The City of Hampton has opened a new office for the Department of Economic Empowerment and Family Resilience, aiming to help residents gain skills and access opportunities that address poverty. The facility is located at Phenix Commerce Park, on the site previously occupied by the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind.
Mayor Jimmy Gray highlighted the importance of the location during Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. “This site has a proud legacy as a place where vulnerable people came to be empowered, and where they learned to be resilient,” Mayor Gray said. “So today, we honor the past and we look ahead to the future — and it’s a future where our residents and our families are able to reach their fullest potential here in Hampton.”
Attendees included individuals with connections to the former school, who contributed ideas for commemorating its history within the commerce center. Visitors also toured the new facility following the event.
City Manager Mary Bunting discussed how many families in Hampton struggle financially despite being employed full-time, referencing those identified as ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed). She described the new office as “where opportunity and resources come together.” Bunting added: “Everything we put into this is all worthwhile, because we are changing lives.”
DeAnna Valentine, director of Economic Empowerment and Family Resilience, introduced two local residents who have already received assistance from services provided by her department. Valentine also recognized contributions from community groups such as Stone Soup Collective and LINK of Hampton Roads, Inc.
She explained that LIFE—Lift, Inspire, Fortify and Empower—is central to their support strategy. “The goal is economic mobility for everyone,” Valentine said. “We want to help people find that path connecting them to living-wage employment and LIFE support. It’s not just about connecting someone to a job, but about dealing with all the things that can get in the way of keeping the job and advancing.”
Further information about programs offered by this department can be found on their website through this link.
