Community Builder

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Peace House Community is a small community center/day center serving the Ventura Village neighborhood in south Minneapolis. Our community members live in the neighborhood and face economic instability, housing uncertainty, social isolation, stigmatization, and similar daily challenges. PHC counters these conditions by providing a safe, welcoming, and affirming community that gets to know its members as individuals.

Mission

Peace House Community (PHC) nourishes its members’ bodies and souls by providing a safe space for everyone. PHC enriches the lives of its members, volunteers and students by offering a place to belong for everyone who comes through its doors.

Vision

Community members who have been wounded by economic and social dislocation will be healed through caring relationships in a supportive community.

Guiding Principles

The following guiding principles enable us to create an atmosphere of cooperation and fairness:

• Ensure all voices are given an opportunity to express themselves.
• Respect the diversity of opinions and experiences in the community.
• Listen to other people with a mind that is open to wisdom from all sources.
• Practice non-violence through self-restraint, encouraging words, compassionate actions and respectful listening.
• Accept difficult situations with grace and serenity as we work towards conflict resolution.

PHC relies on volunteers to welcome our community members into a safe and affirming space by sitting with them, hearing their stories and affirming their worth regardless of their life situation. Each day, PHC’s volunteers get to share in the life stories that our community members are writing. The stories include joys, fears, friendships, loneliness and so much more.

Volunteers are also encouraged to use any talents or interests they have that can serve the community members. Current volunteers give the community members haircuts, fix bikes, offer hand massages, lead group discussions and more. Others help with lawn care and building maintenance or pick up food donations. Many work behind the scenes, planning special events or writing thank-you letters to donors.

PHC was founded in 1985 to provide an oasis in the midst of chaos and stress to those on the fringes of society. We carry on this tradition today by finding creative ways to welcome our community members. PHC is the neighborhood coffee shop for anyone who cannot afford or would not be welcomed into coffee shops. We welcome each person, regardless of their struggles, and wind up with a vibrant, eclectic (and sometimes strange in a good way) community.

PHC knows that each volunteer brings a unique life experience with them. We encourage everyone to consider volunteering regardless (or because of) their background, current life situation and other factors. We envision a volunteer group as diverse and vibrant as our community members.

For a tour of Peace House Community or to get more information, call Jana Maltby, Volunteer Coordinator, at: 651-494-4988 or email: Jana@peacehousecommunity.org
Check out our website at peacehousecommunity.org for more information.