Mission
In September 2020, after the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless other Black folks by police, the Stone Soup Artist/Activist Collective and Community Resource Center transitioned into The Village Worcester. The Village is an Afrocentric cultural, learning, & healing center in the Main South neighborhood of Worcester, MA. The Village builds grassroots power by connecting Black/BIPOC groups, healers, and individuals whose work is rooted in racial justice, learning, creativity, community, & healing.
What We Do
1) Providing commercial office & community spaces to BIPOC grassroots/non-profit groups and organizations in our community
2) Host programs that celebrate the richness and beauty of Black History & Culture year-round
3) Providing accessible opportunities for our community to explore holistic healing with BIPOC practitioners.
Five Pillars of the Village
Combating white supremacy, racism, anti-Blackness, and Indigenous erasure by understanding how these systems of oppression operate and resisting against them.
Racial Justice
Being open to different realities other than our own and understanding that we are on a lifelong journey to learn more about ourselves, our peers, our communities, and our world.
Learning
Importance of self-expression and cultural advancement through arts, music, dance, poetry, and other art forms.
Creativity
Building connections and space for those who have shared understanding to gather, organize, and make change together.
Community
Centering physical, mental, spiritual + health and honoring the individual and collective practices, traditions, and resilience of BIPOC communities.
Healing
Seven Principles | Nguzo Saba
Umoja
Unity
Foster Unity amongst all that share the space, the King Street / Main South neighborhood we operate and organize in, and the larger community of Worcester & the World.
Kujichagulia
Self-Determination
Space for self-development work where folks can discover and define who they are and how they want to show up in this world.
Ujima
Collective Work & Responsibility
Everyone is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the building and willing to collaborate to strengthen programs and impact with others (when appropriate) and understand that freedom will be achieved together.
Ujamaa
Cooperative Economics
Using and sharing funds and other resources to elevate our ability to do work and reach those who are most in need of what we do.
Nia
Purpose
Commitment to supporting folks in determining and cultivating their life path(s) and how they want to utilize it in our world.
Kuumba
Creativity
Empowering folks with the space and tools to be their fullest, most creative self, and to leave every place they go more beautiful than it was before.
Imani
Faith
Believe in ourselves, our organizations, and the power of The Village to create a safe space centered on racial justice, learning, creativity, community, and healing.