Ms. Lena Miller founded the Hunter’s Point Family (then called GIRLS 2000), in 1997, in response to her experiences growing up in the Bayview Hunters Point community. At age 24 Lena completed her Masters Degree in Social Work in order to work toward enhancing the positive qualities of her community and mitigate the destructive ones. She developed the Hunters Point Family to utilize the strength of family ties and mutual support that helped her, and so many other young people, to survive the harsh realities of life in Bayview Hunters Point. The program also included an intensive educational component and enrichment activities to offset the destructive elements of the environment. Most importantly, the program was informed by the culture of the neighborhood, specifically to serve youth in Bayview Hunters Point.
GIRLS 2000, the agency’s seminal program began in a single room within the Hunters Point Recreational facility, adjacent to the Harbor Road housing developments. In the spring of 1999, moved to 763 Jerrold Avenue, a former Housing Authority office, located in the Harbor Road housing developments.
In August 2000, GIRLS 2000 received non-profit 501(c)(3) status from the state and federal government and the Board of Directors transitioned the program into independence in June of 2001. In 2002, GIRLS 2000 became the fiscal agent for the Bayview Safe Haven (BVSH) and. At that time, the agency changed its name to the Hunters Point Family both to distinguish itself from the GIRLS 2000 program and to build a sense of family within the agency and throughout the Hunters Point community. In 2003 the agency launched the Peacekeepers program and in 2006 the agency adopted the Gilman Rec-Connect program.
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