Northeast Community Center history

As time passed and the clinic expanded, a children unit was added in 1965.

Following the passage of the necessary state legislation in 1966, the clinic became the applicant agency to the state and federal governments for construction and staffing grants to fund what is now known as the Northeast Community Center for Behavioral Health.

In April 1970, a federal staffing grant was initiated and the new Northeast Community Center for Behavioral Health opened its doors to serve the people of Northeast Philadelphia.

The Northeast Community Council Inc., doing business as North East Community Center (NECC), was established in the winter of 1988 at the urging of Wendy Curtis and Sam Busselle, through the passing of a town statute.

In 1993, NECC purchased the current community center at 51 South Center Street through the generous support of a visionary donor.

In 2005 the Northeast Community Center was formed, carrying on the fitness and wellness heritage to become an integral part of the fabric of the surrounding neighborhoods while strengthening the bonds that create community.

With the opening of a new medical clinic in January 2011, low-income, refugees, and uninsured families gained affordable health care access.

For ten years, these programs and staff were located in a leased portion of the former Millerton Elementary School facility, which was sold by the school district in August 2017.

Temporary space for after-school and other staff, including storage and parking, has been leased adjacent to the current NECC building as of October 2018.