Our Space Offers Hope, New Beginnings Despite Great Trauma

Contact: Diane Petrosino, 917-826-7934

MEDIA ADVISORY, Feb. 13 /Christian Newswire/ -- Yesterday the Diocese of Brooklyn announced the final decision concerning the closing of several parochial schools in Brooklyn. Included on the list was Most Precious Blood School (MPBS) in Bath Beach, outside of Coney Island.

Photo: Our Space Founder and Executive Director Jim Esposito pictured recently with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in New York City.

Our Space Out-of-School Programs and Family Life Services were a part of the school for three years. Nearly three-quarters of a million dollars was procured to help the school by offering after school and summer activities, counseling services and educational resources. This helped keep the school alive.

Mr. Jim Esposito, Executive Director of Our Space, initially got involved with the Brooklyn school after he coordinated emergency foreign missions aid for a girl's home in India. The head of the orphanage in Bangalore and the principal at the Brooklyn School, both nuns with the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy order, are also biological sisters. Their plea to Esposito: "You helped save our orphanage, now please help save our Brooklyn school too!"

As a result, Our Space was so intrinsically connected with MPBS that Esposito was asked to step in as the Chairman of the School Advisory Board last October (2008). The board's sole task was to respond to the proposal for the school to close, as a last ditch effort to try to keep it open.

"I am disappointed with this decision to close," Esposito relates. "We had a rock solid fiscal plan to preserve Christian education in this underserved community. Yet, in the end, the failing global economy and dwindling church contributions put the viability of the board's proposal into question. But there's always hope..."

Three Our Space child counselors, including a licensed therapist, are offering free professional counseling to the MPBS children and families. They will be at the school all day after the announcement is made and by appointment during the winter recess. In addition, despite severe financial challenges of its own, the Our Space after school program, a faith based nonprofit organization, is committed to completing the school year with the MPBS children.

Our Space Counseling Director, Susan R. Grande shares, "We want to alleviate any post traumatic stress these drastic changes could potentially bring on. Right now these kids need a normal routine and stability. A little bit of fun couldn't hurt either."

Jim Esposito continues, "I am a possibility thinker! This doesn't have to be a sad ending to a 40-year community legacy. With God's grace we can help these kids through the transition process and give them a new beginning of joy!"

To help Our Space fulfill their commitment to these children on Brooklyn, please visit: www.firstgiving.com/brooklynkids. Our Space is a community outreach of Loaves & Fishes Church Ministries Corp., a 501(c)(3) corporation serving the Metro New York area over 20 years.