The Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center on Cleveland’s west side has just received a major gift: a new building. The ownership of the historic 1929 Archwood Church of Christ in the Brooklyn Centre neighborhood has been turned over to Julia de Burgos, which has already been holding programs there since 2018 as well as previously at other locations in the area. Now it will be able to expand those programs, while the Archwood Congregation continues to worship there.
The two organizations made it official with a celebration on July 17.
The transfer addresses issues both groups were facing. The 203-year-old Archwood congregation had been shrinking and no longer needed at 20,000 square foot building and 1,700 square foot parsonage. Meanwhile, Julia de Burgos was adding new programs and clients. The move was the result of a long study and process of discernment begun in 2014 as the congregation explored the best way to serve its changing neighborhood.
Now the parsonage contains studio spaces for artists and classes, while he church’s gym is a dance studio. The congregation continues to hold services each Sunday at 11am and focus on its mission to help address food insecurity in the community, including its two monthly low-cost produce sales.