“54 YEARS STRONG - OVER 50,000 PEOPLE SERVED” (1972-2025)
Executive Director’s Message:
OIC New Britain, Inc., has provided services to the New Britain community for over fifty years. I must give special thanks to Reverend Leon Howard Sullivan, Founder of OIC of America, located in Philadelphia, PA. One hundred and fifty OICs were established in this country and throughout the world. How many of us in this room this evening can say that they have trained, and job placed over 5 million people. Just think 5 million people are better off today because of the OIC movement.
I am still amazed by the OICs and the work we continue to do in this country and around the world. Each day, I can honestly say that I am dedicated to making the lives of people better in this community. For the past 40 years in my role as Executive Director, my Staff, Board of Directors, Special Volunteers, Participants, Parents, Businesses, The Consolidated School District, The Universities, Social Service Providers and Community Supporters have come to celebrate the accomplishments of OIC. However, OIC does nothing in isolation. OIC continues to collaborate! It is through collaborations that OIC is able to provide training and job placement opportunities for the greater New Britain community.
I would like to thank Connie Wilson Collins, Alton F. Brooks and Emma Pierce for taking that bus trip to Philadelphia 50 years ago and coming back to New Britain and establishing an OIC. I would also like to thank Bessie Surratt for being one of the first graduates from the OIC NB program and serving on the OIC board for more years than I like to say.
It is an honor and a privilege to be part of a movement that continues to change the lives of people. As Reverend Leon Howard Sullivan would say if he were here tonight, “I See No Alps!”
Paulette Fox
Local Workforce Agency Will Receive Thousands In Grant Funding
NEW BRITAIN – A local workforce agency will receive thousands in grant funding to assist in renovations to the building where classes are held.
The Opportunities Industrialization Center of New Britain, Inc. (OICNB) received a donation from the American Savings Foundation for a $169,000 grant to assist with a variety of capital needs. American Savings Foundation, a permanent charitable endowment, provides grants to local nonprofit organizations, and college scholarships to area students. The grant will allow the agency to continue to provide workforce development for youth and adults. Additionally, the agency offers training for youth ages 11-24 years old, after school programming for youth ages 11-21 years old, out-of-school workforce program for youth 18-24 years old, and summer youth employment and learning program.
Executive Director of OICNB Paulette Fox said the upcoming year will be the organization’s 50th anniversary. Fox said she was grateful for the American Savings Foundation and their ongoing commitment to the greater New Britain community.
“This building has become a second home for many of our in-school and out-of-school youth,” Fox said. “As the Executive Director, I am over-whelmed and excited about the support the Foundation is providing to OICNB for this wonderful initiative.”
Classes have been provided in the former Saint Ann Catholic School since 2010. The building has classrooms, gym, stage, parking lot, kitchen, and administrative offices. The grant will fund the cost of a new stage divider for more comfortable classes and a designated play area for children, up-to-date equipment and resources for job training.
The grant will also allow the building to provide a professional stove and grease trap to continue culinary classes and training for out-of-school youth for jobs in the restaurant industry. The main office and second-floor classrooms will have new carpeting and the broken blinds will be repaired. The stone slabs of the front entrance will also be replaced. Additionally, the Tomasso Group will also provide in-kind project management for the work being done.
Special Thanks on behalf of OIC of New Britain, its Board of Directors and Staff to the American Savings Foundation for funding this endeavor and to the Tomasso Group for overseeing our renovation project. We could not have accomplished this task without you!!!
