He has been credited with picking up his community by the bootstraps, has been sought after for advice by the president of the United States and is the influential leader of one of New York City’s largest congregations. More than almost anyone else, Reverend Floyd Flake has economic faith in the Southeast Queens community.

For over 100 years Jamaica has been a focal point of transportation and commerce in Queens.

But after World War II, when roads opened up to neighboring Nassau County, Jamaica experienced an economic downturn.

Enter Floyd Flake – who, along with the Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.), is currently at the forefront of the effort to revive the area and has already set the ball in motion to getting Southeast Queens on the upswing.

Since 1976, Flake has served as pastor of the Allen A.M.E. Church in St. Albans turning it into a model for the city and the nation as one of the foremost churches and corporations.

"When I came here in ’76, the community was in decline," Flake said. "I envisioned the church getting involved."

With a $24 million budget and over 800 people on the staff, in 1999, Allen A.M.E is the third largest private sector employer in Queens.

And Flake’s vision for "expanding community development" is growing each day.

According to Flake, home ownership is a "very, very real" part of the economic development of Southeast Queens.

Allen A.M.E. Hall Estates is one way Flake’s church is helping build up Southeast Queens. PRESS Photo by Ira Cohen

"Home ownership stabilizes families and communities," Flake said explaining that giving people the opportunity to own an appreciating asset is vital to community development.

That is why Flake sees it as so important to allow projects like the Allen A.M.E. Hall Estates and the Allen Senior Citizens Housing Complex to be brought to life.

The Allen Estates project has given financially strapped families a chance to own their own home.

In May of 1996, families moved into the 50 affordable two-family homes of the Hall Estates at Linden and Guy Brewer Boulevards.

The Allen Senior Houses have provided homes for over 300 residents.

According to Flake, it is programs like these that have given impetus in the upgrading of the community.

Described simply, Flake said, "We need homes instead of junkyards."

In 1978, Flake helped establish the Allen A.M.E. Neighborhood Preservations and Development Corporation, which has been instrumental in changing the face of the neighborhood.

One of the ways this corporation has made a difference is with the establishment of the South Jamaica Multi-Service Center.

The SJMC houses a variety of services for people with different needs giving people in the area who are down a chance to pick themselves back up.

The center offers services that include:

• National Council Of Negro Women, which offers counseling for teens.

• The South Queens Community Health Center, which offers a variety
of health services including prenatal and gynelogical care, comprehensive geriatric medical and social work services for adults 65 and older and complete pediatric services including exams and immunizations

• The Neighborhood Help Center which offers mental health services and counseling

• The Jamaica Services Program For Adults, which engages in advocacy for seniors

• The Stop D.W.I. program, which provides counseling to D.W.I. offenders

• The Jamaica Community Adolescent Program called "New Beginnings," which offers G.E.D. training and parenting skills for teen mothers

• The Queens Hospital Center Teenage Program, which offers prenatal and family planning services for teens, social work services, HIV counseling and testing and referrals for education and job training.

• The Women Infant and Children Program, which offers nutrition counseling and supplemental food stamps for pregnant women and young children

• The South Jamaica Center for Children and Parents, which runs a head start program.

Flake is not only an innovator in faith and economic development. December of 2000 saw him being considered the front runner for the position of Secretary of Education under the incoming administration of President George W. Bush. Although he declined taking the position to concentrate on the affairs of Allen A.M.E., Flake still retains his title as President of Edison Schools which operates 113 schools nationwide through boards of education or as charters.

A $250 million company, Edison is the largest publicly traded education company in the world.

Flake also played an integral role in the establishment of the Allen Christian School, a private tuition-based school that has an enrollment of over 500 students.

According to Flake, education and the presence of places like York College provide the stability needed for Southeast Queens to grow.

According to Flake, the presence of federal facilities like the Food and Drug Administration Regional Offices in Jamaica are "a plus for the community."

Flake, who while serving in Congress pushed for legislation to bring the F.D.A. to Southeast Queens, is helping the future of Jamaica "come together".

Another Allen A.M.E. development, the South Jamaica Multi-Service Center offers a variety of services for Southeast Queens.

And for Flake, it’s programs like the AirTrain that are "essential" to the area.

"It connotes something positive for the community," Flake said.

Flake said he hopes that the AirTrain will be something that will drive down traffic when complete and make Jamaica a place businesspersons consider using as a conference center.

According to Flake, the construction of the AirTrain will make it possible for passengers to board from Penn Station and avoid the Van Wyck traffic.

Flake hopes to see the link eventually connect with LaGuardia Airport, making it possible to have a seamless ride to either Queens airport.

And he also looks forward to the construction of a downtown mall at Jamaica Center.

"This type of resurrection is looking good," he said.

"The synergy of commercial development, new home construction, job creation and upgrading the choices of education are strong indicators that the future of the Greater Southeast Queens community is promising," Flake said.