Views from the Northwest Bronx

FBCS Daycare Provider Opens New Bronx Business!

Katiuska Morel, an experienced, trained and licensed daycare provider with the Fordham Bedford Community Services Early Learn Network, opened her second Bronx business on Thursday, November 19th 2015. The Larimar Community Center will offer support to those who want to open their own business, a tutoring program, child enrichment activities and other community programming.

Katiuska in front of the sign for the Larimar Community Center and a table at the Center with the completion certificate for the Northwest Bronx Childcare Initiative, a 40-hour business growth class that helped Katiuska realize her dream to open a new business.

The Larimar Community Center is located in one of Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation’s new construction properties at 2668 Decatur Avenue. The Center is located on the lower level and features elevator access, a newly renovated, spacious activity room with a kitchen as well as a direct exit to a beautiful outdoor area.

Katiuska, along with 25 other Bronx home-based daycare providers graduated from the inaugural class of Northwest Bronx Childcare Entrepreneurship Program in April 2015. The 40 hour business growth program was offered by NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) in partnership with Citi, University Neighborhood Housing Program (UNHP) and Fordham Bedford Community Services (FBCS). Katiuska is a member of the FBCS Early Learn Daycare Network and owns and runs a successful home-based daycare provider business know as Ambar Daycare. The FBCS Early Learn Daycare Network helps low income families access safe, affordable, and reliable child care and provides professional development and support to the daycare providers. Katiuska and the other home-based providers in the network provide educational enrichment and care for over 200 children and their families in our community. 

Katiuska was inspired by the class to think differently about her work and role as a businesswoman. Working with the class instructor, Ada Uribe, Katiuska developed a business plan for the Larimar Community Center, a new enterprise that would utilize her skills as an educator, business owner and communicator.

Best wishes to Katiuska on this new venture and thank you from all your supporters at UNHP and FBCS for investing your time and energy back into your Bronx community. Contact Katiuska at katiuskamorel@yahoo.com for more information.