BCNC, formerly the Quincy School Community Council, was founded in 1969 by local residents, parents and community leaders in order to have a voice in the design of the Josiah Quincy Elementary School complex. From our beginning as a small group of community activists grew an organization that is now the leading human service provider for Greater Boston's Asian community.
History
1969 - Quincy School Community Council (QSCC) is formed and incorporated in Massachusetts.
1974 - Acorn Child Care Center opens serving 14 children.
1976 - The Recreation and Adult English as a Second Language programs begin.
1977 - The After School program begins serving 15 children.
1978 - The After School and Recreation programs expand to include summer programs.
The Youth Program begins.
1986 - BCNC works with artists and the community to create the Chinatown Community Mural painted on the building at 34-36 Oak Street; the mural depicts the history of Asian Americans in Boston.
1987 - The City of Boston sells the 34-36 Oak Street Building to BCNC for $1. Ownership of this building anchors BCNC in the neighborhood.
1991 - The Family Child Care Project begins.
1997 - QSCC changes its name to Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) to better represent its mission, programming, and location.
1999 - BCNC begins negotiating for a new community center as part of a larger development on Oak Street.
2002 - The Oak Street building is torn down and construction begins for a new center.
2005 - BCNC opens its new building on 38 Ash Street with a successful capital campaign of $2.8 million.
2006 - Family Services program begins.
2011 – BCNC receives its first endowment - Chin Tunn Fon Endowment Fund by Frank K. and Rose H. Chin.
BCNC creates the Bamboo Circle, a young professional network that supports BCNC through fundraising and volunteering.
2014 – BCNC opens its Quincy site, offering adult education, youth programs and family services.
2015 – BCNC replicates its parent engagement model in the Haitian community in Mattapan.
2017 - BCNC opens the Pao Arts Center. The Pao Arts Center leverages artistic and creative resources in Chinatown to strengthen the neighborhood and contribute to the vitality and identity of Boston.
2019 – BCNC moves to a larger site in Quincy to accommodate expanding programs and growing number of people served.
Awards & Accolades
Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Families Count: National Honors Award (2001)
The Points of Light Foundation President’s award (2002)
BCNC’s building at 38 Ash Street received a Silver LEED rating by the US Green Building Council, making it the first “green” building in Chinatown (2006)
Mayor of Boston’s Ace of Aces award for best arts program in Boston (2007)
The Boston Foundation’s My Neighborhood award (2009)
Museum of Fine Arts Community Recognition award (2009)
White House Champions of Change award for BCNC Youth Center (2012)
MassVOTE Super Civies award for Youth Center (2015)
Asian American Commission Lifetime Achievement Award for Selina Chow, Board President of BCNC (2016)
BCNC Early Education and Care Center has been nationally accredited by NAYEC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) since 2002.
BCNC Adult Education is consistently the highest-rated program in Chinatown, and the highest-rated program in Quincy by the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
4 out of 4 stars from Charity Navigator (2023)
Gold Seal of Transparency on GuideStar (2022)
Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency on GuideStar (2023)
Get Konnected recognizes Executive Director, Giles Li as one of Boston’s Emerging Diverse Leaders and Board President, Selina Chow as a top Community Leader in Boston (2016)
National Creative Placemaking Fund from ArtPlace America (2016)
Barr Fellowship (2017)
