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Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology + Grow Benzie + Commongrounds Cooperative
Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology, Grow Benzie, and Commongrounds Cooperative have formed a Community Center Coalition to better serve the region of Northwest Lower Michigan. With a shared abundance mindset, these organizations have served as catalysts for resilience and prosperity in their communities.
This coalition aims to fortify the backbone of Northwest Michigan by establishing an interconnected network of thriving community centers that will mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19. The strategy focuses on childcare, food security, healthcare, and workforce development, sectors severely affected by the pandemic. By leveraging social infrastructure, the initiative seeks to bridge resource and political divides and foster social cohesion. This is crucial given the heightened social isolation and political polarization exacerbated by the pandemic. The proposed community centers will offer a broad array of programs, including arts, wellness, small business development, and family activities, thereby creating a space for respectful dialogue, combating misinformation, and encouraging evidence-based decision-making.
Specifically, Grow Benzie will provide a safe, accessible space for food entrepreneurship and act as a catalyst for regional solutions in early childhood care, workforce development, and broadband access. Similarly, Crosshatch will offer sustainable agriculture career training and entrepreneurial support, including workspace and broadband access. Commongrounds will focus on creating an inclusive space that connects community members to essential services focused on food, family, arts, and wellness. It also plans to include affordable housing and a childcare center to meet the pressing needs of the community.
The initiative prioritizes data-driven impact, with an increase in services needed observed in sectors like food assistance and behavioral health. The growing complexity of our community members' needs, now requiring an average of four pathways per client, highlights the urgency for this integrated approach. Economically, the community centers will serve as launchpads for revitalizing the local economy by nurturing small businesses, facilitating workforce development, and improving access to essential services. This will contribute to overall community resilience and social capital.
By 2030, it is anticipated that this comprehensive strategy will produce long-term positive impacts on population health, economic vitality, and social cohesion, aligning with both local and national objectives. By pooling resources and expertise, this project aims to build a more resilient, cohesive, and economically vibrant community.