Final details are being completed on the new Family Success Center, a project of Pikes Peak United Way and Harrison School District 2 that consolidates in one large space what residents identified as needed services in southeast Colorado Springs, the city’s largest low-income neighborhood.

“It’s getting people into situations to improve the condition of their lives,” said Cindy Aubrey, executive director of Pikes Peak United Way.

A ribbon-cutting will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, to show off the renovated former Pikes Peak Elementary School, 1520 Verde Drive.

The nearly 60-year-old building closed in June 2022 under a D-2 restructuring plan to address declining enrollment and the desire to provide equity for all students.

The school building has undergone a $2.5 million renovation to become a community campus that offers a host of opportunities for families, from GED, English as a Second Language classes and certificate training programs for adults to afterschool tutoring and sports for kids, to driver’s license and public assistance kiosks.

“In D-2, we believe that schools should be community hubs,” said Superintendent Wendy Birhanzel.

“It made sense to us that if we had to repurpose a school, it would benefit the community in this way.”

Families were involved in voicing what they would like to see, she

said, and many of their wishes have been fulfilled.

United Way held family dinners and with the help of residents created a menu of services and support that would be advantageous, Birhanzel said.

The idea came out of a food distribution program the local United Way office ran from Mitchell High School for several years, Aubrey said.

“Serving all those families punctuated the need in the community,” she said.

The organization was leaning toward sponsoring a mobile food pantry for southeast Colorado Springs when Birhanzel offered up the elementary school that was slated for closure.

United Way staffs the center and has amassed numerous other organizations and agencies that are providing the services on site.

Completion is about six months behind schedule, Aubrey said Wednesday while giving a tour, citing supply chain issues and construction hold-ups that took longer than expected to resolve.

The project has been nearly four years in the making, Aubrey said.

Birhanzel said she’s happy to see it come to fruition.

From 2 to 6 p.m. Monday, the complex’s largest program, a Sunnyside Market of Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado, will open its doors in the former school library, which now has bright yellow walls and a friendly grocery store layout.

Distribution of pantry staples, frozen meats and other foods, dairy products and other choices that residents will be able to select themselves using grocery carts will happen Mondays and Thursdays. There are no income qualifications, but shoppers must register with Care and Share to participate.

Next door to the food pantry, Fountain Valley Health Care has set up a primary care clinic for patients of all ages who are Medicaid and Medicare recipients or uninsured.

Other programs are trickling in and should be fully functional next month, Aubrey said. Some, such as computer classes, are ongoing in refurbished classrooms in one wing of the building.

The other wing houses organizations such as Catholic Charities of Central Colorado, which handles wrap-around services, including life coaching, to help things click for families who are struggling with employment, housing and finances.

A child care center and preschool occupy several rooms for licensed daily and nightly consistent and drop-in care.

“There’s a lack of affordable and quality child care,” said Pikes Peak United Way’s Chief Operating Officer Heather Steinman.

Parents Challenge does parenting and budgeting sessions, and Colorado Springs Sports Corp. runs an afterschool sports program for elementary-age kids to play basketball, volleyball, pickleball and do other activities.

“Physical activity helps children deal with anxiety and mental health issues,” Aubrey said, “and teaches them how to conduct themselves as a team member and a leader.”

The National Cybersecurity Center teaches IT and cybersecurity certification courses in its computer lab, Ent Credit Union is offering financial literacy programs, Junior Achievement is presenting lessons on money for kids, Thrive Network is providing entrepreneurial business classes, Mentally Strong is available for behavioral health care referrals, and there’s more to come.

“One of the pieces we’re wanting to continue is that organic feel for what needs will arise,” Steinman said.

Organizations lease space for $1 a year but pay toward operational costs such as utilities, maintenance and landscaping, she said.

“There have been barriers to access for many years in our community,” Birhanzel said, “but we have great partners who are now actually bringing the needed services to families in their communities.”