By Richard H. Levey
The Hope929 Foundation, co-founded earlier this year by Selwyn Jones, uncle to George Floyd, the Minnesota man killed in 2020 by a police officer, will break ground on a new community center, call center and affordable housing development in Harrison, Arkansas.
In the statement announcing the groundbreaking, the Hope929 Foundation referenced an article in Far Out Magazine that labeled Harrison “America’s Most Racist Town” (https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/harrison-arkansas-case-americas-most-racist-town/).
Funding for the construction was acquired through a humanitarian grant from a private investment firm and by harnessing extensive networking opportunities within the social justice and advocacy sphere, wrote Hope929 co-founder Liz Darden in an email to The NonProfit Times. Darden is also a member of the Harrison city council.
The Hope929 Foundation is registered in Middleton, Delaware. Its mission is to create equity for historically marginalized groups while giving communities the tools to grow stronger and more self-sufficient. Groundbreaking was Oct. 27 with construction commencing in January 2024.
“This is a full circle moment for our organization, this town is where I met Hope929 co-founder Liz Darden, and it means a lot to us to bring this Gateway Harrison Project to life,” Jones said via a statement. “We chose to do this in Harrison, Arkansas because we want to show there is nowhere in America we won’t go to help people make their lives better and we plan on trying to bring similar projects to other communities.”
The complex will consist of around 37,000 square feet, including 10,000 square feet for the call center, 3,000 square feet for the community center and 24,000 square feet for the housing complex. The initial timeline calls for the call center to begin operations in July 2024, the community center to open its doors in August 2024 and the housing complex to be complete by October 2024.
The call center is expected to offer its services to outside organizations, thereby creating jobs for some of Hope929’s clients. It will have 50 seats, as well as facilities for breaks, nursing mothers, a training room and a conference room. The community center will include a large community room with partitioned spaces, an indoor kitchen, a covered patio with seating, a grilling station and a playground/park area. The housing complex will contain 30 units – six studio efficiencies, seven one-bedroom apartments, ten two-bedroom apartment and seven three-bedroom apartments. The complex will also feature a fitness room community room, courtyard and two laundry rooms.
“We will provide 100+ job opportunities [and] housing to 30 families (for phase one),” Darden wrote. “Our dedicated case worker will assess the specific needs of our community, and through our collaborative efforts, we aim to bridge the gaps and equip hundreds of individuals with the essential tools they require.
“We’ve forged strategic partnerships with local contractors, bankers, attorneys, the Chamber of Commerce, and various other community stakeholders who share our mission to empower marginalized and impoverished groups,” Darden added. “Our goal is to address housing issues, serve as a bridge to connect available community resources, offer empowerment, and create job opportunities. This collaborative effort has garnered remarkable support, providing us with a unique opportunity to bridge social justice gaps and foster a deeper understanding of the needs of the disempowered.”
