The Connect Community Hub

Currently home to over 18,000 residents, the Connect Community Impact Zone sits within Houston’s most densely-populated neighborhoods of Gulfton & Sharpstown.  These neighborhoods are home to immigrants and refugees from over 33 countries. Differences in language, religion and culture can lead to social isolation. To minimize feelings of isolation, access to public spaces and community-based activities is essential. In Gulfton, civic spaces and parks are woefully lacking, a problem compounded by the population density and poorly-designed built environment. A solution presented itself when KIPP CONNECT embarked on a project to build a ‘cafegymatorium’ for its founding high school. Connect Community joined forces with the YMCA of Greater Houston and added $2.5M to KIPP’s investment to create a larger building with public access called the Connect Community Hub. The Hub provides event space, rentable to the public, and an additional 3,800 hours of YMCA and partner programming during out of school hours, thereby amplifying our neighborhood impact.

By investing in an intergenerational space, the Hub serves as the first phase of a unified Connect campus vision for all members of the community to come and create together. Phase I of the Hub opened in August 2018 and includes a gymnasium, auditorium and cafeteria (convertible to three classrooms) and is an  safe space for community programs. Phase II of the Hub will include a full-size YMCA, storefront Legacy Health Community clinic, Teen Zone and more. Timing is TBD.