SAMS Finds A Home, A 501(c)3, and More!
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Construction on SAMS' new Movement Hub began in early July. Excitingly, things are down to the particulars as board members and staff met with the contractor this past week to finalize paint and flooring. The Hub will be a central meeting, capacity sharing, and organizing space for other grassroots groups in the area. Discussion with partners from The Clinch Coalition (TCC, based out of Norton, VA) and the regional STAY Project promises to yield exciting synergy in the coming years. Both groups have signed on as initial movement hub partners.
The Hub will serve as a shared space for development of leadership, organizing, and community stewardship skills for stakeholders in our communities.
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The idealization of this space follows after many years of member and board visioning. With our 501(c)(3) in progress and pending approval imminently, major pieces of a many years' long strategic endeavor will become tangible assets. The 501(c)(3) will establish SAMS as a standalone non-profit, without the need for fiscal sponsorship. This will allow us to apply for greater, more sustainable funding and facilitate stronger collaboration within the already robust grassroots network of which SAMS has helped grow.
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SAMS is also in the volunteer led process of renovating a space on the Hub grounds that will function as a part-time free store, housing both shelf stable goods and a community refrigerator that will be available and accessible at all times. Such falls into LPMA programming, and will allow us to further goals based around community based care and solidarity.
Following the completion of all renovations and set-up of the space, we plan to have an open house in which everyone is invited to attend. Keep an eye on the ActiveSAMS listserv for updates/invitations!