Bethel Community Facility (BCF) was envisioned 40 years ago by Rev. John H. Rice, Sr., former Pastor of St. Bethel Baptist Church. After, years of watching the area he grew up in deteriorate, he decided that a local community center was needed to serve as a headquarters for community restoration. Without the help of bank loans, the center was constructed—brick-by-brick—slowly but surely. Often construction was halted for months until money was raised to buy more brick. Finally the building was completed. DEBT FREE.
In Chicago’s East Garfield Park, where disinvestment has left the neighborhood devoid of opportunity and full of broken dreams, Breakthrough is restoring the broken networks of youth and families and empowering adults in the community to achieve self-sufficiency and break the cycle of poverty.
Today, Calumet City boasts a restored City Hall; a major mall in the South Suburban area; state-of-the-art Library and Police Department; two Fire Departments; a quality network of public schools; civic clubs and organizations that provide community outreach programs; and, a multitude of businesses and individuals who work hard to make Calumet City great.
