The Hearth, a nonprofit with the mission of cultivating space for rest, restoration, and reconnection, has now been open in Silver City for four months, and invites further community participation.
The organization holds the view that for people and communities to function optimally, they need time and space for rest and reconnection. Without this, their health, energy, imagination, creativity, and well-being are compromised. Furthermore, when we rest, we are able to reconnect with our wholeness, which is inherent and unconnected from productivity or accomplishment. The Hearth cultivates spaces for rest and connection on its campus for communal gatherings, affordable retreat space, and low-cost office rentals to mission-aligned partners.
The Hearth is housed in the building at 1915 N Swan Street that was formerly used by the local First Presbyterian congregation. The Presbytery de Cristo, which operates over 20 churches in southern Arizona and western New Mexico, continues to own the building, but they have placed it in custody of The Hearth. Although The Hearth received a start-up grant from the Presbytery, The Hearth does not have any faith-based requirements for use of the building or participation in its community events.
Several ways of realizing its mission:
The Hearth exists to respond to the greater community's needs for rest, reflection, restoration, and reconnection with self, community, the natural world, and the sacred in diverse ways.
● It is open to mission-aligned groups looking for meeting, workshop, and retreat space.
● It is open to hosting large family gatherings such as weddings and showers and has meal service for 100.
● It is open to community events such as concerts in the former sanctuary with its excellent acoustics and full sound-system, and dances, potlucks, and fairs in the community room, which also has a sound system.
● It is open for mission-aligned fundraisers such as auctions and dinners. Its full-service kitchen with service for 100 is useful for large-batch cooking.
● Grant County has the highest number of nonprofits in the state. People working in various ways for the common good tend to be underpaid and to burn out in our fast-paced, corporate-focused culture. Silver City is also within four hours of three major Southwestern cities—El Paso, Albuquerque, and Tucson—all of which are home to many people who witness and work with some of the most pressing issues of this time and place. This includes border solidarity, anti-gentrification, climate and environmental justice, and immigration accompaniment work. This is world-changing work—necessary, powerful, and often challenging. One goal The Hearth has had since its inception is to convert four to six former Sunday school classrooms into places where people of purpose can go on retreat. Retreat-goers may be experiencing burnout, exhaustion, or grief, or they may simply be in need of a period of peace and quiet. Whether they live in the county, the state, or further afield, The Hearth offers them retreat space at an affordable cost in Silver City, situated at the edge of Gila National Forest.
The Hearth is responsive and accessible to local community needs and requests. Contact our community engagement staff person at 575-519-4017 to discuss renting for your group or event, and visit www.hearthnm.org to sign up for our monthly newsletter or to make a donation.
Press may contact:
Emily Aversa, Community Engagement Administrator, at 575-519-4017
Luke Rembold, founding board member 505-226-2928
Alison Wood, founding board member 520-230-5504
Katie Sharar, founding board member 530-219-9092
