A summer camp experience to fill in gaps
This summer has been full of challenges for all of us. Our kids, especially, need extra support as they navigate summer break and look forward to returning to school in person in the fall.
Do all things with Integrity
At Hall Neighborhood House we do all things with integrity; it’s one of our core values. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we hold ourselves to the highest standards—especially when it comes to finances and programming.
Integrity is important because it builds trust—and we need our community’s trust to function effectively and carry out our mission.
With our core value of integrity in mind, here’s what we do each and every day:
We speak honestly.
We regularly ask our neighbors, staff, volunteers, and leadership to share their honest feedback—including compliments, complaints, questions, and suggestions. And when people speak honestly to us, we respond with honesty, too—including asking for help when we need it.
When our community tells us what it needs, we match our services to fit their needs. We aim to address problems as soon as they crop up, and we’re sensitive to how community members’ needs may change over time. We are lucky to have community and staff members who speak up when they need something new or notice an issue.
We built a community health center because our residents asked for it. We were able to meet this need because we were honest with ourselves about our strengths, our capacity, and where we needed additional support. Though we had sufficient space for the health center, we needed help with staffing—and that’s where Optimus Health came in.
We were honest about what we could and couldn’t provide, and we reached out to Optimus Health for support. Today, Optimus Health practitioners are on-site five days a week to provide excellent care to Bridgeport residents.
We provide high-quality services.
We take our responsibility to Bridgeport very seriously. Our internal standards are high, and we also seek outside accreditation as a second, impartial measure of our commitment to excellence and safety.
Hall Neighborhood House’s childcare programs are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and meet all criteria set forth by the Office of Early Childhood in the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards. We are also fully licensed by the State of Connecticut Office of Early Childhood. We use the Connecticut Documentation for Observation and Teaching System Assessment tool, the Brigance screening tool, and the Ages and Stages Screening Tool to assess the educational and developmental progress of our students.
We are also an approved Program Operator of the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program, providing nutritious meals and snacks to children and students.
We commit to transparency.
At Hall Neighborhood House, we are committed to being responsible stewards of the money we receive from grants and generous donors.
For example, this year we were proud to receive the Core Mission Grant from Impact Fairfield County. Our proposal and mission were thoroughly reviewed during the selection process—throughout which we demonstrated our commitment to our community, our fiscal responsibility, and our integrity.
Our financials are independently audited every year by Hope & Hernandez PC. Information about revenue and expenses can be found on our website, with audit reports and the most recent 990s available upon request. We also have a 97/100 Encompass Rating on Charity Navigator.
At Hall Neighborhood House, our integrity is everything to us. We don’t take the faith our community has in us lightly, and we’re thankful for the opportunity to demonstrate our trustworthiness to them every single day. Help us continue to provide Bridgeport residents with critical services by making a gift today. You’re contributing to a community legacy of integrity, honesty, and transparency.
Treat one another with respect
At Hall Neighborhood House, our values help us create a welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels like family. In our community, we treat one another with respect, no matter what. We honor that we come from many different backgrounds, and we celebrate these differences as strengths.
By prioritizing a culture of respect, we create a diverse, vibrant, and interconnected community. Here’s how we ensure every person feels valued at Hall Neighborhood House:
We invest in our physical space.
Building community is central to our mission, and it starts with our physical location. As a staff, we show respect to our community members by ensuring that our space is clean, well-maintained, and safe, especially with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Our building houses incredible programs—including the community health center, accredited early childhood programs, and support for seniors—but it’s also a safe space where our neighbors can just be. Our campus is a place where all of our neighbors can feel valued and secure. It’s a place where people of all ages access educational opportunities alongside chances to play. It’s a place to find resources and build meaningful relationships.
We also show respect to our community by connecting Bridgeport residents to the best resources we have available. We ensure our educational programs are nationally and locally accredited, and we hire highly trained childcare and development professionals to run them. Our facility brings best-in-class opportunities and equipment to the community, and we connect with partners like Beats by Girlz to help our youth develop new skills.
As Hector Burgos, our Early Learning Program Director says, “We are their community center and we are here to help in many different ways.”
We welcome everyone.
Our diversity is our strength. As we develop programs, we commit to the most holistic model possible so that Hall Neighborhood House continues to be a place that meets the needs of families, youth, adults, and seniors in our community. We’re here for people of all ages.
This year, we’re celebrating 135 years in Bridgeport. We respect our neighbors by making a long-standing commitment to them and adapting as we grow. Because we’re in this for the long haul, we pursue growth that is sustainable and meaningful to the people who walk through our doors every day, week, or month.
“With our programs,” shares board member Stuart Zarich, “we’re making sure kids, youth, adults, and seniors have a chance to be healthy, learn, and grow.”
We know each other’s names.
It might seem small, but welcoming everyone starts with learning the name of each person who walks through our doors. Conversations are better when we start on common terms. We can’t control every aspect of life for our staff and neighbors, but we can control how we treat each other in our space.
We affirm our neighbors.
Every single member of our community has value. Full stop. We believe that all people deserve access to education, nutritious meals, and community. That’s what we provide for Bridgeport residents, no matter their age, race, or income level.
Our foundation of respect begins with our youngest participants (babies just six months old) and extends to our oldest. In our early education programs, we teach social skills and encourage meaningful friendships. Older kids can attend summer camps and after-school programs where they develop new skills and plan for the future. We help them see what’s possible and achieve their goals. We believe learning is a lifelong process, so our programs include opportunities for adults and seniors to take classes and share their hobbies, too.
At Hall Neighborhood House we invest in good things and take pride in the quality of our services and facilities. Help us continue to provide meaningful support to our community by making a gift today. With your support, we can continue to offer high-quality programs and services to all of our neighbors.
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