Community Center

Bringing HOPE to the DeKalb community.

The Project HOPE Community Center will provide area residents with a welcoming, accessible setting for events and programs such as:

• Community celebrations and activities

• Personal and family health and wellness support 

• Educational classes and innovative resources

Where will the center be located?

The center will be located in DeKalb’s Annie Glidden North neighborhood, an area that’s home to nearly a quarter of the city’s residents, yet lacks space dedicated to community support. 

New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, an anchor of the neighborhood for more than 20 years, will provide an acre of land for the center.

What will the center include?

At almost 12,000 square feet, the center will feature a wide range of resources and amenities. 

It will contain a full gymnasium, a large gathering area and an industrial kitchen, as well as:

• Classrooms

• Incubator office for start-ups 

• Locker rooms

• Multi-purpose room 

Why build a community center?

Community centers are valuable additions to their neighborhoods. As casual “third spaces” outside of work and home, they provide a welcoming setting for people to connect and build friendships. Their benefits include:

• Better health: programs/activities that support physical, mental and emotional wellness, from meditation to vaccinations.

• Youth development: opportunities for kids/teens to develop lifelong healthy habits, as well as teamwork/leadership skills.

• Family support: programs to help families learn and grow together, and childcare when parents need some space.

• Educational opportunities: free and low-cost classes/workshops that promote increased educational equity.

• Economic benefits: ability to improve the local economy by creating jobs and increasing property values.

• Increased public safety: a focus on helping people stay safe, from first aid classes to disaster preparedness.

Energy efficiency improves lives and the planet

Energy efficiency benefits go beyond energy and cost savings; they also include a cleaner environment and improved public health.  The construction and sustainability of the community center will prioritize the following items to the extent the budget allows.

• LEED approach to construction

• Solar panels

• Green roof

• Energy efficient windows

• LED lighting fixtures

• Motion sensors for lighting

• Geothermal HVAC

What will happen at the center?

The center will be a place where people of all ages can get together, get active and much more. Planned activities include: