Hillman City Collaboratory

The Hillman City Collaboratory is a social change incubator where community forms across boundaries and visionaries bring their dreams to life.

In late 2012, a congregation and an arts collective (Valley & Mountain Fellowship and Community

Arts Create) began dreaming together about a community space, owned and led by the neighborhood, which would bring people together to discover common ground, build community, and collaborate for social change. In June 2013 they leased a property and an adjacent vacant lot in the heart of Hillman City, gutted the space, and rallied individuals and organizations who have since poured their energy, talents, time, and money into the Collab. The doors opened in early 2014 and the space has been evolving and growing rapidly ever since!

The purpose of the Collaboratory (or Collab) is to provide space and opportunities for change-makers to build capacity and for residents to build community.

The Collab provides an inspirational, inclusive, affordable space where many groups and individuals can build community and work for social change. It is…

• a shared office for non-profits to do social change work in a communal and collaborative environment.
• a spacious common room used during evenings and weekends by many organizations for their activities, and used during daytimes as a drop-in center for people to relax and enjoy a free hot meal, clothes, and toiletries.
• a learning kitchen for cooking classes and healthy eating programs
• an urban park and farm for connecting with nature and neighbors!