RedZone

Ministries

Community

Outreach

The RedZone Ministries Community Outreach Center embodies renewal, opportunity and hope for a community long defined by resilience. For more than two decades, RedZone has provided faith-based mentorship and after-school programming to local youth, bridging the critical gap between the end of the school day and when parents return home. Phase 1 of the new Community Outreach Center, known as the Opportunity Zone, brings RedZone's vision of a permanent home dedicated to education, creativity and community connection to life.   The two-story facility was designed as a neighborhood landmark and a practical, flexible resource for daily engagement. The exterior materiality reflects the adjacent brick architecture, including Melrose High School and Porter-Leath Academy Orange Mound, an early learning center. The bold red and gray application of brick creates an optimistic symbol in a neighborhood that has seen little new development since the 1970s, signaling a forward-looking investment in the next generation. The building is designed to blend into the residential community, with a single-story form adjacent to the street and a two-story form farther into the site. Designed for flexibility and growth, the Center anticipates a future expansion that will include a new gymnasium and additional community spaces, ensuring that RedZone can continue to evolve in response to the changing needs of Orange Mound residents.   The building's interior layout supports dynamic learning and mentorship, housing six Ministry Outreach Rooms for small-group engagement and counseling, a dedicated computer lab to promote digital literacy and a vibrant game room that encourages recreation and social connection. A flexible maker space and art room foster creativity and hands-on exploration, while the multipurpose room accommodates gatherings of 60 to 100 people, hosting larger events, performances and community gatherings. The facility also includes administration offices and ministry support spaces that strengthen organizational operations, along with a kitchen and open eating area that create opportunities for shared meals and informal interaction.   These programmatic elements create a holistic environment where students can learn, play, create and belong. The building's adjacency to the Porter-Leath Early Learning Academy further enhances its community impact, forming an intergenerational education campus that supports families from early childhood through adolescence. More than just a building, the RedZone Ministries Community Outreach Center serves as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization and youth empowerment. It is an enduring place of faith, opportunity and transformation for generations to come.