Construction Has Begun
Renewing a Landmark. Continuing a Legacy.
The Rev. Leon H. Sullivan Community Impact Center will restore the historic Zion Educational Annex at Broad & Venango into a modern hub for education, health, creativity, sustainability, and economic opportunity.
Now Opening Fall 2026
Broad & Venango Streets
3601-07 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
Legacy Comes Home to Broad & Venango
Located at the corner of Broad and Venango Streets in the heart of North Philadelphia, the Rev. Leon H. Sullivan Community Impact Center will bring new life to a historic community landmark rooted in service, faith, education, and economic opportunity.
The Center will occupy the same building as Zion’s Educational Annex, founded by Rev. Sullivan directly across Broad Street from Zion Baptist Church. What once served as a vital home for learning, guidance, and neighborhood connection will be restored as a modern community anchor for a new generation.
The Vision
A New Home for Community Impact
The Rev. Leon H. Sullivan Community Impact Center is being designed as a flexible community hub where residents, youth, families, artists, entrepreneurs, healthcare partners, and mission-aligned organizations can connect, learn, create, heal, and grow.
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Education & Career Pathways
Youth learning, technology exposure, gaming careers, college readiness, workforce readiness, and access to future-facing opportunities.
Growth & Opportunity
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Health, Wellness & Healing
Community health support, prevention, care navigation, wellness education, and spaces designed to strengthen individual and neighborhood wellbeing.
Growth & Opportunity
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Arts, Culture & Local Opportunity
Creative programming, local artists, community gathering, neighborhood enterprise, and cultural expression rooted in North Philadelphia.
Growth & Opportunity
What the Center Will Make Possible
Impact Map of the Center
Programs, partners, and gathering spaces designed to serve North Philadelphia.
Gaming & Technology
PHL Gaming Initiative
Career pathways, game design, digital media, youth learning.
Come for the games. Leave with a career.
Health & Community Care
Temple University Health & Community Care Partners
Care access, prevention, navigation, and health justice.
Community Commons
Flexible space for connection, events, and shared activity.
Arts & Creative Healing
Community Arts Center
Classes, clubs, artist space, and art therapy.
Café
A welcoming gathering place for neighbors, visitors, and Philadelphia authors.
Conceptual impact map. Final spaces and program locations may evolve.
Sustainability & Community Health
Sustainability Rooted in the Sullivan Principles
The Center’s design philosophy reflects one of the Sullivan Principles: protect human health and the environment, and promote sustainable development. Through adaptive reuse, energy-efficient systems, healthier materials, and green building education, the Center is being restored with both the community and the future in mind.
Protect human health and the environment; and promote sustainable development.
— The Sullivan Principles
The goal is not just to reopen a building. It is to model how neighborhood anchors can be renewed with care, purpose, and long-term responsibility.
Sustainability Features
- Public transit access
- Adaptive reuse of a historic building
- Energy-efficient building systems
- Green building training opportunities
- Low-VOC materials
- Future resiliency hub potential
- Planned for LEED Certification
The Spirit of the Lion
About Rev. Leon H. Sullivan
Rev. Leon H. Sullivan was a giant in stature, vision, and impact. As pastor of Zion Baptist Church for 38 years, he used his pulpit as a launch point for history-making campaigns in civil rights, human rights, and economic justice.
From Zion Baptist Church, Rev. Sullivan advocated for Selective Patronage, founded Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America, became a leading voice against apartheid in South Africa, and continued to fight for economic opportunity.
The Rev. Leon H. Sullivan Community Impact Center honors the spirit of the Lion by continuing the work of opportunity, justice, and community empowerment where so much of it began.
- 38 Years at Zion Baptist Church
- Founder of OIC
- Lion of Zion
Zion’s Educational Annex
A Sacred Place. A Civic Space.
At its height, Zion Educational Annex was home to more than a dozen active community programs, including childcare, after-school programming, a library, college and career guidance, and social activities for local residents.
For many in the community, the Annex was more than a building. It was a place of care, learning, safety, connection, and possibility.
Now, through the leadership of Called To Serve Community Development Corporation, the Leon Sullivan CDC, Zion Baptist Church, and key community partners, the vision is being restored for a new generation.
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Then
A dozen active community programs serving local residents.
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Now
Restoration underway through community leadership and partnership.
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Next
Now Opening Fall 2026.
Broad & Venango • Construction Has Begun • Opening Fall 2026
Help Bring the Center to Life
Construction has begun, and the Rev. Leon H. Sullivan Community Impact Center is now opening Fall 2026. Your support helps restore a historic North Philadelphia landmark and create a permanent home for programs, partnerships, and opportunities that uplift residents today and for generations to come.
It’s not only about what he’s done, but what are you going to do?
— Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr.
Get Involved
Building Opportunity in the Heart of the Community
Through entrepreneurship, education, healthcare, arts, human services, and sustainable community development, Called To Serve is creating a place where residents can learn, connect, access support, and build a stronger future.
Be part of the work that helps bring this vision to life.