The Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village (SBEV) has open its new, Village Market, a walk-in fresh fruit and vegetable distribution for the city of Flint. Fresh water distribution is also available for families in
2.5 or 5-gallon containers.
The giveaway starts at 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 15 via curbside pickup. Quantities are limited, first-come, first-served.
SBEV serves as a community hub on Flint’s north side and provides youth programming that includes a number of sports programs, after-school tutoring, youth journalism, dance, theatre, STEM activities and art.
SBEV also serves as a meeting space for various community events, organizations and agencies in the Flint area.
For more information about the event, contact Marketing Director Kevin Mays at kevin@sbev.org. You can also reach our team at (810)-893-6098, or by email at info@sbev.org.
About Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village
Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village occupies the former George M. Dewey Elementary School, established in September 1921. The building, soon entering its tenth decade, has seen several changes in
ownership over the years. After it ceased operating as a school in 1991, it was purchased by Jobs Central, Inc. (later renamed Career Alliance, Inc.), which specialized in career readiness and job training.
The building was renamed the Sylvester Broome Jr. Training and Technology Center (or the Sylvester Broome Center, as it is more popularly known in the Flint community), and opened in 1995. Under
Career Alliance, the Broome Center eventually reached 93% occupancy before closing in 2012, in spite of much community effort to spare the programs and keep the building open. The Broome Center then sat empty for approximately three years before being purchased in 2015 by two business owners wishing to
invest in north Flint, an area known for its high crime that had seen little redevelopment in at least a decade.
SBEV has 62,000 square feet of space wholly devoted to the developmental needs of north Flint’s youth population who have been deemed “at-risk.” Eventually, the SBEV’s mission is to reach all youth in the city of Flint. The space is dedicated for learning, developing, leading and investing in children and youth through employment, community health and community engagement.
SBEV says they firmly believe that if they empower and provide the resources to youth, they will be the catalyst to drive change in the community. SBEV plans to provide youth a safe harbor and an
alternative to gangs, drugs and violence.
Their building is nearing 100 years old, and it was redeveloped in 1964 and again in 1995, the latter
renovations generously funded by a $4 million grant given by the C.S. Mott Foundation. At that time, the building underwent extensive renovations.
