Around this time last year, we were completing work on Neighborhood Centers Inc. Baker-Ripley Campus. A culmination of years of work in the Gulfton/Sharpstown community, the five building, four acre campus is a manifestation of true community building. Using a process known as Appreciative Inquiry, we have worked with more than 1,000 residents to learn what they saw as the strengths within their community that they could build upon so they could create a positive future for the neighborhood.

Dance, Eat, Dance. Relive highlights from the Grand Opening festival. Watch on YouTube >

On September 25, 2010, Neighborhood Centers Inc. opened the doors to the new Baker-Ripley Campus at an event that included special guests and long-time supporters, Secretary and Mrs. James A. Baker III. The center is named after Secretary Baker’s grandmother, Alice Graham Baker whose work in the settlement house movement was the starting point for Neighborhood Centers. The center is now a hub of activity where residents can find services in support of educational attainment, community engagement, and financial well-being.

Housed on the site are Baker-Ripley Promise Community School, Houston Endowment Welcome Center, Chase Opportunity Center, Promise Credit Union, Neighborhood Tax Center, and Cullen Reunion Hall. Classes offered include adult education (computer, business, ESL, financial education, parenting), adult enrichment (art, cooking, stress-management, music) and family enrichment (exercise, arts & crafts, cake decorating, language).

The center membership has grown substantially since its opening with membership increasing from less than 200 families to more than 500 families. The number represents a total of 2,735 members participating in community activities provided at the center.

Gulfton is a Neighborhood of Promise

In the same month that we opened the Baker-Ripley Neighborhood Center, the U.S. Department of Education officially recognized Gulfton as one of 21 Promise Neighborhoods from across the nation.

For an entire year Neighborhood Centers, together with community residents and more than 25 leading partners worked under the DoE grant to develop a plan to strengthen the "continuum of education" - from birth through college to career - for Gulfton children and their families. Success will require the entire neighborhood- residents, businesses, schools, health care providers, human service agencies, places of worship, and government - to align services that will improve educational achievement for Gulfton’s children and families.

To learn more about the Gulfton Promise Neighborhood visit www.houstonpromise.org.
 
More general info about the campus >

New Video! Former Secretary of State James A. Baker III talks about the what the campus means to Houston. Watch on YouTube >

Baker-Ripley Facebook Group >

View photos from the 1st year >

Take a tour of the campus >

Volunteer at the campus >

Baker-Ripley Neighborhood Center on the Houston Chronicle frontpage:
Neighborhood center helps Gulfton find its way >

Featured in the Project for Public Spaces:
Houston is North America's Placemaking Capital >