Burroughs Community Center

s a home for single women working in local factories. Over time community needs changed and Burroughs became supportive housing for elderly women. In 1995, when there was no longer a need for this type of housing, area residents raised funds to purchase and begin renovating the beautiful and historic building to transform Burroughs once again to create the Burroughs Community Center. The community identified that activities for school age children were a growing priority. As a result, Burroughs partnered with the Wakeman Boys and Girls Club to establish the Wakeman Smillow-Burroughs Clubhouse in 2011 located just next door. With our deep community roots, we celebrate a successful history of strengthening Bridgeport. Burroughs continues to evolve and grow today, as does our commitment to overcome barriers to our community's success. We believe the health of a community can be measured by the shared understanding of its assets, weaknesses and commitment to building strong relationships. A successful community celebrates diversity, acts inclusively, works intentionally to creates opportunities and reduces barriers to individuals achieving success. Burroughs is a center for programs, partners and people that uses its facility resources and relationships to build a stronger community to help individuals overcome barriers to success. Through the development of partnerships and by delivering programs and services, Burroughs can address gaps within the community to help our neighbors achieve a better future. At Burroughs we work to promote an understanding of current and emerging needs, find available resources and create opportunities that:
Connect people with information and resources
Unite individuals to build relationships
Support partnerships that inspire change and community involvement

Our Values
To carry out our mission, we adhere to the following ideology:
Burroughs seeks to affect change by building relationships and cultivating partnerships. Burroughs will advance its mission by pursuing activities that are driven by need, leverage effective existing assets, and are a result of an informed understanding. Burroughs will operate and support activities that promote the following principles:
Respect for others
Inclusion
Diversity
Health
Dignity
Compassion
Justice
Individual accountability