Building the Vision: Community Engagement Behind the Stocking Community Hub
Beginning in May 2025, the vision for a Community Hub at the former Stocking Elementary site started to take shape as a plan—driven by conversations with residents and a growing recognition of neighborhood needs.
Over the past year, the West Grand Neighborhood Organization (WGNO) has worked alongside residents, partners, and stakeholders to further develop that vision into a shared, community-informed direction for the future of the site.
This effort has been rooted in a simple goal: ensuring that any future use of the site reflects the real needs and priorities of the West Grand community.
A Community-Driven Process
WGNO’s engagement efforts have included a combination of:
Neighborhood meetings and conversations
Surveys and feedback collection
Direct outreach to residents and stakeholders
Collaboration with local organizations and partners
In addition, in-person signature collection began in June 2025, followed by the launch of an online support petition on July 22, 2025, providing early and accessible opportunities for residents to show support and engage in conversations about the future of the Stocking site.
On July 31, 2025, WGNO also launched the Stocking Community Hub webpage, creating a centralized place for residents to access information, stay updated, and continue engaging with the project.
WGNO also compiled a Top 25 Community Needs framework—bringing together insights from multiple sources, including community feedback, local data, and existing assessments. This process helped identify consistent priorities and ensured that planning efforts were grounded in both lived experience and broader neighborhood trends.
Together, these efforts were designed to meet people where they are—creating multiple opportunities for residents to share their perspectives while building a clear, data-informed foundation for future planning.
Forming the Stocking Community Hub Committee
In October 2025, WGNO helped establish the Stocking Community Hub Committee to guide ongoing conversations about the future of the Stocking site.
Comprised of residents, partners, and community stakeholders, the committee works to:
Provide input on potential uses of the building
Identify priority needs within the neighborhood
Help shape a long-term vision grounded in lived experience
This step ensured that community input was not just collected—but actively integrated into the planning process.
What We Heard from the Community
Across engagement efforts, several consistent themes emerged:
The need for accessible community space
Increased food access and support services
Opportunities for workforce development and education
Expanded youth and family programming
A focus on long-term neighborhood stability
These priorities reflect a desire for a space that supports connection, access to resources, and opportunity for residents of all ages.
From Input to Vision
This engagement process led to the development of the Vision for the Stocking Community Hub—a concept rooted directly in community feedback and reinforced by the Top 25 Community Needs framework.
Rather than focusing on a single use, the vision centers on a multi-use, community-centered space designed to respond to the range of needs identified by residents.
The goal is to create a place where neighbors can:
Gather and connect
Access essential services
Learn and build skills
Support one another
All within a space that remains a lasting asset for the community.
Why This Approach Matters
Community engagement is most meaningful when it goes beyond input—and becomes part of decision-making.
By combining direct resident feedback with a structured understanding of community needs, WGNO has worked to ensure that the future of the Stocking site is shaped by both lived experience and a clear, data-informed foundation.
Looking Ahead
This work represents an ongoing commitment to community voice and collaboration.
As conversations about the future of the Stocking site continue, the foundation built through this engagement will remain central to what comes next.
Stay Informed
Community engagement has been a critical part of shaping this vision—and it continues to play an important role moving forward.