Interview W/Stephanie Obiri from Fresh Hope Communities
Who is Fresh Hope Communities?
Fresh Hope Communities exists to create spaces that cultivate belonging and places that feel like home. Fresh Hope Communities is the welfare arm and Public Benevolent Institution entity of churches of Christ in NSW and ACT. For almost 90 years, they have been providing quality support and lifestyle choices across retirement, residential and respite settings, as well as conference and outdoor adventure experiences for school and community groups, and more recently, affordable housing.
What is the Nightingale Building?
Nightingale Marrickville is an affordable housing initiative developed by Nightingale Housing and Fresh Hope Communities. It consists of 54 teilhaus micro apartments that are a long term built-to-rent housing typology. From the design of the apartment interiors, through to the community living spaces, everything has been thoughtfully constructed with environmental sustainability, liveability and community in mind.
How did the relationship begin with Baba’s Place?
The relationship began in 2022 through a simple introduction. I was spending time getting to know business owners and community members in Marrickville and was introduced to Alex through a mutual friend who said he deeply cared about the local community and wanted to give back. At the beginning, it was not about a café at all.
Alex was part of a small group helping me understand the patterns, needs and dynamics of Marrickville. We spent months talking about the community, what people were experiencing, and what it would look like to contribute something meaningful rather than transactional.
Over time, it became clear there was an opportunity to align what Baba’s already did so well with an space intentionally set aside for community development. What started as conversations about community slowly evolved into a shared vision for a space that could bring people together around food, culture and connection.
As the project developed, the nature of the partnership shifted. Rather than pursuing a joint venture model, we made a very intentional decision to place the social enterprise fully in Baba’s hands. From Fresh Hope Communities perspective, our role is to steward the space and ensure it remains community facing in its intent. The delivery and activation now sit with Baba’s, who are best placed to lead it.
Are you excited to see SIT finally open?
Absolutely! It's so rewarding to see something that started as a conversation, then a possibility, move through different stages and finally become a physical space. There were moments where it felt like a long journey, but that is often what happens when something grows relationally rather than being forced.
To now stand in a finished space that carries the original heart of community, generosity and welcome is really special. More than just opening day, I am looking forward to watching it evolve into a place where people gather, share stories, host events and build connections over good food.
How do you think the community will respond to the space?
I think the response will be really positive. With SIT located on the ground floor of Nightingale Marrickville, it’s positioned within a neighbourhood that already values thoughtful, community‑minded spaces. Baba’s already has trust and credibility in the Inner West through its food, cultural expression and topical events.
That history gives the community confidence that this is not just another café, but a space grounded in purpose. Ultimately, the way the community responds will reflect how the team chooses to activate it. Under their leadership, we expect it to become a place for connection, learning and cultural exchange. We are genuinely excited to see how they shape it in ways that reflect the people around them.
Biggest learning curve during this experience?
The biggest learning was recognising that stewarding a community driven space was not just about patience and intention, it was about genuine relationship. From the beginning, the space was shaped collaboratively, with a shared commitment to steward it alongside the community rather than simply deliver something to them.
Both our team and the boys were learning as we went, working through ideas, listening and refining the vision together. It took time and plenty of back and forth, but each round of conversations clarified purpose, strengthened trust and built a deeper sense of shared responsibility.
I think this experience reinforced that authentic community outcomes come from embracing the journey together and allowing it to unfold at the right pace.
