CEO's Message
Welcome to Better Family Life, Inc.
By Malik Ahmed, Founder/CEO
Unified Perseverance
I am sincerely grateful to the Better Family Life Board of Directors, staff and membership for having the fortitude to stay dedicated to our mission. I also appreciate the support we have received from the entire community for nearly 27 years. As we go forward in 2010 and beyond, we will make a more concerted effort to be a stronger voice of hope, a beacon of light and an institution that is dedicated to uplifting the St. Louis region. The staff works particularly hard to achieve programmatic goals. They exhibit humility that spurs upward mobility for indigent families, while administering outstanding services to our clientele with professionalism, technical knowledge and care.
Early in 2008, we acknowledged the full realization that we were in midst of the most dangerous financial crisis that our nation has experienced since the great depression of 1929. Even though Better Family Life has been seriously impacted by the financial crisis that has led to cutbacks and loss of jobs, we continue to persevere in our efforts to provide quality services to the St. Louis Metropolitan community. We are committed to regaining a financial balance in our corporation.
As we held on to the unified spirit that enabled this country to elect its first African American President, we must continue to lend support to each other to rebuild neighborhoods, families and provide support to those who are less fortunate. And as the economic balance of the nation continues to shift, we are sure to face new challenges and hurdles. However, with your help, and with committed corporate and governmental partners, we will emerge even stronger to build a unified community.
Throughout 2009, we have worked diligently to provide career employment opportunities for thousands of St. Louisans who have been chronically unemployed, indigent and skill deficient. We have worked to save hundreds of families from the disgrace of home foreclosure and helped to stabilize the lives of thousands of youth who attend the public school system.
We support the healthcare reform that will provide medical insurance coverage for the nearly 46 million uninsured. We urge the US Senate to follow the progressive lead of the House of Representatives by passing this legislation.
To further our work we need your individual support in the form of financial contributions to help complete the $8 million renovation of the Better Family Life Cultural, Educational and Business Center located at 5415 Page Boulevard. We are proud to report that the facility is currently under renovation. Remediation work on this 60,000 sq. ft. structure was completed in December 2008, demolition in May 2009; and Phase II is currently in progress which involves exterior work (i.e. roofing, tuck pointing and window replacement/repair). The Cultural, Educational, and Business Center is BFL's way of retaining rich neighborhoods where people of all walks of life, including prominent leaders of the community, were born and raised; residents felt safe; and businesses flourished. Our focus and passion for completion of this project is spurred by our desire to leave a legacy for our families, our organization, our community and our city. With your help, we will be successful in having the Center fully operational by the fall of 2010.
We are excited about our part in building a unified community. We take pride in being a voice for the voiceless, leaders in urban solutions, mentors to our youth and servants of our nation. This goal is not only our work, it is our passion!
To those who have exhibited unwavering support and those who are just learning about the Better Family Life vision, we implore you to stay with us on our journey of uplifting underserved populations wherever they exist in our nation. I challenge you to aggressively support the youth in your own homes, neighborhoods and places of worship. Our young people need to know we hold them in high esteem and want to see them succeed in life. I encourage you to reaffirm the guiding principles on which Better Family Life was founded: community unity, sister/brotherhood, conflict resolution, cultural enrichment, humility, moral integrity and service to our community. We are forever grateful that Better Family Life, Inc. continues to create a compelling vision, by showing unshakable faith to build a stronger community and people.
Sincerely,
Malik Ahmed, CEO
Better Family Life, Inc.
By Malik Ahmed, Founder/CEO
Unified Perseverance
I am sincerely grateful to the Better Family Life Board of Directors, staff and membership for having the fortitude to stay dedicated to our mission. I also appreciate the support we have received from the entire community for nearly 27 years. As we go forward in 2010 and beyond, we will make a more concerted effort to be a stronger voice of hope, a beacon of light and an institution that is dedicated to uplifting the St. Louis region. The staff works particularly hard to achieve programmatic goals. They exhibit humility that spurs upward mobility for indigent families, while administering outstanding services to our clientele with professionalism, technical knowledge and care.
Early in 2008, we acknowledged the full realization that we were in midst of the most dangerous financial crisis that our nation has experienced since the great depression of 1929. Even though Better Family Life has been seriously impacted by the financial crisis that has led to cutbacks and loss of jobs, we continue to persevere in our efforts to provide quality services to the St. Louis Metropolitan community. We are committed to regaining a financial balance in our corporation.
As we held on to the unified spirit that enabled this country to elect its first African American President, we must continue to lend support to each other to rebuild neighborhoods, families and provide support to those who are less fortunate. And as the economic balance of the nation continues to shift, we are sure to face new challenges and hurdles. However, with your help, and with committed corporate and governmental partners, we will emerge even stronger to build a unified community.
Throughout 2009, we have worked diligently to provide career employment opportunities for thousands of St. Louisans who have been chronically unemployed, indigent and skill deficient. We have worked to save hundreds of families from the disgrace of home foreclosure and helped to stabilize the lives of thousands of youth who attend the public school system.
We support the healthcare reform that will provide medical insurance coverage for the nearly 46 million uninsured. We urge the US Senate to follow the progressive lead of the House of Representatives by passing this legislation.
To further our work we need your individual support in the form of financial contributions to help complete the $8 million renovation of the Better Family Life Cultural, Educational and Business Center located at 5415 Page Boulevard. We are proud to report that the facility is currently under renovation. Remediation work on this 60,000 sq. ft. structure was completed in December 2008, demolition in May 2009; and Phase II is currently in progress which involves exterior work (i.e. roofing, tuck pointing and window replacement/repair). The Cultural, Educational, and Business Center is BFL's way of retaining rich neighborhoods where people of all walks of life, including prominent leaders of the community, were born and raised; residents felt safe; and businesses flourished. Our focus and passion for completion of this project is spurred by our desire to leave a legacy for our families, our organization, our community and our city. With your help, we will be successful in having the Center fully operational by the fall of 2010.
We are excited about our part in building a unified community. We take pride in being a voice for the voiceless, leaders in urban solutions, mentors to our youth and servants of our nation. This goal is not only our work, it is our passion!
To those who have exhibited unwavering support and those who are just learning about the Better Family Life vision, we implore you to stay with us on our journey of uplifting underserved populations wherever they exist in our nation. I challenge you to aggressively support the youth in your own homes, neighborhoods and places of worship. Our young people need to know we hold them in high esteem and want to see them succeed in life. I encourage you to reaffirm the guiding principles on which Better Family Life was founded: community unity, sister/brotherhood, conflict resolution, cultural enrichment, humility, moral integrity and service to our community. We are forever grateful that Better Family Life, Inc. continues to create a compelling vision, by showing unshakable faith to build a stronger community and people.
Sincerely,
Malik Ahmed, CEO
Better Family Life, Inc.
