July News From Hall

July News From Hall

This month has been all about learning!

At our Breakfast of Champions, we learned from sports legends Coach Calhoun and Ivan Maisel. This engaging conversation emphasized the power of giving back and leading community change.

Seniors kept learning new exercises through their fitness program (and, of course, kept working on their Bingo skills!).

And during Science Day, our students had special opportunities to learn from robotics experts, energy scientists, and skilled music mixers.

We believe that learning never stops—no matter where you are in life, there are always new ways to grow. We strive to provide as many learning opportunities as we can to our community, and we are so grateful for your support.

Bob Dzurenda
Executive Director

Summer Camp Kickoff

Summer camp is off to a great start! Over 70 students come to Hall Neighborhood House each weekday for activities, tutoring, sports, art, fun field trips, and more.

Staffed by a group of child development and education professionals, our summer camp provides comprehensive, accessible programming for kids on the East Side of Bridgeport—giving them opportunities to continue learning all summer long.

Thank you for making this summer special for our students!

Science Day

We hosted our first annual Science Day this June—bringing together students and community partners for a variety of exciting and educational activities. It was a full day of learning and discovery for our kids as they explored concepts like robotics, energy, chemistry, and sustainability.

Thank you to all our community partners who made this event a huge hit.

Breakfast of Champions

We were honored to host legendary basketball coach Jim Calhoun, who reminded us that the way we model our values is the biggest opportunity we have to lead others forward.

Thank you to Coach Calhoun, Ivan Maisel, and everyone who joined us for this very special conversation.

Family Festival

We had a very special day celebrating our community at the Hall Neighborhood House Family Festival. Thank you to everyone who came out to share food, fun, and community with us!

From bounce houses to bingo, there was something for everyone, and all of us feel so lucky to be part of such a connected community.

Thank You Fairfield Prep

Students at Fairfield Prep worked together to collect school supplies for Hall Neighborhood House students. Their supply drive provided much-needed materials for our summer programs.

We are grateful for their contributions!

Petit Family Foundation

We are thrilled to announce a grant from the Petit Family Foundation!

Through their incredible generosity, they are funding Hall’s Aurora Girls Program, giving 20 middle school girls the opportunity to participate in a 10-month theater, music, and STEM program right here at Hall Neighborhood House.

Under Construction: Improvements at Hall Neighborhood House

Under Construction: Improvements at Hall Neighborhood House

Here at Hall Neighborhood House, we have been providing comprehensive services for our neighbors since 1886. And our building, located at 52 George Pipkin’s Way, is the heart of everything we do. All of us, from staff to students to seniors to community partners, are dedicated to keeping it in good condition—it’s part of living out our value of caring for our community. 

Our building is at the heart of so much of our work. It gives all of us the space to learn, play, and grow together–and it gives our neighbors a safe place to gather. We are excited to share some in-progress and upcoming capital improvements we’re making to take care of our home so it can continue to serve our community for years to come. 

  • We are installing two new HVAC systems to more efficiently heat and cool our space. This will make the inside temperature more comfortable for all our neighbors—especially in the summer! 
  • We’re repainting classrooms so that students can spend this school year in a space that reflects the fresh, bright possibilities of the next nine months. 
  • We have started renovating and modernizing our bathrooms. Several of our restrooms needed important updates, and we’re eager to make these spaces as safe, accessible, and updated as possible. 
  • We’re refinishing all of the floors, too. We can’t wait to strip the old finish and give them a good wax, making them shine and look better than ever!
  • On our grounds, we are installing new gates to help improve safety and security at Hall Neighborhood House. 
  • We’re also adding keyless remote entry so our seniors can come and go more easily and safely, and we can keep track of traffic moving through these spaces.
  • Also outside, we’re trimming our trees, thanks to our amazing partners at Bartlett Tree Experts! We are so grateful for their ongoing support of our landscaping needs.
  • And we aren’t finished yet! We are currently sourcing bids for renovations of our lower level, so we can serve even more of our community members. This important project will help us create space for 40 more kids and 50 more seniors in our programs.

All of these renovations will help us better serve our community as we continue to provide a safe, welcoming space where our neighbors can access comprehensive programming, gather with friends and loved ones, and enjoy time together. 

Under Construction: Improvements at Hall Neighborhood House

Grand Opening of the Dental Clinic

Friends, neighbors, and community members gathered at Hall Neighborhood House on July 29 to celebrate the grand opening of our on-site dental clinic! We were honored to welcome so many special guests, including Mayor Joseph Peter Ganim.

