June 2010 An amazing transformation from Exxon Jiffy Lube to Empowerment Center
How The Empowerment Center Was Born:
In June 2010, Dallas Attorney Kip Petroff, along with wife Suzi, an author and former schoolteacher, and New Hope Foundation announced the grand opening of an Adult Learning Center and Community Service Center in South Dallas. Avid environmentalists, the couple was excited to be able to convert an abandoned Exxon Jiffy Lube into a safe and healthy place where local men and women may seek assistance and further their educations. While the Center is specifically designed to meet the needs of adult learners in the immediate community, programs may also be implemented in the future to serve teens and children.
Empowerment Center Director, Reverend Johnny R. Flowers; and Architect, Allan Ross
The Empowerment Center is a gift from New Hope Foundation to the community. The Reverend Johnny R. Flowers, an icon of leadership and self-empowerment in South Oak Cliff, has been selected to run the Center. Reverend Flowers has chosen the name “Empowerment Center.”
The building currently houses three classrooms, meeting spaces, a small kitchen, and offices. Architect Allan Ross was able to save the shell of an Exxon Jiffy Lube, remove hazardous waste, and expand the building from 2,000 square feet to its current 5000 square feet. It was designed and constructed so that it may eventually accommodate an additional 5,000+ square feet of useable space on the second floor.
The Empowerment Center, located at 2200 Zang Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75224, offers various licenses and certifications, GED classes, self-improvement opportunities, and more. Several educational institutions have already begun making plans to use the facility in ways that will further benefit the neighboring community.