FSBC Mission Statement

Forward South Bronx Coalition is a group of community partners in collaboration against underage drinking, cannabis, and other substance misuse. Our primary mission is to reduce substance use among the youth in the Longwood/Hunts Point community of the South Bronx, by raising awareness, eliminating risky behaviors, and establishing a healthy lifestyle for all residents.

FSBC Vision Statement

Our long-range goal is to create a thriving healthier community environment through evidence-based strategies that have a long-lasting impact.

Who We Are and What We Do

  • FSBC is a diverse group of community partners who are determined to move the South Bronx forward and protect our youth from harmful and life-long effects of underage drinking, marijuana, and other substance misuse.
  • FSBC members are passionate about bringing prevention strategies to their community, as they have dealt with a long history of alcohol, marijuana, and opioid addiction with limited resources in the past to mitigate these problems.
  • Membership includes representation from the following 12 sectors: youth, parents, law enforcement, schools, businesses, media, youth-serving organizations, religious and fraternal organizations, civic and volunteer groups, healthcare professionals, state and local agencies with expertise in substance abuse, and other organizations involved in reducing substance abuse.

Cedric McClester
FSBC, Founder

Cedric McClester was one of the founding members of Forward South Bronx Coalition (FSBC) and served as chairman for many years. He was an integral part of the New York City landscape and was able to leverage his positive community relationships, passion and concern for helping deliver prevention of substance misuse strategies to youth in the South Bronx.

Cedric Lemuel Mustafa McClester, 76, passed away on 25th of May 2022 at Mount Sinai Hospital in Harlem, New York. He was the husband of Maria Milagro Courvertier Stewart. They shared 48 years of life together before his passing.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he was the son of Herbert McClester and Nancy Moore. He attended Jamaica Plain High School in Boston. He received his Bachelor’s in Human Services from The College of Human Services in New York and his Masters of Science in Adult Education from Fordham University in the Bronx, New York.

He was a freelance journalist and wrote for many publications including Essence magazine, The New York Times and the Amsterdam News. He also spent many years employed by the local government as a public relations specialist for a drug recovery program. Cedric was creative and loved acting and music but most of all he loved to write. He was the author of one of the first books about popular African American holiday called ‘Kwanzaa Everything You Always Wanted to Know But Didn’t Know Where to Ask’ as well a children’s book entitled The Legend of Nia Umoja, both published by Gumbs and Thomas.

A Sunni Muslim, he regularly attended the 99th Street Mosque and The Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood on West 113th Street in Manhattan. He was actively involved in various political and community advocacy projects throughout his life.

Cedric was also prolific poet, writing in a style that he termed ‘journalist poetry.’ He wrote poems that were characterized by social commentary on currents events.

FSBC welcomes the public to attend any of our monthly meetings.
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