Kinney Program

The Caritas Village

2509 Harvard Ave.

Memphis, TN 38112

Director of the Village: Onie Johns (901) 327-5246

Program description:

The CaritasVillage provides an interactive modular space where hospitality and creativity flourish as we strive to become “a church in the marketplace.” In the Village coffee shop friends and neighbors come together to share conversation and food for both the body and the soul. When we break bread together we begin to break down walls of hostility between the cultures and to build bridges of love and trust between the rich and the poor that move beyond the walls of The Village and into our daily lives.

The Village Art Center provides a place for children and youth to discover their artistic gifts, community artist to share their skills and local art institutions to reach out to the culturally underserved and disparate community members to connect.

Programs:

• The Village will serve all members of the Binghamton community and will collaborate with community artists and arts institutions to help young people discover and develop their talents in music, dance, drama, writing and the visual arts. Because of limited resources and the threatening environment created by our city streets, the neighborhood children are at increased risk for drug use, teen pregnancy, academic failure and involvement in violent crime. The Village Art Center offers a positive alternative to street corners, providing high quality arts education after-school at a price every interested community member can afford, in the neighborhood where they live.
• Documentary movie nights and discussion (3-4 times per year with childcare.)
• Children’s family fun nights with games, movie, etc. (3-4 times a year)
• Art openings and exhibits (4 times a year) with special focus on art that deals with

Reconciliation, shared values, role of diversity in society.

• Live acoustic music celebrating our shared roots ranging from blues to bluegrass to world music. An effort is made to have quality shows that expose the community to new musical forms and concepts.
• Coffeeshop is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Lunch served daily with table talk
• In addition, The Village is accepting applications for other community driven activities ranging from book clubs, to women’s groups etc. The Village is especially interested in proposals that include children and community members. The Village has the ability to help incubate new ideas and nurture/umbrella proposals.
• The future vision for the Village includes educational and empowerment programs coordinated by the staff and volunteers of the Village.
• The Village is an alcohol and drug free environment in which art, music and drama are celebrated as expressions of God’s infinite creativity and love for us. Art, film and other activities are viewed as expressions of this love.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Help with coffee shop.
• Volunteer with any of the center’s programs.