THE market

to a commercial kitchen.

The hodgepodge of tenants have found ways to support each other. Take the Ahadi Initiative, a community of African refugees living in Dallas, who meet in space rented at the church. Members of the group had trouble attaining gainful employment, especially some of the women who were charged with caring for large families,

DeZengotita says.

The church stepped in to help the women capitalize on their creative talents by forming a sewing collective. They brought in commercial-grade equipment and hired a community manager from the group. “Now they’re commercially viable.”

The basement also houses a recording studio, dance studio and music studio, to name a few. Plans are growing to build a community garden outside the office space.

The church is still finding new ways to repurpose its expansive building. The Children’s Center school moved to the church earlier this year.

Plenty of churches have their own schools, but letting another organization come in and run a