Caritas Village

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Knitting

Rebecca Jordan, Executive Director for the Mid-South Interfaith Network for Economic Justice, leads a knitting circle where seasoned knitters and novices weave yarn and stories into beautiful works of art.  The circle meets weekly and is free to the public.

Hip Hop Classes

Hip Hop Classes taught by stage and television director, actor, choreographer and dancer, DeWayne Hambrick, invites the young and the young at heart to dance for the joy, and health of it.  Classes are weekly and free to the public.

Rehearsal and performance space

The Village’s theatre space is often used by local performing arts groups as both performance and rehearsal space.

frank d. robinson, jr., Caritas Village Artist-in-Residence

frank d. robinson, jr., Caritas Village Artist-in-Residence, is a modern day griot, telling stories of our migration through life via his art. He painstakingly documents our journeys through life, love and struggle in his haunting, surreal work.  A native of Memphis, TN, robinson received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Memphis in 1993, 1998 earned a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Painting and Drawing, and a subsequent MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2000. robinson’s work has been exhibited at Nike, Shering Plough, Nippon Steel and the Museum of Science and Industry. Some of his most recent showings have been in Philadelphia, Washington DC, and New York City. robinson’s showcase art studio is housed at The Village.

Robinson’s work provides the art backdrop of the coffee house.  Robinson’s recent exhibitions have brought needed attention to important societal issues such as infant mortality, breast cancer, diabetes, anti-violence and spirituality.

Photography Club

The Village houses a youth photography club led by Veteran James Bonds, who recently received an Oprah Winfrey grant. The project gives neighborhood children the opportunity to learn about angles, framing, lighting and other photography skills as they capture shot after shot of life within their community. The class is free neighborhood youth. Digital cameras are provided to participants free of charge and given to those who successfully completed the project.

Jazz/Folk/Blues/Rock

Local musicians occasionally share their talent in The Village café space.

Frequent Theatrical Venue for Community Performances

The Village Theater was both venue and host for the following plays: “Sing for King” (theatrical performance written and starring Jack McNeil), Frederick Douglass (theatrical performance written by and starring Darius Wallace), and The Journey of Truth (theatrical performance written by and starring Jazmin Miller).  Admission was a donation of any amount.

Memorial for those slain

A prayer service and memorial was held on Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday for the city’s 160 homicides victims in 2006.  Resembling a mini-cemetery, the memorial is erected on the lawn of the Caritas Village. The memorial remains erected and has become “holy ground” as friends and family members of those slain visit their loved one’s memorial.  A new memorial will be erected on King Day, 2008 where 2007 victims will be honored.

The “Really Really Free Market”

The “Really Really Free Market” is an annual attempt to offer an alternative to our materialistic lifestyle by encouraging folks to bring anything they would like (including a talent like singing, massage, bike repair, etc) to The Village and give it away! Really Really Free Markets are trying to change the way people think about the economy, “because there’s enough for everyone, because sharing is more fulfilling than owning, because free trade is a contradiction in terms.”

Caritas Safari

This summer, neighborhood children experienced a virtual safari through music, crafts, games and storytelling. Admission was open and free to area children.

Monthly movies

The Memphis School of Servant Leadership sponsored monthly movies and discussion.  All movies featured had a racial reconciliation and redemptive theme. Admission was open and free to the public.

Trunk or Treat

Neighbors, Volunteers and Friends decorated and filled their car trucks with goodies to celebrate and provided a safe Halloween for neighborhood children.  Children “truck or treated” cars parked in The Village parking lot.  Children danced to music provided by a great DJ.  Volunteers grilled hotdogs.

Polling Place

The Village serves as a local polling venue.

Free Health Clinic

Free health services are provided every Tuesday by volunteer medial personnel.

Self Esteem Through The Arts (S.E.T.A.) is an arts activities program conducted by highly trained artists and professionals to build self-esteem in girls, ages 8-16 years of age Activities include:

1)      music, dance movement and techniques

2)      acting, creative writing and poetry

3)      health and sexuality and self esteem building, and

4)      painting and floral artistry