Bird Street Community Center

Bird Street Community Center is a private, nonprofit organization providing child care and recreational, educational and developmental activities for youth and families. The center serves more than 500 youths between the ages of 5 and 19, with a variety of programs that encourage and promote their intellectual, physical and social development. The center began as the Bird Street Gym, owned and operated by the City of Boston. The gym was transformed into a youth center and was run by volunteers. In the mid-1980s, Bird Street Community Center started to expand, adding services and programs initiated by residents to meet the developmental needs of the community's youth. Its programs offered include licensed after school child care, educational support, a girl s program, sports and recreation, leadership, workforce development, youth violence prevention, boys group, community service and life skills. Bird Street Community Center is headquartered in Dorchester, Mass.