include a learning annex
equipped with a computer lab, an open kitchen where clients prepare an
African meal together daily, and more counseling and workshop space.
The capital expansion project was made possible with the success of
Deepening Our Roots, ASC’s first capital campaign, launched in 2004,
after more than 20 years of service to the community. Sixty percent of
the funding was raised through the support of our donors with a
generous matching grant from the Henry van Ameringen Foundation. The
remainder was funded with a loan from the Non Profit Finance Fund,
which provides flexible financing that nonprofits typically can’t get
from other sources. Construction was completed on budget and in just
five months.
African Services has come a long way from the humble Bronx
apartment where the organization was founded more than 25 years ago.
Along with a ten-year lease, the capital campaign and expansion has
enabled us to finance African Services’ organizational sustainability
and maintain a foothold for immigrants in a rapidly-changing
neighborhood. We are grateful to our many supporters who have invested
in our future and the growing African community we serve in New York
City.
We are making a final appeal to each of you to help us put the last
bricks in place. To make a meaningful impact before the capital
campaign draws to a close, make a secure online donation today.
