Dear friends,
I am delighted to join with the Vestry in announcing that St. James’ will welcome the New Deal Creative Arts Center as a new tenant in our Parish House beginning this month. This arrangement is mutually beneficial: New Deal, as a growing nonprofit, will have the space they need for their expanding programs, while St. James’ will gain income to support our mission and, just as importantly, we’ll have an excellent opportunity to show Christian hospitality and share our love for God and neighbor—New Deal’s presence will significantly increase the volume of community members who come through our doors!
The New Deal Creative Arts Center is a Hyde Park-based nonprofit that explores and celebrates all forms of art (fine, performing, visual, literary, etc.) through workshops, classes, special events and performances. They focus on creating opportunities for artists and audiences of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. New Deal’s Executive Director, Teresa Gasparini, is a member of St. James’, and many members and friends of St. James’ also support New Deal as volunteers, artists, and audience members.
New Deal will lease two presently-unused classroom spaces on the second floor of our Parish House, as well as the northern side of our attic. They will also have use of our Parish Hall and other spaces with advanced approval and arrangement. St. James’ will, of course, continue to observe appropriate security measures for our Nursery School and others children’s programs.
Please take note of messages in the E-pistle outlining plans to clear the northern side of our attic as part of our welcoming New Deal. If you or your ministry team are storing items in that part of the attic, please check in with me or Junior Warden Mike Glancey as soon as possible.
If you have any questions or comments about this arrangement, I encourage you to speak to any member of the Vestry or to me. Thank you for joining in giving a warm St. James’ welcome to the New Deal Creative Arts Center!
Faithfully,
Meredith+
The Rev. Meredith Kadet Sanderson
St. James’ Episcopal Church
