From campus to catalyst

Martindale-Brightwood has known the campus at 2186 N. Sherman Drive for generations, most of them as Martin University. When the university paused operations in December 2025, Eastern Star Church stepped in, closing in May 2026 on the main building and roughly 28 surrounding parcels — an act of preservation, church leaders said, keeping a major asset in the African-American community in the community's hands. A dedicated founder's room will honor that history.

What the campus becomes is the ROCK Impact Center: a landmark two-story facility of approximately 51,896 square feet, anchoring a 20+ parcel development in the heart of the neighborhood. It pairs large-scale event space with professional offices, collaborative environments, and specialized amenities.

The first floor holds The Cornerstone Auditorium — approximately 10,000 square feet of flexible space for gatherings of up to 900 — along with 10+ meeting rooms and an on-site childcare facility. Upstairs are 40+ offices and conference rooms, including The Globe Room, a glass-enclosed space with full natural light at every angle.

The Center extends the ROCK Initiative, launched by Eastern Star Church in 2017, which has invested more than $25 million in the Arlington Woods neighborhood just minutes east — affordable housing, financial literacy, education, and community building. Those same four pillars shape every partnership here. The Center exists to be a catalyst for sustaining dignity, opportunity, and hope in Martindale-Brightwood and beyond.