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.