Whitneyville Cultural Commons Inc

WE PRESERVE AND ENHANCE PLACES OF COMMUNAL AND HISTORIC VALUE BY PROVIDING PUBLIC SPACES, TOOLS, AND KNOWLEDGE AS SHARED RESOURCES TO SUPPORT A THRIVING COMMUNITY SOCIALLY, CULTURALLY, AND ECONOMICALLY. WE ENVISION A FUTURE WHERE EVERY COMMUNITY HAS VALUABLE RESOURCES PRESERVED FOR PERPETUAL PUBLIC USE, WITH JUST AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL. WE: PRESERVE HISTORIC PLACES: STEWARD HISTORIC PROPERTIES IN OUR TRUST WITH A COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING BUILDINGS AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS AS PART OF THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF THE SITE. DEVELOP SOCIAL CAPITAL: NUTURE COMMUNAL RELATIONSHIPS AS HOST TO DIVERSE CIVIC FORUMS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SOCIAL EVENTS, AND SPIRITUAL AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS. CHAMPION ARTISTIC CREATION: CULTIVATE, CELEBRATE AND SHOWCASE ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS OF ALL KINGS. STIMULATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY: DEVELOP LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS, AND START-UPS THROUGH COWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND THE PROVISION OF SHARED INFORMATION, MATERIALS AND SERVICES.

AS PART OF OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM, WE PURCHASED 1247-1253 WHITNEY AVENUE, HAMDEN, CT, 06517, A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, WHICH INCLUDES THE WHITNEYVILLE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST BUILT IN 1834 AND ITS CHURCH HOUSE BUILT IN 1924, AND CONTINUED ITS LEGACY AS A HOUSE OF WORSHIP WHILE CONTINUING TO ADAPT ITS USE TO A BROADER COMMUNITY RESOURCES CENTER AND THE FACILITY IN WHICH WE RUN OUR OTHER PROGRAMS. WITH THE SHUTDOWN FROM THE PANDEMIC CONTINUING TO LIFT, BOTH THE HISTORIC CHURCH AND THE CHURCH HOUSE BECAME MORE USED FOR THE REST OF OUR PROGRAMS, ALLOWING THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION TO CONTINUE. WE WRAPPED UP OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST PAUL AND ST JAMES IN NEW HAVEN, AT 57 OLIVE STREET, LETTING THEM OPERATE THEIR OWN COMMUNITY RESOURCES CENTER, WITH THE WCC CEASING TO MANAGE ANY OF THE OPERATIONS AT THAT LOCATION. PRESERVATION PROJECTS ON THE WHITNEYVILLE UNTIED CHURCH OF CHRIST CONTINUED TO COMPLETION WITH BOB ZONI INC HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMPANY HELPING US TO COMPLETE THE EXTERIOR RESTORATION FOR THAT BUILDING.

OUR ASSEMBLY SPACE PROGRAM CONTINUED TO ALLOW USE OF THE HISTORIC PROPERTIES IN OUR TRUST FOR BROAD USE FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS, NONPROFITS, AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS. THE RED CROSS OF AMERICA RAN MOBILE BLOOD DRIVES, WEEKLY AND WITHOUT FAIL, AT OUR FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SOCIAL GATHERING CONTINUED TO GROW FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, EXCEEDING PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS AND PROVING THE VITAL NECESSITY OF SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH HIGH DEMAND. WE HOSTED ROUGHLY ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY COMMUNITY, NONPROFIT, AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS DURING 2023.

OUR COWORKING PROGRAM PROVIDES A DYNAMIC SHARED AND PRIVATE WORKING ENVIRONMENT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER STARTUPS, SEASONED PROFESSIONALS, REMOTE RESEARCHES, FREELANCERS, AND SOLOPRENEURS, IN A PUBLIC SPACE WHERE THEY INTERACT MORE REGULARLY WITH EACH OTHER AND THEIR COMMUNITY WITH LOWER OVERHEAD TO INSURE VIABILITY OF THEIR SMALL BUSINESSES, AND TO GIVE NEW ENTREPRENEURS A CHANCE TO MAKE IT IN AND A REASON TO STAY IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. OUR PARTNER COWORKING ORGANIZATIONS: CEIO, BLACK INFINITY COLLECTIVE, PUBLIC ALLIES CT, STUDENTS FOR EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE, REAL CLEAR FOUNDATION, STOP SOLITARY, INTERFAITH VOLUNTEER CAREGIVERS, AND OUR SOLO-PRENEURS, DID COWORKING ACTIIVITIES IN OUR FACILITIES UTILIZING BOTH COMMUNAL SPACES AND PRIVATE OFFICES.