An old school is getting new life.
The former Ericsson Elementary School in Moline is transforming into the Esperanza Center. The building, located in the middle of the Floreciente Neighborhood, underwent a makeover over the summer and will officially open to the public on Saturday, September 26th, 2015 with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:30am followed by a community carnival from 11am-2pm.
"Esperanza" is the Spanish word for "hope" and that's exactly what Senior Pastor Shawn Cossin wants the new center to represent.
"We understand that this world can be a tough place to live in and hope can be fleeting, but we feel that we can help position people to find hope in the midst of the things that they're experiencing in life," he told News 8 on Thursday, September 24th, 2015.
Bought by Heritage Church, the Esperanza Center still includes several classrooms as well as the gym/auditorium. On Sundays at 9am and 10:45am, it will provide two bilingual services - called Iglesia Vida Nueva - as well as Sunday School - called GO! Kids - for children. However, Pastor Cossin says the space is meant to be multi-purpose.
"We really see the facility being a place for people to come 24/7, 365 even, have real needs met, connect in relationships with other people, but also to develop skills to get help in places of assistance they might need whether that's ESL class or counseling or support for other ministries that are in the area," he explained.
On Sunday, October 11th, 2015, there will be a listening session for people to come and talk about the specific needs of the community and how the Esperanza Center can help.
"We understand that we may have the intent to do good, but we can actually end up doing harm if we don't understand what real needs are and what's really happening in the community," said Pastor Cossin.
Despite protests, the Moline School Board voted to close Ericsson Elementary School at the end of the 2014-2015 school year. Pastor Cossin says they feel they can "be a redemptive solution to that decision" by serving the community just as before... just in a new capacity with a new name.
"This building has been a place that has cared for kids and families for many years and it continues to be that in this next season," he said. "Our heart is that we want more for people than from people and we believe that what we're being able to do here in the context of this facility is to do exactly that."
To learn more abut the Esperanza Center and Heritage Church, click here.