About

Our Story

HCCD is dedicated to improving the lives of residents in neglected neighborhoods in West Central Fresno. These neighborhoods face high poverty rates, limited access to resources, and low mobility, creating significant challenges for residents to thrive. To address these issues, we collaborate closely with partners and organizations to bring sustainable change and development to the area.
We believe that providing resources and infrastructure is essential to creating a healthy and sustainable community.
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Our community center serves as a hub for our efforts, acting as a bridge builder for the community. We advocate for policy/systems reform and changes that support affordable housing development and offer educational resources for renters and homebuyers. Additionally, we prioritize infrastructure development and work with community members to ensure efforts align with needs. We are currently working on changing ordinances so that different housing options can be built. Affordable housing means everyone at every level has a housing option available to them. 
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Catalyzing economic growth is a focus for us. We provide startup support to entrepreneurs, creating opportunities and stimulating the local economy. Social services play an integral role. We believe that everyone should have access to basic needs, and therefore, we work to stop food insecurity and with surround support to change dynamics. 
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Furthermore, we recognize that access to quality healthcare is essential, and we work to ensure that everyone in the community has access to prevention, intervention, and treatment options through the center, as our community is nowhere near meeting the continuum of care goals.
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We promote arts and culture programming as it helps our diverse community cultivate relationships and bloom. We work on air and climate initiatives, adding a community greenspace to our center for and with our neighbors, and are pursuing micro-transit options for an area with few alternate transportation modes. 
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We focus on our future, our youth, and our children, realizing they need to be empowered and encouraged, as they are our tomorrow. Mentoring, youth leadership, and development are key to giving them a safe place: group meets and chats, volunteer opportunities, and soft skills building.
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In summary, our organization is committed to revitalizing neighborhoods, developing community, and building relationships in West Central Fresno through a comprehensive approach that addresses critical community needs. We collaborate with partners, engage resident leaders, and focus on resident-led initiatives, so together, we thrive.

We Value

The inherent dignity of all people.

Education and Vocational training as a key toward better community strength.

A community working together to provide solutions.

Spiritual formation for developing a self-less perspective.

Leaders for a community are found within the community.

Partnerships & collaboration to sustain the community.

Our History in the Community

Building Our Stronger Foundation

Empowering Communities since 1997

At HCCD, we are the heartbeat of empowerment in the Highway City/West of 99 area. Our journey began in 1995 when we were founded, and then as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization by 1997, driven by a vision to help our community thrive by enabling self-help.

The Thrift Store that Sparked Change

Back in 1983, our story started with the Highway City Thrift Store. It wasn't just a store; it was a ministry to our community. Over the years, it evolved into a dynamic outlet for skill building, youth programs, and outreach, playing a vital role in our community until 2019.

Profits that Made an Impact

The heart of our Thrift Store was its commitment to giving back. Profits stayed within our community, fueling programs like the Food Bank/Pantry, Job Training/Work Program, Life Skills, and Community Service initiatives, all centered around Highway City Thrift. These initiatives extended to After School Learning Centers, Summer Enrichment programs for our youth, and sponsorships.

The Gloria Aldama Legacy

In 2000, Gloria Aldama, a member of Central Community Church, saw the need to elevate children's reading levels in Sierra Mobile Home Park. Despite limited resources, she initiated a reading program from her mobile home. Gloria's passion persisted until her passing in 2001. Ed Winchester, retired from the Fresno Police Dept., continued her work. In her honor, we established the Gloria Aldama Learning Center, hosting summer learning, enrichment programs, movie nights, and community events for over 15 years.

Afterschool Programs and More

In 2008, we launched two Afterschool programs at Gloria Aldama Learning Center @ SMP and the Courtyard Apartments, serving over 80 children regularly during the school year. These programs expanded to include a summer enrichment program with volunteer staff.

Growing with our Community

In 2014, we added monthly Fresh Food distributions and ESL classes. In 2015, we enhanced our summer activities for families through a partnership with Fresno County Libraries, offering fantastic shows and reading programs. Community events, Saturday Sports & Recreation, collaborations with Toys for Tots, and continued support for families in crisis with Central Unified all became part of our mission.

Stepping Up During COVID-19

 Despite the challenging timing of our center's opening, we swiftly shifted into emergency services mode during the COVID-19 pandemic. In those first six months, we offered thousands of services and meals in partnership with Central Unified and Peoples Church.

A Year of Achievement

In the past year, we've achieved remarkable milestones. Our community resource center welcomed 20,000 individuals, becoming a vital hub. We hosted 85 workshops with over 1,800 participants, covering subjects like parent engagement, STEM, immigration, healthy cooking, and computer literacy.  In healthcare, we held 17 clinics, serving over 900 patients. We organized 15 outreach events with substantial attendance, facilitated community meetings and forums, and engaged in meaningful conversations and surveys.  We've also made strides in our greenspace project, creating an area for the community to enjoy while working with partners on air and climate initiatives for better health outcomes. These events have fostered community engagement, uniting residents to lead the way in shaping our shared future.  Together, we're making a difference, and the journey is just beginning.