Hearth gathers, connects, feeds, and houses beings of all walks of life, for as brief as one moment to as long as a lifetime. Hearth is a culture of refuge.
[Above: Andy looks over a field wearing a purple kuffiyah and their back is to the camera]
Storytime
About 15 years ago, I received a vision of a gathering space that has ahold of my heart. Hearth is a place for locals and travelers alike. It is a place where folks in transition (youth aging out of the foster care system, returning citizens, folks navigating a separation, etc.) can live in exchange for work. It is a place where community organizations come together for meetings and events. Hearth is where community happens – events center on creative expression, locally grown food, and cultivating collective respite. I am committed to bringing it to fruition in community.
There has always been an excuse keeping me from it – not the right time, not the right place, lack of invested collaborators, not enough money. A few years ago, in a conversation with my mentor Michelle Cassandra Johnson, she invited me to consider how to bring Hearth forward even now. This was a potent invitation and one I continue to hold dear, as it can be applied to all dreams and visions.
[Above: Backyard gathering at our place in Montana. One person is on the mic. Many gather to listen and also to connect with one another. Our dog is also on the stage.]
My partner Devin and I started hosting community potlucks and open mic events in our backyard. These monthly gatherings gained traction and about 40 people would bring delicious food and creative performances to share. The crowd was always slightly different, but the energy of connectivity and care was consistent. In our final summer in Montana, several of our events were fundraisers – for our a city council member (now running for Mayor), for an emerging makers space, and a sober tiny house community. These event nourished us to the core, and provided a place for our community to gather without the expectations we often feel in more formal settings.
Over the winter I made a commitment to put Hearth at the top of my list in 2025. Since we moved to Kalamazoo, we are considering how to bring this energy forward in a new place with care and consideration for who and what is already here. I am incredibly grateful to have connected with Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s Food Innovation Center, where there are classes full of folks with similar ideas. W E. A R E. S Y N E R G I Z I N G !
And so our vision is at the forefront of our home repair projects, the connections we make with organizations and individuals, and how we structure our daily lives.
Mission
With a heart for the earth and all inhabitants here, Hearth is a community consciously undoing harmful systems that keep us separate, fearful and inadequately supported. We look forward while considering the history of the land and all living beings, to cultivate a future-rustic life that is both nourishing and lasting.
Vision
Hearth gathers, connects, feeds, and houses beings of all walks of life, for as brief as one moment to as long as a lifetime. Hearth is a culture of refuge.
Join Us?
We are open to collaborators and eager to enhance our vision with, not for, not assuming, but with the vision and needs of local community.
Grounded Here 