Officials with Civic Heart Community Services, which bills itself as the largest Black-founded nonprofit organization in the Gulf Coast region, celebrated a ribbon-cutting June 29 for their new headquarters at 3131 Emancipation Ave., within One Emancipation Center in Houston’s Third Ward.

The nonprofit, previously located at 3353 Elgin St., officially moved into its new spot earlier in June. Founded in 1989, the nonprofit offers a variety of programs and services centered around helping to empower people to bring change to their lives, including by helping youth involved in the justice system, helping families access health insurance and helping those experiencing homelessness with employment and mental health treatment, according to a June 29 news release.

The nonprofit was formerly known as Change Happens, but announced a name change to Civic Heart Community Services in May.

The new headquarters was necessary as Civic Heart outgrew its previous location, according to the release. It will also feature new office space and meeting rooms to host more community groups as well as an expanded technology center, which provides resources for residents to help with job applications, health insurance applications and computer access for students. They will occupy the new 13,028-square-foot headquarters through a 10-year lease.

Civic Heart offers 25 programs in 59 Texas counties through grants and partnerships. It staffs 75 employees and gets assistance from more than 280 volunteers, according to the release.

The new headquarters is located in One Emancipation Center, a project developed in 2021 by the Midtown Redevelopment Authority and the Center for Civic and Public Policy Improvement as a hub for a mix of organizations engaged in affordable housing advocacy.

“Civic Heart has been a part of the historic Third Ward for the past 34 years,” CEO Helen Stagg said in a statement. “We are delighted to find our new home in One Emancipation Center, with its tenant mix, including several other nonprofit organizations, working to create a thriving Third Ward community.”