The ribbon cutting marked a big moment for our community as we added oral health care to our full suite of medical services available at our comprehensive community health center, Community Health at Hall. 

According to the CDC, cavities are one of the most prevalent dental problems that impact people’s quality of life—and one in four adults currently has one! At the dental clinic, regular checkups, sealants, and education will help fight challenges like cavities and support our community’s overall health and well-being. We’ll teach dental hygiene to the youngest members of our community and address our oldest neighbors’ unique oral health needs.

The ribbon cutting was a celebration of new services that will save our neighbors time and money and, most importantly, increase access to health care in Bridgeport. We are grateful for the support of many community partners, including Impact Fairfield County, Delta Dental of New Jersey, Inc., and Brian Barker, who helped make the dental clinic possible.

See you soon for a cleaning!

April News at Hall

April News at Hall

Students in our After School Program have been completing exciting activities in our Hall of Science all month long—and we’ve loved having a front-row seat to watch them learn.

Meanwhile, our seniors are enjoying new fitness equipment and exercise lessons provided by incredible community partners.

And we continue to welcome groups of volunteers to serve our neighbors. Thank you for investing in our community and helping us keep making life better for everyone around us.

We are grateful for your partnership and excited to share these updates with you!

Hall of Science Highlights

Students learn about electricity through hands-on demonstrations.

Our new Hall of Science, led by STEM Coordinator Mr. David, gives students the chance to learn about sound, electricity, flight, space, and more. We’re proud to provide access to state-of-the-art tools like the Stellina telescope and PocketLabs that give young people a detailed look at the world around them.

Check out our latest blog post to learn more about recent science lessons.

Thermoforming

Students used vacuum formers to make hologram projectors out of a sheet of plastic. The machine heats a thin plastic sheet until it can be stretched and formed, then students can project shapes and designs. Access to this kind of equipment is powerful and inspiring for students in our programs!

Hosting Bridge Academy

We were delighted to host the Bridge Academy Middle School March Madness tournament! Students and staff enjoyed great games of basketball and put on an amazing show for spectators.

We loved watching students and staff play together and participate in some friendly competition!

Dentist Day

In March, we recognized Dentist Day! Providing accessible healthcare is integral to our mission of making life better—and dental care is a key part of that. Thank you to all of the community dentists who share their time, expertise, and resources with our neighbors, creating brighter smiles for all!

Thank You, Bridgeport International Academy!

Here at Hall Neighborhood House we couldn’t do what we do without our amazing volunteers!

Thank you to Bridgeport International Academy for spending a day with us—building new exercise equipment for seniors, designing and facilitating an obstacle course for students, and helping out in the STEM room.

We are so grateful for the generous and joyful support!

Senior Exercise Equipment

We are so excited to have new exercise equipment available for our seniors—and special thanks to our partners at Sacred Heart University for coming to talk to seniors about the importance of exercise for their mental and physical health.

Hall Neighborhood House receives $54,000 grant from Delta Dental

Hall Neighborhood House receives $54,000 grant from Delta Dental

Here at Hall Neighborhood House, we are in an exciting season of expansion—and one of our primary goals is to help meet the immediate and essential healthcare needs of our community. 

Over the past year, we’ve seen great success with our community health clinic, and now we are in the construction phase of a brand new dental clinic, thanks in large part to an incredibly generous grant from the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation! The grant, awarded in the amount of $54,000, will help cover construction costs and the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment. 

Through our comprehensive healthcare programs, we’re focused on providing preventative care options to our neighbors in Bridgeport. When members of our community can access regular checkups, screenings, and vaccinations right here at Hall Neighborhood House, they are able to save time, save money, and keep themselves and their families healthy. 

The new Hall Neighborhood House dental clinic will provide sealants, fillings, cleanings, and regular checkups to Bridgeport residents of all ages. We’ll teach dental hygiene to the youngest members of our community and address our oldest residents’ unique oral health needs. We expect to finish construction on this new facility in December 2021.

We are so thankful for the generosity of Delta Dental. Their organization regularly provides charitable contributions to solve oral health challenges in New Jersey and Connecticut, and they primarily fund organizations that support underserved populations, especially children, seniors, and veterans. 

Their contribution is making it possible for us to make a difference in the lives of Bridgeport residents, providing the affordable and convenient dental care our neighbors need and deserve.