Voter-approved community center opens on Southeast Side
The $4.2 million, 11,705-square-foot Greater Love Multi-Generational Cultural Community Center has opened on San Antonio's Southeast Side. A new $4.2 million community center on the Southeast Side of San Antonio has opened, following voters' approval of the 2017 bond project. The Greater Love Multi-Generational Cultural Community Center is located at 1534 Peck Ave. on the grounds of Greater Love Missionary Baptist Church. The center will offer services such as senior day care, adult education, preschool and after-school programming. It was funded by $2 million from the 2017 and $500,000 from the 2022 bond programs. The opening ceremony was attended by a crowd of people, including congregants and several people who grew up in the neighborhood but do not attend the church.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Raquel Torres in
A new community center that voters approved in the 2017 bond project opened on the Southeast Side of San Antonio on Thursday, giving the community access to a senior day care, adult education, preschool and after-school programming.
The $4.2 million, 11,705-square-foot Greater Love Multi-Generational Cultural Community Center is located at 1534 Peck Ave., on the grounds of Greater Love Missionary Baptist Church.
Anyone can visit the center. Upon entering, you’re met with colorful, floor-to-wall murals, highlighting the multi-generational impact the center will have in the neighborhood.
“It’s been the faith of these people, the persistence of those who were part of our collaboration, and God,” said pastor and founder of Greater Love Ministries Lester Gillespie to a crowd of people sitting in bright sunlight at the opening, excited to see the inside for the first time.
The crowd included Greater Love congregants, but also several people who grew up in the neighborhood but don’t attend the church.
“This is special, especially for this community. Especially for the East Side, especially for this church, … because of the impact it’s going to have on this community,” said Tamara Glenn, who left work to be at the ceremony.
The center was funded by $2 million from the 2017 bond program, $500,000 from the 2022 bond program, $750,000 from the District 2 office infrastructure management fund, $500,000 from Bexar County and $500,000 from the Texas Education Agency.
State Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert advocated for the funds to make the new community center happen.
On Thursday, they spoke about the importance of perseverance for the long-awaited project and the impact it will have on the community.
The center gives the community access to a reception area, large conference room, activity room, and has space for four offices, a kitchen, nurse station and more support spaces. Outside, children can play at the outdoor playground.
Tyrone Darden, who said he grew up in the neighborhood, said the area needed the resources the center will offer.
“In a low socioeconomic community, it’s hard to get the amenities you pay for, so there has to be a provider to give the services to you,” Darden said, adding that the multi-generational aspect of the center is “key.”
“It creates a hub where social service providers can [support] seniors, early childhood or the community as a whole and be a hub for resources,” he said.
When you walk in, you’ll see a mural of a grandmother embracing a parent cradling a young child. The colorful mural, called “Rooted in Love,” celebrates children and emphasizes the importance of giving them love and security.
Over the mural are the words, “Communities rooted in love enrich future generations.”
A second mural, “Grandma’s Garden,” shows two elders passing on knowledge to children through plants, symbolizing a bond, life skills and a supportive environment. It incorporates Mexican culture with cempasúchil, or marigold flowers and nopal, prickly pear cactus.
“The detail of the artwork is phenomenal and it tells a story,” said Lani Gillespie, a member of Greater Love Baptist Church who was still taking photos of the murals as people were leaving. “I am just overwhelmed. Everything is so intricate. You have to study it for a while. You can gather so much meaning from this artwork.”