Beatrice Clark Shelby, Executive Director

P.O. Box 1356
Marvell, AR 72366

Phone: (870) 829-3274
Fax: (870) 829-2282
Email

County Served: Phillips

Incorporated: 1978

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STRATEGIES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Community Services
The most important mission of BGACDC is to provide services to residents that are unavailable from other sources. One such program is PowerUp, a computer lab designed to help bridge the digital divide. The lab provides access to 15 computers and the Internet. Through a partnership with Save the Children, PowerUp ensures that Marvell residents acquire the skills, experience, and resources for today's world. So far, 79 children, 7 high school students, and 11 adults have learned basic computer and Internet skills.

The Satellite Health Clinic is another BGACDC program, provided in cooperation with the Phillips County Health Department. Last year, 433 people came to the clinic for services ranging from immunizations, flu shots, TB tests, and blood pressure checks to the federally funded Women, Infants and Children (WIC) support. All services, apart from the flu vaccine, are free of charge.

Delta Women Achieving Goals (DWAG), a joint effort between BGACDC and the St. Elizabeth Health Center, is an organization of more than 40 low- and moderate-income women focusing on community building and development. Their work includes organizing community meetings on important topics, fieldwork to appraise local technology use and availability, computer training, and the start of an oral history project to document the life stories of African-American women and produce a traveling exhibit. The group also formed and mentors Delta Youth Achieving Goals (DYAG), a group of 16 high school students.

Child Services
BGACDC provides care to 20 children at the community center and 15 in home-based settings. It also provides broad education to young and adolescent males on topics including sexual responsibility, work ethics, health, hygiene, and conflict resolution. During the summer, the organization runs a summer day camp focusing on health.

After-school and on the weekends, BGACDC offers recreation opportunities for youth, including use of the school gym on Saturdays. After-school tutoring is also offered until 5:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Housing Development and Management
BGACDC develops, owns and manages affordable housing. Its accomplishments include: a development for 30 elderly and low-income residents; and The Manor, a housing complex including 39 apartments and 26 homes. Recently, BGACDC purchased 18 homes to be sold to low-income families with assistance from the Helena National Bank and W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Three have already been sold to first-time homebuyers. BGACDC also manages nine apartments and 15 rental homes.

Economic Development
The Best Food in Town Restaurant opened in November 1986 with assistance from BGACDC. It provides nutritious meals for the group's childcare and youth programs as well as other low-income residents. It also provides four people with employment.