The GreenHouse Community Center, Sacramento, California

Imagine growing up across the street from a park that is too dangerous to play in...or sharing a three-bedroom apartment with nine people...or not having books, school supplies, or a quiet place to do homework. These are the harsh realities for the more than 550 youth living across the street from Ninos Park in Natomas. The needs of this low-income neighborhood are obvious: generations of poverty, addiction, oppression, and crime have left families feeling hopeless and forgotten. Drawn to serve this community, some volunteers from a local church began going to Ninos Park on the weekends to play games and build relationships with kids and their parents. After hearing their stories and seeing their potential, these volunteers began to dream about a place that could represent health, hope, and renewal for this community. This dream became reality in July 2002 when The GreenHouse was born. The GreenHouse is a Christian Community Enrichment Center that was formed to help unlock the inherent resources of this neighborhood and transform it from one that is merely surviving into one that is thriving. By providing families with opportunities for education, artistic expression, fitness, and spiritual growth, The GreenHouse is nurturing the seeds of renewal in this community.

Mission Statement: Cultivating a thriving community by nurturing the emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical development of our youth and inspiring them to grow to their full potential