The Maura Clarke - Ita Ford (MCIF) Center

Is named for two New York City women, Maura Clarke and Ita Ford, who were Maryknoll Sisters killed in El Salvador in 1980 while working to empower poor people. MCIF Center was founded in 1993 in a desire to continue their work here in Brooklyn.

The mission of the Maura Clarke - Ita Ford Center is to equip women with the skills they need to live and work in their new homeland, through education, economic development, and community change in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. Click here for latest story on MCIF Women come to the Center to strengthen themselves, their families, and their community by:

• Learning English and advancing their level of education
• Discovering ways to support their families financially
• Helping in their children's education
• Participating actively in their community

Each year MCIF welcomes over 150 local women who are among the most economically disadvantaged and in need of education, job/entrepreneurship training, and opportunities. The Center works on three levels — personal development, economic self-sufficiency, and leadership for community change — to empower women to break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their families. MCIF women are learning, working, organizing for change.

The overall design of the programs is holistic and flexible so that economic, educational, and leadership goals can be addressed according to the varying needs of each participant.

Some of our programs and offerings include:

• A social enterprise in crafting, which supports work training and business incubation
• A business skills development program which includes a course in business planning taught in Spanish, and technical assistance for those women who want to start or expand their businesses
• Classes in English as a Second Language (ESL), preparation for the Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED) in Spanish, computer, citizenship, and other courses related to the women's needs
• An after-school family resource center serves parents and their elementary school-aged children
• Ongoing leadership development and community organizing activities among both staff and participants

 

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