Center of Family Love breaking ground on new $30 million career training and development campus

The public is invited to join the Center of Family Love and local leaders to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new BravEra Life Center, a new $30 million career training and development campus, on Wednesday, October 21 at noon. The new facility will expand educational, vocational and life-skills opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities and neurodiversity in Oklahoma.

Located at 2139 NE Morgan Road, the Piedmont facility will feature classrooms, workforce training spaces, a community event center, agricultural learning facilities, and health and wellness amenities designed to prepare students and adults for meaningful employment and greater independence.

“For 45 years, we have witnessed the gifts and abilities of the individuals we serve,” said Shawn Dillon, Center of Family Love president and CEO. “BravEra Life Center is an important opportunity for CFL to reach thousands more Oklahomans and connect them with opportunities to find purpose and dignity through meaningful work.” 

The Center of Family Love invites the community to join them at the groundbreaking to celebrate this exciting new chapter. Attendees at the groundbreaking will hear from Center of Family Love leadership and current residents.

The BravEra Life Center is expected to serve an additional 300 individuals with special needs annually, including high school students across 14 school districts, adults living at home and residents of the Center of Family Love.

The new facility will have a commercial training kitchen, a community event center available for public use, a teaching barn, livestock and agricultural learning areas, a large greenhouse and a National Fitness Court designed to serve people of all ages and abilities.

“If you have a dream, go for it. Try. All you can do is try,” said Shay, a current Center of Family Love resident. “I am most excited for the flower shop at BravEra, because it makes me happy to make others happy with my floral arrangements.”

Through the Center’s personalized programming, which includes leadership development, health and wellness and life skills training, individuals are empowered to join new career paths of their choice that would not be available to them otherwise. The Center also connects individuals with a job coach.

Beck Design is the architect, and QUAD Construction is the construction firm that will help bring the 40,000 square-foot campus to life. With construction beginning November 2026, the BravEra Life Center is expected to complete construction and open its doors in 2028.