In the fall of 2014, Xavier University Community Outreach Center (XUCOC) opened its doors to welcome the historic Gert Town community in New Orleans, LA. Through program initiatives, Xavier University of Louisiana’s faculty and students work with the community residents to foster empowerment. XUCOC encourages meaningful volunteerism to encourage faculty and students to respond to the community’s needs. Various organizations collaborate with XUCOC in order to best serve the needs of the Gert Town community. We invite other individuals and organizations to partner with XUCOC in our community development projects. The XUCOC relies on the four strands of program development; students, faculty, Gert Town community residents, and community stakeholders. Applying these four strands ensures that the community's needs are met and that the community can be empowered from within its own strength. XUCOC encourages faculty and students to engage in volunteer work, outreach experiences, and externships to benefit the community and cultivate sustainability. XUCOC seeks faculty who wish to initiate research that is connected to the Gert Town community. We believe that, by doing so, we can provide evidence-based programs that will equip Gert Town residents with the skills necessary to enhance the quality of their lives.